Stretch Film Dispenser For Orbital Pallet Wrappers

Abstract

An orbital stretch wrapping apparatus is provided and includes a base frame, a circular ring mounted on the base frame and rotatable with respect to the base frame about an axis of rotation, a stretch film dispenser mounted on the circular ring and rotatable with the circular ring about the axis of rotation, the stretch film dispenser having a subframe fixed to the circular ring, a roll of stretch film mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, a first feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, a second feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, and a brake member connected to the first feed roller and the second feed roller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An orbital stretch wrapping apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   a ring extending from the base,   a subframe mounted to the ring; and   a stretch film dispenser mounted on the subframe, the stretch film dispenser permitted to rotate an entire circumference of the ring, a motion of the stretch film dispenser along the entire circumference of the ring releases a stretch film of a roll.   
     
     
         2 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, the first feed roller engaging the stretch film of the roll and rotating at a roller speed during rotation of the ring at a set speed. 
     
     
         3 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a second feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, the second feed roller engaging the stretch film of the roll and rotating at the roller speed during rotation of the ring at the set speed. 
     
     
         4 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a brake member in a continuous relationship with the first feed roller and the second feed roller, the brake member capable of adjusting the roller speed while the ring rotates at the set speed, the brake member further includes a compression spring disposed on a pair of guide pins attached to a braking disc. 
     
     
         5 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first feed roller is connected to a first sprocket, a second feed roller is connected to a second sprocket, and a brake member is connected to a third sprocket, the first sprocket, the second sprocket, and the third sprocket connected by an endless chain. 
     
     
         6 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first sprocket and the second sprocket have a same size. 
     
     
         7 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a tensioning idler connected to a fourth sprocket, the fourth sprocket connected to the first sprocket, the second sprocket, and the third sprocket by the endless chain. 
     
     
         8 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the stretch film of the roll extends between the second feed roller and the tensioning idler. 
     
     
         9 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the brake member applies a drag force on the endless chain. 
     
     
         10 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fourth sprocket of the tensioning idler engages the endless chain and maintains a tension in the endless chain. 
     
     
         11 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a brake member extends away from one mounting flanges of a pair of mounting flanges. 
     
     
         12 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first feed roller and the second feed roller are the same size. 
     
     
         13 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a counterweight mounted on the ring at a position diametrically opposite the stretch film dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a first gear connected to the first feed roller. 
     
     
         15 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a second gear connected to the second feed roller. 
     
     
         16 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second gear is meshed with a first gear, the second that is smaller than the first gear and rotates faster than the first gear. 
     
     
         17 . The orbital stretch wrapping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first feed roller is connected to a first sprocket and the second feed roller is connected to a second sprocket, the first sprocket connected to the second sprocket by an endless chain.