Semiautomatic luggage wrapper and safe process of wrapping of this latter

Abstract

A luggage ( 100 ) wrapper ( 1 ) comprising a frame ( 2 ), a reel ( 3 ) of plastic material film, a support device ( 4 ) carrying the reel ( 3 ), and configured for releasing the plastic film by unwinding the reel ( 3 ), a platform ( 5 ) rotatingly movable around an axis (Y) with respect to the frame, configured for abuttingly receiving an article of luggage ( 100 ) and rotating it around axis (Y): platform ( 5 ) rotation with plastic film release enables to cover the luggage ( 100 ) by the plastic film. The wrapper comprises an actuator ( 6 ) configured for enabling the rotation of platform ( 5 ), and a control unit ( 7 ) configured for commanding the actuator ( 6 ) to manage platform ( 5 ) rotation; control unit ( 7 ) is configured for sending a command signal to the actuator ( 6 ) and arranging this latter in an operative condition wherein it rotates platform ( 5 ), sending a blocking signal ( 6 ) for arranging this latter in a stop condition wherein it prevents the platform ( 5 ) from rotating, the wrapper ( 1 ) comprises a sensor ( 8 ) configured for monitoring a predetermined area at platform ( 5 ) and generating a safety signal indicating the presence or not of one or more persons and/or objects inside the predetermined area; the control unit ( 7 ) is configured for processing the signal and establishing the presence of a risk condition and being further configured for modifying the operative condition of the wrapper ( 1 ) as a function of the received safety signal.

1 . A luggage ( 100 ) wrapper ( 1 ), comprising:
 a frame ( 2 ),   at least one reel ( 3 ) of plastic material film engaged with the frame ( 2 ),   at least one support device ( 4 ) engaged with the frame ( 2 ) and carrying said reel ( 3 ), the support device ( 4 ) being configured for enabling to release the plastic film by unwinding the reel ( 3 ),   at least one platform ( 5 ) associated to the frame ( 2 ) and rotatingly movable around an axis (Y), said platform ( 5 ) being configured for abuttingly receiving a luggage ( 100 ) and rotating it around the axis (Y), the platform ( 5 ) rotation together with the plastic film unwinding being adapted to cover the luggage ( 100 ) with said plastic film,   at least one actuator ( 6 ) configured to set the platform ( 5 ) in rotation,   a control unit ( 7 ) configured for commanding the actuator ( 6 ) to manage the rotation of the platform ( 5 ), said control unit ( 7 ) being further configured for:
 sending a command signal to the actuator ( 6 ) for arranging this latter in a working condition in which the actuator ( 6 ) rotates the platform ( 5 ) at an angular wrapping velocity (Va), 
 sending a blocking signal to the actuator ( 6 ) for arranging this latter in a stop condition in which said actuator ( 6 ) prevents the rotation of the platform ( 5 ); 
   characterized in that the wrapper ( 1 ) comprising at least one sensor ( 8 ) configured for monitoring a predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ) and generating at least one safety signal indicative of the presence or absence of one or more persons and/or objects inside the predetermined area, the sensor ( 8 ) being configured for sending to control unit ( 7 ) said safety signal, the control unit ( 7 ) being configured, following the reception of safety signal, for processing said safety signal and establishing the existence of a risk condition and being further configured for modifying an operative condition of the wrapper ( 1 ) as a function of the received safety signal and/or risk condition.   
     
     
         2 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the operative condition of the wrapper ( 1 ) comprises at least one of following conditions:
 a working condition in which the platform ( 5 ) rotates at the wrapping velocity (Va) for covering the luggage ( 100 ) with the plastic film,   an alarm condition in which the wrapper ( 1 ) signals, by means of visual and/or acoustic signals, a situation of attention,   a slow-down condition in which the angular velocity of the platform ( 5 ) is reduced to a safety velocity (Vs) with respect to the angular wrapping velocity (Va) of the working condition,   a stop condition in which the rotation of the platform ( 5 ) is prevented.   
     
     
         3 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the risk condition, established by the control unit ( 7 ), comprises at least one from among following conditions:
 an intervening condition determined by a detection, via the sensor ( 8 ), of one or more persons and/or objects internally of the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ),   a monitoring condition determined by an absence of detection, via the sensor ( 8 ), of one or more persons and/or objects internally of the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ).   
     
     
         4 . The wrapper of  claim 3 , wherein the intervention condition comprises one or more of following conditions:
 an attention condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects a presence of one or more persons and/or objects internally of an external area (E),   an alert condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects a presence of one or more persons and/or objects internally of an intermediate area (I),   a danger condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects a presence of one or more persons and/or objects internally of an internal area (A),   a malfunctioning condition in which the control unit ( 7 ) does not receive the safety signal from sensor ( 8 ).   
     
     
         5 . The wrapper of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ), following a determination of the attention condition, is configured to modify or maintain the operative condition of the wrapper at least in one of following operative conditions:
 working condition,   alarm condition;   
       and/or wherein the control unit ( 7 ), following determination of the alert condition, is configured to modify or maintain the operative condition of the wrapper in at least one of following working conditions:
 alarm condition, 
 slow-down condition; 
 
       and/or wherein the control unit ( 7 ), following determination of the danger condition, is configured to modify or maintain the operative condition of the wrapper in at least one of following working conditions:
 alarm condition, 
 stop condition. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor ( 8 ) comprises at least one optical-type presence detector, in particular the sensor ( 8 ) being a laser scanner, in particular a 2D laser scanner. 
     
     
         7 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ) comprises an external area (E), an intermediate area (I) and an internal area (A), wherein the external area (E) has a size greater than the size of the intermediate area (I), in particular the intermediate area (I) being entirety contained in the external area (E), and wherein the intermediate area (I) has a size greater than the size of the internal area (A), in particular the internal area (A) being entirely contained in the intermediate area (I);
 and wherein the platform ( 5 ) is arranged internally of the internal area (A).   
     
     
         8 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ) comprises an external area (E), an intermediate area (I) and an internal area (A),
 wherein the intermediate area (I) comprises an operator zone (O) arranged at least for a section thereof at the platform ( 5 ), the operator zone (O) being configured to enable an operator to intervene on the luggage ( 100 ) and/or on the plastic film at the luggage ( 100 ), the control unit ( 7 ), following detection of a person in the operator zone (O), commanding the slow-down condition of wrapper ( 1 ).   
     
     
         9 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the frame ( 2 ) comprises at least a housing portion ( 2   a ) and at least an operative portion ( 2   b ) carrying the platform ( 5 );
 and wherein the housing portion ( 2   a ) and the operative portion ( 2   b ) are spaced and preferably connected by means of an intermediate portion ( 2   c );   and wherein the frame ( 2 ) is configured for enabling, in use conditions of the wrapper ( 1 ), to place the wrapper ( 1 ) on a ground surface, at least the operative portion ( 2   b ) being configured for having a minimum distance from the ground, the operative portion ( 2   b ) and the intermediate portion ( 2   c ) being configured for having a minimum distance (D 1 ) from the ground that is greater than 30 mm, in particular comprised between 60 and 120 mm, and wherein the sensor ( 8 ) is engaged to the operative portion ( 2   b ) or the intermediate portion ( 2   c ) of the frame ( 2 ), the predetermined area monitored by the sensor ( 8 ) extends along a plane comprised between the ground and said operative and intermediate portions ( 2   b ,  2   c ).   
     
     
         10 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , comprising at least one detector ( 9 ) configured for monitoring a size of the luggage ( 100 ) arranged on the platform ( 5 ) and generating at least a control signal indicating a maximum height (M), measured along the rotation axis (Y) of the platform, of the luggage ( 100 ), and wherein the support device ( 4 ), carrying the reel ( 3 ), is movable along a prevalent development direction (T) substantially parallel to the rotation axis (Y) of the platform ( 5 ), the control unit ( 7 ) being connected to the support device ( 4 ) and to the detector ( 9 ), and being configured for receiving and process the control signal from the detector ( 9 ) for determining the maximum height (M) of the luggage ( 100 ), the control unit ( 7 ), following the determination of the maximum height (M), being configured for comparing said height with a reference height and executing at least one of following operations:
 if the maximum height (M) is less than or equal to the reference height, commanding the support device ( 4 ) to remain at a minimum height position, in which plastic film is placed at the platform ( 5 ),   if the maximum height (M) is greater than the reference height, commanding support device ( 4 ) to alternatively move along the prevalent development direction (T) so that the plastic film can reach the maximum height (M) and covering the whole luggage ( 100 ).   
     
     
         11 . A process for wrapping luggage ( 100 ) comprising following steps:
 predisposing a frame ( 2 );   predisposing a reel ( 3 ) of a plastic material film, engaged with the frame ( 2 ),   predisposing at least one support device ( 4 ) engaged with frame ( 2 ) and carrying said reel ( 3 ), the support device ( 4 ) being configured for releasing the plastic film by unwinding the reel ( 3 ),   predisposing at least one platform ( 5 ) engaged with frame ( 2 ) and rotatingly moveable with respect to this latter around an axis (Y), the platform ( 5 ) being configured for abuttingly receiving a luggage ( 100 ) and rotating it around axis (Y),   predisposing at least one actuator ( 6 ) configured for setting into rotation the platform ( 5 ),   
       and wherein the process provides at least the following steps:
 commanding a stop condition ( 6 ) of actuator, in which this latter prevents the platform ( 5 ) from rotating, 
 placing a luggage ( 100 ) on platform ( 5 ), 
 inviting at least one portion of plastic film around the luggage ( 100 ), 
 placing the actuator ( 6 ) in an operative condition in which this latter rotates the platform ( 5 ) at a wrapping velocity (Va), 
 
       the process further provides the following steps:
 monitoring, by at least one sensor ( 8 ), a predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ), particularly said predetermined area comprising an external area (E), an intermediate area (I) and an internal area (A); 
 sending to a control unit ( 7 ), via said sensor ( 8 ), at least one safety signal indicating the presence or absence of one or more persons and/or objects inside the predetermined area, 
 processing, by control unit ( 7 ), said signal for determining the existence of a risk condition, 
 modifying the wrapper ( 1 ) operative condition as a function of the received safety signal. 
 
     
     
         12 . Process of  claim 11 , wherein the operative condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:
 a working condition in which platform ( 5 ) rotates at a wrapping velocity (Va) for covering the article of luggage ( 100 ) with the plastic film,   an alarm condition in which wrapper ( 1 ) signals, by visual and/or acoustic signals, a situation of attention,   a slow-down condition in which the angular velocity of platform ( 5 ) is reduced to a safety velocity (Vs) with respect to the wrapping angular velocity (Va) of the working condition,   a stop condition in which the platform ( 5 ) is prevented from rotating.   
     
     
         13 . Process of  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the risk condition, established by control unit ( 7 ), comprises at least one among the following conditions:
 an intervening condition determined by detecting, via the sensor ( 8 ), one or more persons and/or objects inside the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ), 
 a monitoring condition determined by the absence of detection, via the sensor ( 8 ), of one or more persons and/or objects inside the predetermined area at the platform ( 5 ). 
 
     
     
         14 . Process of  claim 13 , wherein the intervening condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:
 an attention condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects the presence of one or more persons and/or objects inside an external area (E),   an alert condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects the presence of one or more persons and/or objects inside an intermediate area (I),   a danger condition in which the control unit ( 7 ), via the sensor ( 8 ), detects the presence of one or more persons and/or objects inside an internal area (A),   a malfunctioning condition in which the control unit ( 7 ) does not receive the safety signal from sensor ( 8 ).