Package making – Methods – Applying a partial cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-05-29
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Applying a partial cover
C053S390000, C053S441000, C053S556000, C053S588000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237307
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for applying stretch film to palletized loads or products, and more particularly to a new and improved apparatus and method for manually applying stretch film to palletized loads or products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is a known fact that approximately fifty percent (50%) of all stretch film that is manufactured is applied to, for example, palletized loads or products by manual means. It is also known that when applying such stretch film to, for example, palletized loads or products, the manner in which such stretch film is manually applied to such loads or products usually comprises either one of two methods. In accordance with a first one of such manual methods, as illustrated, for example, within U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,884 which issued to Stanford on Mar. 21, 1995, the operator respectively inserts four fingers of each hand into each one of two oppositely disposed recessed portions defined within the film core end caps so as to effectively hold or grasp the film roll, and while placing his thumbs upon outside surface portions of the film roll, so as to effectively cause a predetermined amount of back tension to be applied to the film whereby the film is effectively stretched as the film is being unrolled or dispensed from the film roll, the operator walks around the palletized load or product. In accordance with a second one of such manual methods of applying a stretch film to such palletized loads or products, as illustrated, for example, within U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,841 which issued to Shirrell on Oct. 17, 1995, and in lieu of directly holding or grasping the film roll, the operator holds or grasps a film roll dispensing or holding device which has a built-in tensioning mechanism.
In accordance with either one of the aforenoted modes, methods, or manners in which stretch film is applied manually to the palletized products or loads, several operational disadvantages or drawbacks common to both methods or modes are apparent. Firstly, for example, the film roll or the film roll and film roll dispensing or holding device must be supported by the operator personnel, yet the film roll and film roll dispensing or holding device are quite heavy and cumbersome. In addition, in order to fully wrap a palletized load, the operator must bend down while holding the film roll or film roll and film roll dispensing or holding device in order to wrap the film around the lower extremity portions of the palletized loads or products. Such requirements upon the operator personnel cause acute discomfort, fatigue, and stress-related injuries. In addition, the operators experience fatigue and discomfort even when the operators are wrapping upper regions of the palletized loads or products due to the need for supporting the entire weight of the film roll or film roll and film roll dispensing or holding device.
A need therefore exists in the art for an apparatus, and a method of operating the same, for overcoming the various operational disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of the known PRIOR ART systems as briefly discussed hereinbefore and as disclosed within the aforenoted patents.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus, and a method of operating the same, for applying stretch film to palletized loads or products.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus, and a method of operating the same, for applying stretch film to palletized loads or products wherein the various operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of PRIOR ART apparatus, systems, or methods of operating the same, are overcome.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus, and a method of operating the same, for applying stretch film to palletized loads or products wherein the stretch film can be applied to or wrapped around the palletized loads or products by means of operator personnel who can simply walk around the pallet upon which the loads or products are disposed and simultaneously push or guide the roll of stretch film around the palletized loads or products whereby the palletized loads or products are accordingly wrapped with such stretch film.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus, and a method of operating the same, for applying stretch film to palletized loads or products wherein the stretch film can be applied to or wrapped around the entire vertical extent of the palletized loads or products by means of operator personnel who need not support the weight of the film roll or the film roll and the film roll dispensing mechanism, and in addition need not bend down in order to wrap or apply the stretch film upon or to the lower extremity portions of the palletized loads or products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved apparatus, and a method of operating the same, which comprises a vertically extending mast and a horizontally extending static boom having one end thereof affixed to the upper end of the vertically extending mast. The vertically extending mast may be affixed to vertically extending column or wall, or may have a weighted based affixed to the lower end of the vertically extending mast so as to render the entire apparatus or system portable. An orbiting boom has a first end thereof pivotally mounted upon the second free end of the horizontally extending static boom, and a vertically extending downright member is fixedly mounted upon a second free end of the orbiting boom. The lower end of the downright is provided with a spring-biased wheel assembly for supporting the downright and orbiting boom structure upon a manufacturing facility floor at which a wrapping station is defined for supporting palletized loads or products to be wrapped in stretch film. A vertically reciprocable carriage is mounted upon the downright, and a roll of stretch film is mounted upon one side of the carriage while an ergonomic handle is mounted upon an opposite side of the carriage so as to positionally manipulate the carriage upwardly and downwardly along the downright as well as to effectively orbitally move film roll around the palletized load or product disposed at the wrapping station and to be wrapped.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 272540 (1984-02-01), Goldstein
patent: 4369614 (1983-01-01), Tetzner
patent: 4938008 (1990-07-01), Salzsauler
patent: 5296079 (1994-03-01), Romo
patent: 5398884 (1995-03-01), Stanford
patent: 5423163 (1995-06-01), Wendt
patent: 5458841 (1995-10-01), Shirrell
patent: 5561971 (1996-10-01), Sampson
patent: 5673542 (1997-10-01), Vartanian et al.
patent: 5779179 (1998-07-01), Zentmyer et al.
Low Profile Stretchwrap Machine, Manual Spiral Wrapper, Operators Manual, Model G-200 Gerrard & Company, Apr. 1998.
Huson Gale W.
Zentmyer Hugh J.
Gerrity Stephen F.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Schwartz & Weinrieb
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