Patent attributes
The specification discloses a wrapping film handling mechanism (4) for use with loaded pallet wrapping machinery (10) including a rotatable turntable (11) on which a loaded pallet is placed for wrapping, plastic wrapping film being dispensed onto the loaded pallet with a wrapping direction opposite to a rotation direction of the turntable (11), the film handling mechanism (4) having a pair of gripping jaws (24, 25) pivotally mounted to move between a first inactive and lowered position and a second elevated active position, each said gripping jaw (24, 25) having a gripping portion (84, 85) along one zone that engages wrapping film when the gripping jaws (24, 25) are in the second elevated active position, the handling mechanism including actuation means (114, 115, 31, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 120) to move said gripping jaws (24, 25) selectably from said first lowered inactive position to said second elevated active position, said pair of gripping jaws (24, 25) being urged by spring means (42) towards one of said first lowered inactive position or said second elevated active position, said wrapping film handling mechanism (4) further including a film pressing arrangement (21) being movable from a first inactive position to a second active position, said actuation means including engagement and activation means (31, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 120) carried by said film pressing arrangement (21) to cause the film gripping jaws (24, 25) to move against forces applied by said spring means (42) as the film pressing arrangement moves between said first inactive and said second active positions.
