Wrapping apparatus and method

The present invention discloses a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load of material comprising a traversing endless loop track, a wrapping medium dispensing shuttle able to navigate about the entire length of the track, and a plurality of individual retractable support stands aligned to form a retractable support table. The track is oriented to encircle the load of material while traversing the length of the load. The support stands are able to be individually biased between a raised and lowered position such that a gap between the support stand and the load is created allowing passage of the track therethrough. In operation, runner members are placed on the support stands and a load of material is placed atop the runners. The track is traversed along the length of the load and the shuttle is made to travel about the circumference of the track while dispensing wrapping medium therefrom onto the surface of the load of material. The support stands and previously loaded runners are individually sequentially lowered to allow passage of the track and application of the wrapping medium to the complete surface of the load along its length without encapsulating the runners. The runners are then temporarily affixed to the bottom of the load. The wrapping medium is twisted into a rope and the track is traversed back across the length of the load, with each support stand individually lowering to allow the track to pass and to allow the runners to be roped into place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to the wrapping, packaging and palletizing of 
goods. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automated 
apparatus for wrapping goods in the nature of relatively large 
three-dimensional items in an envelope of protective packaging and for 
securing support members thereto. 
2. Description of the Invention Background 
The efficient and effective protection and transportation of both packaged 
and unpackaged goods has long been one of the more vexing problems facing 
manufacturers and shippers of those goods. In a variety of cases, 
enclosing the goods in a web of stretch wrap plastic and placing the goods 
on a wooden pallet has proven to be an effective method of protecting the 
goods during shipping and handling. In the current automated palletizing 
devices, the goods are place on a pallet and then the pallet and the goods 
are run through a wrapping apparatus wherein the pallet and goods are 
wrapped together within a single web of plastic. The web of plastic forms 
a moisture barrier around the goods, while the pallet provides for 
simplified transportation by way of a forklift or other material handling 
device. 
However, current automated methods of stretch wrapping and palletizing do 
not work well for all types of materials. Thus, some types of materials 
require manual wrapping and palletizing. In addition to yielding 
inconsistent results, manual wrapping and palletizing of goods is 
generally time consuming and expensive. The cost, time and results often 
combine to eliminate manual wrapping and palletizing as an option for many 
producers of goods. In particular, sheet metal producers are relegated to 
stacking the bare sheet metal directly onto a pallet and then strapping 
the sheet metal to the pallet using a variety of metal bands. Clearly, 
such a method provides little protection to the product against damage and 
deterioration during shipping and storage. As a result, manufacturers of 
sheet metal and other products similarly not suited to wrapping and 
palletizing using existing automated wrapping and palletizing machinery 
require an alternative means of preparing their goods for transport that 
will provide a cost effective means of protecting their goods during 
shipping and handling. 
However, simply modifying an existing automated wrapping and palletizing 
machine to accommodate stacks of sheet metal invites inefficiency. 
Existing methods of palletizing and wrapping suffer from several key 
inefficiencies. The utility of such packaging is lost after shipping and 
handling and it is typically discarded when the goods reach their ultimate 
destination. It is thus desirable that such protective wrapping be 
inexpensive and recyclable or easily disposable. In addition, the 
traditional pallet too, is normally disposed of or recycled and reused 
when the goods are ultimately used for their intended purpose. Therefore, 
it also desirable that both the pallet or platform and the plastic web be 
relatively inexpensive and recyclable or easily disposed of. 
Unfortunately, addressing the issues of cost and disposability generally 
requires a reduction in the overall strength and resiliency of the 
protection provided over extended periods of time. 
In seeking to deal with these concerns, the existing art has embraced a 
palletizing method that includes placing the load or material to be 
shipped on a disposable wooden pallet and wrapping the load and pallet 
together in a single envelope of wrapping medium. Such wrapping medium 
normally includes a form of stretch-wrap plastic film, which is chemically 
inert, impervious to most liquids and highly adherent to the material 
around which it is wrapped. This method has proven to be effective in 
protecting the goods from any outside environmental damage and in 
facilitating the simplified transportation of the palletized load by a 
fork-lift or other material handing vehicle. However, this method has 
proven to be expensive and undesirable for use with numerous types of 
goods. 
By their nature, wooden pallets harbour moisture and other impurities 
within the wood fibres from which they are composed. As such, when they 
are enclosed in the same impervious envelope of plastic wrap in which the 
goods are wrapped, the goods are necessarily exposed to this foreign 
material and moisture. If the goods are such that they are susceptible to 
corrosion and other degradation due to moisture and impurities contained 
in the wood, the protective effect of the wrapping layer is necessarily 
compromised. Thus, for goods comprising metallic materials in particular, 
such conventional methods of wrapping transport have proven unsuitable. In 
addition, the additional weight and cost of the pallet serves to add 
additional expense to the shipping process. Likewise, whether disposed of 
or stored for later use, pallets are expensive and bulky. Thus, even after 
the shipping process is complete, the pallet continues to add further 
expense to the shipping and handling process. 
It is thus desirable to eliminate the pallet entirely without sacrificing 
protection to the load and thereby minimize packaging cost without 
sacrificing quality. A need thus exists for an automated apparatus and 
method of wrapping loads of material in a protective layer that is 
resilient to potentially damaging environmental factors, low in cost and 
easily removed for disposal. A need also exists for an automated apparatus 
and method that allows such an envelope of wrapping medium to be formed in 
conjunction with a pallet or other suitable platform that is of minimal 
cost. 
None of the known automated wrappers and palletizers in the prior art 
provide an adequate solution to the forgoing problems. The subject 
invention is thus directed toward a wrapping apparatus and method which 
addresses, among others, the above-discussed needs and provides an 
apparatus and method for wrapping a large solid, item or a plurality of 
large solid items, in an envelope of protective packaging and for forming 
and securing a platform of minimal cost thereto, that is suitable for the 
handling and storage of loads of material for extended periods of time. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, there is 
provided an automated apparatus for wrapping or unitizing a load of 
material in a unitary envelope of wrapping medium and for affixing a 
plurality of supports to the bottom of the unitized load of material, as 
well as a method of using the apparatus. The combination of the plurality 
of supports and web of wrapping medium serve the same purpose and function 
as would a traditional pallet banded to the load of material. However, the 
present apparatus and method provide superior protection against exposure 
of the load to any of the impurities or moisture that the load may come 
into contact with, at a great savings in weight and cost over any of the 
existing automated or manual palletizing apparatus. Further, after 
shipping and handling is complete, the packaging materials utilized by the 
instant invention may be easily broken down and recycled with minimal 
effort by the user. 
The apparatus disclosed herein includes a retractable support table 
designed to support the load of material that is to be wrapped. The 
retractable support table is comprised of a plurality of individual 
support stands. Each support stand is adapted to be hydraulically biased 
between a raised position and a lowered position, such that a gap is 
created between the bottom of the load of material and the support stand, 
when support stand is in the lowered position. A endless loop track is 
provided and includes a shuttle that is able to travel about the entire 
circumference of the endless track. The endless loop track is mounted on a 
movable support frame that is adapted to traverse along the entire length 
of the retractable support table, while encircling the load of material in 
the endless loop track. Thus, by using appropriate electrical and 
hydraulic controls to successively lower the support stands in the path of 
the endless loop track while the applicator traverses the load, the 
present design allows the applicator to be positioned at any angle 
relative to the load of material. When loaded with stretch wrap material, 
the applicator can thus wrap the entire surface of the load, in a variety 
of patterns along the length of the load. 
The method of achieving the preferred wrapping configuration includes the 
steps of placing individual runner boards on the appropriate support 
stands, placing a load of material to be wrapped atop the support stands 
containing the runner boards and maneuvering the loop trolley in 
conjunction with selectively biasing the appropriate support stands so as 
to permit the endless loop track to encircle the entire length of the load 
in an envelope of wrapping medium. The method further includes the steps 
temporarily affixing each of the runner boards to the wrapped load of 
material, positioning the loop trolley adjacent to an individual runner 
board, lowering the support stand beneath that runner board, and securing 
the runner board to the unitized load by means of the stretch material and 
repeating this process for each of the individual runner boards. The 
process results in a unitized load of material, contained in a unitary 
envelope of wrapping medium, and a plurality of runner boards, serving 
together as a pallet, each individually secured to the unitized load in 
their own envelopes of wrapping medium. 
Accordingly, the present invention provides solutions to the aforementioned 
problems associated with existing unitizing and palletizing devices. The 
reader will appreciate that these and other details, objects and 
advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of 
the present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating the 
embodiments of the invention depicted in the Figures, and not for purposes 
of limiting the same, the Figures show a material wrapping apparatus. More 
particularly and with reference to FIG. 1, the wrapping apparatus is shown 
generally at 1 for a load 2 of elongated articles such as steel sheets. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the wrapping apparatus 1 includes a retractable support 
table 10 including a plurality of support stands 11 (shown with load of 
material 2 supported thereby) and a loop trolley 50 adapted to traverse 
along the length of the support table 10. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each 
support stand 11 is preferably designed in an inverted scissors-lift 
design. As such, each support stand 11 generally includes first and second 
lift members 13 and 14 pivotally mounted to base portions 26 and 36, 
respectively, on floor plate 5 and first and second hydraulic cylinders 15 
and 16, coupled between the first and second lift members 13 and 14, 
respectively, and base portion 38. First lift member 13 includes first and 
second arm portions 18 and 19, respectively, rotatably connected at a 
center joint 20. The first arm portion 18 is also rotatably connected at 
its other end to the load support bar 12. The second arm portion 19 is 
rotatably connected at its other end to base portion 26 by lower joint 21. 
Preferably, the upper, center and lower joints 22, 20 and 21, 
respectively, are comprised of shaft mounted roller bearings or the like. 
Likewise, the first and second arm portions 18 and 19 are preferably of 
equal length such that the distance between the center joint 20 and the 
upper joint 22 is equal to the distance between the center joint 20 and 
the lower joint 21. Second lift member 14 includes primary and secondary 
arm portions 28 and 29, respectively, rotatably connected at a center 
joint 30. The primary arm portion 28 is also rotatably connected at its 
other end to the load support bar 12, while the secondary arm portion 29 
is rotatably connected at its other end to base portion 36 by lower joint 
31. Preferably, the upper, center and lower joints 32, 30 and 31, 
respectively, are comprised of shaft mounted roller bearings or the like. 
Likewise, the primary and secondary arm portions 28 and 29 are preferably 
of equal length such that the distance between the center joint 30 and the 
upper joint 32 is equal to the distance between the center joint 30 and 
the lower joint 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second arms 18 and 
19 and the primary and secondary arms 28 and 29, respectively, are 
arranged to rotate over center about center joints 20 and 30, 
respectively, by a small degree to make the first and second lift members 
13 and 14 self-locking in the raised position. Thus, as shown in the 
raised position in FIG. 2 and the lowered position in FIG. 3, the support 
stands are preferably implemented using an inverse scissors-lift design. 
As shown in FIGS. 2-5, additional stability is provided to the inverted 
scissors-lift design of each lift member 11 by the addition of a chain and 
sprocket arrangement on each of the first and second lift members, 
respectively. In particular, as shown on the first lift member 13 in FIGS. 
4 and 5, a lower sprocket 24 is attached to the first lift member 13 at 
lower joint 21. Rotation of the lower sprocket 24 is fixed relative to the 
base 26 by a keeper plate 40. An upper sprocket 23 is attached to the 
first lift member 13 at the center joint 20. Rotation of the upper 
sprocket 23 is fixed relative to the first arm 18 by an upper pin 41. A 
chain 25 is provided forming an endless loop around the upper and lower 
sprockets 23 and 24, respectively. Turnbuckles 39 are provided to tighten 
the chain and to thus maintain the span length of the chain 25 such that 
the distance of the portions of the chain 25 running between upper and 
lower sprockets 23 and 24, respectively, may be kept equidistant. As such, 
when the second arm 19 is pivoted, the upper sprocket 23 is forced to 
travel along the fixed chain 25, thus causing the first arm 18 to pivot in 
the opposite of the second arm 19 in a scissors-like motion. Preferably, 
the circumference of the upper sprocket 23 is half that of the lower 
sprocket 24. Due to the difference in circumference between the upper and 
lower sprockets 23 and 24, respectively, the first arm 18 is caused to 
pivot at twice the rate of second arm 19. 
It will be appreciated that the operation and design of chain and sprocket 
arrangement on the first lift member 13, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, is 
duplicated in second lift member 14. As such, in the second lift member 
14, a lower sprocket 34 is attached to the second lift member 14 at lower 
joint 31. Rotation of the lower sprocket 34 is fixed relative to the base 
36 by a keeper plate 40. An upper sprocket 33 is attached to the second 
lift member 14 at the center joint 30. Rotation of the upper sprocket 33 
is fixed relative to the primary arm 28 by an upper pin 40. A chain 35 is 
provided to form an endless loop around the upper and lower sprockets 33 
and 34, respectively. Turnbuckles 39 are provided to tighten the chain and 
thus maintain the span length of the chain 35 such that the distance of 
the portions of the chain 35 running between upper and lower sprockets 33 
and 34, respectively, may be kept equidistant. As such, when the secondary 
arm 29 is pivoted, the upper sprocket 33 is forced to travel along the 
fixed chain 35, thus causing the primary arm 28 to pivot in the opposite 
direction of the secondary arm 29 in a scissors like motion. Preferably, 
the circumference of the upper sprocket 33 is approximately half that of 
the lower sprocket 34. Due to the difference in circumference between the 
upper and lower sprockets 33 and 34, respectively, the primary arm 28 to 
pivots at twice the rate of secondary arm 29. 
It will be appreciated that such an inverted scissors-lift design described 
above also provides for automatic deceleration of the lift rate as the 
load bar 12 comes into contact with the bottom of the load 2. Likewise, it 
will also be appreciated that additional embodiments such telescoping 
members, accordion or multiple scissors lift members or a chain-lift 
apparatus could alternatively be employed to raise and lower the 
retractable support stands 11 and are within the purview of this 
disclosure. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, hydraulic cylinders 15 and 16 are attached at 
one end to each of the first and second lift members 13 and 14, 
respectively, and at their opposite ends to an upright member 38 secured 
to floor plate 5. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinders 15 and 16 are 
attached to the second and secondary arms 19 and 29, respectively, of lift 
members 13 and 14, respectively, to provide for rapid biasing of the 
retractable stand between the raised position (see FIG. 2) and lowered 
position (see FIG. 3). The spacing between each individual retractable 
support stand 11 may be varied to facilitate wrapping of loads 2 having 
varying lengths as is desired by the user. In operation, each of the 
support stands 11 is able to be biased between a raised position (see FIG. 
2) and a lowered position (see FIG. 3) by actuation of the hydraulic 
cylinders 15 and 16, respectively. The design and operation of the 
hydraulic cylinders is described in greater detail below. 
In FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that the loop trolley 50 includes a 
support frame 51 with an endless loop track 52 mounted thereto. The 
endless loop track 52 further includes a shuttle 53 and an applicator 54 
mounted thereon. Preferably, the endless loop track 52 is a standard 
looped track, which may be such as that provided by Coilmaster USA of 
Addison, Ill., having a T-frame cross-section. Preferably, the shuttle 53, 
which also may be such as that provided by Coilmaster USA of Addison, 
Ill., is adapted to travel along the entire circumference of the T-frame 
endless loop track 52 on nylon wheels (not pictured) by means of a 
variable speed electric motor (not pictured) connected to a main drive 
axle by a timing belt (not pictured). A nylon pinion gear (not pictured) 
is mounted on the main drive axle of the shuttle 53 and is adapted to 
contact the inside of the T-frame endless loop track 52, thus enabling the 
shuttle 53 to travel about the entire circumference of the track 52. 
Preferably, the applicator 54, which also may be such as that provided by 
Coilmaster USA of Addison, Ill., is designed to dispense wrapping medium 
80 and/or 81 onto the load 2. The wrapping medium 80 and/or 81 may include 
any one of the many forms of stretch-wrap plastic film currently available 
and is generally preferred to be chemically inert and impervious to most 
liquids. The loop trolley 50 itself is also outfitted with wheels 75 
inside wheel housings 76, adapted to run along a set of tracks 78, placed 
in the floor 5, running along the sides of the retractable support table 
10 (see FIG. 8), and variable speed electric motors (not pictured) that 
enable the trolley 50 to traverse along the length of the retractable 
support table 10. The loop trolley 50 is also provided with a cut and 
clamp assembly 77 designed to automatically clamp the wrapping medium 80 
and/or 81 at the completion of a wrapping cycle and cut the material, thus 
allowing for the automatic starting of the next wrapping cycle. It will be 
appreciated that the foregoing equipment, which is described as preferably 
supplied by Coilmaster, USA could also be supplied by alternative sources 
as is required by the needs of the wrapping apparatus. 
When any of the retractable stands 11 is in the lowered position (see FIG. 
3), the portion of the load 2 normally supported by that stand 11 will 
have a natural tendency to deflect toward the floor 5 under the influence 
of gravity. Depending upon the stock and grade of the load 2, this 
deflection may be severe enough to interfere with the wrapping operation 
of the loop trolley 50. Lead and tail support arms 60 and 65, 
respectively, are provided to provide additional support to the load 2 and 
to prevent any deflection. The lead and tail support arms 60 and 65, 
respectively, are pivotably anchored to the support frame 51 at pivots 62 
and 67, respectively. The movement of the lead and tail support arms 60 
and 65, about pivots 62 and 67, respectively, is controlled by sets of 
hydraulic cylinders 61a and 61b and 66a and 66b, respectively. In 
operation, the lead support arm 60 may be raised by the action of a set of 
hydraulic cylinders 61a and 61b such that the support roll 63 contacts the 
bottom of the load 2 and prevents deflection of the load 2 from taking 
place. Similarly, the tail support arm 65 may be raised by the action of a 
set of hydraulic cylinders 66a and 66b, such that the support roll 68 too 
contacts the bottom of the load 2 and prevents deflection of the load 2 
from taking place. It will be appreciated that the set of hydraulic 
cylinders 61a and 61b operates in unison, as does the set of hydraulic 
cylinders 66a and 66b. It will be further appreciated that both support 
arms 60 and 65, respectively, may be raised and lowered both alone or in 
tandem, thus providing for continuous support of the load 2 as the loop 
trolley 50 traverses past each support stand 11. 
As shown schematically in FIG. 10, the first and second lift members 13 and 
14 of the retractable support stands 11 are powered by hydraulic cylinders 
15 and 16, respectively, and the support arms 60 and 65 are powered by 
hydraulic cylinders 61a and 61b and 66a and 66b, respectively. Preferably, 
the hydraulic system is powered by a single pump 89 feeding supply line 88 
from hydraulic reservoir 90. As such, the hydraulic cylinders of the 
support stands 11, lead support arm 60, and tail support arm 65 are fed in 
series from this system. However, in the case of the retractable support 
stands 11, it is of primary importance that the hydraulic cylinders 15 and 
16 raise and lower the first and second lift members 13 and 14, 
respectively, in unison such that the load support bar 12 remains parallel 
with the underside of the load 2 at all times. Thus, the hydraulic 
cylinders 15 and 16 of each support stand 11 are fed in parallel from the 
system. This parallel feed arrangement is preferably accomplished by 
providing a mechanical flow divider 86 in the supply line 88 to equally 
split the flow of hydraulic fluid from the supply line 88 that feeds the 
first and second lift members 13 and 14. As such, the flow of hydraulic 
fluid provided to each cylinder 15 and 16, respectively, by the supply 
line 88 will be equal. In addition, a double directional valve 87 is 
provided to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid in and out of the 
cylinders 15 and 16. As such, equal flow is maintained within each of the 
cylinders 15 and 16 and the motion of the cylinders 15 and 16 is 
maintained in unison. In the case of the support arms 60 and 65, it is of 
primary importance that each of the support arms 60 and 65, be capable of 
independent movement. Thus, the sets of hydraulic cylinders 61a and 61b 
and 66a and 66b, serving the support arms 60 and 65, respectively, are 
linked in series to the hydraulic reservoir 90 by supply line 88. In 
addition, each of the sets of cylinders 61a and 61b and 66a and 66b, is 
also provided with a separate directional value 64 and 69, respectively, 
to independently regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid in and out of the 
cylinders. 
As shown schematically in FIG. 11, the automated operation of the 
electrical and hydraulic motors that power the wrapping apparatus 1 is 
controlled by a programmable computer 43. The data concerning the 
operation of the wrapping apparatus 1 is provided to the programmable 
computer 43 by a variety of data collection devices positioned on the 
wrapping apparatus 1. The position of the trolley 50 on the floor tracks 
78 relative to the load 2 is preferably derived from several sources. 
Absolute real time distance measurements are provided by an optical 
distance measurement device 57 positioned on the support frame 51. Such a 
system is well known in the art and is used to determine the real time 
position of the trolley 50 on the floor tracks 78 relative to a fixed 
position at one end of the tracks 78. The position of the trolley 50 
relative to the support table 10 is provided by a photo-eye 58 positioned 
at the lead end of the support frame 51. As such, the photo-eye system 58 
is also well known in the art and is capable of detecting the presence or 
absence of the load 2. Such a system is thus used to detect when the 
trolley 50 reaches the ends of the load 2. The precise position of the 
trolley 50 relative to each individual support stand 11 is provided by a 
series of proximity switches 59 positioned adjacent to each of the 
plurality of support stands 11, respectively. As the trolley 50 passes a 
given support stand 11, the proximity switch 59 adjacent to that support 
stand 11 is activated. As such, the activation of a particular proximity 
switch 59 indicates that the trolley 50 has reached the support stand 11 
to which that particular switch 59 is adjacent. In addition, multiple 
input/output lines are provided to enable the programmable computer 43 to 
regulate the control of each of the hydraulic and electric motors. 
The position of the support arms 60 and 65, respectively, is determined by 
a set of proximity switches 70 and 71 accompanying each of the arms 60 and 
65, respectively. When the lead support arm 60 is in the raised position, 
proximity switch 70 is activated, thus indicating that the arm 60 is 
raised. Similarly, when the lead support arm 60 is in the lowered 
position, the proximity switch 70 is deactivated, indicating that the arm 
60 is in the lowered position. It will be appreciated that the state of 
the tail support arm 65 is determined by a similar procedure involving 
proximity switch 71. As such, the relative position, raised or lowered, of 
each of the support arms 60 and 65, can be determined by the state of the 
proximity switches 70 and 71, respectively. 
The position of the shuttle 53 on the endless loop track 52 is also 
determined by a set of proximity switches 56 positioned along the length 
of the endless loop track 52. When the shuttle 53 is in a given area of 
the endless loop track 52, the proximity switch 56 in that area of the 
track is activated, thus indicating that the shuttle 53 is in that area of 
the track 52. As the shuttle 53 moves out of the area of the track 52 
occupied by that particular proximity switch 56 and enters the area 
occupied by a different proximity switch 56, the switch 56 is deactivated 
and the subsequent switch 56 is activated. As such, the movement of the 
shuttle 53 about the track 52 can be determined by monitoring the state of 
the proximity switches 56. 
Referring now to FIGS. 9a-9f, the preferred method of bare wrapping a load 
of material 2 within a protective web of wrapping medium 80 is as follows. 
The length and type of material of the load 2 is entered into the computer 
control system 43. Using a look-up table or similar means, the computer 
determines the number of retractable support stands 11 that will need to 
be raised so that the load 2 is fully supported by the raised support 
stands 11. The necessary stands 11 are then raised such that each support 
stand 11 that is raised has a portion of the load 2 positioned above it 
and the load 2 is overhanging the support stands 11 closest to the lead 
and tail ends 6 and 7, respectively, of the load 2. 
As seen in FIG. 9a, once the required support stands 11 have been raised, a 
bare load 2 of material is placed atop the support table 10 formed by the 
raised support stands 11. The loop trolley 50 is traversed along tracks 78 
relative to the retractable support table 10 so that the endless loop 
track 52 encircles the lead end 6 of the load 2. With the lead end 6 of 
the load 2 encircled by the circumference of the endless loop track 52, 
the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 are moved about the circumference of the 
endless loop track 52 while the applicator 54 dispenses a web of wrapping 
medium 80 onto the surface of the load 2. With the applicator 54 
dispensing a web of wrapping medium 80 about the load, the loop trolley 50 
is traversed along the length of the load 2 in the direction of the tail 
end 7. When the traversing trolley 50 approaches the retractable support 
stand 11 closest to the lead end 6 of the load 2 the lead support arm 60 
is raised such that the support roll 63 contacts with the underside of the 
load 2. With the lead support arm 60 supporting the underside of the load 
2, the support stand 11 closest to the lead end 6 of the load 2 is lowered 
so that the loop track 52 may pass between it and the underside of the 
load 2. As described above, the support frame 51 itself is adapted to pass 
to the outside of the retractable support 11. As the traversing loop 
trolley 50 passes the lowered stand 11, the tail support arm 65 is also 
raised such that the support roll 68 contacts and supports the underside 
of the load 2. As seen in FIGS. 9c-9f, as the loop trolley 50 is traversed 
further along the length of the load 2 in the direction of the tail end 7 
of load 2 and the trolley 50 and endless loop track 52 pass clear of the 
lowered support stand 11, the lowered stand 11 is again raised and the 
next stand 11 in the path of the traversing trolley 50 is lowered. While 
this occurs, the support arms 60 and 65, respectively, remain raised to 
support the underside of the load 2. In such a way, no more than one of 
the retractable support stands 11 is in the lowered position at any one 
point in time. 
As the trolley 50 continues to traverse toward the tail end 7 of the load 
2, the support arms 60 and 65, respectively, remain in the raised position 
as each support stand 11 is successively raised and lowered as described 
above to allow the trolley 50 to pass. At the same time, the shuttle 53 
and applicator 54 continue to travel about the endless loop track 52 and 
apply a web of wrapping medium 80 to the surface of load 2. When the 
trolley 50 reaches the tail end 7 of the load 2, the trolley 50 is 
reversed toward the lead end 6 of the load 2 until the tail support roll 
68 is clear of the support stand 11 closest to the tail end 7. The trolley 
50 is then stopped and the shuttle 53 is parked. Wrapping of the load 2 is 
now complete. 
Preferably, the speed of the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 about the 
circumference of the endless loop track 52, relative to the speed of 
traverse of the trolley 50, is such that the entire surface of the load 2 
is encased in wrapping medium 80. However, it can be appreciated by one 
skilled in the art, that by varying the rate of travel of the shuttle 53 
and applicator 54 around the endless loop track 52 and the rate of 
traverse of the loop trolley 50 along the length of the load 3, that the 
pattern and thickness of the web of wrapping medium dispensed by the 
applicator 54 onto the material load 2 can be varied to the specifications 
required by the particular job. 
Referring again to FIGS. 9a through 9f, the preferred method of wrapping a 
load of material 2 within a protective web of wrapping medium 80 and of 
securing a plurality of runner boards 3 to the bottom of the load 2 is as 
follows. After the required number of retractable support stands 11 have 
been determined and raised to form the support table 10, using the method 
described above, a runner board 3 is loaded onto each of the raised 
support stands 11. As such, when the load 2 is placed atop the support 
table 10, each stand 11 that has a runner board 3 thereon will be beneath 
the load 2. A bare load of material 2 is then loaded onto runner boards 3 
atop the support stands 11. As seen in FIG. 9a, with the shuttle 53 in a 
stationary position on loop track 52 and the support arms 60 and 65 in the 
lowered position, the loop trolley 50 traverses along floor tracks 78 
toward the lead end 6 of the load 2. As seen in FIG. 9a, as the traversing 
trolley 50 passes the lead end 6 of the load 2, the lead support arm 60 is 
raised such that the support roll 63 contacts the underside of the load 2. 
As seen in FIG. 9b, as the traversing trolley 50 approaches the first 
support stand 11, the first support stand 11 will retract into the lowered 
position. When the trolley 50 has traversed far enough that the endless 
loop track 52 reaches the lead end 6 of the load 2, the trolley 50 pauses, 
the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 are activated and a predetermined number 
of revolutions of wrapping medium 80 are disposed about the surface of the 
load 2. It is preferred that this predetermined number of revolutions be 
three or more. As seen in FIG. 9c, the trolley 50 continues to traverse 
across the load 2 toward the tail end 7. When the tail support arm is 
beneath the load 2, it is raised such that the support roll 68 is in 
contact with the underside of the load 2. As the trolley continues to 
traverse, the applicator 54 continues to apply a web of wrapping medium 80 
at a constant rate about the surface of the load 2. As the endless loop 52 
and tail support arm 65 pass clear of the first support stand 11, the 
first support stand 11 is returned to the raised position and the next 
successive stand 11 is biased into the lowered position, thus clearing the 
way for the traversing trolley 50. As seen in FIG. 9d, the trolley 50 
continues to traverse across the length of the load 2 toward the tail end 
7. At the same time, the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 continue to travel 
about the endless loop track 52 and dispense a web of wrapping medium 80 
onto the surface of the load 2. As seen in FIGS. 9e and 9f, as the trolley 
50 and loop track 52 clear each successive stand 11, the stand is raised 
and the subsequent stand 11 is lowered, allowing the trolley 50 and loop 
track 52 to continue their traverse toward the tail end 7 of the load 2. 
Using such a method, of all the stands 11 positioned beneath the load 2, 
only a single stand 11 is in the lowered position at any one point in 
time. Upon reaching the tail end 7 of the load 2, the lead support arm 60 
is lowered, the trolley 50 is reversed toward the lead end 6 of the load 2 
until the tail support roll 68 is clear of the support stand 11 closest to 
the tail end 7. The trolley 50 is then stopped and the shuttle 53 is 
parked. The load 2 is completely encircled in a web of wrapping medium. 
At this point in the process, the trolley 50 and applicator are paused 
while end seals (not pictured) and corner boards (not pictured) are 
manually applied to the ends 6 and 7, respectively, and edge protectors 
are placed on the load 2 to provide additional protection to the load 2 
during transport. In addition, each of the runner boards 3, except the 
runner boards 3 closest to the lead and tail ends 6 and 7, respectively, 
is affixed to the wrapped load 2 using tape, nails, staples, adhesive or 
other suitably similar material. 
The shuttle 53 and applicator 54 are then reactivated to apply a number of 
revolutions of wrapping medium 80 to the tail end 7 of the load 2, thus 
encasing the end seal (not pictured) at the tail end 7 of the load 2 in a 
web of wrapping medium 80. The trolley 50 is then traversed back toward 
the lead end 6 of the load 2. Note that the runner board 3 atop the stand 
11 that is nearest to the tail end 7 of the load 2 is not secured to the 
load 2 and thus is lowered with the stand 11 when the trolley 50 traverses 
past the stand 11 and is not encircled in a web of wrapping medium 80. 
Once the lead support arm 60 clears the first support stand 11, the first 
support stand is raised, the lead support arm 60 is raised and the tail 
support arm 65 is lowered. The trolley 50 continues to traverse toward the 
lead end 6 of the load 2 until it reaches the support stand 11 that is 
second from the tail end 7 of the load 2. This support stand 11 is lowered 
and the trolley 50 traverses to position the loop track 52 and the support 
bar 12 in the same vertical plane. Note that since the runner board 3 that 
has been positioned atop this support stand 11 has been affixed to the 
wrapped load 2, the runner board 3 remains suspended beneath the wrapped 
load 2 when the stand 11 is lowered. Also note that since the slot 4 in 
the runner board 3 runs directly down the middle of the board 3 and since 
the loop track 52 and load support bar 12 are positioned in the same 
vertical plane, the loop track 52 is also positioned in the same vertical 
plane as the slot 4 in the runner board 3. The applicator 54 next forces 
the web 80 of wrapping medium into a rope of wrapping medium 81. The 
shuttle 53 revolves about the endless loop track 52 while the applicator 
applies the rope of wrapping medium 81 about the top of the load 2 and 
into the slot 4 in the runner board 3 for a predetermined number of 
revolutions. It is preferred that the number of revolutions be at least 
three revolutions. The trolley 50 then proceeds to traverse toward the 
lead end 6 of the load 2. Once the previously lowered stand 11 has been 
cleared by the lead support arm 60, the stand 11 is raised, the lead 
support arm 60 is raised, the tail support arm 65 is lowered and the 
subsequent stand 11 in the path of the trolley 50 toward the lead end 6 of 
the load 2 is lowered. Again the trolley 50 stops its traverse so that the 
endless loop track 52 is positioned directly above the center of the 
lowered stand 11. As described above, the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 
remain activated so as to rope the load 2 and runner board 3 in at least 
three revolutions of roped wrapping medium 81. This process is repeated 
for each support stand 11 and runner board 3 until the first support stand 
11 adjacent to the lead end 6 of the load 2 is reached. When the first 
support stand 11 adjacent the lead end 6 of the load 2 is reached, the 
stand 11 is lowered, the lead support arm 60 is raised, the tail support 
arm 65 is lowered, the roped wrapping medium 81 is re-expanded to a web 80 
of wrapping medium and the trolley 50 proceeds to traverse past the 
lowered stand 11 toward the lead end of the pack. Note that, as with the 
runner board at the tail end 7 of the load 2, this runner board 3 has not 
been secured to the load 2. Thus the board 3 lowers when the support stand 
11 and is not wrapped as the trolley 50 passes the lowered stand 11. When 
the lead end 6 of the load 2 is reached, the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 
continue to apply a predetermined number of revolutions of wrapping medium 
80 to the load 2, thus encasing the end seal (not pictured) in a web of 
wrapping medium 80. It is preferred that this predetermined number be at 
least three revolutions. The trolley 50 then traverses back toward the 
tail end 7 of the load 2 and the shuttle 53 and applicator 54 continue to 
apply a predetermined number of revolutions of wrapping medium 80 to the 
lead end of the load 2. It is preferred that this predetermined number be 
at least three revolutions. Note that the runner boards 3 that sit atop 
the support stands 2 that are immediately adjacent to the lead 6 and tail 
7 ends of the load 2 have not been roped into place during this process. 
The cutting device 77 then severs the wrapping medium 80 and the trolley 
50 proceeds to the position at the lead end 6 of the load 2 shown in FIG. 
9a. At this point in the process, the runner boards 3 that are resting 
atop the stands 11 that are immediately adjacent to the lead 6 and tail 7 
ends of the load 2 are strapped to the load 2 using any number of commonly 
known strapping methods and the wrapped and roped load 2 is removed then 
removed from the support table 10 for storage or shipping. 
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that certain 
situations may require that the configuration of the runner boards 3 and 
wrapping medium 80 be altered. For example, a plurality of runner boards 3 
may be placed lengthwise beneath the load 2 and secured into place by a 
web of wrapping medium 80. In such case, if desired, the load 2 may be 
first wrapped in an envelope of wrapping medium 80 according to the method 
detailed above and then the lengthwise running runner boards 3 may be 
placed beneath the load 3 and secured into place by a second envelope of 
wrapping medium 80. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will, of 
course, appreciate that still other changes in the details, materials, and 
arrangements of parts and methods which have been herein described and 
illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by 
those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention 
as expressed in the appended claims.