Patent ID: 7117658

Claim:
An apparatus for wrapping groups of products with film, the apparatus comprising: a first surface; a second surface; wrapping means for wrapping groups of products with a length of film, the wrapping means comprising a first electric drive axis; a film feed unit for defining a length of film according to dimensions of the group of products to be wrapped, the film feed unit comprising a second electric drive axis for moving a defined quantity of film in the direction of the second surface; a pre-unwinding unit for pre-unwinding film, said pre-unwinding unit comprising a third electric drive axis to move film from an associated roll of film toward the feed unit; a synchronizing unit that controls the second and third electric drive axes and that is operative between the second and third electric drive axes to synchronize film feed from the pre-unwinding unit; a plurality of idle film tensioning rollers defining a film path and located between the film feed unit and the pre-unwinding unit, a first group of at least two of the idle tensioning rollers being fixed in position relative to the third electric drive axis and a second group of at least two of the idle tensioning rollers being mounted on a pivoting rocker arm.