Patent ID: 8001745
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A material usage tracking system for monitoring and optimizing usage of stretch film on a stretch wrapping machine used to wrap products or pallets of products, the system comprising: a rotary encoder collar configured to be securable to a pre-stretch roller of a stretch wrapping machine; a proximity sensor configured for placement proximate to the rotary encoder collar, upon installation, the proximity sensor configured to measure the revolutions of the pre-stretch roller based on the rotation of the rotary encoder collar when the stretch wrapping machine is wrapping a product or pallet; a controller in communication with the proximity sensor, the controller configured to convert the revolutions of the pre-stretch roller into a measurement of the amount of stretch film pulled off a stretch film roll in the stretch wrapping machine based on data received from the proximity sensor; and wherein the measurement of the amount of stretch film pulled off a stretch film roll is compared to a benchmark value for an amount of stretch film that is expected to be used for the type of product or pallet being wrapped.