Apparatus and method of covering a stack of articles

US6032439A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Maschinenfabrik Mollers GmbH u. Co. · DE

Inventors

• Richard Birkenfeld · Beckum, DE
• Peter Aka · Beckum, DE
• Siegfried Kessel · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 27, 1998
• Grant date: Mar 7, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B9/135
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for and a method of covering a stack formed of articles supported on a support pallet with a stretch film, with the apparatus including at least four reefing fingers movable in horizontal and vertical directions for picking up a film cover in four corners of the cover in a bellow-like manner, and four rigid stretching elements associated with respective reefing fingers, with the method including moving the reefing fingers horizontally into four corner regions of the cover and placing the cover around the reefing fingers in a bellows-like manner, moving, before an end of the placing process, the stretching elements radially outwardly and above the respective associated reefing fingers and moving the stretching elements, after reefing and before start of a pull-over process, inward in a direction toward the stack until the stretching elements are located closer to the stack than the respective reefing fingers, moving the reefing fingers away from the stack and thereafter, pulling the cover over the stack.