Dynamic adjustment of wrap force parameter responsive to monitored wrap force and/or for film break reduction
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
- determining a containment force parameter related to a desired containment force to be applied to the load during at least a portion of a wrap cycle;
initiating the wrap cycle to wrap the load with packaging material dispensed from the packaging material dispenser during relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support; and
during the initiated wrap cycle;
monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material during the relative rotation;
performing a comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter after a conversion between wrap force and containment force is performed for the monitored wrap force or the containment force parameter; and
dynamically controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the wrap cycle based on the comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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determining a containment force parameter related to a desired containment force to be applied to the load during at least a portion of a wrap cycle; initiating the wrap cycle to wrap the load with packaging material dispensed from the packaging material dispenser during relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support; and during the initiated wrap cycle; monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material during the relative rotation; performing a comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter after a conversion between wrap force and containment force is performed for the monitored wrap force or the containment force parameter; and dynamically controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the wrap cycle based on the comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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determining a containment force parameter to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material; determining a wrap force parameter to meet the containment force parameter when wrapping the load with packaging material; after determining the wrap force parameter, controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based at least in part on the wrap force parameter; and dynamically and automatically adjusting the wrap force parameter during the relative rotation by; monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material to determine a monitored wrap force; performing a comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter; and adjusting the wrap force parameter based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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determining a containment force parameter to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material; determining a wrap force parameter to meet the containment force parameter when wrapping the load with packaging material; after determining the wrap force parameter, controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based at least in part on the wrap force parameter; monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material to determine a monitored wrap force; performing a comparison between the monitored wrap force and the containment force parameter; and adjusting the wrap force parameter based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation. based at least in part on a wrap force parameter; monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material during the relative rotation; determining a containment force related to the monitored wrap force; and dynamically adjusting the wrap force parameter based on the determined containment force. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material during the relative rotation; determining a wrap force proximate an initial contact between the packaging material and a corner of the load; and calculating an incremental containment force from the determined wrap force. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:
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monitoring a wrap force applied to the load by the packaging material during the relative rotation; determining an average wrap force, a minimum wrap force or a maximum wrap force over a full revolution of the load relative to the packaging material dispenser based on monitoring the wrap force; and calculating an incremental containment force from the determined average wrap force, minimum wrap force or maximum wrap force. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification