Body panel wrapping method and apparatus

Abstract

A body panel wrapping apparatus is provided, the body panel wrapping apparatus having a frame; a roll receptable associated with the frame and pivotally engaged with a wrapping roll; and a panel engaging portion associated with the frame, wherein the panel engaging portion is configured to be selectively engaged with a panel and selectively rotated about a rotational axis, wherein rotation of the panel engaging portion about the rotational axis is configured to wrap the panel in wrapping from the wrapping roll. The roll receptacle may be configured to selectively increase the force required to rotate the wrapping roll, creating tension to tightly wrap the panel while rotating. The body panel wrapping apparatus may have a rotation controller and foot pedal configured to allow a user to wrap a body panel without a second user. The wrapped panel may fit in a smaller package, reducing shipping costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A body panel wrapping apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a roll receptacle associated with the frame, wherein the roll receptacle is configured to be pivotally engaged with a wrapping roll;   a panel engaging portion associated with the frame, wherein the panel engaging portion is configured to be selectively engaged with the body panel and selectively rotated about a rotational axis, the panel engaging portion comprising:
 a platform; 
 a stationary compression arm attached to the platform; and 
 a moving compression arm associated with the platform, wherein the moving compression arm is configured to be selectively moved toward the stationary compression arm to selectively compress the body panel between the stationary compression arm and the moving compression arm; 
   a control motor associated with the frame, wherein the control motor is configured to selectively rotate the panel engaging portion about the rotational axis;   wherein when a wrapping material of the wrapping roll is engaged with a body panel, the rotation of the panel engaging portion about the rotational axis causes rolling of the body panel and wrapping of the body panel with wrapping material from the wrapping roll.   
     
     
         2 . The roll receptacle of  claim 1  comprising an air cylinder associated with the frame and a roll top keeper associated with the air cylinder, wherein the air cylinder is configured to selectively adjust the roll top keeper to selectively restrict rotation of the wrapping roll. 
     
     
         3 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a variable pressure solenoid valve associated with the frame, wherein the variable pressure solenoid valve is configured to be in pneumatic communication with the air cylinder and to selectively control an air pressure supplied to the air cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a human machine interface screen in electrical communication with the variable pressure solenoid valve, wherein the human machine interface screen is configured to be manipulated by a user to control the air pressure supplied to the roll receptacle by the variable pressure solenoid valve. 
     
     
         5 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compression cylinder attached to the platform and the moving compression arm, wherein the compression cylinder is configured to selectively move the moving compression arm toward the stationary compression arm to facilitate selective engagement of the panel engaging portion with the body panel. 
     
     
         6 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a control pedal in communication with the compression cylinder, wherein the control pedal is configured to actuate the compression cylinder to selectively move the moving compression arm to selectively engage the body panel with the panel engaging portion. 
     
     
         7 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a loading table associated with the frame, wherein the loading table is configured to provide support to the body panel prior to engagement between the body panel and the panel engaging portion. 
     
     
         8 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis is perpendicular to the ground. 
     
     
         9 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary compression arm and the moving compression arm each have a corresponding rubber outer coating. 
     
     
         10 . A body panel wrapping apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a roll receptacle associated with the frame, wherein the roll receptacle is configured to be pivotally engaged with a wrapping roll;   a panel engaging portion associated with the frame, wherein the panel engaging portion is configured to be selectively engaged with the body panel and selectively rotated about a rotational axis, the panel engaging portion comprising:
 a platform; 
 a stationary compression arm attached to the platform; and 
 a moving compression arm associated with the platform, wherein the moving compression arm is configured to be selectively moved toward the stationary compression arm to selectively compress the body panel between the stationary compression arm and the moving compression arm; 
   wherein when a wrapping material of the wrapping roll is engaged with a body panel, the rotation of the panel engaging portion about the rotational axis causes rolling of the body panel and wrapping of the body panel with wrapping material from the wrapping roll.   
     
     
         11 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a compression cylinder attached to the platform and the moving compression arm, wherein the compression cylinder is configured to selectively move the moving compression arm toward the stationary compression arm to facilitate selective engagement of the panel engaging portion with the body panel. 
     
     
         12 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a control pedal in communication with the compression cylinder, wherein the control pedal is configured to actuate the compression cylinder to selectively move the moving compression arm to selectively engage the body panel with the panel engaging portion. 
     
     
         13 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a loading table associated with the frame, wherein the loading table is configured to provide support to the body panel prior to engagement between the body panel and the panel engaging portion. 
     
     
         14 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the rotational axis is perpendicular to the ground. 
     
     
         15 . The roll receptacle of  claim 10  comprising an air cylinder associated with the frame and a roll top keeper associated with the air cylinder, wherein the air cylinder is configured to selectively adjust the roll top keeper to selectively restrict rotation of the wrapping roll. 
     
     
         16 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the stationary compression arm and the moving compression arm each have a corresponding rubber outer coating. 
     
     
         17 . A body panel wrapping apparatus comprising:
 a panel engaging portion, wherein the panel engaging portion is configured to be selectively engaged with a body panel and selectively rotated about a rotational axis, the panel engaging portion comprising:
 a platform; 
 a stationary compression arm attached to the platform; and 
 a moving compression arm associated with the platform, wherein the moving compression arm is configured to be selectively moved toward the stationary compression arm to selectively compress the body panel between the stationary compression arm and the moving compression arm; 
   wherein the rotation of the panel engaging portion about the rotational axis causes rolling of the body panel.   
     
     
         18 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a compression cylinder attached to the platform and the moving compression arm, wherein the compression cylinder is configured to selectively move the moving compression arm toward the stationary compression arm to facilitate selective engagement of the panel engaging portion with the body panel. 
     
     
         19 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a control pedal in communication with the compression cylinder, wherein the control pedal is configured to actuate the compression cylinder to selectively move the moving compression arm to selectively engage the body panel with the panel engaging portion. 
     
     
         20 . The body panel wrapping apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the rotational axis is perpendicular to the ground.