LANTECH.COM, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140215968 | Film Clamp And Related Methods And Apparatuses For Wrapping Loads - An apparatus for clamping packaging material may include a packaging material holder. The packaging material holder may include a first jaw, a second jaw, opposing the first jaw, and a jaw opening between the first and second jaws. The jaw opening may be configured to receive a portion of packaging material. The packaging material holder may include an inflatable structure configured to fill at least a portion of the opening. The apparatus also may include a packaging material insertion tool configured to insert the portion of packaging material into the jaw opening for clamping. | 08-07-2014 |
20140208696 | Film Tension Apparatus And Supply Roll Support For Stretch Wrapping Machines - A film dispenser for stretch wrapping machines includes at least one roller and a first brake engageable with a braking surface the one roller. The first brake may include a flat brake pad that is pivotally movable for engagement with the braking surface, and is adjustable between a first configuration engaged with the braking surface and applying a first braking force, and a second configuration disengaged from the braking surface or only minimally engaged with the braking surface such that any braking force applied is substantially less than the first braking force. | 07-31-2014 |
20140116008 | CORNER GEOMETRY-BASED WRAPPING - A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a corner geometry-based wrap control that controls the rate at which packaging material is dispensed at least in part based on the geometrical relationship between one or more corners of a load and a packaging material dispenser. | 05-01-2014 |
20140116007 | EFFECTIVE CIRCUMFERENCE-BASED WRAPPING - A wrapping apparatus and method utilize an effective circumference-based wrap speed model that dynamically controls the rate at which packaging material is dispensed based on an effective circumference of a load during relative rotation established between the load and a packaging material dispenser. The effective circumference of a load may be indicative of an effective consumption rate of the load, and may refer to a dimension or size of a tangent circle that is substantially centered at the center of rotation of the load and substantially tangent to a line substantially extending between a first point proximate to where the packaging material exits the dispenser and a second point proximate to where the packaging material engages the load. The effective circumference of the load dynamically changes throughout the relative rotation of the load, and by controlling the dispense rate based at least in part on this dimension, fluctuations in tension in the packaging material may be reduced, often enabling containment force to be increased while reducing the risk of breakage in the packaging material. | 05-01-2014 |
20140116006 | ROTATION ANGLE-BASED WRAPPING - A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a corner rotation angle-based wrap control that controls the rate at which packaging material is dispensed based on the rotational position of one or more corners of the load during relative rotation established between the load and a packaging material dispenser. The locations of one or more corners on a load may be sensed or otherwise calculated, and when combined with a sensed or calculated rotational position of the load relative to a packaging material dispenser, the locations of the corners relative to the packaging material dispenser may be determined and utilized to control the dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser, e.g., by determining which corner is currently driving an effective consumption rate of the load and/or determining when to apply a controlled intervention to the load. | 05-01-2014 |
20130300047 | Turntable Assembly For Stretch Wrapping Machine - A turntable assembly for a stretch wrapping machine comprises a frame, a hub rotatably mounted to the frame on a shaft, a turntable mounted to the hub, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame defining a generally horizontal supporting plane for the turntable. Each roller has an axis of rotation generally parallel to the supporting plane and generally passing through the turntable axis of rotation. The frame is constructed so as to elastically deform, upon a load being placed upon the turntable that results in the load not being evenly supported by the rollers, to permit the roller axis of rotation to tilt relative to the horizontal supporting plane while still passing through the turntable axis of rotation. | 11-14-2013 |
20130076753 | Machine Generated Wrap Data - A method of determining and displaying wrapping data generated by a wrapping machine during wrapping of a load with a packaging material comprises determining forces exerted on a load by the packaging material during wrapping of the load, and displaying a graph of the forces exerted on the load during wrapping of the load with a display device, the graph including an axis indicative of the face of the load and one or more indicators along the axis indicative of the forces exerted on the load and the height of each force on the load. At least some of the indicators of the graph of the forces are displayed in a first color if above a predetermined value and are displayed in a second color if below a predetermined value. | 03-28-2013 |
20120175170 | Integrated Scale - A turntable that can be used with a machine for wrapping loads with packaging material includes a turntable assembly having a first support assembly and a load support surface supported for rotation on the first support assembly. A second support assembly contacts a floor surface, and a plurality of load cells disposed between the first and second support assemblies space the first support assembly and the load support surface above the floor surface. In use, the load cells sense a weight of a load on the load support surface. | 07-12-2012 |
20120174533 | Method and Apparatus For Dispensing An Amount Of Film Relative To Girth - A method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined amount of pre-stretched film based upon load girth. An amount of pre-stretched film to be dispensed for at least a portion of a relative revolution between a film dispenser and a load is determined based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum film use may be obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched film that is between approximately 100% and approximately 130% of load girth. Once the amount of film to be dispensed per relative revolution is determined, a ratio of final pre-stretch surface speed to relative revolutions (i.e., number of pre-stretch roller revolutions/relative rotation) can be set. Thus, for the at least a portion of a revolution of the rotating ring and dispenser, a predetermined amount of film is dispensed and wrapped around the load. | 07-12-2012 |
20120124944 | Wrapping Apparatus And Method Including Metered Pre-Stretch Film Delivery Assembly - A method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth is disclosed. A non-rotating ring carries a belt driven by a motor. A packaging material dispenser is mounted on a rotating ring, and the rotating ring may include a pulley that connects to the band, such that the rotating ring is driven by the drive belt. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for at least a portion of a revolution made by the rotating ring is determined. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum packaging material use is obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched packaging material that is between approximately 90% and approximately 120% of load girth. Once the amount of packaging material to be dispensed per revolution is determined, a ratio of rotating ring drive to final pre-stretch surface speed (i.e., number of pre-stretch roller revolution/rotating ring rotation) can be set and mechanically controlled. Thus, for each revolution of the rotating ring and dispenser, an amount of packaging material is dispensed and wrapped around the load. In an alternative embodiment, the ratio is electronically controlled. | 05-24-2012 |
20120102887 | Machine Generated Wrap Data - A method for generating data with a wrapping machine during wrapping of a load includes measuring a length of packaging material dispensed during wrapping of the load with a sensing assembly on the wrapping machine. The method further includes obtaining a value indicative of a weight of the packaging material per unit of length and determining a weight of the packaging material dispensed on the wrapped load based on the measured length and the obtained value without removing the packaging material from the load. The determined weight of the packaging material is displayed on a display device. | 05-03-2012 |
20120102886 | Methods and Apparatus For Evaluating Packaging Materials And Determining Wrap Settings For Wrapping Machines - A method of determining a wrap force or payout percentage at which to wrap a load with packaging material may include dispensing packaging material. The method may also include forming a tear in a portion of the packaging material. The method may further include identifying a first payout percentage at which the tear exhibits a first behavior. The method may also include identifying a second payout percentage at which the tear exhibits a second behavior. The method may further include selecting a third payout percentage between the first payout percentage and the second payout percentage, for wrapping the load. | 05-03-2012 |
20120102881 | Bladder Clamp And Related Methods And Apparatus For Wrapping Loads - A clamp assembly may include a first jaw member which may have a selectively inflatable bladder. In addition, the clamp assembly may further include a second jaw member which may have a belt. The first jaw member and the second jaw member may be configured to clamp material between the selectively inflatable bladder and the belt. | 05-03-2012 |
20090049803 | SIDE SEAL ASSEMBLY WITH INDEXING MECHANISM - A side seal assembly for a shrink wrap packaging system is located downstream in the feed direction from a wrapping station to join first and second plies together and enclose each of the products in individually wrapped packages. The side seal assembly includes a heated side seal mechanism to form the side seal weld and separate the selvage film. The assembly includes an indexing mechanism to index the side seal mechanism and expose a clean surface to the film without removal or extensive servicing of the assembly and the heretofore requisite downtime for the system. The sealing and cutting functions are combined into a single, stationary component thereby reducing the number of movable parts. Moreover, indexing the side seal mechanism operatively exposes a clean, free of resin build-up, peripheral edge of the side seal mechanism to the plies, without the need to stop production for extended periods of time while consistently producing a thin side seal weld on the package. | 02-26-2009 |