Patent ID: 7178317

Claim:
Wrapping apparatus for dispensing stretched wrap film, having a first side and a second side, toward an article to be wrapped, comprising: a first frame assembly; a second frame assembly; a film roll spindle, for rotatably holding a roll of film, mounted upon said second frame assembly; upstream and downstream prestretch rollers rotatably mounted upon said first frame assembly for engaging the first side of the film; and a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted upon said second frame assembly for engaging the second side of the film; said second frame assembly being pivotally mounted upon said first frame assembly about a pivotal axis so as to enable said second frame assembly to be tilted around said pivotal axis with respect to said first frame assembly between a first closed position at which said plurality of guide rollers operatively cooperate with said upstream and downstream prestretch rollers so as to define with said upstream and downstream prestretch rollers a substantially tortuous path along which the film is guidingly conducted and stretched, and a second open position at which said film roll spindle and said plurality of guide rollers are disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said upstream and downstream prestretch rollers in order to define a gap between said plurality of guide rollers and said upstream and downstream prestretch rollers so as to facilitate the threading of the film between said plurality of guide rollers and said upstream and downstream prestretch rollers.