Package making – Means to feed cover material – Continuous web cover material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-03-06
Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)
Package making
Means to feed cover material
Continuous web cover material
C053S556000, C053S588000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195961
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to film wrapping or packaging machine apparatus, and more particularly to film wrapping or packaging machine apparatus wherein the apparatus or machines are provided with mechanisms which enable or facilitate plastic film or material to be wrapped around articles to be packaged.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Film wrapping or packaging machine apparatus, wherein the apparatus or machines are provided with mechanisms which enable or facilitate plastic film or material to be wrapped around articles to be packaged, are of course well-known. Examples of such known apparatus or machines are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,691 which issued to Turfan et al. on Aug. 4, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,807 which issued to Morantz on May 21, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,796 which issued to Haloila on May 13, 1986. A well-known conventional film wrapping packaging machine is also illustrated in
FIG. 1
of the drawings, and it will be appreciated that all of these machines or apparatus are provided with or comprise substantially similar operating components. In connection with the machine or apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 1
, for example, a detailed description of the same will be omitted and the same will only be briefly described with respect to the major or primary operative components thereof so as to simply provide an overview of the operation thereof, and further in view of the fact that such major or primary operative components thereof do not comprise any part of the present invention except as will be specifically noted hereinafter.
More particularly, the film wrapping packaging machine illustrated in
FIG. 1
is generally indicated by the reference character
10
and is seen to comprise a four-post upstanding framework
12
through which extends a conveyor
14
for transporting articles to be wrapped or packaged to a wrapping station
16
which is located substantially at the center of the region or boundary area peripherally defined by the upstanding posts of the framework
12
. An upper frame member
18
, which is vertically movable in a reciprocating manner with respect to the framework
12
, rotatably supports a ring or circular track member
20
upon which is mounted a plastic film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
which includes a roll
24
of plastic wrapping film. Consequently, when the upper frame member
18
is moved in vertically upward and downward directions, and the ring or track member
20
is rotated with respect to the vertically movable upper frame member
18
, film from the film roll
24
mounted upon the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
can be withdrawn therefrom and applied to articles to be wrapped which are disposed or located at the wrapping station
16
.
With reference now being made to
FIGS. 2-4
, particular details of the conventional film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
, as they bear upon the development and improved nature of the present invention, will now be described. The film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
conventionally includes a plurality of film tensioning rollers or similar mechanisms
26
for providing the plastic wrapping film with the proper tension as the same is withdrawn from the roll
24
of plastic film such that the plastic wrapping film can be applied to the articles to be wrapped with a predetermined, proper, or desired amount of tension. In order to facilitate or enable the easy replacement or replenishment of a particular roll
24
of plastic film with a new roll
24
of plastic film when an original roll
24
of plastic film is depleted, it is also conventional to mount the roll
24
of plastic film upon a pivotable mounting assembly or framework which is mounted upon the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
such that the roll
24
of plastic film is movable between two positions, that is, a first operative position at which the axis of the film roll
24
is substantially vertical whereby the plastic film can be withdrawn from the roll
24
of plastic film during operation of the wrapping machine or apparatus so as to wrap the articles to be packaged, and a second position at which the axis of the film roll
24
is tilted or inclined with respect to the first vertical position such that film rolls
24
may be easily mounted upon and removed from the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
when replacement or exchange of film rolls
24
is to be achieved.
More particularly, the pivotable mounting assembly or framework for the roll
24
of plastic wrapping material is seen to comprise, as best seen in
FIG. 2
, a first inner frame member
28
, and a second outer frame member
30
. The lower ends of the inner and outer frame members
28
,
30
are interconnected by means of a base member
32
, and a film roll support spindle
34
projects upwardly from the base
32
so as to mount the film roll
24
thereon as a result of the spindle
34
being axially inserted within the core member
36
of the film roll
24
as seen in FIG.
3
. The inner frame member
28
of the film roll mounting assembly or framework is seen to be pivotally mounted upon a vertically extending inner frame member
38
which is rigidly connected to or an integral part of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
, and the outer frame member
30
of the film roll mounting assembly or framework is seen to be pivotally mounted upon an outer frame member
40
of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
wherein the outer frame member
40
depends vertically downwardly from an upper transverse frame member, not shown, which is connected to the inner frame member
38
of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
. In this manner, the outer frame member
40
of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
is seen to be disposed in a substantially cantilevered manner with respect to the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
whereby the lower end of the outer frame member
40
of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
is not fixedly or rigidly supported with respect to the assembly or framework
22
. While this mounting system for the film roll
24
is obviously operative, and the entire film wrapping or packaging machine
10
has been enormously commercially successful, it has been determined that as a result of the aforenoted cantilevered, non-rigid disposition of the outer frame member
40
of the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly
22
, the film roll mounting assembly or framework is able to vibrate during, for example, film payout from the film roll
24
during a winding or packaging operation. Such vibrations can lead to improper film payout, improper tension values within the wrapping film being dispensed, and cracking or excessive wear of the film roll mounting assembly or framework.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved film roll mounting assembly or framework which, in effect, provides for the fixed or rigid mounting of the film roll mounting assembly or framework upon the film roll mounting and dispensing assembly whereby the aforenoted vibrational problems or drawbacks characteristic of the conventionally known film roll mounting assemblies or framework systems can be substantially eliminated or significantly reduced. As a result, improved film payout and improved or more accurate tension values within the dispensed wrapping film, while a simultaneous reduction in the amount of wear upon the film roll mounting assembly or framework, can be achieved.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved film roll mounting assembly or framework for use upon a film wrapping or packaging machine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved film roll mounting assembly or framework, for use upon a film wrapping or packaging machine, which will overcome the various operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of the conventional film roll mounting assemblies or fra
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Kim Eugene
Schwartz & Weinrieb
LandOfFree
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