Rear discharge mat rolling machine with wrapper

Abstract

A mat rolling machine for rolling a mat having a leading edge and a trailing edge may include a frame, at least one first drive belt, a plurality of second drive belts, a plurality of third drive belts, and a plurality of fourth drive belts. The mat rolling machine may include a plurality of primary fingers and a plurality of secondary fingers having a smaller radius of curvature on a lower face than the plurality of primary fingers. The mat rolling machine may include at least one support member for guiding a mat along a path through the mat rolling machine, and at least one pusher for discharging a rolled mat from the rear of the mat rolling machine. The mat rolling machine may include a wrapper cartridge. The mat rolling machine may include a cutter-mechanism.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mat rolling machine for use in rolling a mat having a leading edge and a trailing edge, comprising: a frame defining a front of the machine and a rear of the machine; a plurality of drive belts configured to convey the mat from, the front of the machine, through the machine, to the rear of the machine; wherein the mat is discharged from the rear of the machine in a generally spiral configuration; and a wrapper cartridge coupled to the frame, the wrapper cartridge configured to dispense a stretch wrap about the mat in a generally spiral configuration. 
     
     
         2 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably removable from the mat rolling machine. 
     
     
         3 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 2 , wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably removable from the rear of the mat rolling machine. 
     
     
         4 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a wrapper housing fixedly attached to the frame, wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably received within the wrapper housing. 
     
     
         5 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutter mechanism fixedly attached to the frame, the cutter mechanism including an axially extendable blade. 
     
     
         6 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 5 , wherein the cutter mechanism is configured to translate the blade between an axially retracted position and an axially extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The mart rolling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper cartridge includes a pivotable applicator arm extending therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 7 , wherein the applicator arm includes a first curved element spaced apart from and fixedly attached to a second curved element to define an elongate passage therebetween for providing the stretch wrap from the wrapper cartridge to the mat. 
     
     
         9 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper cartridge is disposed at least partially rearward of the plurality of drive belts. 
     
     
         10 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of primary fingers configured to be movable as a set, wherein each primary finger is oriented generally rearward and has a first radius of curvature on a lower face. 
     
     
         11 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of secondary fingers configured to be movable as a set, wherein each secondary finger is oriented generally rearward and has a second radius of curvature on a lower face smaller than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         12 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the front of the mat rolling machine is adjustable between a lower and a higher vertical height. 
     
     
         13 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one generally rearward- and upward-facing pusher adapted to discharge the mat from the rear of the machine in the generally spiral configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The mat rolling machine of  claim 13 , wherein the mat follows a path through the mat rolling machine which brings the mat into contact with the plurality of secondary fingers before the mat contacts the plurality of primary fingers. 
     
     
         15 . The mart rolling machine of  claim 14  wherein the mat is in contact with the lower face of the plurality of secondary fingers for a shorter period of time than the mat is in contact with the lower face of the plurality of primary fingers as the mat is rolled into the generally spiral configuration.