A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.

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 pallet wrapper and imaging system a pallet loaded with containers to calculate a sustainability based upon a type of the pallet and the containers on the pallet. The system also determines the stability of the pallet and containers, a speed at which the pallet and containers can be wrapped, and an amount of stretch film needed to secure the load for transport. After validation by the imaging system (with or without a wrapper), a QC bot assists a QC worker in remedying or checking any detected errors or potential errors.

A delivery system may include a pallet wrapper system having a turntable, a camera directed toward an area above the turntable, and a stretch wrap dispenser adjacent the turntable. A computer receives images from the camera of multiple sides of a pallet loaded with packages on the turntable. The computer stitches images from different sides of the stack of packages that correspond to the same package. At least one machine learning model may be used to infer SKUs of each package. Optical character recognition may be performed in parallel on the images. The determination of the SKU of each package may be based upon the inferred SKUs and on the OCR.

According to illustrative embodiments, a novel pallet wrap is provided. In some preferred embodiments, the pallet wrap includes: an expandable slit sheet paper having a slit pattern including a plurality of slits extending in a cross direction that forms a plurality of open cells upon expansion in a machine direction. In some embodiments, the pallet wrap includes a novel expandable slit sheet paper adapted for enabling wrapping of a pallet assembly. In some embodiments, the pallet wrap includes an expandable slit sheet paper and a support wrap, wherein the expandable slit sheet paper is configured to be wrapped around a pallet assembly and the support wrap is configured to surround at least a portion of the expandable slit sheet paper wrapped around the pallet assembly.

A delivery system may include a pallet wrapper system having a turntable, a camera directed toward an area above the turntable, and a stretch wrap dispenser adjacent the turntable. A computer receives images from the camera of multiple sides of a pallet loaded with packages on the turntable. The computer stitches images from different sides of the stack of packages that correspond to the same package. At least one machine learning model may be used to infer SKUs of each package. Optical character recognition may be performed in parallel on the images. The determination of the SKU of each package may be based upon the inferred SKUs and on the OCR.

A method for controlling, through a mobile device, wrapping operations in a wrapper for wrapping a round bale with a film, comprises the following steps, performed by a processor of the mobile device: coupling the mobile device to a control unit of the wrapper, by sending a coupling signal to the control unit; receiving control inputs from a user, through an interaction of the user with the mobile device; elaborating the control inputs and generating, based on the control inputs, a command message; sending the command message to the control unit of the wrapper; receiving, at the processor of the mobile device, operation data from the control unit of the wrapper, the operation data being representative of operations performed by the wrapper.

There is provided a method for wrapping a load comprising an upper portion defining an upper peripheral surface and a lower portion defining a lower peripheral surface. The method includes configuring a first material dispenser including a first material web in a first starting position and a second material dispenser including a second material web in a second starting position. The method includes and providing a rotation between the load and the material dispensers, such that, upon the rotation, the first material dispenser wraps the upper peripheral surface of the load with the first material web and the second material dispenser wraps the lower peripheral surface of the load with the second material web. The first material dispenser wraps the upper peripheral surface of the load simultaneously while the second material dispenser wraps the lower peripheral surface of the load during at least a portion of a wrapping cycle.

There is provided a method for wrapping a load comprising an upper portion defining an upper peripheral surface and a lower portion defining a lower peripheral surface. The method includes configuring a first material dispenser including a first material web in a first starting position and a second material dispenser including a second material web in a second starting position. The method includes and providing a rotation between the load and the material dispensers, such that, upon the rotation, the first material dispenser wraps the upper peripheral surface of the load with the first material web and the second material dispenser wraps the lower peripheral surface of the load with the second material web. The first material dispenser wraps the upper peripheral surface of the load simultaneously while the second material dispenser wraps the lower peripheral surface of the load during at least a portion of a wrapping cycle.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. An apparatus may be used to sense flaws in packaging material, and in some instances, to accommodate such flaws by temporarily increasing a dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser.