Patent Publication Number: US-7707802-B2

Title: Film roping assembly for use within film wrapping or packaging machines

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to film wrapping or packaging machines, and more particularly to a new and improved film roping assembly, disposed upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, for effectively forming a rope from the film wrapping or packaging material as a result of effectively compressing, condensing, or gathering of the film wrapping or packaging material along its width dimension whereby the formed rope effectively exhibits enhanced resistance to stretching and tearing. When such roped film is utilized in conjunction with non-roped film wrapping or packaging material, the entire composite film wrapping or packaging material, comprising the roped and non-roped portions of the film wrapping or packaging material, significantly enhances the ability of the film wrapping or packaging material to hold uneven, sharp, pointy, abrasive, unstable, and heavy products upon a pallet. In addition, the roped film can also be wrapped or secured around both the pallet load and the pallet per se whereby the pallet load is effectively fastened to the pallet per se so as to prevent separation of the pallet load from the pallet per se, and in addition, to render the entire pallet assembly much more resistant to tilting, vibrating, shaking, and instability. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Film wrapping or packaging machines or apparatus, for wrapping articles, packages, or palletized loads within wrapping or packaging film, are of course well known in the art. Examples of such film wrapping machines or apparatus are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,961 which issued to Turfan_on Mar. 6, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,691 which issued to Turfan on Aug. 4, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,807 which issued to Morantz on May 21, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,796 which issued to Haloila on May 13, 1986. In addition, or in conjunction with the aforenoted patented disclosure, it is known that there are several different types of conventional film wrapping or packaging machines. Briefly, for example, a turntable type film wrapping or packaging machine is disclosed within  FIG. 1  and is generally indicated by the reference character  100 . In accordance with such a turntable type film wrapping or packaging machine  100 , a palletized load, not shown, is adapted to be placed upon a turntable  102 , and a wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  104  is movably mounted in a vertically reciprocable manner upon an upstanding standard or support mast  106 . Accordingly, as the palletized load is rotated around the rotary axis of the turntable  102 , and as the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  104  is moved in a vertically reciprocable manner, either from its uppermost position to its lowermost position, or from its lowermost position to its uppermost position, the wrapping or packaging film, dispensed from the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  104 , wraps or packages the palletized load within the wrapping or packaging film. 
   Continuing further, a rotary arm type film wrapping or packaging machine is disclosed within  FIG. 2  and is generally indicated by the reference character  200 . In accordance with such a rotary arm type film wrapping or packaging machine  200 , an upstanding framework  202  effectively defines a film wrapping or packaging station  204  at an axially central portion thereof, and a palletized load, not shown, which is to be wrapped or packaged within film wrapping or packaging material, is adapted to be disposed at such film wrapping or packaging station  204 . A rotary arm assembly  206 , which is rotatably mounted upon an upper frame member  208  of the up-standing framework  202 , is adapted to rotate around the film wrapping or packaging station  204 , and a wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  210  is movably mounted in a vertically reciprocable manner upon the rotary arm assembly  206 . Accordingly, as the rotary arm assembly  206  is rotated around the film wrapping or packaging station  204 , and as the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  210  is moved in a vertically reciprocable manner, either from its uppermost position to its lowermost position, or from its lowermost position to its uppermost position, the wrapping or packaging film, dispensed from the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  210 , wraps or packages the palletized load within the wrapping or packaging film. 
   Lastly, a rotary ring type film wrapping or packaging machine is disclosed within  FIG. 3  and is generally indicated by the reference character  300 . In accordance with such a rotary ring type film wrapping or packaging machine  300 , an upstanding framework  302  effectively defines a film wrapping or packaging station  304  at an axially central portion thereof, and a palletized load, not shown, which is to be wrapped or packaged within film wrapping or packaging material, is adapted to be disposed at such film wrapping or packaging station  304 . A rotary ring member  306  is rotatably mounted upon a frame member  308  so as to rotate around the film wrapping or packaging station  304 , and the frame member  308  is adapted to be movably mounted in a vertically reciprocable manner upon the upstanding framework  302 . In addition, a wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, not visible, is fixedly mounted upon the rotary ring member  306 . Accordingly, as the rotary ring member  306  is rotated around the film wrapping or packaging station  304 , and as the frame member  308  is moved in a vertically reciprocable manner, either from its uppermost position to its lowermost position, or from its lowermost position to its uppermost position, the wrapping or packaging film, dispensed from the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, wraps or packages the palletized load within the wrapping or packaging film. 
   Regardless of which type of conventional film wrapping or packaging machine is utilized to wrap or package palletized loads within wrapping or packaging film, an operative objective of the film wrapping or packaging process or procedure is to ensure that the strength of containment, or the holding together of, for example, multiple portions of the overall palletized load, is adequate or sufficient such that the different portions or sections of the overall palletized load do not separate from each other. A similar operative objective of the film wrapping or packaging process or procedure is to likewise ensure that the strength of containment, or the holding together of, for example, the entire or composite palletized load upon or onto the pallet per se, is also adequate or sufficient such that the palletized load does not separate from the pallet per se. 
   It has been determined that one means for achieving the aforenoted objectives is to effectively form the film wrapping or packaging material into a rope in view of the fact that the rope effectively exhibits enhanced resistance to stretching and tearing. Accordingly, if such a roped film was to be utilized in conjunction with non-roped film wrapping or packaging material, the entire composite film wrapping or packaging material, comprising the roped and non-roped portions of the film wrapping or packaging material, could significantly enhance the ability of the film wrapping or packaging material to hold uneven, sharp, pointy, abrasive, unstable, and heavy products upon the pallet. In addition, by applying or securing the roped film around both the pallet load and the pallet per se, the pallet load would be effectively fastened to the pallet per se so as to prevent the separation of the pallet load from the pallet per se, and in addition, could render the entire pallet assembly much more resistant to tilting, vibrating, shaking, and instability. The operative problem, however, is that, to date, no viable means has been developed in order to in fact achieve the formation of such a roped wrapping or packaging film during the film wrapping or packaging operation in order to in fact achieve the aforenoted procedural objectives. 
   A need therefore exists in the art for apparatus for forming roped portions of film wrapping or packaging material during a film wrapping or packaging procedure or operation whereby such roped portions of the wrapping or packaging film can be applied to strategic portions or sections of the palletized load in order to maintain different portions or sections of the palletized load together, or to fixedly maintain the entire composite palletized load upon the load pallet. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved film roping assembly which is disposed upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly and which effectively forms a rope from the film wrapping or packaging material as a result of effectively compressing, condensing, or gathering the wrapping or packaging film along its width dimension. More particularly, a roping pulley is mounted upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly so as to be movable in a vertically reciprocable manner. At the beginning of a film wrapping or packaging operation, the roping pulley is disposed at its uppermost position so as to be disposed directly above the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film, being dispensed from the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, such that the annular groove of the roping pulley is, in effect, aligned in a coplanar manner with the wrapping or packaging film. Accordingly, when it is desired to form a roped portion of the packaging or wrapping film, the roping pulley is moved vertically downwardly such that the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film will be disposed within the annular groove of the roping pulley, and as the roping pulley continues its downward movement, the wrapping or packaging film is effectively condensed or gathered along its width dimension or direction. 
   When the roping pulley effectively reaches its lowermost position, the wrapping or packaging film is completely formed into a roped section or portion of the wrapping or packaging film. This operative cycle can be repeated throughout a single film wrapping or packaging operation whereby different sections or portions of the wrapping or packaging film can comprise roped and non-roped structures so as to effectively dispose the roped portions or section of the wrapping or packaging film at strategic locations of the palletized load in order to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to hold uneven, sharp, pointy, abrasive, unstable, and heavy products upon a pallet, to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to hold different sections or portions of the palletized load together, or to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to secure the composite palletized load upon the pallet. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first conventional, PRIOR ART turntable type film wrapping or packaging machine; 
       FIG. 2  is a prespective view of a second conventional, PRIOR ART rotary arm type film wrapping or packaging machine; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third conventional, PRIOR ART rotary ring type film wrapping or packaging machine; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a new and improved film roping assembly, as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, for use with film wrapping or packaging machines, in order to provide roped sections of the wrapping or packaging film that may utilized at strategic locations upon a palletized load being wrapped or packaged within the wrapping or packaging film; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the new and improved film roping assembly as disclosed within  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the new and improved film roping assembly as disclosed within  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the new and improved film roping assembly as taken along the lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  so as to illustrate the details of how the roping pulley is movably mounted upon the film roping assembly; 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the new and improved film roping assembly as mounted upon a wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view, similar to that of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the disposition of the roping pulley at its uppermost position so as to permit the wrapping or packaging film to pass beneath the roping pulley at its full width dimension; 
       FIG. 10  is a front elevational view, similar to that of  FIG. 9 , illustrating, however, the disposition of the roping pulley at its lowermost position so as to cause the wrapping or packaging film to be formed into a roped film having its minimum width dimension; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a palletized load being wrapped or packaged within wrapping or packaging film that comprises both roped and non-roped sections or portions of the wrapping or packaging film; and 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a palletized liad being wrapped or packaged within wrapping or packaging film the comprises both roped and non-roped sections or portions of the wrapping or packaging film, and wherein, in particular, the roped sections or portions of the wrapping or packaging film have been disposed around the pallet per se. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 4-7  thereof, a new and improved film roping assembly, as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  400 . More particularly, it is seen that the new and improved film roping assembly  400  comprises a framework  402  upon the lower end of which there is rotatably mounted a drive sprocket  404 , and upon the upper end of which there is rotatably mounted an idler sprocket  406 . Opposite ends of a vertically oriented endless drive chain  408  are respectively disposed around the drive sprocket  404  and the idler sprocket  406 , wherein the idler sprocket  406  is adjustably mounted upon the framework  402  so as to provide the endless drive chain  408  with a proper amount of tension, and a reversible drive motor  410 , as can best be seen in  FIG. 5-7 , is fixedly mounted upon the framework  402  such that the output drive shaft of the drive motor  410  is operatively connected to the drive sprocket  404 . Therefore, depending upon the direction of rotation of the output drive shaft of the drive motor  410 , that is, either in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, as viewed, for example, in  FIG. 4 , the drive sprocket  404  will be respectively driven in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the drive chain  408  will effectively be moved or driven either in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction such that, for example, as viewed in  FIG. 4 , when the drive chain  408  is being moved or driven in the clockwise direction, the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moving vertically upwardly while the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moving vertically downwardly, and in a similar manner, when the drive chain  408  is being moved or driven in the counterclockwise direction, the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moving vertically downwardly while the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moving vertically upwardly. 
   A roping pulley  412  is adapted to be rotatably mounted upon the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  so as to be movable with the drive chain  408  when the drive chain  408  is moved in accordance with the foregoing clockwise and counterclockwise directional movements whereby, for example, the roping pulley  412  will be vertically movable between an uppermost position as illustrated, for example, within  FIG. 9 , and a lowermost position as illustrated, for example, within  FIG. 10 , the purpose of which will be explained more fully hereinafter. In order to in fact mount the roping pulley  412  upon the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408 , and with particular reference being made to  FIG. 7 , it is seen that the roping pulley  412  is rotatably mounted upon the distal or free end portion of a pin  414 , and that the pin  414  is not only fixedly connected to one of the links of the endless drive chain  408 , but in addition is also fixedly secured within a mounting bracket  416 . The mounting bracket  416  is, in turn, fixedly mounted upon a guide block  418 , and it is further appreciated that the guide block  418  is movably mounted upon a vertically oriented guide rail  420 , which is fixedly mounted upon the framework  402 , through means of a dovetail type connection. Still further, it is seen that a pair of proximity targets  422 , 423  which basically have elongated structures, are fixedly mounted or incorporated within the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408 , and that a pair of upper and lower proximity sensors  424  and  426  are fixedly mounted upon upper and lower regions of the framework  402 . The proximity sensors  424 ,  426  are electrically connected to the drive motor  410  and effectively act or serve as limit switches so as to terminate the particular directional drive of the drive motor  410 , and the corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the drive chain  408 , so as to respectively position the roping pulley  412  at either its lowermost or uppermost position as respectively illustrated within  FIGS. 10 and 9 . 
   Continuing still further, it is also seen that the new and improved film roping assembly  400  comprises a vertically oriented roping idler roller  428  which has its opposite ends thereof rotatably mounted within suitable mounting bracket portions  402   a  and  402   b  , and of the framework  402 , as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 6 , and as can best be seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  9 , and  10 , the lower end portion of the roping idler roller  428  is provided with a frusto-conically shaped lower roping roller  430 , the function of which will be described more fully hereinafter. In addition, it is also seen, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 5 and 6 , that the film roping assembly framework  402  further comprises a mounting bracket or plate  432  to which the drive motor  410  is fixedly mounted, by means of suitable bolt fasteners, not shown, and still further, the upper and lower mounting bracket portions  402   a  and  402   b  of the framework  402 , upon which the opposite endv portions of the roping idler roller  428  are rotatably mounted, is provided with apertures, not shown, for accommodating suitable fasteners, also not shown, by means of which the entire film roping assembly  400  can be fixedly mounted upon a wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  as illustrated within  FIG. 8 . The wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  may comprise substantially any conventional wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, and it is therefore to be appreciated that the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  is adapted to be mounted upon any one of the several different types of conventional film wrapping or packaging machines  100 , 200 , and  300  as respectively illustrated within  FIGS. 1-3  whereby, in turn, the new and improved film roping assembly  400  of the present invention can be utilized with any one of the several different types of conventional film wrapping or packaging machines  100 ,  200 , and  300 . 
   More particularly, it is seen, for example, that the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  comprises an upstanding spindle  436  upon which a roll of wrapping or packaging film, not illustrated, is adapted to be mounted, and that, for example, a suitable drive roller, and a suitable tension roller, both not illustrated, are adapted to be mounted upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  so as to be rotatably driven by means of a suitable drive system which comprises a drive motor  438 , a first drive pulley  440  operatively connected to the output drive shaft of the drive motor  438 , a first driven pulley  442  which is driven by means of a first drive belt  444  interconnecting the first driven pulley  442  to the drive pulley  440 , a second driven pulley  446  which is coaxially mounted atop the first driven pulley  442 , and a third driven pulley  448  which is driven by means of a second drive belt  450  interconnecting the second driven pulley  446  to the third driven pulley  448 . In addition, a film outfeed idler roller  452  is also rotatably mounted upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  as a result of its oppositely disposed upper and lower end portions being rotatably mounted within upper and lower sections of the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly framework. 
   Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the film path of the wrapping or packaging film, disposed upon and dispensed from the roll of wrapping or packaging film rotatably mounted upon the up-standing spindle  436 , extends from the roll of wrapping or packaging film, passes through the aforenoted drive and tensioning rollers, not shown, passes around and across the front surface portion of the film outfeed idler roller  452 , beneath the roping pulley  412 , and around or behind the roping idler roller  428  so as to be conducted toward the palletized load to be wrapped or packaged within the wrapping or packaging film. It is lastly noted that while the endless drive chain  408  is illustrated as being visible, in reality, the endless drive chain  408  is entirely enclosed within a suitable housing, or enclosed by suitable covers, not actually illustrated but similar to the housing  454  which covers, for example, the idler sprocket  406 . 
   Having described substantially all of the component parts of the new and improved film roping assembly  400 , the operation of the same will now be described. More particularly, it is to be appreciated that all movements of the various component parts of the new and improved film roping assembly  400 , as well as the actual dispensing of the wrapping or packaging film from the roll of wrapping or packaging film disposed upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434  is adapted to be controlled by means of, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC) which is schematically illustrated at  456  in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, when a film wrapping or packaging operation or cycle is to be performed or initiated, the roping pulley  412  is disposed at its uppermost position as illustrated, for example, within any one of  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 , and  9 . In addition, wrapping or packaging film is dispensed from the roll of wrapping or packaging film disposed upon the upstanding spindle  436  of the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434 , and as has been noted hereinbefore, the path of film extends from the upstanding spindle  436 , through the drive roller and tension roller assemblies, not shown, disposed upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly  434 , across the front surface portion of the film outfeed idler roller  452 , and around the rear surface portion of the roping idler roller  428  so as to be directed toward the palletized load to be wrapped within the wrapping or packaging film. 
   As a result of the wrapping or packaging film being disposed along such a film path, the wrapping or packaging film passes directly beneath the roping pulley  412 , and as can best be appreciated, for example, from  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the roping pulley  412  has an annular groove or recessed portion  458  formed within the external peripheral portion thereof such that the annular groove or recessed portion  458  of the roping pulley  412  is effectively disposed in a substantially coplanar manner with respect to the wrapping or packaging film being conveyed along the film path disposed beneath the roping pulley  412  when the roping pulley  412  is disposed at its uppermost position as illustrated within  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 , and  9 . Accordingly, at this point in time, and as schematically illustrated within  FIG. 9 , the film being dispensed and conducted toward the palletized load is characterized by means of its full width dimension FWD. However, when it is desired to form a roped section of the wrapping or packaging film at, for example, a predetermined time of the film wrapping or packaging operation or cycle, the programmable logic controller (PLC)  456  sends a signal to the drive motor  410  so as to cause the output shaft thereof to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction so as to, in turn, cause the drive sprocket  404  to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the drive chain  408  will be moved in the counterclockwise direction whereby the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408 , upon which the roping pulley  412  is rotatably mounted, will be moved vertically downwardly while the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moved vertically upwardly. 
   Therefore, as the roping pulley  412  is moved vertically downwardly, by means of the drive chain  408  and as guided along the guide rail  420 , the annular groove or recessed portion  458  of the roping pulley  412  will engage the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film such that the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film will be disposed within the annular groove or recessed portion  458  of the roping pulley  412 . Accordingly, as the roping pulley  412  continues to be moved downwardly, the width dimension of the wrapping or packaging film will be continuously condensed between the downwardly moving roping pully  412  and the lower bracket portion  402   b  of the framework  402  until, for example, the roping pulley  412  reaches its lowermost position as illustrated within  FIG. 10 . At this point in time, the wrapping or packaging film is disposed in its roped state wherein the wrapping or packaging film has a minimized width dimension MWD which may be, for example, within the range of one-quarter inch (0.25″) to one-half inch (0.50″) wide. It is to be noted that as the roping pulley  412  approaches its lowermost position, the roped film will effectively be forced into a frusto-conically shaped recess effectively formed by means of the frusto-conically shaped lower roping roller  430  which therefore effectively serves to maintain the roped film at such position within the frusto-conically shaped recessed portion of the lower roping roller  430 . It is to be noted further that the vertically downward travel or movement of the roping pulley  412  is terminated at its position illustrated within  FIG. 10  as a result of the proximity target  422 , disposed upon the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  being disposed opposite the upper proximity sensor  424  whereby the upper proximity sensor  424  will sense the presence of the proximity target  422  and thereby transmit a control signal to the pro-grammable logic controller (PLC)  456  in order to terminate the drive of the drive motor  410 . 
   In a similar manner, when it is desired to permit the wrapping or packaging film to regain its full width dimension at, for example, a subsequent predetermined time of the film wrapping or packaging operation or cycle, the programmable logic controller (PLC)  456  sends a signal to the drive motor  410  so as to cause the output shaft thereof to be rotated in the reverse or clockwise direction so as to, in turn, cause the drive sprocket  404  to be rotated in the clockwise direction. Accordingly, the drive chain  408  will be moved in the clockwise direction whereby the left side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408 , upon which the roping pulley  412  is rotatably mounted, will now be moved vertically upwardly while the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408  will be moved vertically downwardly. Therefore, as the roping pulley  412  is moved vertically upwardly, the width dimension of the wrapping or packaging film will be continuously expanded back to its full width dimension FWD until, for example, the roping pulley  412  reaches its uppermost original or start position as illustrated within  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 , or  10 . It is to be noted that the vertically upward travel or movement of the roping pulley  412  is terminated at its uppermost position illustrated within  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8  or  10  as a result of the proximity target  423 , disposed upon the right side portion of the endless loop comprising the drive chain  408 , being disposed opposite the lower proximity sensor  426  whereby the lower proximity sensor  426  will sense the presence of the proximity target  423  and thereby transmit a control signal to the programmable logic controller (PLC)  456  in order to terminate the drive of the drive motor  410 . It is to be further noted or appreciated that this operative cycle may be repeated at any one of a multiple number of times, if desired, throughout a single wrapping or packaging operation or cycle whereby the film, wrapping or packaging the particular palletized load, may comprise a plurality of sections comprising roped portions of the wrapping or packaging film, or full width portions of the wrapping or packaging film, depending upon, for example, the requirements of the particular palletized load. For example, as illustrated within  FIG. 11 , a palletized load  460  is disposed upon a pallet  462  and is wrapped within wrapping or packaging film which comprises, for example, roped sections  464  of the wrapping or packaging film and full width sections  466  of the wrapping or packaging film. In addition, as disclosed within  FIG. 12 , roped sections  464  of the wrapping or packaging film may be wrapped around the pallet  462  so as to effectively attach the palletized load  460  directly to the pallet  462 . 
   Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been disclosed and described a new and improved film roping assembly which is disposed upon the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly and which comprises a vertically reciprocable roping pulley which effectively forms a rope from the film wrapping or packaging material as a result of effectively compressing, condensing, or gathering the wrapping or packaging film along its width dimension. At the beginning of a film wrapping or packaging operation, the roping pulley is disposed at its uppermost position so as to be disposed directly above the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film, being dispensed from the wrapping or packaging film dispensing carriage assembly, such that the annular groove of the roping pulley is, in effect, aligned in a coplanar manner with the wrapping or packaging film. Accordingly, when it is desired to form a roped portion of the packaging or wrapping film, the roping pulley is moved vertically downwardly in a transverse manner with respect to the direction in which the wrapping or packaging film is being dispensed such that the upper edge portion of the wrapping or packaging film will be disposed within the annular groove of the roping pulley, and as the roping pulley continues its downward movement, the wrapping or packaging film is effectively condensed or gathered along its width dimension or direction. 
   When the roping pulley effectively reaches its lowermost position, the wrapping or packaging film is completely formed into a roped section or portion of the wrapping or packaging film. This operative cycle can be repeated throughout a single film wrapping or packaging operation whereby different sections or portions of the wrapping or packaging film can comprise roped and non-roped structures so as to effectively dispose the roped portions or section of the wrapping or packaging film at strategic locations of the palletized load in order to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to hold uneven, sharp, pointy, abrasive, unstable, and heavy products upon a pallet, to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to hold different sections or portions of the palletized load together, or to significantly enhance the ability of the wrapping or packaging film to secure the composite palletized load upon the pallet. 
   Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.