A system includes a wrapping machine for dispensing film to wrap a load disposed on a pallet, a plurality of sensors configured to detect operation of the machine, and a controller operably and communicatively connected with the sensors. The controller is configured to establish desired values of operating parameters of the machine, the parameters including a wrap pattern, weight of the film, a number of revolutions, a percent of stretch of the film, and a tension of film, during operation of the machine, monitor actual values of the operating parameters using data from the sensors, and in response to a difference between the desired values and the actual values being greater than a threshold, issue a command to adjust operation of the machine such that the difference is less than the threshold.

Control of a wrapping apparatus is facilitated by enabling an operator to input a load containment force requirement and/or a minimum number of layers of packaging material to be applied to a load, with a wrap control system automatically determining wrap force and other parameters required to meet user input requirements and/or parameters to minimize the expertise required of an operator and to provide more consistent and reliable wrapping of loads. In addition, a wrapping apparatus may be controlled to apply at least a minimum number of layers of packaging material to a load throughout a contiguous region thereof.

Control of a load wrapping apparatus may be based at least in part on packaging material grading and/or factory profiles.

A platform for pallet wrapping machines includes a fixed base resting on the ground and a turntable which rotates relative to the base and in which a plurality of rollers is integrated, the rollers projecting from it in such a way as to support a pallet and provided with a movement device integrated with them, in such a way that the platform has a total thickness not greater than 10 centimeters.

A wrapping head for wrapping loads, particularly palletized loads, including a framework, connectable to the operating end of a handler, and supporting a reel of film made of extensible material, and diverting means, for transferring the film, unwound from the reel, towards the load. The head also includes means for cutting the film, along its feed direction, so as to obtain a first portion of film and a second portion of film that are distinct and separate from each other, and deflection means for the first portion of film, suitable to superimpose the first portion on the second portion, thus attaining, at the outlet of said wrapping head, a double-layer material band.

An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one guide rollers configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping element. The at least one roping element may be a cable rolling roper configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.

A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.

Several embodiments of turntable systems for loaded pallets are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first ramp leads up to the turntable and a second ramp leads down from the turntable on the opposite side. In other embodiments, at least two turntables are positioned adjacent one another, optionally with a bridge surface connecting them so that a pallet lift can be driven from one turntable to the other to place one pallet on one turntable and another pallet on the other turntable according to a method disclosed herein. A validation system without a turntable includes a plurality of cameras about a periphery of a platform weight sensor.

A wrapping machine with a rotary platform to wrap products with at least one band of wrapping material has a base, a rotary platform, which defines a support surface for at least one product and is mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis, and a support slide, which is configured to receive and hold a spool of the band of wrapping material and is movable along a guide upright, which is mounted so as to rotate around the rotation axis with a rotation direction that is contrary to a rotation direction of the rotary platform.

Several embodiments of turntable systems for loaded pallets are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first ramp leads up to the turntable and a second ramp leads down from the turntable on the opposite side. In other embodiments, at least two turntables are positioned adjacent one another, optionally with a bridge surface connecting them so that a pallet lift can be driven from one turntable to the other to place one pallet on one turntable and another pallet on the other turntable according to a method disclosed herein. A validation system without a turntable includes a plurality of cameras about a periphery of a platform weight sensor.