| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080230606 | SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A BULK FOODSTUFF TRANSPORT CONTAINER - A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of a bulk foodstuff container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the bulk foodstuff transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the bulk foodstuff transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred, and any authorized operator of the security monitoring system. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20110114721 | SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A BULK FOODSTUFF TRANSPORT CONTAINER - A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of cargo, such as in a bulk foodstuff transport container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which cargo is transferred, and optionally any authorized operator of the security monitoring system. | 05-19-2011 |
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| 20110146203 | WRAPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD INCLUDING METERED PRE-STRETCH FILM DELIVERY ASSEMBLY - The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth. 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. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20120031053 | Method For Securing A Load To A Pallet With A Roped Film Web - An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one drive down roller configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping mechanism. The at least one roping mechanism may be a cable rolling element configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include an assembly for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load. | 02-09-2012 |
| 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 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090235617 | WRAPPING APPARATUS HAVING TOP LOADING AND THREADING FILM DISPENSER - A film dispenser is provided, including an open top roll carriage having a base plate on which a film dispensing assembly, including an upstream roller and a downstream roller, may be mounted. A film path for film traveling through the film-dispensing assembly may be at least partially defined by a surface of the upstream roller and a surface of the downstream roller. The film path may be accessible via the open top of the roll carriage. The film dispenser may also include a drive assembly for the upstream roller and the downstream roller mounted below the base plate. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20100239403 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING BY PALLET TRUCK - An apparatus for transferring a load between a pallet truck and a load wrapping surface may include an angled ramp surface configured to support at least a portion of the pallet truck. The apparatus may also include an angled conveyor surface extending alongside at least a portion of the angled ramp surface. The angled conveyor surface may be configured to convey the load between the load wrapping surface and the angled ramp surface. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100313525 | WRAPPING APPARATUS HAVING TOP LOADING AND THREADING DISPENSER - A packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path. A first portion of the packaging material path may extend behind the packaging material dispensing assembly. The upper portion of the roll carriage may include an opening defining a packaging material path access area positioned to provide access to a top of the packaging material path. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism extending below the base plate. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110179752 | DEMAND THROTTLE METHODS AND APPARATUSES - An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material may include a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material. The apparatus may also include a relative rotation assembly for providing relative rotation between the load and the packaging material dispenser. The apparatus may further include a mechanical connection operatively coupling the packaging material dispenser to the relative rotation assembly. The relative rotation assembly may be configured to drive the packaging material dispenser through the mechanical connection. The apparatus may further include a force exerting mechanism operatively coupled to the mechanical connection. The apparatus may further include a sensing element configured sense a characteristic of dispensed packaging material. The sensing element may be operatively coupled to the mechanical connection. The force exerting mechanism and the sensing element may be configured to control the mechanical connection to maintain a selected ratio of packaging material dispensed to demand for packaging material at the load for at least a portion of a wrap cycle. | 07-28-2011 |
| 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 |
