A machine for stabilising palletised loads including an apparatus having a reel of covering tape, a gripping device to take a first end of the tape of the reel and make it integral with the load, a first movement apparatus to generate relative revolution of the apparatus around the load about a predetermined revolution axis, a second movement apparatus to generate relative translation motion of the apparatus with respect to the load in a direction parallel to the revolution direction, a cutting device placed in the apparatus to separate the tape from the reel, and a fixing device to fix a second end of the tape to the load. The apparatus also includes a tensioning fin configured to rotate around an articulation axis parallel to the reel axis and having a rectilinear end border, distal of and extending parallel to the articulation axis and configured to stay in contact with a longitudinal edge of the tape unwinding from the reel, and a spring acting on the fin to push the end border against the longitudinal edge of the tape.

A method, apparatus and program product may determine load stability for a load to be wrapped based upon sensing the response or reaction of the load to a disturbance applied to the load, e.g., through intentionally moving, shaking, tilting, pushing, impacting or otherwise applying an input force to the load and sensing the response using one or more sensors. The sensed response may then be used to determine a load stability parameter that may be used in the control of a load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. A test apparatus may be used to evaluate packaging material using a take up drum capable of sensing containment force imparted upon the drum by packaging material applied thereto, and in some instances, simulated flaws may be formed in a web of packaging material to evaluate a packaging materials response to such flaws when under tension.

A machine for unwinding and rewinding a covering tape (800) includes a first support shaft to coaxially receive a reel of covering tape, a second support shaft, parallel to and distanced from the first support shaft, which is adapted to coaxially receive a tubular support, a motor adapted to put the second support shaft in rotation around its own axis, a plurality of contrast rollers arranged around the second support shaft and oriented parallel thereto, and a movement apparatus adapted to move the contrast rollers towards and away from the axis of the second support shaft.

A machine for stabilising palletised loads includes a functional arrangement, a first movement apparatus generating relative motion about a revolution axis around the palletised load, a second movement apparatus generating relative translation motion of the functional arrangement with respect to the palletised load in a direction parallel to the revolution axis. The functional arrangement includes a support shaft, a motorised drive roller, a contrast roller, and actuator members to create relative movement between the drive roller and the contrast roller in transversal direction with respect to the respective rotation axes between a distanced configuration, in which a gap is defined between the drive roller and the contrast roller to be crossed with clearance by the covering tape unwinding from the reel, and a neared configuration, in which the drive and contrast rollers clamp the covering tape, wherein the support shaft and the contrast and/or drive rollers are mounted on the functional arrangement and oriented in the same direction.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the load with a film of plastic material, includes a self-propelled carriage with a guide, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, a sensor to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals. The wrapping machine also includes a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load based on the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load based on the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load. The control unit controls the guide to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.

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.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stretch-hood machine configured to optimize reefing device lateral movement and unwinding speed during film stretching to minimize reefing device travel distance and wear on the actuators that move the reefing devices and to reduce the possibility of damaging the film during stretching.

The present invention provides a wrapping robot with enhanced safety and reliability, the wrapping robot being able to prevent a safety accident that occurs when a worker or another object hits against a handle protruding outward from a robot body while the robot revolving around a product to perform wrapping by biasing the handle toward the product to be wrapped; and being able to improve reliability of wrapping by stopping operation of the wrapping robot when a wrap is loosened or cut during wrapping, using a sensor that senses loosening or cutting of a wrap.

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.