Method and machine for packaging goods

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the film is disposed in a vertical plane and the object is moved horizontally into said film.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the film is disposed in a horizontal plane and the object is moved vertically into the film.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the film is disposed in a horizontal plane, a loop of said film is formed and the object is moved into said loop horizontally.

Claim 6

Apparatus for wrapping a film, having an elasticity such that it will stretch substantially without losing said elasticity about four sides of an object or stack of objects, comprising: a pair of film supply rolls spaced one from the other and having a continuous length of said film therebetween; means for moving said object into said continuous length of film; means for maintaining tension on said film simultaneously with the movement of said object to stretch said film about three sides of said object; means for bringing the portions of said film adjacent the fourth side of said object together and clamping said portions together along a first line transverse to the length of said film while said film is still under tension; means for relieving the tension on said film; means for clamping said portions of said film along a second line parallel to said first line after the tension on said film has been released; means for welding said film between the two lines of welding; and means for cutting said film within the weld.

Claim 7

Apparatus for wrapping a film, having an elasticity such that it will stretch substantially without losing said elasticity about four sides of an object or stack of objects, comprising: a pair of film supply rolls spaced one from the other and having a continuous length of said film therebetween; means for moving said object into said continuous length of film; means for maintaining tension on said film simultaneously with the movement of said object to stretch said film about three sides of said object; means for bringing the portions of said film adjacent the fourth side of said object together and clamping said portions together along a first line transverse to the length of said film while said film is still under tension; means for relieving the tension on said film; means for clamping said portions of said film along a second line parallel to said first line after the tension on said film has been released; means for welding said film between the two lines of welding; and means for cutting said film within the weld.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for moving the object into the film is an arm slidably mounted on a track which curves outwardly at its end furtherest from the film to swing said arm out of the path of the object until the object Is in position to be moved by said arm.

Claim 9

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the arm is adapted to be withdrawn from contact with the object prior to the actuation of the means for bringing the two portions of the film together and the apparatus additionally includes a pair of pivotally mounted locking jaws for clamping the film about the corners of said object adjacent the fourth side of said object prior to withdrawal of said arm and prior to the actuation of said means for bringing the portions of said film together.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining tension on the film is a braking means operatively associated with the supply rolls.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for moving the object into the film is mounted on a track parallel to the path of said object and carries a pusher plate slidable into and out of the path of said object and adapted to hold the object against the film under tension until after the means for clamping the first line is actuated.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for bringing the portions of the film together and the means for clamping said film along the two lines is a unitary means comprising a pair of generally-U-shaped, opposed jaws, a pair of welding strips and a cutting means mounted between the jaws and means for pivotally mounting said jaws and pivoting said jaws inwardly against each other, first between the two portions of the U closest to the object and then between the portions of the U furthest from the object after the tension on said portions of said film has been released.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the clamping jaws are of a width corresponding to the width of the film.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of the clamping jaws is mounted on a second pivot means and is adapted to first contact the opposing clamping jaw at the portion of the U closest to the object and then pivot so as to bring the other portions of the Us together.

Claim 15

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the pivoted clamping jaw is normally held in its outwardly pivoted position by means of a spring.