Patent Publication Number: US-7213381-B2

Title: Apparatus for applying external corner or edge protectors onto external corner or edge regions of packages or palletized loads

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to apparatus or a system for wrapping or packaging palletized loads or articles, and more particularly to apparatus or a system for placing external corner or edge protectors upon the corner or edge regions of palletized loads or articles, prior to the wrapping or packaging thereof, wherein four corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are respectively disposed adjacent to the four corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article, wherein the corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are movable independently of the corner or edge protector magazine assemblies, each one of which houses a supply of corner or edge protectors within a vertically oriented serial array, and wherein the corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are rotatably mounted upon rotatable actuators which are rotatably movable through angular movements comprising 270° and which, in turn, are mounted upon linearly movable mechanisms which are effectively movable in both the X and Y directions, whereby the corner or edge protector magazine assemblies, and the corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms operatively associated therewith, are capable of being oriented either in a parallel mode, or in a perpendicular mode, with respect to the longitudinal extent of the conveyor system which conveys the palletized load or article, to be wrapped or packaged, into the wrapping or packaging station, and which conveys the wrapped or packaged palletized load or article out from the wrapping station. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Apparatus for wrapping or packaging a palletized load or article generally comprises a stationary or fixed framework defining a wrapping station for receiving the palletized load or article to wrapped within wrapping or packaging material, and a movable framework which is mounted upon the stationary or fixed framework in a vertically reciprocable manner or mode of operation. The movable framework has a wrapping material dispensing unit rotatably mounted thereon for rotation around a vertical axis defined at the wrapping station at which each one of the palletized loads or articles is disposed so as to be wrapped within the packaging or wrapping material, and accordingly, as the movable framework is moved vertically along the fixed or stationary framework, the wrapping material dispensing unit is rotated around the palletized load or article so as to completely encase the palletized load or article within the wrapping or packaging material. The palletized load or article to be wrapped or packaged usually comprises opposed pairs of vertical sides, wherein adjacent sides of the palletized load or article meet at an angle so as to define a plurality of vertically oriented corner or edge regions, and in order to protect the vertically oriented corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article from being damaged during transportation, shipping, storage, or the like, vertically oriented corner or edge protectors, fabricated, for example, from paper or paperboard material, are applied to or mounted upon the vertically oriented corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article prior to the wrapping or packaging of the same within the wrapping or packaging material. 
   The apparatus for applying the vertically oriented corner or edge protectors onto the vertically oriented corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article generally comprises, for each vertically oriented corner region of the palletized load or article, a magazine for storing a plurality or supply of the vertically oriented corner or edge protectors, and a pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism operatively associated with the magazine for removing a leading one of the vertically oriented corner or edge protectors from the magazine, for transferring the removed corner or edge protector toward the particular or corresponding corner or edge portion of the palletized load or article, and for applying the vertically oriented corner or edge protector onto the particular vertically oriented corner or edge region of the palletized load or article. One such type of apparatus which has heretofore been proposed, and which is currently well-known in the industry, is that disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,572 which issued to Morantz et al. on Jul. 16, 1996. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 1 , which corresponds to  FIG. 2  of the aforenoted patent to Morantz et al., it is seen that the exemplary, conventional, PRIOR ART palletized load or article wrapping or packaging system, generally indicated by the reference character  10 , comprises a stationary frame assembly  12 , a movable frame assembly  14  movably mounted upon the stationary frame assembly  12  for vertical movement with respect thereto, and a ring member  16  which is supported upon the frame assembly  14  for vertical displacement therewith and which is rotatable around a system axis  18 . The stationary frame assembly  12  spans a conveyor  20  which is adapted to convey a palletized load or article L, to be wrapped or packaged, along a flow path P to a wrapping or packaging station, which is located at the axial location  18 , in preparation for the wrapping or packaging of the palletized load or article L, and subsequent to the wrapping or packaging of the palletized load or article L, the conveyor  20  will discharge the wrapped or packaged palletized load or article L outwardly from the wrapping or packaging station. A film carriage  22  is mounted upon the ring member  16  for displacement therewith and includes a roll of plastic wrapping or packaging film material which is adapted to be paid out or dispensed during a palletized load or article wrapping or packaging operation. 
   The palletized load or article L is defined by means of a pair of oppositely disposed end walls  34 , 36  and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls  38 , 40  wherein adjacent pairs of the side walls and end walls  34 , 36 , 38 , 40  define four vertically oriented corner regions upon the palletized load or article L which are adapted to be protected by means of vertically oriented corner or edge protectors. Accordingly, a plurality of corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  44  are provided within the vicinity of each one of the four corner regions of the palletized load or article L such that a pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly  132  can effectively pick up or remove a leading one of a plurality of serially arranged, vertically oriented corner or edge protectors from a magazine assembly  56 , transfer the removed corner or edge protector from the magazine assembly  56  toward the particular corner or edge region of the palletized load or article L, and apply the corner or edge protector onto the corner or edge region of the palletized load or article L. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 2 , which corresponds to  FIG. 4  of the patent to Morantz et al., each one of the plurality of corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  44  is seen to comprise a stationary framework  46  which includes a plurality of vertically oriented corner posts  48 , a pair of transversely oriented framework members  50 , 50  connecting pairs of the corner posts  48  together, and a pair of longitudinally extending frame rail members  52 , 52  connecting other pairs of the corner posts  48  together. In addition, a pair of longitudinally extending frame members  54 , 54 , having racks  70  formed thereon, also connect the pair of transversely oriented framework members  50 , 50  together. 
   A magazine unit  56 , for housing a plurality of corner or edge protectors C within a transversely oriented, serial array, is mounted upon a carriage assembly  58  which comprises a carrige support plate  59 , and the opposite ends of the support plate  59  are mounted upon carriage wheel units  60  which are rollably disposed upon the longitudinally extending rail members  52 , 52 . A motor  64 , mounted upon the undersurface portion of the support plate  59 , is adapted to drive pinions, not illustrated, which are disposed in meshed engagement with the racks  70  such that the entire carriage assembly  58 , upon which the magazine unit  56  is mounted, can be moved in a reciprocal manner along the longitudinally extending rail members  52 , 52 . It is additionally seen that each one of the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  is respectively mounted upon the support plate  59 , through means of a support block  134 , so as to be movable along with the carriage assembly  58 . The support block  134  is mounted upon a pair of guide rods  136  which are slidably mounted within a pair of guide blocks  138  which are mounted upon the support plate  59 , and the support block  134  is also attached to the distal end of a piston rod  142  of a cylinder mechanism  140  which is also mounted upon the support plate  59 . 
   The support block  134  comprises a pickup plate  148  which is mounted upon a support plate  150  which is fixedly mounted upon a vertically oriented rotatable shaft  144 , and a pinion mechanism  158  is also fixedly mounted upon the rotatable shaft  144 . A rack  160  is fixedly mounted upon one of a plurality of vertically orient-ed corner posts  72  of the magazine unit  56 , and accordingly, when the support block  134  is driven to the right, as viewed in  FIG. 2 , from the solid line position to the dotted line position, the pinion mechanism  158  will be enmeshed with and driven by the rack  160  so as to rotate the pickup plate  148  and the vertically oriented shaft  144  around the vertical axis defined by vertically oriented shaft  144 . In this manner, the leading one of the edge or corner protectors C will be removed from the magazine unit  56  and angularly pivoted through an angular rotation of 135 so as to be disposed at the dotted line position designated by means of P 1 ,P 2  which represent the side members of each corner or edge protector C. When the corner or edge protector C is disposed at such dotted line position, the pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly  132  may then be adjustably positioned still further with respect to the end and side wall members  34 , 38  of the palletized load or article L by means of piston-cylinder assembly  140 , 142 , as well as by means of drive motor  64  which controls the movement of carriage assembly  58 , so as to apply or mount the corner or edge protector C onto the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article L. 
   While the aforenoted apparatus of Morantz et al. is quite satisfactory, the structural components, and the operational arrangement of such structural components, comprising the apparatus or system presents some logistical and operational situations which are deemed to need improvement. For example, it is noted, for example, that the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  are respectively mounted upon the carriage assembly  58  along with the magazine unit  56  which houses the supply of corner or edge protectors C. Accordingly, a substantial amount of mass, that is, the entire carriage assembly  58  and the magazine unit  56 , is required to be moved when each one of the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  is moved with respect to a particular one of the external corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article L in order to properly position the leading one of the corner or edge protectors C which has been removed from a respective one of the magazine units  56 . This massive movement of the aforenoted structural components necessitates a slow movement of the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  with respect to the external corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article L, or the use of larger motor drive units. It is further noted that since each magazine unit  56  and each pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly  132  is mounted upon the movable carriage assembly  58 , then when the supply of corner or edge protectors C needs to be replenished, operator personnel must perform such replenishment operation either while the carriage assembly  58  is in motion, such as, for example, when each one of the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  is being moved toward an external corner region of the palletized load or article L so as to position the leading one of the corner or edge protectors C onto the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article L, or when each one of the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  is being moved away from the external corner region of the palletized load or article L so as to permit the wrapping or packaging process for the palletized load or article L to be completed. The performance of such a replenishment operation during such movements of the carriage assembly  58  is obviously dangerous or potentially hazardous to operator personnel. 
   Alternatively, such a replenishment operation may conceivably be performed after the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  have been moved away from the external corner region of the palletized load or article L so as to permit the wrapping or packaging of the palletized load or article L to be completed, or still further, when the wrapped or packaged palletized load or article is being discharged from the wrapping or packaging station by means of the conveyor mechanism  20 , while a new palletized load or article L is being conveyed into the wrapping or packaging station in preparation for the commencement of a new wrapping or packaging operation. However, the time window for accomplishing such a corner or edge protector replenishment operation may be relatively short, and if the replenishment operation is not in fact completed when the next wrapping or packaging operation is to be performed, the system experiences operational downtime which causes a loss in productivity. 
   Lastly, it is noted that in accordance with the structural arrangement and actuating mechanisms comprising the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132 , and the mounting of the same upon the carriage assembly  58 , the plurality of pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  are only able to undergo angular rotation through means of an angular extent comprising 135° of movement. Accordingly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 2 , in order to permit the pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  132  to undergo such angular or pivotal movement from the solid line position to the dotted line position so as to properly position the same, as well as the leading one of the external corner or edge protectors C disposed thereon, with respect to a respective one of the external corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article L, the plurality of corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  44  must be positioned in a transverse or perpendicular mode or orientation with respect to the longitudinal extent of the conveyor  20 . This arrangement requires a larger amount of floor space to be allocated to the entire packaging or wrapping machinery or apparatus  10 . 
   A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved apparatus or system for applying vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors onto vertically oriented external corner or edge regions of a palletized load or article wherein the magazine assemblies for housing or storing supplies of the plurality of external edge or corner protectors are stationary so as not to present a hazardous environment for operator personnel during the replenishment of the supplies of the external corner or edge protectors within the magazine assemblies, wherein the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are movable independently of their operatively associated magazine assemblies such that the mass which is required to be moved in order to remove the leading one of the external corner or edge protectors from each one of the magazine assemblies, to transfer the removed external corner or edge protector toward the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article disposed at the wrapping or packaging station, and to apply the external corner or edge protector onto the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article is minimized whereby the controlled movements of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are able to be performed faster and with smaller motor drive mechanisms, and wherein the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are rotatably or pivotally movable through angular movements or extents of 270° so as to permit the external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies to be optionally oriented in both parallel and perpendicular modes with respect to the longitudinal extent of the palletized load or article conveyor mechanism which conveys the palletized loads or articles into the wrapping or packaging station, and which discharges the palletized loads or articles out from the wrapping or packaging station, whereby the floor space of the manufacturing or fabrication facility can be optimized. 
   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 external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly, for use in conjunction with apparatus or a system for wrapping or packaging palletized loads or articles within wrapping or packaging material, wherein each magazine assembly, for housing or storing a supply of external corner or edge protectors, is stationary, and wherein further, the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism is mounted upon the magazine assembly so as to be movable independently of the magazine assembly in X and Y directions so as to be movable relative to the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article in order to properly position the external corner or edge protector with respect to the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article. In this manner, the mass, which is required to be moved in order to remove the leading one of the external corner or edge protectors from the magazine assembly, to transfer the removed external corner or edge protector toward the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article disposed at the wrapping or packaging station, and to apply the external corner or edge protector onto the external corner or edge region of the palletized load or article is minimized whereby the controlled movements of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism are able to be performed faster and with smaller motor drives. In addition, such a structural arrangement does not present a hazardous environment for operator personnel during the replenishment of the supply of external corner or edge protectors within each magazine assembly. Still further, the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are rotatably or pivotally movable through angular movements or extents of 270° so as to permit the external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies to be optionally oriented in both parallel and perpendicular modes with respect to the longitudinal extent of the palletized load or article conveyor mechanism which conveys the palletized loads or articles into and out from the wrapping or packaging station. In this manner, floor space within the manufacturing or fabrication facility can be optimized. 

   
     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 top plan view of a conventional, PRIOR ART apparatus or system for wrapping or packaging palletized loads or articles within wrapping or packaging material; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of one of the magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies of the conventional, PRIOR ART palletized load or article wrapping or packaging apparatus or system as disclosed within  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a new and improved apparatus or system, for wrapping or packaging palletized loads or articles within wrapping or packaging material, constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the operative component parts thereof, in particular, the stationary disposition of the magazine assembly, upon the apparatus or system framework, for housing or storing the serial supply of external corner or edge protectors to be applied to external corner or edge regions of a palletized load or article, and the mounting of the pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism upon the apparatus or system framework so as to be movable both longitudinally and laterally in X-Y directions independent of the magazine assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view, similar to that of  FIG. 3  but from a mirror-image point of view, showing the details of the mounting assembly for the pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism as mounted upon the apparatus or system framework; 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the new and improved palletized load or article wrapping or packaging apparatus or system, as disclosed within  FIG. 3 , and as taken along the line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an end elevational view of the new and improved palletized load or article wrapping or packaging apparatus or system, as disclosed within  FIG. 3 , and as taken along the line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the new and improved palletized load or article wrapping or packaging apparatus or system, as disclosed within  FIG. 3 , and as taken along the line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of one of the pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms of the present invention showing the operative components thereof for mounting upon the apparatus or system framework. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 3–7  thereof, a new and improved external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly, for use in conjunction with an apparatus or system for wrapping or packaging palletized loads or articles within wrapping or packaging material, as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  210 . More particularly, it is seen that the new and improved apparatus or system  210 , for picking up, transferring, and applying vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors onto the vertically oriented corner or edge regions of palletized loads or articles, is seen to comprise a stationary framework which comprises a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced, vertically oriented, upstanding standards  212 , 214 , 216 , 218  which are disposed within the four corner regions of the stationary framework, a first pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower structural beam members  220 , 222  which effectively interconnect the longitudinally spaced, vertically oriented, upstanding standards  212 , 216  together, and a second pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower structural beam members  224 , 226  which are laterally or transversely spaced from the first pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower structural beam members  220 , 222  and which effectively interconnect the longitudinally spaced, vertically oriented, upstanding standards  214 , 218  together. 
   In addition, a transversely or laterally extending structural beam member  228  effectively interconnects the laterally or transversely spaced, upper, longitudinally extending structural beam members  220 , 224  together, and a pair of transversely or laterally spaced, vertically oriented, upstanding masts  230 , 232  are respectively fixedly attached to the transversely or laterally extending structural beam member  228  by means of suitable mounting brackets  234 , 236 . Still yet further, and with particular reference being made to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a pair of transversely or laterally spaced support or mounting platforms  238 , 240  are respectively affixed atop the upper, laterally or transversely spaced, longitudinally extending structural beam members  220 , 224 , as well as atop the opposite ends of the transversely or laterally extending structural beam member  228 , and a transversely or laterally extending plate member  242  has its opposite ends fixedly secured atop the laterally or transversely spaced support or mounting platforms  238 , 240 . A first set of longitudinally spaced, transversely or laterally extending beam members  244 , 246  are fixedly disposed atop the plate member  242 , and it is seen that each one of the transversely or laterally extending beam members  244 , 246  has a substantially inverted L-shaped cross-sectional configuration whereby the pair of transversely or laterally extending beam members  244 , 246  operatively cooperate with the transversely or laterally extending plate member  242  so as to effectively define a trough assembly within which the upper run of a first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, is adapted to be movably guided. 
   The upper run of the first lower conveyor belt member, not shown, forms part of a magazine assembly for housing and serially conveying a plurality of vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, also not shown, toward an external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248 , which will be discussed further in detail hereinafter, whereby a leading one of the vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, can be properly positioned with respect to the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  so as to be picked up by means of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  in preparation for being transferred toward and applied onto the external corner or edge region of a palletized load or article. In connection with the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, a first conveyor belt drive pulley  250 , and a first conveyor belt idler pulley  252 , are disposed laterally outwardly of the opposite ends of the trough assembly comprising the laterally or transversely extending plate member  242  and beam members  244 , 246 , and it is additionally seen that a first mounting bracket  254  is fixedly secured beneath the left end portion of the transversely or laterally extending structural beam member  228 , as viewed within  FIG. 3 , such that a first drive motor-gear reducer assembly  256  can be fixedly mounted upon the undersurface portion of the first mounting bracket  254 . 
   The output drive shaft  257  of the first drive motor gear reducer assembly  256  has a drive pulley  258  rotatably mounted thereon, and the drive pulley  258  is operatively connected to a driven pulley  260  by means of pulley drive belt  262 . The driven pulley  260  drives the first conveyor drive pulley  250  through means of a first horizontally oriented drive shaft  264 , and a first transmission gear member  266  is fixedly mounted upon the first drive shaft  264  so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, defined by means of the first drive shaft  264 , in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from the end of the first drive shaft  264  upon which the driven pulley  260  is mounted. The first transmission gear member  266  is enmeshed with a first rotary gear member  268  which is rotatable around a vertical axis, and it is seen that the first rotary gear member  268  is fixedly mounted upon the lower end portion of a vertically oriented drive shaft  270  so as to cause the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  to be rotated around its longitudinal, vertically oriented axis. The upper end portion of the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  has a second rotary gear member  272  mounted thereon such that the second rotary gear member  272  is also rotatable around the vertical axis defined by means of the drive shaft  270 , and the second rotary gear member  272  is enmeshed with a second transmission gear member  274 . The second transmission gear member  274  is mounted upon a second horizontally oriented drive shaft  276  so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis defined by means of the second horizontally oriented drive shaft  276 , and a second conveyor belt drive pulley  278  is fixedly mounted upon the second horizontally oriented drive shaft  276  so as to be driven thereby. 
   The second conveyor belt drive pulley  278  is adapted to be operatively cooperative with a second conveyor belt idler pulley  280  so as to convey a second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, whereby the lower run of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, will operatively cooperate with the upper run of the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, so as to effectively complete the magazine assembly for housing and serially conveying the plurality of vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, toward the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  in order to dispose the leading one of the external corner or edge protectors, not shown, at the desired forwardmost position such that the leading one of the external corner or edge protectors will in fact be ready to be picked up by means of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248 . More particularly, as can best be seen from FIGS.  3  and  5 – 7 , a set of longitudinally spaced, laterally or transversely extending support beams  282 , 284  are respectively fixedly secured to the opposite dependent ends of substantially inverted C-shaped or U-shaped mounting brackets  286 , 288 , and it is additionally seen that a side end portion of each one of the substantially inverted C-shaped or U-shaped mounting brackets  286 , 288  is respectively fixedly secured to a carriage block  290 , 292 . 
   Still further, the second rotary gear member  272 , and the second transmission gear member  274  enmeshed therewith, are disposed within a caged platform  294  which is fixedly secured atop one end of the laterally or transversely extending support beam  284 , while the opposite end of the second, horizontally oriented pulley drive shaft  276  is rotatably mounted within a bearing block  296  which is fixedly secured atop one end of the laterally or transversely extending support beam  282 . In a similar manner, the opposite ends of the rotary shaft, upon which the second conveyor belt idler pulley  280  is fixedly mounted, are mounted within bearing blocks  298 , 300  which are respectively fixedly secured atop the opposite ends of the laterally or transversely extending support beams  282 , 284 , while a plurality of vertically spaced upper and lower idler rollers  302 , 304 , interposed between the second conveyor belt drive pulley  278  and the second conveyor belt idler pulley  280  which are rotatably mounted upon the opposite ends of the laterally or transversely extending support beams  282 , 284 , serve to respectively support and convey the upper and lower runs of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown. In conjunction with the lower run of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, it is lastly noted, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 6 , that a pair of secondary, laterally or transversely extending beam members  306 , 308  are respectively fixedly secured to the undersurface portions of the laterally or transversely extending support beams support beams  282 , 284  so as to project or extend inwardly toward each other, and in this manner, the pair of secondary, laterally or transversely extending beam members  306 , 308  effectively cooperate with the plurality of lower idler rollers  304  in defining a laterally or transversely oriented space within which the lower run of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, can be routed and confined. As has been noted hereinbefore, the lower run of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, is adapted to operatively cooperate with the upper run of the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, so as to effectively complete the magazine assembly for housing and serially conveying the plurality of vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, toward the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248 . 
   Continuing further, in order to in fact permit the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, to properly operatively cooperate with the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, also not shown, such that the first and second lower and upper endless loop conveyor belt members together define the magazine assembly within which a plurality of different sized, vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, can be housed or accommodated, and still further, in order to in fact permit the upper run of the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, to properly operatively cooperate with the lower run of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, so as to convey such different sized, vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors toward the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248 , the disposition of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, with respect to the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, is rendered adjustable. More particularly, it will be appreciated that the various, aforenoted structural components comprising, for example, the second conveyor belt drive pulley  278 , the second conveyor belt idler pulley  280 , and the upper and lower idler rollers  302 , 304  over, under, and around which the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, is movably disposed, as well as the transversely or laterally extending support beams  282 , 284 , mounting brackets  286 , 288 , and the carriage blocks  290 , 292 , effectively define a carriage assembly which is adapted to be vertically movable in a reciprocating manner so as to in fact render the disposition of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, positionally adjustable with respect to the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown. 
   With reference therefore being continued primarily with respect to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , it is seen that each one of the carriage blocks  290 , 292  is slidably mounted upon a vertically oriented guide rod  310 , 312  which are respectively fixedly mounted upon the vertically oriented, upstanding mast members  230 , 232 , and that each one of the carriage blocks  290 , 292  is provided with an internally threaded bore through which a vertically oriented externally threaded rod  314 , 316  extends so as to be threadedly engaged therewith. The upper end portion of each one of the vertically oriented externally threaded rods  314 , 316  is respectively fixedly mounted within third and fourth pulley members  318 ,  320 , and it is seen that the third and fourth pulley members  318 , 320  are rotatably mounted upon a laterally or transversely extending support plate  322  which is fixedly secured to the upper end portions of the vertically oriented, upstanding mast members  230 , 232 . A second pulley belt  324  drivingly interconnects the third and fourth pulley members  318 , 320  together, and it is seen that a fifth pulley member  326  is likewise fixedly mounted upon the upper end portion of the externally threaded rod  316 , while a sixth pulley member  328  is fixedly mounted upon the upper end portion of a vertically oriented drive shaft  330  which is adapted to be manually rotated by means of a handle assembly  332 . 
   The upper end portion of the vertically oriented drive shaft  330  is rotatably mounted within the right end portion of the transversely or laterally extending support plate  322 , while the lower end portion of the vertically oriented drive shaft  330  is rotatably mounted within a mounting bracket  334  which is fixedly secured to the vertically oriented, upstanding mast member  232 , and a third pulley belt  336  drivingly interconnects the fifth and sixth pulley members  326 , 328  together. It can therefore be accordingly appreciated that when, for example, the rotary handle assembly  332  is rotated with the counterclockwise direction CCW as viewed and denoted within  FIG. 3 , the vertically oriented drive shaft  330  will likewise be rotated in the counterclockwise direction CCW whereby the sixth pulley member  328  will, in turn, be rotated in the counterclockwise direction CCW. The third pulley belt  336  will cause the fifth pulley member  326  to likewise rotate in the counterclockwise direction whereby the fourth pulley member  320 , as well as the vertically oriented threaded rod  316 , will likewise rotate in the counterclockwise direction. The rotational movement of the fourth pulley member  320  will be transmitted to the third pulley member  318 , through means of the second pulley belt  324 , whereby the third pulley member  318 , as well as the vertically oriented threaded rod  314 , will likewise-rotate in the counterclockwise direction. 
   The simultaneous rotational movements of the pair of threaded rods  314 , 316  in the counterclockwise direction will, of course, cause the carriage blocks  290 , 292  to be moved, for example, vertically upwardly so as to, in turn, cause the entire, aforenoted carriage assembly to be moved upwardly in order to enlarge the vertical separation defined between the first and second, upper and lower conveyor belts, not shown, whereby such first and second, upper and lower conveyor belts, not shown, can accommodate and house predeterminedly sized external corner or edge protectors within the aforenoted magazine assembly. It can of course be appreciated further that rotation of the rotary handle assembly  332  in the opposite, clockwise direction will cause the carriage blocks  290 , 292 , and therefore, the entire carriage assembly, to be moved downwardly in order to lessen the vertical separation defined between the first and second, upper and lower conveyor belts, not shown, whereby such first and second, upper and lower conveyor belts, not shown, can accommodate and house predeterminedly smaller external corner or edge protectors within the aforenoted magazine assembly. 
   It is to be lastly appreciated that, in connection with the aforenoted vertically adjustable movements of the carriage assembly, the second rotary gear member  272  must be simultaneously capable of undergoing rotary movement, as a result of its enmeshed engagement with respect to the second transmission gear member  274 , as well as vertically reciprocable translational movement as a result of effectively being mounted upon the transversely or laterally oriented support beam  284  which forms a part of the aforenoted carriage assembly. Accordingly, it is seen that the upper external surface portion of the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  is provided with a key slot  338 , as can best be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , and that the internal surface portion of the second rotary gear member  272  is correspondingly provided with a key member, not shown, which is adapted to be disposed within the key slot  338  of the vertically oriented drive shaft  270 . In this manner, rotary motion, imparted to the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  by means of the first rotary gear member  268 , can be transmitted from the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  to the second rotary gear member  272 , and yet the second rotary gear member  272  is also permitted to move along the external surface portion of the vertically oriented drive shaft  270  as a result of the vertical adjustment movements of the carriage assembly. 
   Considering lastly the structural details of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 , and the mounting of the same upon each one of the external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assemblies  210 , it will be recalled that the magazine assembly, for housing the plurality of vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, is stationary with respect to the wrapping or packaging station, at which the palletized load or article to be wrapped is located. More particularly, it has been disclosed that the only movable components of the magazine assembly comprise, for example, the first conveyor belt drive pulley  250 , the first conveyor belt idler pulley  252 , the second conveyor belt drive pulley  278 , the second conveyor belt idler pulley  280 , the upper and lower idler rollers  302 , 304 , and the vertically movable carriage assembly comprising the transversely or laterally extending support beams  282 , 284 , the mounting brackets  286 , 288 , and the carriage blocks  290 , 292 , whereby the disposition of the second upper endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown, is positionally adjustable with respect to the first lower endless loop conveyor belt member, not shown. In conjunction with the magazine assembly for housing the plurality of vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, it is also desirable to mount each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 , with respect to its operatively associated magazine assembly, in such a manner that only the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  will be movable with respect to the wrapping or packaging station, at which the palletized load or article to be wrapped is located, or in other words, each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  will be movable independently of its operatively associated magazine assembly, whereby the operational and logistical drawbacks, characteristic of the system disclosed, for example, within the aforenoted patent issued to Morantz et al., will not be encountered. 
   In addition, it is also desirable to mount each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 , with respect to its operatively associated magazine assembly, in such a manner that, not only can each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  remove the leading one of the vertically oriented external corner or edge protectors, not shown, from its operatively associated magazine assembly, but in addition, it is desirable to mount each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  with respect to its operatively associated magazine assembly in such that manner that each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  will be movable with respect to the wrapping or packaging station in accordance with two different modes of operation, that is, both longitudinally and laterally along X and Y axes. Still further, each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  is to be capable of undergoing rotational or arcuate movement through means of an angular range of motion comprising 270°. More particularly, then, with reference being made to  FIGS. 3–8 , and in order to achieve the aforenoted movements of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 , it is seen that each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  comprises, in effect, a vertically oriented angle-iron which is formed by means of two leg members  340 ,  342  which are disposed at 90° with respect to each other as can best be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 8 . A pair of vertically spaced mounting brackets  344 , 346  fixedly mount the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  upon the shaft  348  of a rotary actuator  350 , and the central portion of the shaft  348  is rotatably mounted within a bearing plate  352  which, in turn, is fixedly secured upon a mounting block  354 . A stabilizing bracket  356  also fixedly secures the rotary actuator  350  to the bearing plate  352 , and the mounting block  354  is adapted to be fixedly mounted atop a laterally or transversely oriented upper support plate  358 . As can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the laterally or transversely oriented upper support plate  358  is adapted to be fixedly secured atop a laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360 , and the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360  is adapted to be moved in a transverse or lateral reciprocal mode of operation so as to, in turn, enable the external edge or corner protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  to be moved reciprocally in the lateral or transverse directions X—X. 
   Continuing further, it is seen that the left end portion of the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360  is slidably mounted within a bearing block  362 , and that the bearing block  362  is fixedly mounted upon a laterally or transversely oriented lower support plate  364 . In addition, the right end portion of the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360  is fixedly attached to a rodless cylinder  366  which is adapted to be slidably moved in a reciprocal manner, in the X—X directions, along a laterally or transversely oriented guide rail  368  which is fixedly secured atop the laterally or transversely oriented lower support plate  364 . The laterally opposite end portions of the laterally or transversely oriented lower support plate  364  are fixedly mounted upon a pair of transversely or laterally spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 , 372 , and each one of the transversely or laterally spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 , 372  has a longitudinally oriented linear bearing member  374 , 376  fixedly secured to laterally outward undersurface portions of the laterally or transversely spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 , 372 . End portions of the longitudinally oriented linear bearing members  374 , 376  are respectively mounted within bearing blocks  378 , 380  which are fixedly secured atop the transversely or laterally spaced support or mounting platforms  238 , 240 , and it is further seen, from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , that laterally inward undersurface portions of the laterally or transversely spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 , 372  have longitudinally extending toothed rack members  382 , 384  fixedly mounted thereon. 
   The longitudinally extending rack members  382 , 384  are adapted to be movably disposed in accordance with longitudinally reciprocal modes of operations along the directions Y—Y by means which will be described shortly hereinafter. It can therefore be readily appreciated that since the longitudinally extending rack members  382 , 384  are fixedly mounted beneath the laterally or transversely spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 , 372 , that the laterally opposite end portions of the laterally or transversely oriented lower support plate  364  are fixedly secured to the transversely or laterally spaced, longitudinally oriented bracket plates  370 ,  372 , that the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360  is slidably mounted upon the transversely or laterally oriented lower support plate  364  through means of the bearing block  362  and the rodless cylinder  366  which is movable along the laterally or transversely oriented guide rail  368 , and that the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  is mounted upon the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360  through means of the laterally or transversely oriented upper support plate  358 , the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanism  248  is able to be moved in the longitudinal directions Y—Y, in accordance with the longitudinally reciprocal modes of operations of the longitudinally extending rack members  382 , 384  along the directions Y—Y, as well as being able to be moved in the lateral or transverse directions X—X in accordance with the reciprocal movements of the laterally or transversely oriented linear bearing member  360 . 
   In order to achieve the longitudinally reciprocal modes of operations of the longitudinally extending rack members  382 , 384  along the directions Y—Y, it is seen, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 3–5 , that a dual-directional second combination drive motor-gear reducer assembly  386  is fixedly mounted upon a second mounting bracket  388  which is fixedly secured to a right end undersurface portion of the transversely or laterally extending structural beam member  228 . The output drive shaft of the second combination drive motor-gear reducer assembly  386  has a drive pulley, not visible in the drawings, mounted thereon, and the drive pulley, not visible in the drawings, is operatively connected to a driven pulley  390  by means of a pulley drive belt  392 . The driven pulley  390  is fixedly mounted upon a rotary drive shaft  394 , and the laterally opposite ends of the rotary drive shaft  394 , which are mounted within bearing blocks  393 ,  395 , have rotary pinions  396 , 398  fixedly mounted thereon so as to be rotatable therewith. 
   The rotary pinions  396 , 398  are respectively enmeshed with end portions of the longitudinally extending toothed rack members  382 , 384 , and accordingly, as the second combination drive motor gear reducer assembly  386  is, for example, incrementally energized in either one of its two directional drive modes, rotary drive shaft  394  is accordingly rotated so as to drive the rotary pinions  396 , 398  which, in turn, can move the longitudinally extending rack members  382 , 384  in their longitudinal movement modes along the longitudinal directions Y—Y. It is to be additionally appreciated that all movements of the various structural components comprising the new and improved external corner or edge protector magazine and pickup, transfer, and applicator assembly  210  of the present invention, such as, for example, the first and second combination drive motor-gear reducer assemblies  256 , 386 , the rotary actuator  350 , and the rodless cylinder  366 , are under the control of a suitable programmable logic controller (PLC)  399  which is schematically illustrated within  FIG. 4 . It is lastly noted, with reference being made to  FIG. 8 , as well as to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , that each one of the leg members  340 ,  342  of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248  has a plurality of, for example, vacuum suction cup members  400 , 402  respectively mounted upon the inner surface portions thereof so as to be disposed toward the plurality of external corner or edge protectors, not shown, which are accommodated and housed within the magazine assembly defined between the upper and lower conveyor belt members, not shown. In addition, in order to respectively provide vacuum or suction forces to the vacuum suction cup members  400 , 402 , a plurality of vacuum hose fittings  404 , 406 , to be fluidically connected to a suitable source of vacuum pressure, are respectively fixed upon the external surface portions of the leg members  340 , 342  of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 . 
   Still further, a suitable electrical fitting  408 , which receives electrical power from a suitable power source, not shown, is mounted upon an external surface portion of the leg member  340  of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 , and in a similar manner, a suitable pressure gauge, pressure switch mechanism, and vacuum generator assembly  410  is mounted upon an external surface portion of the leg member  342  of each one of the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms  248 . The various components of the pressure gauge, pressure switch mechanism, and vacuum generator assembly  410  are electrically connected to the electrical fitting  408  by means of suitable electrical connections, not shown for simplicity, and in a similar manner, the vacuum generator component will likewise be fluidically connected to the various vacuum hose fittings  404 , 406  by means of suitable vacuum hoses or tubular connections which are likewise not shown for simplicity. It is of course to be further appreciated that, as was the case with the various components comprising, for example, the first and second combination drive motor-gear reducer assemblies  256 , 386 , and the rotary actuator  350 , the various operational modes of supplying vacuum to the vacuum hose fittings  404 , 406  through means of the pressure gauge, pressure switch mechanism, and vacuum generator assembly  410 , as well as electrical power to the electrical fitting  408 , are also under the control of the programmable logic controller (PLC)  399 . 
   Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been provided a new and improved apparatus, for placing external corner or edge protectors upon the external corner or edge regions of palletized loads or articles, prior to the wrapping or packaging of the palletized loads or articles within wrapping or packaging material, which comprises four corner protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms which are respectively disposed adjacent to the four external corner or edge regions of the palletized load or article. External corner or edge protector magazine assemblies are stationarily mounted upon the apparatus framework, and external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are movable independently of the external corner or edge protector magazine assemblies. In particular, the external corner or edge protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms are rotatably mounted upon rotatable actuators which are rotatably movable through angular movements comprising 270°. The rotary actuators are also mounted upon linearly movable mechanisms which are movable in both X and Y directions, and therefore, the external corner or edge protector magazine assemblies, and the external corner protector pickup, transfer, and applicator mechanisms operatively associated therewith, are capable of being oriented either in a parallel mode, or in a perpendicular mode, with respect to the longitudinal extent of the longitudinal conveyor system which conveys the palletized loads or articles into and out from the wrapping or packaging station. 
   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.