Patent ID: 9745087
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: A01F,B65B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for securing a wrapping material around an item, wherein the wrapping material has a leading end and a following end, the following end having a tail portion, wherein the wrapping material wraps around the item with at least one complete revolution forming at least one underlying layer such that the tail portion of the wrapping material overlaps the underlying layer, the apparatus comprising: a main plate positioned on a surface; and a plurality of projections extending from the main plate, each of the plurality of projections including a heating element and an independent height adjustment mechanism, wherein the independent height adjustment mechanism for a given projection controls a force applied to the wrapping material by the projection and provides a force for moving the projection from the main plate towards the item, and wherein the heating element is configured to weld the tail portion to the underlying layer by transferring heat to the tail portion, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the tail portion of the item is welded by the heating elements of the plurality of projections as the item rolls on the surface over the main plate.