Wrapping Apparatus and Attachment

Abstract

A wrapping apparatus includes a main body having an annular frame rotatably coupled thereto useful for wrapping one or more objects in packaging material. The frame includes a plurality of packaging material mounts that are configured to dispense such packaging material, and a gathering attachment including an aperture may be removably coupled to the wrapping apparatus proximate at least one of the packaging material mounts to gather the packaging material into a string for wrapping around the one or more objects. Free ends of the packaging material and the string may be secured at or near one or more objects to be wrapped, and the frame may be rotated to cause the packaging material to unwind and wrap the objects simultaneously with both the string and other packaging material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wrapping apparatus comprising:
 a main body; and   an annular frame rotatably coupled to the main body, the frame configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;   wherein the frame comprises:
 a first mount radially spaced from the rotation axis, the first mount configured to support a first packaging material; 
 a second mount radially spaced from the rotation axis and circumferentially spaced from the first mount about the annular frame, the second mount configured to support a second packaging material; and 
 a gathering attachment radially inward of the first mount, the gathering attachment having an aperture configured to receive a portion of the first packaging material and gather the first packaging material into a string; 
   wherein rotation of the frame is configured to simultaneously wrap one or more objects with:
 the string formed by the gathering attachment; and 
 the second packaging material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide nozzle having a bore, the guide nozzle configured to be received at least partially in the aperture of the gathering attachment and further configured to receive the portion of the first packaging material and gather the first packaging material into the string. 
     
     
         3 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bore of the guide nozzle has a diameter of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bore of the guide nozzle has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the string formed of the first packaging material has a higher tensile strength than the second packaging material. 
     
     
         6 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second packaging material is different than the first packaging material. 
     
     
         7 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first packaging material is stretch wrap. 
     
     
         8 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second mount is circumferentially spaced from the first mount by less than 180 degrees about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gathering attachment is configured to be directly coupled to the first mount. 
     
     
         10 . The wrapping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second packaging material comprises one or a combination of stretch wrap, adhesive tape, bubble wrap, paper, metal foil, and sheet formed packing foam. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for modifying a wrapping apparatus to dispense packaging material string, the kit comprising:
 a gathering attachment having a body, a crown portion having an aperture therethrough, and two arm portions extending from the crown portion, the two arm portions each having a proximal section converging at the crown portion and a distal section configured to be coupled to a packaging material mount of a wrapping apparatus; and   a plurality of guide nozzles each having a bore of a different diameter extending therethrough, each of the guide nozzles configured to be removably coupled to the gathering attachment to permit a packaging material to be received in the bore and gathered into a string.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the distal sections of the arm portions each include an opening configured to be received over an existing bolt of a packaging material mount to facilitate securing of the gathering attachment thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the gathering attachment is monolithic. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of guide nozzles is configured to be removably received within the aperture of the crown portion of the gathering attachment. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of guide nozzles are configured to be frictionally retained in the aperture of the crown portion. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of guide nozzles includes a bore having a diameter of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the gathering attachment is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a wrapping apparatus including a main body and an annular frame rotatably coupled to the main body, the frame configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein the frame comprises a first mount radially spaced from the rotation axis, the first mount configured to support a first packaging material, a second mount radially spaced from the rotation axis and circumferentially spaced from the first mount about the annular frame, the second mount configured to support a second packaging material, and a gathering attachment radially inward of the first mount, the gathering attachment having an aperture configured to receive a portion of the first packaging material and gather the first packaging material into a string, the method comprising:
 attaching a free end of the string formed by the gathering attachment to one or more objects positioned in the wrapping apparatus;   attaching a free end of the second packaging material to the one or more objects positioned in the wrapping apparatus;   rotating the frame to cause the first and second packaging materials to dispense from the first and second mounts, wherein the first packaging material is received in the aperture of the gathering attachment and gathered into the string, and wherein the string and the second packaging material are simultaneously wrapped around the one or more objects.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the gathering attachment further comprises a first guide nozzle having a bore, the first guide nozzle configured to be received at least partially in the aperture of the gathering attachment and further configured to receive the first packaging material and gather the first packaging material into the string while the frame is rotating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising replacing the first guide nozzle with a second guide nozzle, the second guide nozzle having a bore of a different diameter than the first guide nozzle.