Patent ID: 7155884

Claim:
A combination film stretcher and dispenser, comprising: a support structure; a film support connected to the support structure for supporting a roll of film; first and second stretch rollers rotatably connected to the support structure, the first and second stretch rollers being spaced apart to permit a sheet of film to wrap around the stretch rollers, and pass therebetween; at least one guide roller spaced apart from the first and second stretch rollers and defining therewith a curvilinear film path including arcuate portions defined by outer surfaces of the first and second stretch rollers and the guide roller; a single motor operably connected to the first and second stretch rollers and rotating the first and second stretch rollers to stretch film extending between and wrapping around the first and second stretch rollers; first and second guides positioned adjacent ends of the first and second stretch rollers, respectively; a third guide connected to the support structure and positioned adjacent an end of the guide roller; a film threading device including an elongated flexible member engaging the first, second and third guides and forming a loop, at least a portion of the loop having a shape that is substantially similar to a shape of the curvilinear film path, the film threading device including a retainer connected to the elongated flexible member, the retainer configured to hold an end portion of a sheet of film and pull the film along the curvilinear film path as the elongated flexible member is moved; a drive member engaging the elongated flexible member and moving the elongated flexible member upon movement of the drive member; a disengagable drive device operably interconnecting the drive member and the single motor; the disengagable drive device having an engaged configuration wherein the single motor simultaneously moves the drive member, elongated flexible member and retainer, and the first and second stretch rollers, the single motor providing substantially the sole source of power moving the first and second stretch rollers and the drive member, elongated flexible member and the retainer when the disengagable drive device is in the engaged configuration and thereby threads film through the combination film stretcher and dispenser; and the disengagable drive device having a disengaged configuration wherein the disengagable drive device operably disconnects the drive member from the single motor, such that the single motor moves the first and second stretch rollers and stretches film without moving the drive member and elongated flexible member.