Package wrapping machine with self-centering film support system

Abstract

A wrapping or other packaging machine includes a support for rolled film or other media and roll edge guides with an associated adjustment system adapted to facilitate proper positioning of different widths of rolled media on the support.

1 . A packaging machine for applying film from a roll to products, the machine comprising: 
 a station where film is applied to a product;    a support for holding any one of multiple widths of rolled film, the support located to permit film to be drawn into the station;    a first roll edge guide and a second roll edge guide, the first and second roll edge guides positioned for facilitating contact with respective side edges of rolled film held on the support;    a roll edge guide adjustment system linked with the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide for selectively moving the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide, wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system operates to cause the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide to contact respective side edges of rolled film held on the support and to move the rolled film so as to locate an edge to edge center of rolled film at a set location relative to the station.    
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the set location is centered relative to the station.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the set location is offset relative to a center of the station.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system is manually actuated.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system is powered.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a rod having a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first threaded region including left hand threads and the second threaded region including right hand threads, a first guide nut threaded on the first threaded region and linked to the first edge guide, a second guide nut threaded on the second threaded region and linked to the second edge guide, wherein rotation of the rod in one direction causes the first guide nut and second guide nut to move toward each other and rotation of the rod in an opposite direction causes the first guide nut and second guide nut to move away from each other.  
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6  wherein the support comprises a tubular member, the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide are disposed about the tubular member, the rod extends through the tubular member along at least a portion of its length, and the tubular member includes at least one slot through which the first edge guide is linked to the first guide nut and at least one slot through which the second edge guide is linked to the second guide nut, the rod is rotatable within and relative to the tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the edge guides includes an outwardly biased ramp portion over which film rolls can be slid, the ramp portion including a ramp side and a film roll contact side.  
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a rod having a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first threaded region including left hand threads and the second threaded region including right hand threads, the first edge guide linked to the first threaded region, the second edge guide linked to the second threaded region, wherein rotation of the rod in one direction causes the first edge guide and second edge guide to move toward each other and rotation of the rod in an opposite direction causes the first edge guide and second edge guide to move away from each other.  
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein a handle is connected with the rod to facilitate manual rotation of the rod.  
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide includes one or more protrusions for engaging a tubular core of rolled film so as to prevent slip between the support and rolled film located thereon.  
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein a motor is operatively connected with the rod for effecting rotation of the rod.  
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein the rod is positioned alongside the support.  
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein the support is a tubular member and the rod is positioned within the tubular member.  
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the machine is one of (i) a package wrapping machine for wrapping film around products and the station is a wrap station and (ii) a lidding machine for apply film atop products and the station is a lidding station.  
     
     
         16 . A packaging machine for applying media from a media roll to packages, the machine comprising: 
 a station where media is applied to a product;    a support for holding any one of multiple widths of rolled media, the support located to permit media to be drawn into the station;    a first roll edge guide and a second roll edge guide, the first and second roll edge guides including respective contact parts positioned for facilitating contact with respective side edges of rolled media held on the support;    a roll edge guide adjustment system linked with the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide for selectively moving the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the respective contact parts of the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide.    
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a single threaded rod with a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first and second threaded regions oppositely threaded, a first guide nut located in the first threaded region and the second guide nut located in the second threaded region, the first guide nut linked with the first roll edge guide and the second guide nut linked with the second roll edge guide.  
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod, a first guide nut disposed on the first threaded rod and a second guide nut disposed on the second threaded rod, the first guide nut linked to the first roll edge guide, the second guide nut linked to the second roll edge guide.  
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the machine is a package wrapping machine for wrapping film around products and the station is a wrap station.  
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the machine is a lidding machine for apply film atop products and the station is a lidding station.  
     
     
         21 . In a packaging machine including a station where film is applied to an item, the film dispensed from rolled film located on an elongated support, a method for locating rolled film at a set location along the support, the method comprising: 
 providing a first edge guide;    providing a second edge guide;    linking the first edge guide and second edge guide such that the first and second edge guides are selectively movable either (i) simultaneously toward each other or (ii) simultaneously away from each other;    simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide away from each other such that a distance between the first edge guide and second edge guide is greater than a side edge to side edge distance of a rolled film;    loading the rolled film onto the support;    simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide toward each other until the first edge guide contacts one side edge of the rolled film and the second edge guide contacts an opposite side edge of the rolled film.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first edge guide is mechanically linked with the second edge guide.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first edge guide is mechanically linked to the second edge guide at least in part by a threaded rod including first and second oppositely threaded regions.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first edge guide and second edge guide are mechanically separate and linked via a control that causes simultaneous movement of the first and second edge guides.