Patent ID: 7594371
Filing Date: 2009-09-29
Classification: B65B,B65H

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for forming a top film sheet from a film web wound upon a roll of film, and for depositing the top film sheet onto an object located at a packaging station so as to be packaged, comprising: a framework; a roll of film rotatably mounted upon said framework so as to permit film, having a predetermined transversely oriented width dimension and disposed upon said roll of film, to be unwound from said roll of film; transversely oriented holding devices, mounted upon said framework so as to be movable with respect to each other between OPEN and CLOSED positions, and extending substantially along the entire width dimension of said film, for releasably holding a portion of said film with a holding force that is substantially uniformly applied along said entire width dimension of said film; a cutting device disposed a predetermined distance from said holding devices for severing said film, at a location which is spaced from said holding devices, and upon completion of a top film sheet forming cycle, forms a free end portion of said film which depends downwardly from said holding devices; and transversely oriented pulling devices, movable with respect to each other between OPEN and CLOSED positions, extending substantially along the entire width dimension of said film for releasably gripping said downwardly dependent free portion of said film with a gripping force which is substantially uniformly applied along said entire width dimension of said film, and movably mounted upon said framework between an EXTENDED position at which said pulling devices are disposed beneath said holding devices so as to grip said downwardly dependent free end portion of said film, and a RETRACTED position at which said pulling devices are disposed remote from said holding devices so as to unwind a portion of said film from said roll of film and thereby form the top film sheet for deposition onto the object which is located at the packaging station so as to be packaged.