Applicator for applying stretch film to palleted goods

• US 20030208994A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brian Arthur Gooding, Robert Kevin Walsh
• Inventors: Gooding, Brian Arthur, Walsh, Robert Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/557
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/085 using hand-held dispensers for stretch films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply

Abstract

An apparatus for applying stretch film to goods on a pallet. It uses a basic core holder to hold a roll of stretch film which has an adjustable braking mechanism. In addition, the apparatus, which is portable, is ergonomically correct, easy to use, and has a pair of pre-stretch rollers which allow the stretch film to be pulled to increase its elasticity, thereby securing goods effectively on a pallet.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for applying stretch film around goods on a pallet;

said apparatus comprising;

a handle;

a pair of end frames;

a core holder; and

a pair of pre-stretch rollers;

said core holder being adapted to engage two ends of an elongated core having stretch wrap film wrapped there around;

said core holder, including an adjustable braking mechanism at a first top end, such that in operation, said stretch wrap is under tension during application around said goods on said pallet.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core holder includes a second bottom end opposite said first top end;

said second bottom end being pivotally mounted and spring loaded such that in operation, one end of said core is mounted thereon and a second opposite end of said core is resiliently biased towards said adjustable braking mechanism located at said first top end.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein first and second ends of said handle are fixedly attached to said end frames which are further defined as first top end frame and second bottom end frame, said end frames being substantially triangular and planar;

said two pre-stretch rollers being mounted there between;

said braking mechanism also being mounted in said first top frame end and said bottom end of said core holder being mounted in said second bottom frame end;

said core holder core, and said pre-stretch rollers being mounted such that they are in line at opposite ends and parallel to one another.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bottom frame is substantially planar on an outside surface, whereby in operation, permitting an operator to apply film around both a portion of said pallet as well as said goods.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pre-stretch rollers include gears mounted on one end of said rollers;

said gears being adjacent to said first top end frame;

said gears on an upper second pre-stretch roller including fewer gear teeth than those on a lower first pre-stretch roller;

said gear teeth on each of said pre-stretch rollers in operation being adapted to engage one another, such that said upper roller rotates at a greater speed than said lower roller, thereby increasing tension on said stretch wrap and promoting uniform wrapping with greater elasticity.

6. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein in operation, tension on said core holder can be varied by said braking mechanism such that at least two different frictional tensions can be applied to said stretch wrap.

7. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including an adjuster outer nob for brake tension adjustment, a frame support intermediate bracket, and a core coupler, said bracket being fixedly attached to a first top end frame and rotatably secured to said core coupler by means of a screw adapted to engage a screw sleeve which includes a threaded end adapted to pass through said coupler and be secured by a nut.

8. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 7, including washers secured on said screw within said intermediate bracket;

said adjustment nob further including an earth magnet;

said intermediate bracket further including an oblique slot on an outer portion having a plurality of recesses therein, and an annular recess on an inner portion;

said annular recess being adapted to receive an O-ring, said O-ring in operation creating friction on said coupler.

9. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said adjustment nob further includes a tension screw with a spring-loaded bearing on the tip of the said tension screw;

wherein in operation, as said nob is rotated towards said bracket, said magnet draws, said nob towards said bracket thereby creating friction between said O-ring and said coupler and creating resistance to rotation of said core having stretch wrap film thereon.

10. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein, in operation, said tension screw with said spring-loaded ball bearing, upon rotation of said adjustment nob, is adapted to project into one of said recesses in said oblique slot thereby increasing or decreasing magnetic pull between said magnet and said washers and thereby increasing or decreasing, accordingly, the friction between said O-ring and said coupler, thus respectively increasing or decreasing tension on said core.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said coupler is tapered with projections;

said Projections being adapted to engage factory-made predetermined notches in said core with said stretch film wrapped there around.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second bottom end of said core holder includes a pivot pin and a tapered bolt mounted on said pin adapted to be mounted in a recess of said second bottom end frame;

said bolt, including a plurality of washers and a compression spring mounted thereon and adapted to secure said bottom end of said core coupler by means of a washer and nut.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said bottom end of said core holder is tapered outwardly and adapted to secure said core with stretch film there around.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is serpentine in configuration.

15. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 7, including washers secured on said screw within said intermediate bracket;

said adjustment nob further including an earth magnet;

said intermediate bracket further including an oblique slot on an outer portion having a plurality of recesses therein, and an annular recess on an inner portion;

said inner annular recess being adapted to receive a first disk brake pad and said coupler includes in an annular recess a second disk brake pad;

wherein in operation, increased friction between said disk brake pads reduces ease of rotation of said core coupler.

16. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein said adjustment nob further includes a tension screw with a spring-loaded bearing on the tip of said tension screw which is adapted to be received by recesses in such oblique slots, wherein in operation, as said nob is rotated, said tension screw projects into recesses increasingly closer to said coupler and said magnet draws said nob towards said bracket thereby creating friction between said first and second disk brake pads, thus creating resistance to rotation of said core having stretch wrap film thereon.