Apparatus and method for conveying, weighing and roll wrapping articles

An apparatus and method are disclosed for transporting, weighing, and roll wrapping articles with a stretchable web-type material. The apparatus includes horizontal conveyor means and article support rollers supported on a rotatable table. The support rollers being quickly adjustably movable equidistantly toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of numerous sizes and weights while maintaining the center of gravity of the article generally centrally positioned with respect to the support rollers and the rotatable table.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for roll wrapping 
articles wherein the article is first supported and transported on a 
conveyor section to a second conveyor section which positions the article 
on horizontally rotatable support rollers on a rotatable platform, such 
that the article is rotated about two mutually perpendicular axes while 
being wrapped. Thereafter, the article is once again deposited on a 
conveyor for transporting the wrapped article away from the support 
rollers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Roll wrapping devices of the prior art generally rotate the article to be 
wrapped, while a stretchable web or netting material such as thermoplastic 
film or cloth, or a relatively non-stretchable web material such as paper, 
is dispensed for wrapping therearound. In the apparatus of the type 
contemplated by the invention, two support rollers are generally 
positioned on a horizontal ("lazy susan type") rotatable table while the 
article is simultaneously rotated about its own horizontal axis. The 
support rollers are often spaced to accommodate articles of several sizes. 
Such devices in the past, have been provided with means for increasing the 
distance between the support rollers by shifting one of the rollers toward 
or away from the outer support roller, the position of which is fixed. 
Thus, when the movable roller is shifted outwardly, the center of gravity 
of the load shifts, causing the danger of shifting the entire apparatus 
when the article is extremely heavy. 
In the prior art devices, the article is wrapped while it is rotated in one 
direction about its own horizontal axis and simultaneously rotated about a 
vertical axis by virtue of the rotating platform upon which the support 
rollers are positioned. Thus, wrapping the article with these devices is 
not a very precise operation and control of overlap and wrapping direction 
is not as effective as would otherwise be desirable. Moreover, once the 
article is wrapped in this manner, it must be removed to a weighing 
station for weighing. The delivery and removal of the article to be 
wrapped to and from the roll wrapping apparatus is also deficient in with 
respect to the time, effort, and handling problems involved. 
Thus, in addition to providing a wrapping which leaves something to be 
desired, the delivery, wrapping, weighing, and removal operations are time 
consuming procedures which leave room for improvement. I have invented an 
apparatus for transporting articles to be roll wrapped as well as to an 
apparatus for roll wrapping such articles which avoids the disadvantages 
of the prior art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The term "web type wrapping material" as used herein includes, but is not 
limited to, relatively stretchable materials such as thermoplastic 
webbing, film, or netting and cloth fabric or netting, as well as 
relatively non-stretchable materials such as paper or cardboard. Other 
web-type materials contemplated by the invention are known to those 
skilled in the art. 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting and wrapping 
articles which comprises conveyor means for transporting articles at least 
to a wrapping apparatus which wraps the article with a web type wrapping 
material. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention further 
includes second conveyor means for transporting the articles thereby 
wrapped away from the wrapping apparatus. 
The wrapping apparatus comprises a frame, a platform mounted on the frame 
for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, at least two elongated 
support rollers mounted on the rotatable platform for rotation about a 
substantially horizontal axis extending therethrough, a supply of web type 
wrapping material mounted on the frame, the wrapping material supply being 
movably positioned and adapted for dispensing and wrapping about an 
article supported on the horizontally rotatable rollers as the platform 
rotates about a vertical axis, means for selectively moving the supply of 
wrapping material so as to position said wrapping material supply 
substantially at the center of the article to be wrapped, means for 
rotatably driving at least one of the substantially horizontal rollers in 
at least one direction of rotation such that an article to be wrapped 
rotates about a substantially horizontal axis when the driven support 
roller is rotated, and the rotating article engages the other supporting 
horizontal roller and rotates the other support roller in the same 
direction as the first driven roller, and means for selectively varying 
the horizontal dimension between the horizontal rotatable support rollers 
by equal and opposite movements respectively toward and away from each 
other to maintain the center of gravity of the article in substantially 
the same location with respect to the frame and thereby providing 
capability to support articles of numerous sizes and weights. 
Preferably, the means for selectively moving the supply of wrapping 
material further comprises means to selectively move the supply of 
wrapping material in upward and downward directions so as to selectively 
vary the vertical height at which the wrapping material is dispensed from 
the wrapping material supply. Also, the means for rotatably driving the 
horizontal roller is capable of selective driving rotation in one or two 
directions. 
The apparatus further comprising means for stabilizing the article when 
positioned upon the support rollers during the wrapping operation. The 
stabilizing means comprises at least two rollers mounted above the support 
rollers and capable of rotation about substantially vertical axis. The 
rotating platform is rotatably supported by the frame and means is 
positioned between the rotatable platform and the frame for supplying a 
signal which corresponds to the weight of an article positioned on the 
support rollers so as to thereby provide the weight of the article. 
The means for providing the weight indication is plurality of load cells 
connected to the apparatus and to an electrical circuit. Preferably, the 
plurality of load cells are equally distributed with respect to the 
rotatable platform. Also, the load cells and electrical circuitry 
comprises means for indicating the weight of the rotatable platform and 
the article positioned thereon. 
Advantageously, the load cells and electrical circuitry comprises means for 
initially subtracting the weight of the platform and related components 
from the total indicated weight thereby indicating the weight of the 
article. 
Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises second conveyor means for 
transporting the articles thereby wrapped away from the wrapping 
apparatus. Preferably, the first and second conveyor means each is 
comprised of a plurality of conveyor rollers which are connected together 
to form a conveyor. Each roller has a generally concave outer 
configuration in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction for 
supporting a generally cylindrical article to be wrapped for transport in 
a direction parallel to the axis of the article. 
Each roller preferably has an hourglass cross-sectional configuration in a 
plane perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is rotatably supported 
by bearing means. The rollers can either be free rolling on the bearing 
means, or rotatably driven in a preselected one or either direction. When 
the rollers are driven, drive chain means or drive belt means may be used. 
Also, the drive chain means is driven by rotatably driven sprocket means 
and the belt means is driven by rotatably driven pulley means. 
The first conveyor means can be in two sections: a first conveying section 
for transporting articles to be wrapped to the wrapping apparatus as well 
as for conveying a wrapped article away from the wrapping apparatus, and a 
second conveying section mounted upon the rotatable platform for 
positioning the article to be wrapped upon the elongated support rollers 
and for removing the wrapped article from the support rollers. 
When first and second conveyor means are used, the overall system comprises 
three conveyor sections: the first conveyor means comprises a first 
conveying section for transporting articles to be wrapped the wrapping 
apparatus, and a second conveying section as described above, while the 
second conveyor means is a separate conveyor section for transporting 
wrapped articles away from the wrapping apparatus. 
The apparatus of the invention can also include means for positioning the 
second conveying portion of the conveyor in preselected locations below 
and above the elongated support rollers to facilitate conveying and 
positioning of the article to be wrapped upon the elongated support 
rollers and for removing and conveying the wrapped article from the 
elongated support rollers. In a preferred arrangement, the second portion 
of the conveying conveyor is fixed medially between the support rollers. 
In the roll wrapping apparatus which forms part of the present invention 
the rotating platform is rotationally supported by the frame and means is 
positioned between the rotatable platform and the frame for supplying a 
signal which corresponds to the weight of an article positioned on the 
frame so as to thereby provide the weight of the article. The apparatus 
also includes means for providing the article weight indication in the 
form of a plurality of load cells connected to an electrical circuit. The 
plurality of load cells are preferably equally distributed with respect to 
the rotatable platform, and the electrical circuitry comprises means for 
indicating the weight of the rotatable platform and the article positioned 
thereon. 
The roll wrapping apparatus also includes means for initially subtracting 
the weight of the platform from the indicated weight thereby indicating 
the weight of the article, and at least one of the horizontally rotatable 
rollers is preferably driven by a motor. 
The roller drive motor is connected for driving rotation of the first 
mentioned support roller by a system of sprockets and at least one drive 
chain, and the direction of this drive motor is selectively reversible so 
as to facilitate reversing the direction of the first mentioned driven 
horizontal support roller and thereby the direction of the article is 
simultaneously reversed as the platform is rotated about a substantially 
vertical direction. 
Alternatively, any power transmission system may be used. For example, the 
sprockets and drive chain may be replaced by a system of pulleys and 
belts, including V-belts, timing belts, or flat belts. Another example of 
a power transmission system is a system of gears. 
The roll wrapping apparatus also includes means for varying the dimension 
between the horizontally rotatable support rollers in the form of an 
elongated threaded rod threadedly connected to opposite support roller 
support members, each roller support member respectively supporting one of 
the horizontally rotatable rollers for rotation about a horizontal axis 
extending therethrough. The threaded rod is comprised of two sections 
separated by a manually operable adjustment means. The two sections of the 
threaded rod are equally and oppositely threaded and are connected to 
correspondingly mating threaded members respectively connected to the 
respective support members of the horizontally rotatable support rollers. 
The manual adjustment means comprises a hand operable wheel connected to 
the rod at its center, such that rotation of the wheel rotates the 
threaded rod thereby causing the roller support members and the rollers to 
be moved toward or away from each other in equal and opposite directions 
in dependence upon the direction of rotation selected for the adjustment 
wheel for varying the dimension between the horizontal support rollers in 
dependence upon the dimensions of the article to be wrapped. The rotation 
of the horizontal platform about a vertical axis combined with the 
rotation of the horizontal support rollers and the article about its 
horizontal axis and the selective upward and downward movement of the 
supply of web-type wrapping material as the wrapping material is dispensed 
and wrapped about the rotating article combines with the selective 
reversing rotation of the driven horizontal roller to provide a 
criss-cross wrapping pattern of the web-type wrapping material about the 
article. 
Alternatively, in place of a hand operable control wheel, an electrically 
actuated or motorized mechanical adjustment system may be used. 
Preferably the web-type wrapping material is in the form of a roll of 
stretchable wrapping film such as nylon, polypropylene, PVC, polybutylene, 
polyethylene, or copolymers or blends thereof, cloth, paper, cardboard, or 
the like, rotatably mounted to dispense material as required. 
Alternatively, means may be provided to support and dispense the 
stretchable web-type wrapping materials in a pre-stretched condition. 
A method is also disclosed for transporting and roll wrapping articles or 
the like which comprises transporting articles to be wrapped to a wrapping 
station and wrapping the articles at the wrapping station by supporting 
the article on at least two support rollers, at least one of the support 
rollers being rotatably driven, the other support roller being supported 
for rotation about a horizontal axis, supporting the support rollers on a 
rotatable platform selectively driven by motor and drive means connected 
thereto, providing a supply of web-type wrapping material positioned for 
dispensing and wrapping about the article, rotating the platform and the 
article support rollers and thereby the article about a substantially 
vertical axis, selectively rotating the driven support roller so as to 
rotate the article and the other support roller therewith, and wrapping 
the web-type material around the article so as to provide a criss-cross 
wrapped pattern of wrapping material about the article. 
The step of providing a supply of web-type wrapping material further 
comprises selectively moving the supply in upward and downward directions 
so as to selectively vary the vertical height at which the supply material 
is dispensed. Also, the step of selectively rotating the driven support 
roller further comprises selectively reversing the rotational direction of 
the driven article support roller as the article rotates about the 
substantially vertical axis, and as the web-type wrapping material is 
wrapped therearound. 
The method also includes stabilizing the article when positioned upon the 
support rollers during the wrapping step. Also, the method further 
comprises rotatably supporting said platform upon a frame and positioning 
between the platform and frame means for supplying a signal which 
corresponds to the weight of the article positioned upon the support 
rollers so as to thereby provide the weight of the article. The step of 
supplying a signal comprises indicating the weight of the platform and 
article and subtracting the weight of the platform therefrom to directly 
obtain the weight of the article. 
The method further comprises transporting the articles thereby wrapped away 
from the wrapping station. Similarly, the method contemplates positioning 
an article to be wrapped upon the support rollers for wrapping and 
removing the article thereby wrapped from the support rollers. Also, the 
step of positioning the article to be wrapped comprises moving conveying 
means in upward and downward directions. 
Preferably, the method of weighing the article is practiced during or after 
wrapping by ultilizing weighing means comprising load cells and circuitry 
located on, and connected to, the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a roll wrapping apparatus 
10 constructed according to the invention. The apparatus includes frame 12 
having a platform 14 mounted for rotation thereon about a vertical axis 
extending substantially through its center. The platform 14 has fixed 
thereon vertical plates 16 and 18 which support elongated article support 
rollers 20 and 22 on which an article to be wrapped 25 is positioned for 
wrapping. Of these support rollers, roller 20 is rotatably driven by 
roller chain 24 as shown in FIG. 3 which is in turn driven by sprocket 26 
attached to reversible motor 28 as also shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it will 
become clear that rotation of reversible motor 28 in either of its 
directions will in turn rotate sprocket 26 in the same direction and will 
correspondingly rotate roller drive chain 24 and sprocket 30 and 
consequently, article support roller 20 in the same direction. Thus, an 
article 25 positioned on rollers 20 and 22, when rotated, will cause 
rotation of roller 22 in a direction opposite the direction of roller 20 
and reversal of the direction of roller 20 will cause a corresponding 
reversal of roller 22 such that it will cause a reversal of roller 22 to 
the opposite direction. 
Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a conveying system 60 for delivering 
articles to be wrapped 25 as well as for removal of wrapped articles from 
the wrapping apparatus 10. The conveying system 60 includes 
delivery/removal conveyor 62 which has a number of concave rollers 64 for 
directing the article 25 toward or away from the wrapping apparatus 10. 
The conveying system includes a conveyor 66 mounted on turntable 14. This 
delivery/removal conveyor 62 also includes a lower roller assembly 61, 
which enables the end portion 63 of the conveyor 62 to move back and forth 
so as to be positioned adjacent to turntable conveyor 66 for smooth 
delivery and removal of articles 25. 
The turntable conveyor 66 is movable upwardly and downwardly in a vertical 
direction and is used to place to load 25 on wrapping rollers 20 and 22 
for wrapping, as well as for removing the wrapped load from the wrapping 
rollers 20, 22 and back onto conveyor 62. Conveyor 66 also has a plurality 
of concave rollers 68. These rollers 68 can be driven to direct the load 
25 either to the wrapping apparatus 10 for wrapping, or for conveying the 
wrapping article away from the wrapping station. 
FIG. 4 shows the connection of each pair of rollers 68 by chain assemblies 
70. One pair of rollers is driven by a rotatably driven sprocket 78 and 
chain 80. The sprocket 78 can rotate either in a clockwise or 
counterclockwise direction and thus the rollers can direct the load either 
to or away from the wrapping station 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, load 25 is shown approaching the wrapping system 
10. The end 63 of conveyor 62 is shown in adjacent position to turntable 
conveyor 66. The rollers of conveyor 62 can be driven or can be freely 
rotating, depending on the desired system. Rollers 68 of conveyor 66 are 
shown as connected by sprocket and chain assemblies 70 between each 
adjacent pair of rollers. As mentioned above, the rollers 68 can be driven 
in either direction to deliver and/or remove the load. 
In an alternate arrangement, conveyor 62 can be used to deliver the load 25 
to the wrapping system 10, while a second conveyor 72, shown in phantom in 
FIG. 2, can be used to remove the load. The end of second conveyor 72 can 
also be moveable to meet turntable conveyor 66 for smooth removal of the 
wrapped article 25. This facilitates faster continuous roll wrapping and 
would be desirable for high volume production. 
Although the drawings show the only conveyor to be driven as conveyor 66, 
one skilled in the art would realize that any or all conveyors 62,66,72 
can be free rolling (i.e., normally operable) or driven in sequential or 
alternating fashion in either or both directions, depending upon the 
results desired. 
Referring once again to FIG. 1, rollers 20, 22 can be moved to accomodate 
loads of different diameter. This is accomplished by providing a threaded 
rod 31 having two sections, 32 and 34, each having opposite threads, i.e. 
right hand and left hand, respectively, and a hand operated control wheel 
36. The control wheel 36 is used to rotate rod 31 in either of two 
rotational directions. One end of rod 31 is threadedly engaged with right 
hand threaded lug (or nut) 38 and the other end 34 is threadedly engaged 
with left hand threaded lug (or nut) 40. Threaded lug 38 is connected to 
roller support plate 42 and threaded lug 40 which supports roller 20 is 
connected to roller support plate 44 which supports roller 22. Thus, 
manual rotation of hand wheel 36 in one direction will cause the rollers 
20 and 22 to move toward each other, and rotation of hand wheel 36 in the 
other direction will cause the rollers 20 and 22 to move in directions 
opposite each other. The movement of the rollers by such rotation is equal 
and opposite and thus maintains the upward support forces provided by the 
rollers equidistant from the center of the rotating platform, thus 
preventing the weight of the article from shifting and thereby tilting the 
apparatus as in prior art devices which merely moved one roller to change 
the article size capability of the apparatus. 
Alternatively, in place of a hand operable control wheel, an electrically 
actuated or motorized mechanical adjustment system may be used. This would 
allow the necessary adjustments to be made automatically by an operator 
stationed remote from the apparatus. 
FIG. 4 illustrates the vertical movement of turntable conveyor 66. This can 
be accomplished by pneumatic cylinder 82 and support arms 84,86. Other 
means for vertical movement can be used. In particular, air bags, 
hydraulic means or other mechanical means are also suitable. As the 
cylinder 82 is extended the support arms 84,86 lower the conveyor 66. 
Alternately, as the cylinder 82 is retracted, the arms 84,86 raise the 
conveyor 66. As mentioned above, this asserts in the positioning of the 
load 25 on the wrapping rollers 20,22. 
Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated a partial cross-sectional view 
of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2. 
Rotational platform 14, on which article support rollers 20 and 22 are 
supported, is supported on a plurality, preferable three, support rollers, 
two of which are shown at 46 and 48. Roller 48 is driven via motor 50, 
coupling 52 and gearbox 54. At least roller 48 has a frictional surface 
which rotatably engages the under surface of platform 14 to thereby rotate 
it so as to in turn rotate the support rollers 20 and 22 as well as the 
article to be wrapped, 25, about a vertical axis during the wrapping 
operation. 
Referring once again to FIG. 1 there is shown a section 56 of the apparatus 
which supports and dispenses the web-type wrapping material. Any web-type 
wrapping material may be utilized, but preferably film materials as nylon, 
polypropylene, PVC, polybutylene, polyethylene, or other copolymers or 
blends thereof are preferred for their superior stretch wrapping 
capability. As noted previously, other materials known in the art may be 
used, and these materials would include netting, cloth, paper, etc. In 
addition, wrapping section 56 may include a roll 58 of such wrapping or 
netting material, rotatably mounted as shown, for dispensing as required 
by the rotating article, or it may include a system to pre-stretch the 
wrapping material such as the system marketed by MIMA INCORPORATED, under 
the trademark ACCU-STRETCH brand pre-stretch system. 
The roll 58 is mounted on a moveable frame 57, which is capable of 
positioning the roll 58 in the center of the article to be wrapped 25. 
Also, the roll 58 is mounted on a track (not shown) which allows the roll 
58 to be movable in upward and downward directions. This vertical movement 
is utilized when wrapping articles having large diameters to more 
efficiently cover the entire article. 
Wrapping section 56 also includes control center 58 which displays a 
control panel 59 having various control buttons or the like as shown, to 
control the rotation and directions of the various critical components of 
the apparatus for wrapping articles. This control center may also include 
weighing the scale readout and/or printout means. 
In operation, an article to be wrapped, such as is shown at 25 in FIG. 3, 
may be a cylindrically configured article such as a roll of carpet, a 
plurality of tires in face to face relation to form a cylindrical unit, or 
other such articles, and this article is placed upon the support rollers 
20 and 22. If the article is relatively small as shown, the hand wheel 36 
is rotated to position support rollers 20 and 22 as shown in FIG. 1. If 
the article is larger, the handwheel 36 is correspondingly rotated to a 
position which accommodates large articles as shown by the phantom lines 
at 25a in FIG. 3. It is significant to note that for any article size, the 
center of gravity of the article remains fixed with respect to the support 
rollers 20 and 22 as well as rotating platform 14 and thus never shifts to 
either side of the rotating platform. 
Once article 25 is positioned for wrapping, the platform 14 is rotated by 
actuating the appropriate controls which control platform drive motor 50 
(shown in FIG. 5) thereby causing the article to be rotated therewith 
about a vertical axis. In addition, an appropriate control which causes 
rotation of roller drive motor 28, roller chain 24 and support roller 20, 
which in turn rotates article 11 causing support roller 22 to also rotate 
in the same direction as support roller 20. The article thus rotates about 
a horizontal axis extending centrally thereof which axis is also rotating 
about the same central vertical axis about which platform 14 is rotating. 
While the article is thus rotating about two axes, web-type wrapping 
material is dispensed from the wrapping section 56 either in stretched or 
non-stretchable condition as may be desired, so as to be wrapped about the 
article. As may be desired for a particular article, the direction of 
rotation of the roller 20 may be selectively reversed, thereby reversing 
the rotational direction of the workpiece as well as roller 22, thus 
causing the plastic wrapping material to assume a criss-cross pattern 
about the article with the web-type wrapping material in overlapped 
condition. The extent of overlap of the wrapping material is controlled by 
the rotational directions selected and the relative rotational speeds 
which are controlled through control panel 59. 
Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated a unique feature of the 
present nvention which facilitates automatic weighing of the article, thus 
eliminating a separate step in the wrapping and weighing process. 
Rotational platform 14 is suspended from frame 12 by suitable suspension 
means such as cables 90 which are in turn connected to corresponding load 
cells 92. Two or more cables and corresponding load cells are used, 
however, at least three or more cables and load cells are preferred. 
Various load cell weight measuring techniques may be used, and the load 
cells may be hydraulic, mechanical or electrical. Electrical load cells, 
however, appear to be the most advantageous for this invention. 
Appropriate electrical circuitry 94 communicates with a suitable electrical 
bridge (i.e. Wheatstone type), which in turn provides a signal which is 
proportional to the weigh on the load cells. Thus, before the article is 
positioned on the apparatus, the initial weight of the rotatable platform 
14 is removed from the weight reading (i.e. denoted as "tare") leaving a 
reading of zero weight on the dial 96. When the article is positioned for 
wrapping and later, is fully wrapped, the final weight of the wrapped 
article is provided on the scale, thus facilitating wrapping and weighing 
in a single operation. As noted previously, in the prior art, such steps 
were performed separately. 
FIG. 6 illustrates an optional apparatus 100 for stabilizing the load 25 
during wrapping. This apparatus 100 comprises stabilizing rollers 102, 104 
connected together by arm members 106, 108 which arm members join at 
pivotable point 110. As shown in FIG. 6, spring means 116 provides spring 
tension on arms 106, 108. This enables the rollers 102, 104 to be movable 
to conform to the outer diameter of the load 25 in a manner so as to 
impart stabilizing forces thereupon. 
These roller arm members 106, 108 and pivot 110 are used on each end of the 
rollers 102, 104 and are connected to frame 112 by member 114. This frame 
112 is supported by an overhead support structure (not shown) and is 
connected thereto by a joint 118 which is capable of rotating as well as 
supporting the weight of the rollers 102, 104. 
It will be appreciated that my invention facilitates an improved wrapping 
and transporting apparatus and method which no only provides improved 
wrapping, but which eliminates time consuming delivery of articles to be 
wrapped to the wrapping apparatus and the removal of the wrapped articles 
therefrom.