REAR DISCHARGE MAT ROLLING MACHINE WITH WRAPPER

• US 20140075887A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mat Processing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mat Processing, LLC
• Inventors: Akpan, Kufre
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/430
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/04 the articles being rotated
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/56 Rolling articles with wrappers along a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/146 packaging rolled-up articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 63/04 for folding or winding articles, e.g. gloves or stockings
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/22 by friction band
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1922 for covering surfaces such as carpets, roads, roofs or walls

Abstract

A mat rolling machine for rolling a mat having a leading edge and a trailing edge may include a frame, at least one first drive belt, a plurality of second drive belts, a plurality of third drive belts, and a plurality of fourth drive belts. The mat rolling machine may include a plurality of primary fingers and a plurality of secondary fingers having a smaller radius of curvature on a lower face than the plurality of primary fingers. The mat rolling machine may include at least one support member for guiding a mat along a path through the mat rolling machine, and at least one pusher for discharging a rolled mat from the rear of the mat rolling machine. The mat rolling machine may include a wrapper cartridge. The mat rolling machine may include a cutter mechanism.

Claims

1. A mat rolling machine for use in rolling a mat having a leading edge and a trailing edge, comprising:

a frame defining a front of the machine and a rear of the machine;

a plurality of drive belts configured to convey the mat from the front of the machine, through the machine, to the rear of the machine;

wherein the mat is discharged from the rear of the machine in a generally spiral configuration; and

a wrapper cartridge coupled to the frame, the wrapper cartridge configured to dispense a stretch wrap about the mat in the generally spiral configuration.

2. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably removable from the mat rolling machine.

3. The mat rolling machine of claim 2, wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably removable from the rear of the mat rolling machine.

4. The mat rolling machine of claim 2, further comprising a wrapper housing fixedly attached to the frame, wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably received within the wrapper housing.

5. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, further comprising a cutter mechanism fixedly attached to the frame, the cutter mechanism including an axially extendable blade.

6. The mat rolling machine of claim 5, wherein the cutter mechanism is configured to translate the blade between an axially retracted position and an axially extended position.

7. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, wherein the wrapper cartridge includes a pivotable applicator arm extending therefrom.

8. The mat rolling machine of claim 7, wherein the applicator arm includes a first curved element spaced apart from and fixedly attached to a second curved element to define an elongate passage therebetween for providing the stretch wrap from the wrapper cartridge to the mat.

9. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, wherein the wrapper cartridge is disposed at least partially rearward of the plurality of drive belts.

10. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of primary fingers configured to be movable as a set, wherein each primary finger is oriented generally rearward and has a first radius of curvature on a lower face.

11. The mat rolling machine of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of secondary fingers configured to be movable as a set, wherein each secondary finger is oriented generally rearward and has a second radius of curvature on a lower face smaller than the first radius of curvature.

12. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, wherein the front of the mat rolling machine is adjustable between a lower and a higher vertical height.

13. The mat rolling machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one generally rearward- and upward-facing pusher adapted to discharge the mat from the rear of the machine in the generally spiral configuration.

14. The mat rolling machine of claim 13, wherein the mat follows a path through the mat rolling machine which brings the mat into contact with the plurality of secondary fingers before the mat contacts the plurality of primary fingers.

15. The mat rolling machine of claim 14, wherein the mat is in contact with the lower face of the plurality of secondary fingers for a shorter period of time than the mat is in contact with the lower face of the plurality of primary fingers as the mat is rolled into the generally spiral configuration.

16. A method of rolling a floor mat, comprising:

providing a mat rolling machine including;

a frame defining a front of the machine and a rear of the machine;

a plurality of drive belts configured to convey the floor mat from the front of the machine, through the machine, to the rear of the machine;

wherein the floor mat is discharged from the rear of the machine in a generally spiral configuration; and

a wrapper cartridge coupled to the frame, the wrapper cartridge having an applicator arm configured to apply a stretch wrap about the floor mat in the generally spiral configuration;

inserting a leading edge of the floor mat into the front of the machine;

feeding the floor mat through the machine;

sensing a leading edge or a trailing edge of the floor mat at a predetermined point within the machine;

after sensing the leading edge or the trailing edge, actuating the applicator arm from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein in the extended position, the applicator arm presses the stretch wrap against the floor mat; and

rolling the floor mat a plurality of times, thereby drawing stretch wrap from the wrapper cartridge and wrapping the stretch wrap about the floor mat.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing the stretch wrap in tension between the floor mat and the wrapper cartridge; and

cutting the stretch wrap between the floor mat and the wrapper cartridge.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein placing the stretch wrap in tension includes activating a brake actuator disposed within the wrapper cartridge.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the wrapper cartridge is slidably received within a wrapper housing fixedly attached to the mat rolling machine.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the mat rolling machine includes a cutter mechanism fixedly attached to the frame, the cutter mechanism having an axially extendable blade configured to cut the stretch wrap.