Patent ID: 7051492
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. Portable apparatus adapted to be moved along a circular locus around an article disposed at a wrapping station so as to be capable of wrapping the article in wrapping film, comprising: a chassis framework; a plurality of wheels mounted upon said chassis framework so as to enable said portable apparatus to be moved around a wrapping station at which an article is to be wrapped; a vertically oriented mast assembly mounted upon said chassis framework; a film roll carriage vertically movable upon said vertically oriented mast assembly between START and FINISH positions during a film wrapping operation performed upon an article at the wrapping station; a roll of wrapping film mounted upon said film roll carriage; connection means operatively connected at a first end portion thereof to said film roll carriage, and operatively connected at a second end portion thereof to said chassis framework, for biasing said film roll carriage in a vertically upward direction; and control means mounted upon said vertically oriented mast assembly for movement between ENGAGED and DISENGAGED positions with respect to said connection means so as to operatively control the vertical movement of said film roll carriage along said vertically oriented mast assembly between said START and FINISH positions by permitting said film roll carriage to move in said vertically upward direction, under the biasing influence of said connection means, as a result of said control means being disposed at said DISENGAGED position with respect to said connection means, and by preventing movement of said film roll carriage in said vertically upward direction, under the biasing influence of said connection means, as a result of said control means being disposed at said ENGAGED position with respect to said connection means.