Package making – Methods – Applying a partial cover
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-03
2004-06-08
Rada, Rinaldi I. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Applying a partial cover
C053S441000, C053S449000, C053S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06745544
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for wrapping loadable objects in which a loadable object brought in as a mass is wrapped by spirally winding film around the object, both about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wrapping methods and apparatus of the type described above have been known in the art as shown and described in JP 59-46845 B and JP 8-508223 A.
JP 59-46845 B, referred to as the first prior art below, discloses an arrangement in which a loadable object is placed on a conveyor whose upper and lower surfaces move in an identical direction at an identical speed. A web made of stretchable material is wound around both the conveyor and the loadable object being carried by the conveyor. The loadable object is allowed to move beyond a downstream end of the conveyor to come off the conveyor where shrinkage of the web causes the loadable object alone to be wrapped thereby.
JP 8-508223 A, referred to as the second prior art below, describes in one of its intended forms of implementation an arrangement in which a web is wound around a loadable object, on a first table, about a horizontal axis and is thereby wrapped. The object so wrapped is then moved onto a second table, which is rotated about a vertical axis of the second table to further wrap a web around the object in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the object is wrapped on the first table.
The second prior art also describes in another form of implementation contemplated, the use of a wrapping device that is revolvable about a vertical axis in an arrangement in which a loadable object is rotatable about a horizontal axis. Thus, a web may be wrapped around the loadable object about a vertical axis by revolving the wrapping device about the vertical axis, and about a horizontal axis by rotating the loadable object about the horizontal axis.
The capability by the first prior art of wrapping a web only about a horizontal axis is inconveniently unsuitable to wrap, and thereby to package, three-dimensional objects.
Also, while the second prior art permits a web to be wrapped around a loadable object about both horizontal and vertical axes thereof, if its one form of implementation is adopted in which the object is wrapped in dissimilar directions, it is required that the object be placed from the first to the second table, that a web roll be tilted 90 degrees while a web is being wrapped around the object, and moreover that the second table be rotated. Therefore, not only is a cumbersome double wrapping operation entailed, but also an apparatus for practicing this operation becomes inconveniently complex in terms of mechanisms.
In the other form of implementation of the second prior art, a technique that is capable of doubly wrapping web material around a loadable object resting at the same position, about both vertical and horizontal axes, a need to include two independent mechanisms for wrapping web material about the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, makes equipment again inconveniently complex and large-scaled.
Further as described in the second prior art, the technique of wrapping film in the form of a continuous strip doubly around a loadable object about both axes is efficient to thoroughly cover an entire surface of the object therewith, but such wrappage is weak in strength and gives rise to a problem in that if the wrappage is hit by something sharp it may easily rupture to allow its contents to escape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing state of art taken into account, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of wrapping a loadable object using a conventional wrapping machine for wrapping film around loadable objects about a horizontal axis, which method permits film to be easily wrapped around the loadable object both about its horizontal and about its vertical axes. An additional object of the present invention is a wrapping apparatus for use in carrying out the method.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrapping technique whereby a continuous strip of film, and a continuous string of film formed by compressing such a continuous strip of film, are both spirally wound around a loadable object about both a horizontal and a vertical axis thereof, which technique makes wrapping much less rupturable and prevents run-out of dust or refuse from the loadable object.
In order to achieve the objects mentioned above, the present invention provides in one method aspect thereof a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object; thereafter rotating the loadable object in a horizontal plane by an angle of 90 degrees; and advancing the loadable object along the horizontal path from the second side towards the first side while revolving the film feeder about the horizontal axis along the circular path to cause film from the film feeder to be again wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping the loadable object.
The present invention also provides a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object; thereafter rotating the loadable object in a vertical plane by a phase angle of 90 degrees; and advancing the loadable object along the horizontal path from the second side towards the first side while revolving the film feeder about the horizontal axis along the circular path to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally again around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping of the loadable object.
The present invention also provides a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: providing a film feeder for supplying a plurality of films, at least one of which is a continuous strip of film and at least another of which is a continuous string of film formed by compressing such a continuous strip of film; and revolving the film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis to cause at least one continuous strip of film and at least one continuous string of film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping the loadable object with such at least one continuous strip and at least one continuous string of film.
In a specific form of an embodiment of the present invention, the loadable object is placed on a sleeve pallet that is adapted to accept a fork of a forklift, and film from the feeder is wound around both the loadable object and the sleeve pallet.
According to one apparatus aspect for carrying out one method described above, the present invention provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path; and a bi-directional conveyor adapted to carry and advance a loadable object through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side and from the second side towards the first side, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor from the first side towards the second side causes film f
Anai Okinori
Matsumoto Ryozo
Durand Paul
Matsumoto System Engineering Co., Ltd.
Rada Rinaldi I.
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