Applicator for applying stretch film to palleted goods

• US 6,883,298 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US10/430,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 535/56, 535/92, 532/10, 532/19, 533/90, 156/574, 156/577, 156/579, 156/494, 242/423.1, 242/423.2, 242/588.2, 242/588, 242/588.3, 242/588.6, 188156-164, 100/29, 100/32
• US Class Current: 53/592
• 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 manual handheld apparatus for applying stretch film around goods on a pallet, said apparatus comprising:

a handle;

a pair of end frames;

an unheated stretch film core holder; and

a first downstream pre-stretch roller and a second upstream pre-stretch roller;

said pre-stretch rollers being in geared relationship with one another and rotating independently of said stretch film core holder;

said first downstream pre-stretch roller rotating faster than said second upstream roller;

said rollers being rotated in operation by tension exerted on said stretch film around goods on a pallet by an operator;

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;

said adjustable braking mechanism including a tension knob with an earth magnet inserted therein at one end, remote from said stretch film;

a large inset washer adapted to attract said earth magnet;

an oblique slot containing at least three recesses;

said recesses being adapted to receive a spring loaded ball bearing projecting inwardly in said knob;

wherein in operation, manual rotation of said knob decreases or increases friction on said core holder;

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 cone-shaped, pivotally mounted, and spring loaded such that in operation, said core holder wound with stretch film is resiliently biased towards said adjustable braking mechanism located at said first top end.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second bottom end of said core holder includes a pivot pin and a taper 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.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein first and second ends of said handle are fixedly attached to said end frames which are further defined as a first top end frame and a 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 a second bottom end of said core holder being mounted in said second bottom frame end;

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

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 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.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said end frame are further defined as a first top end frame and a second bottom end frame, and wherein said pre-stretch rollers in geared relationship include gears mounted on said rollers adjacent to said first top end frame;

said gears on said downstream pre-stretch roller including fewer gear teeth than those on said upstream pre-stretch roller;

such that said downstream roller rotates at a greater speed than said upstream roller, thereby increasing tension on said stretch wrap and promoting uniform wrapping with greater elasticity.

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

8. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end frames are further defined as a first top end frame and a second bottom end frame, the apparatus also including a frame support intermediate bracket, and a core coupler, said bracket being fixedly attached to said 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.

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

said intermediate bracket including 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.

10. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein in operation, as said knob is rotated, said magnet draws said knob towards or away from said bracket thereby increasing or decreasing friction between said O-ring and said coupler.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein a bottom end of said coupler has a plurality of linear projections being adapted to engage factory-made predetermined notches in said core with said stretch film wrapped there around.

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

said adjustment knob 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.

13. An apparatus with a braking mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjustment knob 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 said oblique slot, wherein in operation, as said knob is rotated, said tension screw projects into recesses increasingly closer to said coupler and said magnet draws said knob 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.