WO2005042346A1

WO2005042346A1 - Apparatus and method for building and wrapping a load

Info

Publication number: WO2005042346A1
Application number: PCT/DK2004/000762
Authority: WO
Inventors: Børge NIELSEN
Original assignee: ROBOCONSULT APS
Current assignee: ROBOCONSULT APS
Priority date: 2003-11-04
Filing date: 2004-11-04
Publication date: 2005-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2006-05-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for building and wrapping a load, preferably a palletised load. The invention also relates to the use of such apparatus. The method comprises an initial step of providing a dispensing member (1) in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material (4) to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped. The method further comprises the steps of: a) providing a layer of load units within the part of the packaging material, and b) displacing the dispensing member relative to the layer of load units vertically upwards along the layer of load units to be wrapped in order to apply packaging material around the layer of load units.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BUILDING AND WRAPPING A LOAD

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for building and wrapping a load, preferably a palletised load. The invention also relates to the use of such an apparatus.

Background of the invention

The purpose of end-of-line packaging is to secure that commercial products are preserved and protected during transport to the destination point of the products. This has to be done under due consideration of the resources consumed e.g. materials, energy, environmental effects.

Often it is beneficial to pack the products together in a load, the load itself being easier to transport and possible wrap. Especially, the load can be build on a pallet, available in many several standard dimensions, for easier transport by forklift truck, pallet car, conveyor belt etc. The pallet can be loaded by a palletiser that is capable of loading the pallet with products i.e. load units in a variety of ways. One or more single layers of load units can be built near the pallet and then subsequently transported, preferably with some supporting means, onto the pallet in order to optimise the loading time. Possibly, the load units are transported one by one onto the load. After the load is built, it is ready to be wrapped.

One such process for wrapping a load, e.g. a pallet, is the shrink process. Initially, the load is confined in a plastic hood, usually pulled down on the load by an appropriate frame surrounding the load in a horizontal plane, and subsequently the plastic hood is made to shrink by applying a fast heating process. The shrunk plastic hood serves the dual purpose of resiliently confining and holding the load units together and protecting the load units against the environment during transport, e.g. water and dust.

An alternative process is the so-called spiral wrapping process where a packaging material dispenser is kept in a fixed position while the load and the pallet rotates around a central vertical axis or oppositely: the load is fixed and the dispenser is circulated around the load while dispensing packaging material. The packaging material is dispensed onto the load by the rotation of the load that pulls the packaging material from the dispenser. Yet, another process is the stretch hood wrapping. A rectangular frame with four holding means - one in every corner- stretches the opening of a plastic hood to a larger horizontal projection than the load on the pallet to be wrapped and pulls down the hood on the load. An improved design of the holding means is disclosed in US 6,470,654.

It is also possible to avoid the pallet underneath by using so-called pallet-free wrapping. Often the pallet-free packaging is performed as a two-step process, wherein the load is initially built and wrapped from above, and then the load is turned around a horizontal axis, preferably with some support on the load, and then wrapped again.

All of the above mentioned wrapping methods require that the load is able from first instance to stand alone without the holding support of the wrapping. This often necessitates special stacking structure and may involve additional stacking elements, so- called stickers or trays. Examples are sheets of cardboard or specially adapted pieces of plastic. These stickers and/or the special stacking structure take away loading space that might otherwise be used for the products and furthermore can trouble the unpacking after transport. The need for special stacking and/or stickers is especially present when the product is deformed/non-squared or is easily deformed during loading e.g. bags with powder. Also, this is the case when the load units can only be column stacked.

EP 0849175 discloses a method and an apparatus for spiral-wrapping and building a load in a combined process. A layer of load unit is build and followed by horizontal and vertical compression. The horizontal compression is released and the load is rotated around a vertical axis with the vertical compression keeping the load units in place while being spiral-wrapped by an appropriate packaging material dispenser. Layer by layer a load is build avoiding the use of stickers. However, this process has several disadvantages. First of all, the need for both horizontal and vertical compression steps during stacking is time consuming and with the additional need of rotation a complicated design of the apparatus results. Secondly, the spiral wrapping process has a relatively large packaging material consumption relative to e.g. the hood stretching due to areas with several layers of packaging material. Thirdly, the latter can make it relatively difficult to unwrap a spiral- wrapped load. Finally, with the spiral-wrapping it is not easy to provide a reliable waterproof confinement between the load and the environment including a possible pallet underneath, which is desirable with loads of humid sensitive products.

Summary of the invention

It may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide means for overcoming the above mentioned problems with load wrapping by providing a method and an apparatus for loading and wrapping that eliminates the need for stickers or similar, have a low packaging material consumption, have a simple working procedure relative to the knowart, and can provide a reliable waterproof protection of the load.

This object and several other objects are obtained in a first aspect of the invention by a method of building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material, the method comprises an initial step of providing a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, the method further comprises the steps of: a) providing at least one layer of load units within the part of the packaging material, and b) displacing at least once the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped in order to apply packaging material around the at least one layer of load units. Preferably, the steps a) and b) are repeated a plurality of times to provide a wrapped load with multi-layer of load units, more preferably at least twice in order to benefit of the combined building and wrapping made possible by the invention. The step a) can be performed either with one or more load units at a time, possibly with a whole layer of load units at a time. In some cases it is preferred, that the step b) may be performed at least once before step a) in order to provide support for the load units. Typically, the load is a column-stacked array of load units. The step b) is preferably performed with an upwards displacement of the dispensing member but might likewise be a displacement downwards of the at least one layer of load unit positioned on appropriate moveable supporting means, e.g. a pallet support. Throughout this application it to be understood that the displacement of the dispensing member is a relative displacement, i.e. the dispensing member itself might be temporally fixated and the at least one layer of load units could be displaced instead. Possibly, a combination of the two kinds of displacements can be performed.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively advantageous for packing of bags, sacks or other easily deformable containers, preferably with powders, granulate or similar small parts inside. Advantageously, the invention can also wrap loads of non-square products, e.g. products of circular, triangular, ball, bottle or tin like shape, as these products typically will require extensive use of intermediate stickers and holding means. Additionally, for square products with a relatively little bottom surface area the invention enables this type of products to be column stacked without the need for stickers or similar while some sides of the products will be visible for better presentation in for example a shop environment. Another advantage of the invention is that several types of products having different shapes may be stacked and wrapped in the same load without the need for stickers, or the different type of products having corresponding shapes so as to stabilise the load.

It is a particular advantage of the invention that the load is build and wrapped in the same place or area in a combined process. In that way, the area for loading and wrapping is minimised. Relative to the spiral-wrapping process disclosed in EP 0849175 the present invention will also have a faster and easier wrapping.

For some products of a non-square, irregular or non-standard shape it might be difficult to define a single layer of load units or products, e.g. balls or similar. Nevertheless, for these kinds of load units the principle of the invention may also be applied but it is then to be understood that the step a) may in this case comprise a plurality of load unit layers.

Dispensing of at least some of the packaging material is preferably caused by the substantially vertical displacement of the dispensing member, more preferably by pulling off the packaging material. Possibly, the dispensing member is displaced at least once substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance without dispensing any packaging material from the periphery of the dispensing member, preferably the dispensing is controlled by dispensing control means, e.g. retaining means like controllable wheels, pinches etc. The dispensing member may thus perform a stretching of the packaging material already dispensed from the dispensing member without or in combination with a dispensing of packaging material from the dispensing member. Preferably, part of the dispensed packaging material will cover at least partly the top of the load for improved stability of the load by confining the load from above.

Preferably, the dispensing member comprises a through-going opening if for example the dispensing member is in the form of a frame or similar. The frame may be of a substantially open or closed structure. However, the dispensing member need not have an extension on all sides of the load, merely the capability to extend packaging material on all sides of the load, e.g. for a rectangular shaped load the dispensing member may have a rectangular shape but with only three sides and four fixating points for the packaging material in the corners of the dispensing member. Principally, the dispensing member may have any preferred form such as: circular, elliptic, triangular, quadratic, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal etc. Preferably, the dispensing member may have an adjustable shape so that the dispensing member readily can change shape from load to load. In this way a single dispensing member may be applied for several different types of pallets without the need for changing the dispensing member. For a rectangular shaped dispensing member at least two perpendicular adjustable sides may facilitate a broad range of accessible shapes. The dispensing member may comprise packaging material at the periphery of the dispensing member, more preferably a sufficient amount to wrap one load of load units. More preferably, the load units are provided within the periphery of the dispensing member.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing member may have at least some packaging material at least partly bridging the open bottom of the dispensing member, preferably the packaging material has the shape of a hood, a bag, a sock or similar in order to ensure a advantageous confinement of the load of load units. Typically, the load units are provided on a supporting element, preferably a pallet, with at least part of the packaging material at least partly bridging the bottom of the dispensing member being in between the bottom layer of load units and the supporting element.

The dispensing member preferably has at least some packaging material at an outer periphery, alternatively at an inner periphery depending on the type of load and conditions of the packaging material to be applied. Preferably, the packaging material is dispensed from an outer periphery of the dispensing member in a downwards direction as the dispensing member is displaced upwards relative to the load but the packaging material could alternatively be displaced initially upwards over an upper edge, preferably equipped with sliding means, of the dispensing member and then secondly downwards along the load on the inside of the dispensing member. Alternatively, the packaging material is dispensed from an inner periphery of the dispensing member where the packaging material is fixated by appropriate fixing means, e.g. clamps or similar, and dispensed downwards along the load as the dispensing member is displaced upwards relative to the load, but the packaging material could more alternatively be displaced initially upwards over an upper edge, preferably equipped with sliding means, of the dispensing member and then secondly downwards along the load on the outside of the dispensing member. The packaging material could more alternatively be placed on a roll next to, near, or at the dispensing member, the roll supplying the dispensing member with the packaging material during the wrapping. Even more alternatively, a dedicated roll could supply packaging material to each section or side of the dispensing member; thus several rolls could supply the dispensing member at the same time. During or after being dispensed the dispensed packaging material, corresponding to different rolls of packaging material, could be joined to stabilise the load by appropriate joining means, e.g. welding, gluing, etc.

If preferred the dispensing member may comprise compression means for compressing one or more layers of load units in one or more directions, preferably horizontals directions, in order to optimise the stacking of load units. In an alternative embodiment, the through-going opening of dispensing member is smaller than or equal to the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped so as to compress the load units with the dispensing member. This could be the case for compressible load units such as bags of powders, textiles, products with an open or porous structure, etc. Preferably, the dispensing member is displaced substantially vertically upwards once for every layer of load units provided but several other ratios between numbers of displacement and numbers of layer are readily recognisable by the skilled person. As a special case the dispensing member could be displaced in a continuous manner while load units are provided to the load.

After the packaging material is dispensed, the packaging material has the function of engaging and/or resiliently confining the one or more layers of load units. Possibly, the packaging material is in a state of tension after being dispensed on the load. Preferably, the packaging material is waterproof and provides a substantially waterproof confinement of the load of load units at least with respect to the bottom and/or at least partly the sides of the load of load units.

Preferably the method has a further packaging step for applying packaging material, comprising:

-providing a top dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form having a larger opening than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, and -displacing the top dispensing member substantially vertically downwards along the load of load units to be wrapped, the top dispensing member being capable of applying packaging material on the top of the load of load units and at least partly on the sides of the load of load units during the downwards displacement.

Preferably, the top packaging material is waterproof and provides a substantially waterproof confinement of the load of load units at least with respect to the top and/or at least partly the sides of the load of load units.

In order to facilitate the unwrapping at the destination point of the load, the method preferably comprises a further packaging step, wherein perforating means, e.g. a knife or a punching machine, is applied to perforate the packaging material in selected points or areas, preferably the regions have a circumferential relation to the load and more preferably with a vertical distance substantially equal to the layer of load units in order to ease the unwrapping of a single layer at a time. Alternatively, a single layer of load units will have just a single hole in the packaging material adapted for entry of a dedicated cutting instrument preferably for cutting in a horizontal direction in the packaging material. As the method also avoids or minimises the use of stickers this is quite beneficial to unwrapping, i.e. the load is very quickly ready to be unloaded or even directly placed in a shop environment with at least part of the packaging material still on the load. As the layer of products are taken from the top of the load more and more packaging material can be removed from the load so as expose the products while still supporting the load. Advantageously, the packaging material is perforated in an alternative embodiment before being dispensed, e.g. before transfer to the dispensing member and more preferably as a part of the manufacturing process of the packaging material. Moreover, the packaging material could comprise various signs, symbols, text messages or similar containing information related to the products on the load, e.g. advertisements. In this manner the load is even more adapted to be placed directly in a shop environment. The packaging material adapted to be used according to the present invention may in some embodiments have certain features different from known packaging methods. Relative to for example a conventional stretch hood apparatus with a continuous tube supplied from a roll, the vertical text reading direction of the packaging material applied in the present invention may be inverted, as the top part of a bag like piece of packaging material on the dispensing member may end as the bottom part when the packaging material is applied on a load. Moreover, the packaging material may in some embodiments of the invention have the inside of the packaging material as supplied on say a roll turned outside as a result of packaging method of the present invention. Therefore, text messages and/or symbolic information may advantageously be mirror-imaged when printed on the packaging material to be applied according to the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the load could comprise one or more protective elements, said one or more protective elements covers at least part of at least one side of the load. Such protective elements could be beneficial in case of fragile products and/or a relative harsh environment during transportation of the load. The protective elements could be placed on the load either before, during or after the load is built, preferably a robot places them. The protective elements could be manufactured in cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastic, wood, plywood or other materials capable of protecting the load from external mechanical impact either during transport or at the end destination, e.g. a shop environment. The protective elements could be placed either inside or outside the packaging material. In the latter case the protective elements could be fixated to the load by appropriate fastening means, e.g. adhesives, clamps, nails or similar. In case the protective elements are placed inside the packaging material the protective elements are preferably positioned between the products and the packaging so as to provide the optimal protection of the products. Additionally, the protective elements could comprise various signs, symbols, text messages or similar containing information related to the products on the load, e.g. advertisements. An example of a protective element covering the bottom of the load and part of the sides of the load could be a protective element in form of a sheet of cardboard with an area larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be build, the packaging material being placed in the load building and wrapping area before any load units are provided but after the dispensing member is provided. As the load units are provided on the protective element and the dispensing member is displaced upwards, the protective element is gradually bent into a shape fitting the sides of the load. For a rectangular shaped dispensing member, e.g. similar to a pallet, the form of the protective element could be of a cross-like form with load units provided in the common area of the two cross arms. The parts of the one or more protective elements extending outside of the area where the load is to be build may then be bent by the engagement with the dispensing member and/or the packaging material as the dispensing member is displaced relatively upwards. Preferably, the load comprises more than one protective element, and more preferably at least one protective element for each layer of load units. Preferably, at least one protective element comprises stabilising means for stabilising the load units on the load such as holes fitted to the load units, e.g. cans or bottles, or protrusions preventing sliding of the load units during transport and/or unacceptable high forces and/or mechanical impacts either from the other load units and/or from the exterior of the load. The said forces or mechanical impacts may have any direction relative to the load, horizontal or vertically or a combination thereof. Said stabilising means provides an additional stabilisation to the stabilisation of the load provided by the packaging material and by the protective elements themselves.

As yet an alternative, the invention could also be applied to so-called pallet-free loading and wrapping, i.e. the load is build on a suitable support but the packaging material has a sufficient strength relative to the weight and form of the load so as to facilitate transportation of the load without the need for a pallet. Especially, the invention has the advantage that the load does not need any manipulation, e.g. rotation around a horizontal axis, in order to be wrapped. To facilitate the load to be moved by e.g. forklift truck hollow elements like tubes or similar can be provided at appropriate places in the bottom of the load. The forklift can then penetrate the packaging material near the hollow elements for obtaining access to and entering into the hollow elements for enabling transportation of the load.

Even more alternatively, the method may comprise an initial step of providing at least one supporting element within said part of the packaging material being fixated by the dispensing member, said at least one supporting element being adapted to facilitate further transport of the load out of the load building and wrapping area. The at least one supporting element may be adapted to be at least partly wrapped by the packaging material. Thus, e.g. a pallet could be included in the packaging material for protecting the pallet and/or securing the load to the pallet in a very efficient way. If the pallet needs to be transported by say forklift truck the forklift can simply penetrate the packaging material at the appropriate places in order to transport the load. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging material is a plastic foil and the dispensing member comprises a plurality of gripping members for gripping the plastic foil.

Possibly, the plastic foil shrinks after being dispensed by applying heating to the plastic foil to order for the foil to engage with the load. Alternatively and more preferably, the plastic foil is elastically extensible by stretching. The latter means that a stretch or a shrink hood apparatus operated in an inverse mode can apply the method of the invention, i.e. applying the plastic foil from below and not from above relative to the load.

Preferably, the dispensing member may have a substantially rectangular shape with gripping means in at least every corner of the dispensing member. The rectangular shape could be similar to e.g. the plan view of a pallet. Preferably, each of the gripping means are independently displaceable in at least one direction, preferably substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction of the dispensing member, and has the form of a shackle, preferably with a bow profile, in order to provide the most gentle and easy dispensing of the packaging material from the dispensing member. Preferably, the gripping means comprises regulation means to lower or raise the tension and/or friction of the plastic foil between the gripping means, preferably by rotational or linear displacement of the regulation means. This is advantageous as the plastic foil in a dispensed condition on the load may be in a state of tension, too, and hence can stabilise the load by resiliently confining the load from at least the sides of the load.

In a preferred embodiment, a plastic foil, preferably a hood, is transferred from a stretching apparatus, preferably a conventional stretch hood apparatus available from a number of commercial suppliers, to the dispensing member. Usually, said stretching apparatus will have a rectangular shape similar to the shape of a pallet with holding means in every corner that are displaceable so as to stretch the plastic hood to a state of tension. The dispensing member is designed in such a way that the plastic hood is capable of being transferred from the stretching apparatus by changing the relative position of the holding means of the stretching apparatus and the gripping means of the dispensing member. Preferably, the transfer is performed by displacing the holding means only or even more preferably in combination with a displacement of said regulation means in an substantially outwards direction from the through-going opening of the dispensing member so as to disengage the plastic hood from the stretching apparatus and hence transfer the plastic hood to the dispensing member. Immediately after the transfer, the plastic hood will be in a state of tension on the dispensing member, but this can be altered by adjusting the gripping means or the regulation means of the dispensing member. The present invention also relates to a computer program product being adapted to enable a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means associated therewith to control the method for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to the first aspect of the invention.

The present invention further relates to a computer readable medium having stored therein a set of routines for enabling a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means associated therewith to control the method for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a second aspect the invention relates to an apparatus for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material, the apparatus comprises:

- a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, and

- displacing means capable of displacing the dispensing member substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped, wherein the dispensing member is capable of applying at least some of the packaging material as the dispensing member is displaced at least once substantially vertically upwards. Preferably, the dispensing member has at least some packaging material bridging at least partly the open bottom of the dispensing member. Preferably, the apparatus comprises load building means capable of providing at least one layer of load units within said form of the packaging material.

The load units may be provided to the load in variety of different ways readily available to the skilled person once the general principle of the invention is realised. In particular but not exclusively, the invention may be used in applications where a combined wrapping and loading is beneficial for saving time and/or space.

Firstly, the load units may be provided by manual power possibly aided by lifting means such as small cranes, vacuum tube-lifters or similar, e.g. for use in small factories, work shops, small store rooms or similar where the packaging need is too limited to make it commercial relevant to apply a fully automated solution. Preferably, the invention may in this case be applied for wrapping and packaging load units of uneven size and/or volume, e.g. a pack-on-demand store room, as small factories or the like typically do not have large amounts of homogenous load units to be wrapped and packed. In an embodiment, the principle of the invention may also be applied to mobile units such as forklifts trucks, pallet cars, order pickers, or high lifts for use in large store rooms, wherein at least the load building and wrapping area, the displacing means, and the dispensing member are moveable as a single entity independently of the substantially vertical upwards displacement of the dispensing member. Preferably, at least the load building and wrapping area and at least the dispensing member are mounted on and/or in connection with the mobile unit so as to enable that the packaging and wrapping may be performed in more than one place, e.g. the load units may be provided directly from the place of storage to the load. In that respect part of the transport and the complete packaging and wrapping of the load units are combined into a single process of handling. The packaging material may also preferably be transferred to the dispensing member by hand, though the actual pleating onto the dispensing member may be assisted by dedicated actuators to be described in more detail below.

Secondly, the building and the wrapping may be done in a so-called semi-automatic way where the load units may be provided by e.g. a conveyer belt with palletising means or similar but the change of packaging material and preferably the change of pallet or such is performed manually, possibly aided by forklift trucks, cranes etc. The semi-automatic way of working the invention may be advantageous where the amount of load units is large and/or the individual weight of each load unit is relatively large. Examples may include end-of-line packaging at slaughterhouses or similar. Combined with mobile units as described above new and flexible end-of-line packaging solutions may be obtained where different products of a product line may be packed immediately onto different associated movable loads without the present use of intermediate storage until a full load of products is ready for building and wrapping.

Thirdly, the building and the wrapping may be done in a so-called automatic way where the load units may be provided by e.g. a conveyer belt, roller conveyer or a robot and the handling of packaging material is performed by automatic means, too, e.g. robots or similar. In one embodiment the load units may be provided by so-called layer palletiser equipment where the application of such equipment is commercial relevant.

The present invention also relates to a computer system comprising at least one computer having one or more computer programs stored within data storage means associated therewith, the computer system being adapted to control at least the dispensing member and the displacing means for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material.

Preferably, the computer system may be capable of selecting at least one stable solution of building and wrapping the load of load units based on information at least about the load units and the packaging materials, preferably information such as weight of the load units, dimensions of the load units and type, strength and elasticity of the packaging material.

By stable solution is meant a solution, i.e. a specific way, sequence, and/or orientation of packaging the load units, which is substantially stable at least when the load is not moved from the site of packaging. Furthermore, the stable solution may be found with respect to a given set of predetermined external factors such as velocity during transport, possible impact level during transport, possible tilting during transport, and so forth. The option of finding a stable solution of packaging the load is especially advantageous with load units of uneven size and/or weight. The computer may communicate to an operator and/or a packaging system at least one stable solution of packaging. Such a computer system is within the ability of a skilled person to construct, and hence no further details will be given here. A solution is known in the art as a packaging pattern.

The computer system may comprise at least one entity from the group consisting of: a general purpose computer, a personal computer (PC), a programmable logic control (PLC) unit, a soft programmable logic control (soft-PLC) unit, a hard programmable logic control (hard-PLC) unit, an industrial personal computer, and a dedicated microprocessor.

In a third aspect the invention relates to the use of an apparatus according to the second aspect comprising an initial step of providing a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, the use further comprises the steps of: a) providing at least one layer of load units within said form of the packaging material, and b) displacing at least once the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped and applying at least some of the packaging material from the periphery of the dispensing member.

The first, the second and the third aspect of the invention may each be combined with any of the other aspects.

Brief description of the figures

The present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying Figures, where Figs. 1-4 show side views of an embodiment of the invention utilising a conventional stretch hood apparatus for initially positioning the packaging material on the dispensing member,

Figs. 5-8 are schematic views showing how the transfer from the hood apparatus to the dispensing member could be performed according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 9-12 show side views of an embodiment of the invention comprising continuos stacking and wrapping of a load on a pallet,

Figs. 13-16 show side views of how the dispensing member is provided with more packaging material and a final step for closing the top of the wrap by a stretch hood apparatus,

Figs. 17-22 show an alternative embodiment of the invention where the dispensing member is tiltable mounted so as to provide the packaging material from a laterally direction,

Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 show how the invention can be embodied with two industrial robots, one for moving the dispensing member and the other robot being a palletiser robot,

Fig. 25 and Fig. 26 show an embodiment of the invention utilising a combined robot capable of displacing a particular self-sustaining dispensing member and palletising the load,

Fig. 27 shows a schematic side view of a transfer of packaging material from a preparation device to a dispensing member,

Fig. 28 and Fig. 29 show two different embodiments of the transfer of Fig. 27,

Fig. 30 shows a preferred embodiment with two independently displaceable dispensing members mounted on a common structure,

Figs. 31-34 show in a perspective view an embodiment of how a protective element is applied,

Fig. 35 and Fig. 36 show other embodiments of protective elements according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 37 shows in a perspective view a manual embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 38 and 39 show in a perspective view a dispensing member comprising a displaceable side, preferably to be applied in a manual embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 40 shows in a perspective view a dispensing member comprising an open side, preferably to be applied in a manual embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 41 shows in a perspective view a semi-automatic embodiment with the end of a conveyer belt comprising palletising means,

Fig. 42 shows in a schematic top view an embodiment of the invention applying a palletising robot,

Fig. 43 shows in a schematic top view an embodiment of the invention applying a layer palletiser,

Figs. 44 and 45 show a schematic side view of how the invention is applied to mobile units, respectively a modified forklift truck and a modified order picker stack truck,

Fig. 46 shows a schematic side view of a semi-automatic embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 47 shows a schematic side view of how a dispensing member wraps a load from below,

Fig. 48 shows a schematic side view of how a dispensing member wraps a load from above, and

Fig. 49 show in a perspective view details of the packaging material on a roll of packaging material and details of the packaging material after being applied on a load.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims Detailed description of the invention

In Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, side views of an embodiment of the invention are shown utilising a conventional stretch hood apparatus 3 for initially positioning the packaging material 4, in this case a stretchable plastic foil with a hood shape, on the dispensing member 1.

In Fig. 1 the plastic hood 4 is placed on the holding means 6a and 6b of the hood apparatus 3. As this is only a side view the holding means 6a and 6b visible are limited to two but as the pallet 10 to be loaded is rectangular in shape the shape of the plastic 4 on the holding means 6 and the through-going opening of the dispensing member 1 is rectangular in shape, too. The dispensing member will thus have four gripping means of which only two are visible in this side view. The dispensing member 1 is supported by an arm 8 mounted on a rack 7.

In Fig. 2 the hood frame 12 of the hood apparatus 3 are lowered in order to bring the plastic hood 4 in level with the gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1. The dispensing member 1 is not in touch with the holding means 6a and 6b of the hood apparatus 3 and the plastic hood 4 will still be in a state of tension depending on the positions of the holding means 6a and 6b of which only a lower section is visible the rest being behind the plastic hood 4. Alternatively, the dispensing member 1 could be moved upwards by the arm 8 to the hood frame 12.

In Fig. 3 the holding means 6a and 6b are displaced inwards relative to the dispensing member 1 so as to transfer the plastic hood 4 to the dispensing member 1, i.e. the plastic hood 4 is resting on the gripping means 2. A more detailed embodiment showing how this could be done is shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 8.

In Fig. 4 the dispensing member 1 is moved on appropriate tracks or rails on the arm 8 to the loading and wrapping area where the pallet 10 is already in position. At the same time, the stretch hood apparatus 3 is preparing a new plastic hood 11.

Figs. 5-8 are a schematic views of a corner section showing how the transfer from the hood apparatus 3 to the dispensing member 1 (see Fig. 2 and 3) is performed according to an embodiment of the invention that enables the use of already commercially available stretch hood apparatus. Part of the plastic hood 4 is not shown so as to enable viewing of certain details during the transfer. The plastic hood 4 is shown as an essential flat section but in operation the plastic hood will typically be crumpled on the holding means 6 and gripping means 2, i.e. they should comprise enough packaging material to wrap a load of considerable height. In Fig. 5, the plastic hood 4 is still resting on the holding means 6a. The gripping means 2 of the dispensing member comprises two rod members 2a and 2b that enable the holding means 6a to pass in between them. Additionally, the gripping means 2 comprises a curved section 2c designed to allow plastic hood 4 to slid over it during a later wrapping stage.

Fig. 6 shows the situation when the holding means 6a (of which only the upper section is now shown for clarity) are displaced inwards and the plastic hood 4 is stretched on the rod members 2a and 2b and no longer on the holding means 6a. The curved section 2c is preferably in contact with the plastic hood 4 before the holding means 6a are displaced inwards, but contact could also occur after or coincidentally with the contact between the rod members 2a and 2b and the plastic hood 4 depending on the co-operation between the gripping means 2 especially the curved section 2c and the holding means 6a.

In Fig. 7, the holding means 6a are displaced downwards leaving the plastic hood 4 unaffected as it is now resting on the gripping means 2. The rod members 2a and 2b should have a sufficient length to allow the removal of the holding means 6. The holding means 6 are positioned on the hood frame 12 of the hood apparatus 3 and for safe operation of the embodiment the dispensing member 1 and the hood apparatus 3 including the hood frame 12 and the holding means 6a should not touch each other during the transfer of the plastic hood 4 from the hood frame 12 and the holding means 6a to gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1.

In Fig. 8, two curved gates 2d and 2e being pivotally mounted on the rod member 2a and 2b, respectively, are rotated by actuators (not shown) into a position where the plastic hood 4 will be in a state of tension on the surface of the curved gates 2d and 2e. For improved slid of the plastic hood 4 during later wrapping stages the curvature of the gate 2d and 2e should be similar with the curved section 2c. The curved gates 2d and 2e could also be used for regulating the tension of the plastic hood 4 or as control means during the dispensing of the packaging material from the dispensing member 1. Many alternative ways of performing the lowered the load of the packaging material 4 on the rod members 2a and 2b are readily realised by the skilled person in the art. For example, the gates 2d and 2e could be linearly displaced. Alternatively, a single gate could be provided in each corner of the dispensing member 1. Instead of gates other appropriate ways of essentially closing and opening the corner of the dispensing member 1 are possibly, e.g. the curved section 2c could also be displaceable.

Figs. 9-12 show side views of an embodiment of the invention comprising continuous stacking and wrapping of a load on a pallet. Fig. 9 is a continuation of Fig. 4 where the dispensing member 1 is lowered down to the pallet 10 (not visible behind the hood 4) positioned in height with the level marker 13 on the rack 7. The plastic hood 4 covering the through-opening of the dispensing member 1 is preferably in contact with the pallet 10. The arm 8 is vertically displaceable mounted on the rack 7. For illustration support means for the pallet are not shown.

In Fig. 10, a first layer of load units 14 are provided on the pallet 10 with part of the plastic hood 4 in between. This first layer of load units 14 will be the bottom layer in the load to be built. The layer 14 is provided by an appropriate palletiser, industrial robot or similar (not shown). During this loading step the dispensing member 1 is not moved.

In Fig. 11, several layers of load units are provided on the pallet 10. In Fig. 11 the dispensing member 1 is moved upwards by the arm 8. The dispensing member 1 is moved to a height just covering the last layer of load units provided (therefore not visible in the Figure). In this way the dispensing member 1 and/or the plastic hood 4 supports the load during building and a palletiser can place a new layer of load units with no risk of collapse of the load or just one or more load units falling off the load.

Fig. 12 shows the position just after the load is built and wrapped on the pallet 10. The size of the plastic hood 4 is just fitted to the height of the load covering partly a single layer of load units. The gripping means 2 does not have any packaging material left and the dispensing member 1 is ready to be moved to the hood apparatus 3 in order to receive a new plastic hood 11.

In Fig. 13, the load on the pallet 10 and the dispensing member 1 is moved back to a position under the stretch hood apparatus 3. The movement of the pallet 10 and the dispensing member 1 does not necessarily have to be done simultaneously.

Fig. 14 shows how the dispensing member 1 receives a new plastic hood 11 from the stretch hood apparatus 3. This is similar to the situation in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 15, the dispensing member 1 with the new plastic hood 11 is displaced to the other side of the arm 8 to prepare for a new pallet 15 to be loaded and wrapped. Meanwhile the stretch hood apparatus has prepared yet a new plastic hood 14 on the holding means 6a and 6b.

In Fig. 16, the dispensing member 1 is lowered down to the new pallet 15 to be loaded and wrapped. A first layer of load units 16 is provided by a palletising robot or similar. On the right hand side of the rack 7 the load on the pallet 10 is being wrapped from the top by the stretch hood apparatus 3 by moving down the hood frame 12 of the hood apparatus 3 and wrapping the load from the top in a well known manner by dispensing from the holding means 6a and 6b (see Fig. 1). Particularly, in the case with perforated packaging material such an additional packaging step will be beneficial for the waterproofness of the load.

Figs. 17-22 show in side views an alternative embodiment of the invention where the dispensing member is tiltably mounted so as to provide the packaging material from a lateral direction. The packaging material is preferably plastic foil but many alternatives are available. This is advantageous as a normal stretch hood apparatus 3 requires several meters free space above the load to be wrapped in order to place the plastic hood 4, 11,14 on the hood apparatus 3.

In Fig. 17, the dispensing member 1 with a plastic hood 17 mounted on the gripping means 2 is in a position where the pallet 21 is ready to receive new load units. The dispensing member 1 is displaceable linearly upwards by actuation of the sets of wheel 20a and 20b mounted in the side rack 18. To the left is schematically shown a packaging material preparation device 19 comprising a spool of packaging material 22. The device has a similar function to the stretch apparatus 3, i.e. providing the gripping means 2 with a packaging material.

In Fig. 18, the pallet 21 is fully loaded with load units by the method according to the invention and the gripping means 2 have dispensed all the packaging material onto the load. Each step of providing one or more layers can be performed be conventional palletising means, e.g. robots or similar which are not shown for clarity.

In Fig. 19, the dispensing member 1 is moved away from the load on the pallet 17 by a combined vertical displacement and rotation around the joint 25 by a relative displacement between the sets of wheels 20a and 20b. The lower set of wheels 20b is connected to the dispensing member 1 via the rotational joint 25 and the lower set of wheels 20b also controls the vertical position of the rotational joint 25. The upper set of wheels 20a is connected to the dispensing member 1 through a rod member 26 being pivotally mounted at 23 on the set of wheels 20a in one end and pivotally mounted at 24 on the dispensing member 1 at the other end. In this way, the relative distance between the two sets of wheels 20a and 20b controls the angular position of the dispensing member 1. The combined vertical displacement and rotation is performed so as to leave the load untouched by the dispensing member 1 by appropriate control of the set of wheels 20a and 20b by sensor and actuation means (not shown). In Fig. 20, the dispensing member is brought to a substantially vertical position in order to receive an additional packaging material from the packaging material preparation device 19. The broken section of the side rack 18 illustrates that the dispensing member could be behind the side rack 18, alternatively a hole in the side rack 18. The gripping means 2 are displaced to a central position of the dispensing member 1 to facilitate the transfer of new packaging material.

Fig. 21 shows the packaging material preparation device 19 comprising holding means 27 for the packaging material 28 that are displaceable away from each other in order to put the packaging material in a state of stress and/or place the packaging material in an exterior position relative to the gripping means 2. Preferably, the new packaging material is pre-opened and possibly fixated appropriate vacuum means (not shown) known to the skilled person in the art.

In Fig. 22, the packaging material 28 is transferred to the dispensing member 1, preferably the packaging material is in a state of stretching or stress on the gripping means 2. The preparation device comprises cutting means (not shown) to separate the transferred packaging material from the packaging material on the spool 22. Possibly also joining means, e.g. welding or gluing devices could be provided in order to close the end part of the transferred packaging material 28. Even more preferably, the packaging material preparation device 19 comprises perforation means (not shown) in order to selectively perforate the packaging material before being transferred to the dispensing member 1. In that way, the bottom part of the wrapping for the next load to be loaded and wrapped on the dispensing member 1 will be closed. The packaging material could be applied as a top wrapping on the load on the pallet 21, or the pallet 21 could be moved away and a new empty pallet could be provided to be wrapped and loaded in co-operation with the dispensing member 1.

Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 show in side views how the invention can be embodied with two industrial robots, one robot 29 for moving the dispensing member 1 and the other robot being a palletiser robot 30.

Fig. 23 shows a first layer of load units 35 of a circular shape being provided on the pallet 31 by the palletising robot 30 having load unit holding means 36, e.g. suction or other well known methods. The top of gripping means 32 holding the packaging material 33 is at level with the top of pallet 31. The gripping means 32 are positioned on slideable mounts 34 on the dispensing member 1. The gripping means 32 can thus be displaced horizontally relative to the pallet 31 in order to support the load the best possible way, e.g. avoiding initial contact with the pallet 31 while higher up pressing the load units together and so on. Fig. 24 shows at a later stage of the wrapping and loading how several layers of load units are built on the pallet 31. The dispensing member 1 is positioned so as to partly cover the top layer of load units 37. Therefore the dispensing member 1 and the packaging material 33 supports the load units 37 on load, and hence the palletising robot can release the load units 37 with no risk of the load units falling down or similar undesirable event.

Fig. 25 and Fig. 26 show an embodiment of the invention utilising a combined robot 40 capable of displacing a particular self-sustaining dispensing member 41 and palletising the load, in which the dispensing member comprises fixating means capable of engaging with the pallet and/or the load of load units so as to substantially fixate the dispensing member relative to the pallet and/or the load of load units with no external support of the dispensing member. Hence, relative to the previous embodiment one industrial robot can be saved. In this embodiment the dispensing member 41 can not be moved during palletising but for many applications this is not a problem as just one layer of load units needs to stand alone without the support of the dispensing member 41 and/or the packaging material 51. This embodiment puts special requirements on the load units; i.e. they should be able to bear the weight of the dispensing member 41.

In Fig. 25, the dispensing member 41 is in an open position and can be moved by the robot 40, e.g. to dispense packaging material. The dispensing member 41 comprises engaging means, i.e. arms 42 that are mounted at rotational joints 45. The arm 42 are connected with resilient means, e.g. springs or the like, so that the default position of the arms 42 will be in an engaging position, whereby the engaging arms 42 provide a frictional force between the dispensing member 41 and load of load units sufficient to keep the dispensing member 41 in a fixed position. The robot 40 comprises rods members 43 that are capable of maintaining the arms 42 in an open position by way of pressing against the arms 42 with specially designed ends.

Next, in Fig. 26, the rod members 43 are removed from contact with the dispensing member 41 so that the arms 42 will be engaged with the load on the pallet 50. Thus, the dispensing member 41 is hanging freely on the load with no support from the robot 40. The skilled person can envision many different mechanisms of bringing the arms 42 to engage and disengage with the load once the principle of this aspect of the invention is realised. The robot can then with well-known palletising means build one or more layer of load units on the load.

Fig. 27 shows a schematic side view of a transfer of packaging material 65 from a preparation device 60 to a dispensing member 1. The sequence of events starts with part A and ends with part F. In Fig. 27 part A the packaging material 65, preferably a plastic foil, is already placed on the preparation device 60. A device similar to that shown in Figs. 17-22 or a conventional stretch hood apparatus (not shown) could do this. The preparation device 60 comprises holding means 67 that are covered behind the packaging material except in Fig. 27 part F. Initially in Fig. 27 part A and B, the dispensing member 1 is lowered down and substantially surrounds the preparation device 60. The frame side 62 of the dispensing member 1 has an appropriate form so as to pass the preparation device 60 upon the vertical displacement. In Fig. 27 part C the arms 61 of the preparation device are displaced, preferably both outwards and downwards, for aligning the holding means 67 of the preparation device 60 with the gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1, the dispensing member now positioned below the packaging material 65. The displacement of the arms 61, preferably four in number for a rectangular shaped dispensing member 1, can in this embodiment be displaced by a single actuator (not shown), preferably centrally positioned relative to the arms 61. The actuator could for example be a rotational actuator driving a central spindle. Preferably, the single actuator may be a purely electrical driven actuator. This is important as in some food applications the presence of oils, for example from hydraulic actuators, is not allowed. On the spindle a common mount pivotally connected with the upper ends of the arms 61 will control the displacement of the arms. The arms 61 are preferably mounted on hinges 71 on a base structure. In order to ensure stability the arms 61 are preferably mounted in couples of arms. In Fig. 27 part D the dispensing member 1 is displaced upwards bringing the gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1 in a substantially horizontal level with the holding means 67 of the preparation device 60. In Fig. 27 part E the holding means 67 are retracted by at least an inward displacement of the arms 61, whereby the packaging material 65 is transferred to the gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1. Finally, in Fig. 27 part F the dispensing member 1 is displaced upwards with the packaging material 65.

Fig. 28 and Fig. 29 show two different embodiments of how the transfer of the packaging material to the dispensing member could be performed. The embodiments show in more detail how the gripping means 2 and the holding means 67 of Fig. 27 may co-operate.

In Fig. 28 upper and lower part, respectively, a side view and a corresponding top view is shown. In Fig. 28 part A the dispensing member 1 is a lower position like in Fig. 27 part B and the packaging material 65 rest on the holding means 66 of the preparation device 60. In Fig. 28 part B the arms 61 of the preparation device 60 are displaced for aligning the holding means 66 of the preparation device 60 with the gripping means 2 of the dispensing member 1. As it is clear the from Fig. 28 part B upper and lower part the gripping means 2 and the holding means 66 are aligned both not yet brought into a common horizontal level. It is to be noticed that holding means 66 in the plan view are brought into a substantially coinciding position with a suitable open structure 70 of the dispensing member 1. In Fig. 28 part C the holding means 66 and the gripping means 2 are at a common horizontal level and the holding means 66 are retracted by actuation of the arms 61 in order to transfer the packaging material 65. The situation of Fig. 28 part C thus corresponds to Fig. 27 part E.

Similar, in Fig. 29 upper and lower part, respectively, a side view and a corresponding top view of a transfer of packaging material 65 is shown. The transfer is analogous to the embodiment of Fig. 28 but the holding means 67 and the gripping means 2 co-operate in a slightly different manner. In this embodiment the dispensing member have a double opening 75. Every opening 75 of the gripping means 2 is capable of receiving a corresponding element ,67a and 67b respectively, of the holding means 67, see Fig. 29 part B lower part. This embodiment may have an enhanced packaging volume in the corner section relative to the embodiment of Fig. 28. Preferably, the displacement of the holding means 67 is, in a top view, substantially a diagonal displacement in the case of a rectangular shaped dispensing member 1 and/or preparation device 65, said displacement being guided by the arms 61. Preferably, the preparation device 65 comprises at least one auxiliary pleating device (not shown) in at least one open corner section of the holding means in order to assist in pleating and/or crumpling a sufficient amount of packaging material 65 onto the limited space on the holding means of the preparation device 60. Advantageously, the pleating device does not need a counter-wheel or similar as the device 120 may provide the counter support during pleating/crumpling and therefore the pleating device can be solely mounted within the periphery of the packaging material 65 on the preparation device 60.

Fig. 30 shows a preferred embodiment with two independently displaceable dispensing members, la and lb respectively, mounted on a common structure 100. Each of the dispensing members la and lb are capable of being displaced horizontally and rotationally around the common structure 100. In Fig. 30 upper part a palletising robot 110 is turned to receive a load unit while the dispensing member la is being lowered down to the pallet 140. At the same time a preparation device 60 is about to receive packaging material from a packaging material preparation device 120 similar to the packaging material preparation device 19 of Figs. 17-21. In Fig. 30 lower part the dispensing member la has wrapped one or more layers of load units and the member la is in a fixed position while the robot 110 unloads a load unit 150 unto the load. At the same time the preparation device 60 receives packaging material 65 from the device 120.

Figs. 31-34 show in a perspective view an embodiment of how a protective element 200 is applied and bent by the dispensing member 1 and/or the packaging material. In Fig. 31, a protective element 200 is disposed on a supporting element 207 (only partly visible in this Figure), e.g. a pallet, while the upper part of the dispensing member 1 is substantially at the same level as the top of the supporting element 207. The protective element 200 may be fastened to the supporting element 207 by nails, clamps, nails, tape, adhesives etc. if preferred. Alternatively, the load units may be provided to retain the protective element 200 by their weight on the protective element 200 before the dispensing member 1 is displaced relatively upwards. The protective element 200 has a substantially cross-like form with four extensions 205 extending outside of the area where the load of load units is to be built. The extensions 205 are separated by bending lines 206 from said building area, the bending lines 206 may be perforated lines, punched lines or similar to facilitate subsequent bending of the extensions 205 relative to said building area of the protective element 200. For reasons of clarity neither the packaging material on the dispensing member 1 nor any support of the supporting element 207 is shown in this Figure or any of the Figures 32-34.

Fig. 32 shows how the dispensing member 1 by a substantially vertical upwards displacement relative to the supporting element 207 by engagement with the dispensing member 1 and/or the packaging material (not shown) bends the extensions 205 of the protective element 200 slightly upwards.

In Fig. 33, the extension 205 of the protective element 200 are bent into a substantially vertical position and the load building and wrapping area defined by the protective element 200 is now ready to receive load units. The extensions 205 are retained in this position by the interior of the dispensing member 1 and/or the packaging material (not shown).

In Fig. 34, a layer of rectangular load units 210 is provided in the load building and wrapping area. The load is again ready to receive more load units. If needed yet another protective element either similar to the protective element 200 or in another shape and/or material may be inserted before additional load units 210 are provided to the load. This is particularly beneficial if the load units are fragile and/or the load units 210 need additional support and/or stabilisation during transport.

Fig. 35 and Fig. 36 show other embodiments of protective elements according to the invention in a perspective view.

In Fig. 35 four protective elements 211 are disposed on the four sides of a supporting element 207. Each protective element 211 has a part 211a for fastening and/or retaining by the packaging material (not shown) onto the supporting element 207 and a part 211b extending outside of the load building area defined by the protective elements 211, said part 211b is intended for being bent by the substantially vertical upwards displacement of the dispensing member 1 relative to the supporting element 207 by engagement with the dispensing member 1 and/or the packaging material (not shown).

Fig. 36 shows a different embodiment of two protective elements 212 disposed in two opposing corners of the supporting element 207. Again the protective element has a part for fastening and/or retaining and a part intended for being bent by the substantially vertical upwards displacement of the dispensing member 1 relative to the supporting element 207 by engagement with the dispensing member 1 and/or the packaging material (not shown). Notice that for illustrative purposes the protective element 212 in the uppermost corner relative to the viewing point is already bent to an upright position while the protective element 212 in the lower corner is not yet bent.

Fig. 37 shows in a perspective view a manual embodiment of the invention where the load units are provided by manual power possibly assisted by cranes or similar. The packaging material is also transferred to the dispensing member 1 manually though the pleating on the gripping means 222 preferably is assisted by appropriate pleating devices (not shown) on the gripping means 222. The dispensing member 1 comprises four gripping means 222 (one is not visible) that are displaceable by displacing the arms 226 on which each of the gripping means 222 are mounted. The frame 220 whereupon the dispensing member 1 is mounted is displaceable along the supporting tower 221 so as to enable vertical displacement of the dispensing member 1 during building and wrapping of the load on the supporting element 207. Alternatively, the dispensing member 1 may be kept in a fixed position while the supporting element 207 is displaced relative to the dispensing member 1 according to the principle of the invention. The displacement of the frame 220 and preferably the displacement of the gripping means 222 is controlled via the control and actuator box 225. This embodiment is readily obtained by modifying already well-known equipment for forklifting by the addition of the frame 220 with the dispensing member 1. Optionally, the embodiment of Fig. 37 may be moveable as a whole.

Figs. 38 and 39 show in a perspective view a dispensing member 1 comprising a displaceable side 235, preferably to be applied in a manual embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in Fig. 37.

In Fig. 38, the side 235 is displaceable either manually or by a dedicated actuator (not shown). A chain drive (not shown) driven from the tower box 240 drives a spindle 230. On the spindle 230 a left twisted and a right twisted nut, 231a and 231b, is displaced in opposite direction to each other by the rotation of the spindle 230. In that way the associated arms 226 and hence the gripping means 222 may be manipulated by coupling to the nuts 231a and 231b by well-known mechanical means (not shown for clarity). The gripping means 222 near the tower box 240 are driven by another spindle 241 in the same manner. The spindles 230 and 241 are driven by the same chain drive actuated from the tower box 240 enabling a single actuator to drive the two spindles 230 and 241. The single actuator may be a hand wheel, a small electric motor or such. For safety reason the arms 226 may have a more planar extended shape receivable in a corresponding open section in order to avoid danger of squeezing any body parts of the personnel operating the dispensing member 1. The supporting element 250 may be a full size Euro pallet or similar

Fig. 39 shows how the side 235 is displaced inwards and subsequently temporally fixed onto the frame 220 to fit a smaller supporting element 251, e.g. a half size Euro pallet. The smaller size of the supporting element 251 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the side 235 is compensated by the arms 226, i.e. the arms 226 are moved inwards to the centre of the supporting element 251 so as to bring the gripping means 222 sufficiently close to the corners of the supporting element 251 for subsequent building and wrapping of the load. In this way, many different supporting elements can be fitted by the same frame 220 in a fast and flexible manner.

Fig. 40 shows in a perspective view a dispensing member 1 and a frame 220 comprising an open side, preferably to applied in a manual embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiments of Figs. 37-40. The open side facilitates easier manual building of the load due to better access from the open side, i.e. the necessary height of lifting the load units is lowered due to the absence of the frame 220 on that side.

Fig. 41 shows in a perspective view a semi-automatic embodiment with the end of a belt conveyer 300 comprising palletising means 310. Except for the belt conveyer 300 and the palletising means 310 this embodiment is similar to the embodiment of Fig. 37. The palletiser 310 is of a well-known type with a pusher 311 and associated axles 312. Underneath the pusher 311 a stripper plate (not shown) is positioned to enable palletising by conventional methods well known to the person skilled in the art. Preferably, the supporting element 207 is vertically displaceable by appropriate lifting means on the tower 221 so that the conveyer belt 300 can be maintained in a fixed position during building and wrapping of the load.

Fig. 42 shows in a schematic top view an embodiment of the invention applying a palletising robot 330 to build a load of load units on supporting elements moving on the conveyer belt 340. At the palletising position a dispensing member 1 and the robot 330 in co-operation builds and wraps the load according to the principle of the invention. The dispensing member 1 is moved and supported by a common structure 350. The dispensing member 1 is displaceable to a second position marked with dashed lines. At the second position a preparation device 60 is positioned, said preparation device 60 being capable of preparing the packaging material for the transfer to the dispensing member 1. The preparation devices receives the packaging material from the packaging material devices 120. Both devices 60 and 120 are also described in the embodiments of Figs. 27 and 30.

Fig. 43 shows in a schematic top view an embodiment of the invention applying a layer palletiser 360 instead of a palletising robot as in Fig. 42. The common structure 350 has two dispensing members la and lb displaceably mounted as in the embodiment of Fig. 30. In position Y, a dispensing member al in co-operation with the layer palletiser 360 builds and wraps a load of load units. Position Y can be said to be a load building and wrapping area according to the invention or equivalently a palletising position. In position X the dispensing members la and lb may receive additional packaging material from the preparation device 60. In position Z, the dispensing member lb that do not assist in building and wrapping a load is in a stand-by position supplied with packaging material. As soon as the dispensing member la has finished building and wrapping a load the dispensing member la leaves position Y by a 180 degrees clock-wise rotation of the common structure 350 in combination with an adjustment of the angular position of the dispensing member la relative to the common structure 350. The dispensing member lb can then wrap the load from the top at position Y. While the dispensing lb wraps a load from the top the dispensing member la is supplied with new packaging material from the preparation device 60 at position X. When the dispensing member lb has finished top wrapping the load, the common structure 350 rotates 180 degrees counter clock-wise and the dispensing members la is positioned at position Y while the dispensing member lb is positioned at X in order to receive new packaging material. Notice that the working procedure in this embodiment is so that a full rotation of the common structure 350 and/or the dispensing members la and lb is avoided as this complicates the control and power wiring to the common structure 350 and/or the dispensing members la and lb. This embodiment enables a dispensing member either la or lb to be present at the palletising position Y of the layer palletiser 360 except during the short interchange of the dispensing members la and lb. This is especially advantageous if the layer palletiser 360 is supplied with a continuously, large amount of load units to pack.

Figs. 44 and 45 show a schematic side view of how the invention may be applied to mobile units, respectively a modified forklift truck 370 and a modified order picker stacker truck 380, both are obtainable from a number of commercial suppliers. In both Figs. 44 and 45, the sequence of events is from A to D. In Fig. 44 part A, a modified forklift truck 370 having the fork replaced by a dispensing member 1 is shown. At Fig. 44 part B, the dispensing member 1 is lowered so as to let the packaging material 371 on the dispensing member 1 engage with the supporting element 375, e.g. a pallet. In Fig. 44 part C, load units are provided to the supporting element 375 and the dispensing member 1 is displaced upwards in order to wrap and support the load of load units. In Fig. 44 part D, further load units are provided and all the packaging material 375 is now dispensed onto the load. The dispensing member 1 is preferably manually controlled by the driver of the modified forklift truck 370 but programmed schemes of displacing the dispensing member 1 may also be applied. Forklift trucks with an upper and a lower fork may preferably be applied so as to let the forklift truck alternate between driving mode and a mode for building and wrapping a least part of a load of load unit. Alternatively, the forklift truck may simultaneously drive and build and wrap at least part of a load of load units if conditions for building and wrapping allows.

In Fig. 45 part A, a modified order picker stacker truck 380 having the upper fork replaced by a dispensing member 1 is shown. On the lower fork a supporting element 375 is shown. The truck 380 is moveable even though the wheels of the truck 380 are not visible in the schematic side view. In Fig. 45, part B the supporting element 375 is lifted up so that the supporting element 375 engages with the lower part of the packaging material 371. This is beneficial if e.g. the load units to be loaded are available in fixed height say in a store room. In Fig. 45 part C, load units are provided to the load and consequently the supporting element 375 is lowered correspondingly so as to wrap and support the load by applying the packaging material 371 on the dispensing member 1. In Fig. 45 part D, the load is fully build and wrapped. Alternatively, the order picker stacker truck may only comprise a single fork similar to the embodiment of Fig. 44.

Fig. 46 shows a schematic side view of a semi-automatic embodiment according to the invention. In Fig. 46, the sequence of events is from A to G. In Fig. 46 part A, a person levels the dispensing member 1 mounted on the tower 390 to a desirable level for his convenience. The dispensing member 1 can be operated manually or by actuators on the tower 390. In Fig. 46 part B, a preparation device 391 is positioned near the dispensing member 1. The preparation device 391 guides the packaging material 371 from the continuos roller of packaging material. Preferably, the preparation device 391 comprises holding means for the packaging material 371. In Fig. 46 part C, the person has manually positioned a starting part of the packaging material 371 on the gripping means of the dispensing member 1. The dispensing member 1 preferably comprises pleating devices (not shown) positioned near or on the gripping means of the dispensing member 1 in order to pull the packaging material 371 off the roller. The pleating devices are preferably driven by dedicated actuators but may also be driven manually by the person. In Fig. 46 part D, a sufficient amount of packaging material 371a is supplied to the dispensing member 1 and the packaging material 371a on the dispensing member 1 is separated from the packaging material 371b on the roller. The separation can be performed by cutting, preferably with a cutting device (not shown) adapted to this purpose mounted on the preparation device 391. Alternatively, the packaging material 371 may comprise perforated lines or similar in order for the person operating the dispensing member 1 to pull the packaging material 371 along the perforated lines and thereby perform the separation. If the packaging material 371 is to comprise a closed bottom the packaging material 371 should either be joined e.g. by welding or alternatively the packaging material 371 should be manufactured with predefined closed sections. In Fig. 46 part E, the preparation device 391 is removed. In this embodiment a support structure 392 is shown. The dispensing member 1 is sufficiently larger enough to allow the support structure 392 to be positioned inside the dispensing member 1 as the dispensing member 1 is displaced downwards. In Fig. 46, part F the dispensing member 1 is lowered and the support structure 391 is therefore not visible but may support the supporting element 371, e.g. a pallet, which is moved thereto by a forklift truck 370. The supporting element 371 already has some load units 210 positioned on top of it. In Fig. 46, part G, the dispensing member 1, is displaced vertically upwards in order to wrap the load. Notice, that in this embodiment the dispensing member 1 does not support the load during building of the load but merely wraps the load. Thus, the invention may also be applied to loads of load units that are self-supported during load building. The embodiment also shows that a supporting element 371 may be wrapped together with the load units 210.

Fig. 47 shows a schematic side view of how a dispensing member 401 wraps a load 450 from below. The sequence of events is from A to D in Figure 47. In part A, on the gripping means 401b part of the packaging material 420 is pleated by pleating means (not shown). It is also indicated how a closing section 420d of the packaging material is positioned below the dispensing member 401 and the remaining part of the packaging material 420. In part B, the dispensing member 401 is lowered further immediately above an underlying support 464, e.g. a pallet. Preferably, the dispensing member 401 is in abutting contact with the underlying support 464. In part C, the dispensing member 401 is displaced in a working direction substantially vertically upwards while simultaneously applying packaging material 420 onto the load 450. In this embodiment the packaging material 420 is thus positioned on an outer periphery of the dispensing member 401 and displaced, preferably pulled off, in a downwards direction as the dispensing member 401 is displaced upwards relative to the load 450. In part D, there is no packaging material 420 left on the gripping means 401b and the load 450 is wrapped. Fig. 48 shows a schematic side view of how a dispensing member 401 wraps a load 450 from above. The load 450 may previously have been wrapped from below as shown in Figure 47. The sequence of events is from A to C in Figure 48. In part A, the dispensing member 401 comprises packaging material 420t on the gripping means 401b similarly to part A and B shown in Figure 47. However, in this embodiment the packaging material 420t is to be applied on the load 450 as the dispensing member 401 is displaced downwards relatively to the load 450. Furthermore, it is seen in part B that the gripping means lb are arranged so as to facilitate that the packaging material 420t is initially displaced downwards on the gripping means 401b and secondly upwards relatively to the load 450 as the dispensing member 401 is displaced downwards relative to the load 450. In the second upward displacement the packaging material 420t is also applied onto the load 450. In part C, the entire portion of packaging material 420t is applied on the load 450. Preferably, such a wrapping from the above effectively protects the load 450 from humid and/or water from the surrounding environment during transport. By this way of wrapping the load 450 from above the closing section 420d of the packaging material 420t is in a position inside the packaging material 420t after the packaging material 420t is applied to the load 450. Equivalently, the inside of the packaging material 420t is turned inside out. This results in that any images, symbolic information, text messages or similar on the packaging material 420t will be mirror imaged after the inversion of the packaging material 420t.

Fig. 49 show in a perspective view details of the packaging material 420 on a roll 430 of packaging material and details of the packaging material 420 after being applied on a load (not shown) from above. The load has a substantially box-like shape. In part A, a roll 430 of packaging material 420 is shown to illustrate how a portion of hood-shaped packaging material 420b results after separation from the roll 430 of packaging material 420 by separation means 500. The packaging material 420t is in a substantially closed position where at least two opposing sides of the periphery of the hood-shaped packaging material 420b are in abutting contact or close to abutting contact. It is also shown how sides of the packaging material 420t are side-folded, i.e. the sides have a fold substantially along the length of the packaging material 420t, said fold being displaced inwardly towards a centre of the packaging material 420t so that the side of the packaging material in a cross- sectional view substantially constitute a V-shape with said fold in the bottom of the V- shape. A closing section or line 420d is positioned next to region of separation. The closing section 420d is preferably pre-fabricated or, alternatively, made by closing means (not shown). In part B, it is shown how the packaging material 420t is positioned on a load (not shown) when applied onto the load according to the embodiment of Figure 48, i.e. the outside of packaging material 420t is turned inside. As a result the closing section 420d is also positioned inside the packaging material 420d as indicated by the broken line. In part C, the applied packaging material 420t is not inverted and hence the closing section 420d is positioned on the outside of the packaging material 420t. Furthermore, the end portions of the closing section 420d are not fixated by the packaging material 420t but may be displaced moderately as indicated by the slightly upwards bending of the end portions of the closing section 420d shown in part C. A flexible, open structure underneath each of the end portions of the closing section 420d results from this procedure of applying the packaging material 420t. This open structure may cause several problems during transport of the load, e.g. the open structure may catch or engage with objects of the surrounding environment and/or the open structure may cause external surveillance sensors to erroneously detect that the load is to large and so forth. This kind of problems may be avoided if the inside of the packaging material 420t is turned outside as shown in Figure 48, part B.

Claims

1. A method of building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material, the method comprises an initial step of providing a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, the method further comprises the steps of:

a) providing at least one layer of load units within said part of the packaging material, and

b) displacing at least once the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped in order to apply packaging material around the at least one layer of load units.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps a) and b) are repeated a plurality of times to provide a wrapped load with multi-layer of load units, preferably repeated at least twice.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) is performed as least once before step a).

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the application of at least some of the packaging material is caused by the substantially vertical displacement of the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units, preferably by pulling off the packaging material.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member comprises a through-going opening.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing member comprises at least some packaging material at the periphery of the dispensing member.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one layer of load units are provided within the periphery of the dispensing member.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing member has at least some packaging material at least partly bridging an open bottom of the through-going opening of the dispensing member.

5 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the load units are provided on a supporting element, preferably a pallet, with at least part of the packaging material at least partly bridging the bottom of the dispenser member being in between the bottom layer of load units and the supporting element.

10 10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the dispensing member has at least some packaging material at an outer periphery.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein the dispensing member has at least some packaging material at an inner periphery.

15 12. A method according to claim 5, wherein the through-going opening of dispensing member is smaller than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped so as to compress the load units with the dispensing member.

20 13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member comprises compression means for compressing one or more layers of load units in one or more directions.

14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging material 25 has the shape of a hood, a bag, a sock, a tube or similar.

15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member is displaced relative to the at least one layer of load units at least once substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance without dispensing any packaging material from the

30 periphery of the dispensing member, preferably the dispensing is controlled by dispensing control means.

16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensed packaging material resiliently confines one or more layers of load units.

35 17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging material is waterproof and provides a substantially waterproof confinement of the load of load units at least with respect to at least part of the bottom and/or at least partly the sides of the load of load units.

18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member is displaced relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards once for every layer of load units provided. 5

19. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member is displaced relative to the at least one layer of load units in a continuous manner while load units are provided to the load of load units.

10 20. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the displacing of the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards is performed by displacing at least one entity from the group of: the dispensing member and the at least one layer of load units.

15 21. A method according to any of the preceding claims comprising a further packaging step for applying packaging material, comprising:

-providing a top dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form having a larger opening than the horizontal projection of the

20 load to be wrapped, and -displacing the top dispensing member substantially vertically downwards along the load of load units to be wrapped, the top dispensing member being capable of dispensing packaging material on the top of the load of load units and at least partly on the sides of the load of load units during the downwards displacement.

25 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the packaging material is waterproof and provides a substantially waterproof confinement of the load of load units at least with respect to the top and/or at least partly the sides of the load of load units.

30 23. A method according to any of the preceding claims comprising a further step, wherein perforating means is applied to perforate the packaging material in selected points or areas after the packaging material is dispensed on the load of units.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the packaging material is perforated in 35 selected points or areas before being dispensed on the load of load units.

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the perforated points or areas form a plurality of perforated regions, each perforated region extending at least a part of a circumference of the packaging material.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the perforated regions are separated with a distance substantially equal to a layer of load units.

27. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load comprises at least one protective element covering at least part of at least one side of the load.

28. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load comprises at least one protective element covering at least part of the bottom of the load and/or at least part of the top of load.

29. A method according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein at least a part of the at least one protective element extends outside of the area where the load is to be build, and wherein the at least one protective element is bent by the engagement with the dispensing member and/or the packaging material upon upwards displacement of the dispensing member.

30. A method according to any of the claims 27-29, wherein the load comprises at least one protective element for each layer of load units.

31. A method according to any of the claims 27-30, wherein at least one protective element comprises stabilising means for stabilising the load units on the load.

32. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load after being build and wrapped is capable of being transported without an underlying support element such as a pallet or similar.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the load comprises hollow elements capable of being engaged by corresponding lifting means so as to facilitate further transport of the load out of the load building and wrapping area.

34. A method according to any of the preceding claims further comprising an initial step of providing at least one supporting element within said part of the packaging material, said at least one supporting element being adapted to facilitate further transport of the load out of the load building and wrapping area.

35. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member comprises sufficient packaging material to wrap one load.

36. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging material is a plastic foil and the dispensing member comprises a plurality of gripping means for gripping the plastic foil.

5 37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the plastic foil after being dispensed is shrunk by applying heating means to heat the plastic foil.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the dispensing member has a substantially rectangular shape with gripping means in at least every corner of the dispensing member.

10 39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the plastic foil is elastically extensible by stretching.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the gripping means is 15 independently displaceable in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical displacement direction of the dispensing member.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the gripping means comprises regulation means to control the tension and/or the friction of the plastic foil between the gripping

20 means, preferably by rotational or linear displacement of the regulation means.

42. A method according to claim 39, wherein the gripping means comprises at least one pair of rod members connected at one end by a curved shackle profile.

25 43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the rod members are connected with gating means, which are capable of adjustably engaging with the plastic foil.

44. A method according to any of the claims 36-43, wherein at least one of the gripping means comprises a substantially open structure.

30 45. A method according to claim 44 further comprising a preparation device for at least fixating the plastic foil, the preparation device comprises holding means for holding the plastic foil in a fixed position, and at least one of said holding means being adapted to enter the substantially open structure of the at least one gripping means.

35 46. A method according to claim 38 and claim 45, wherein the least one holding means is displaceable along a substantially diagonal direction relative to the dispensing member.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the preparation device comprises a stretch hood apparatus.

48. A method according to claim 46, wherein a single actuator is capable of displacing the 5 holding means of the preparation device.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the single actuator is a rotational actuator connected to a spindle.

10 50. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a common structure is provided at the load building and wrapping area, said common structure being connected with a plurality of displaceable dispensing members, and wherein at least two dispensing members from said plurality of dispensing members are independently displaceable of each other.

15 51. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing member comprises fixating means capable of engaging with the load of load units so as to substantially fixate the dispensing member relative to the load of load units with no external support of the dispensing member.

20 52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the fixating means comprises at least one arm mounted on a joint on the dispensing member, said at least one arm having at least an engaging position in which the at least one arm is resiliently engaging with the load of load units, and at least an open position in which the at least one arm is not engaging with

25 the load of load units.

53. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step a) is at least partly performed manually.

30 54. Packaging material adapted for use according to the method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging material has the shape of a hood, a bag, a sock, a tube or similar.

55. Packaging material according to claim 54, wherein the packaging material comprises 35 perforated points or areas forming a plurality of perforated regions, each perforated region extending at least a part of a circumference of the packaging material.

56. Packaging material according to claim 55, wherein the perforated regions are separated with a distance substantially equal to a layer of load units.

57. Packaging material according to claim 54, wherein the packaging material comprises text messages and/or symbolic information related to the load.

5 58. Packaging material according to claim 57, wherein the text messages and/or the symbolic information is printed mirror-imaged on the packaging material.

59. An apparatus for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to any of the claims 1-53, the apparatus comprising:

10 - a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, and

15 - displacing means capable of displacing the dispensing member substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped, wherein the dispensing member is capable of applying at least some of the packaging material as the dispensing member is displaced at least once substantially vertically 20 upwards relative to the at least one layer of load units.

60. An apparatus according to claim 59 further comprising load building means capable of providing at least one layer of load units within said part of the packaging material.

25 61. An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein providing the at least one layer of load units within said part of the packaging material is at least partly performed by lifting means, preferably by cranes, vacuum tube-lifters or similar.

62. An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein providing the at least one layer of load 30 units within said part of the packaging material is at least partly performed by automatic means.

63. An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the automatic means comprises at least one entity from the group consisting of: conveyer belt, conveyer belt with palletising

35 means, robot, gantry robots and layer palletising equipment.

64. An apparatus according to claim 59, wherein at least the load building and wrapping area, the displacing means, and the dispensing member are moveable as a single entity independently of the substantially vertical upwards displacement of the dispensing member.

65. An apparatus according to claim 64, wherein at least the load building and wrapping 5 area, the displacing means, and the dispensing member are mounted on and/or in connection with a mobile unit, preferably a forklift truck, a pallet car, an order picker, a high lift for use in large store rooms, or similar.

66. A computer system comprising at least one computer having one or more computer

10 programs stored within data storage means associated therewith, the computer system being adapted to control at least the dispensing member and the displacing means for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to claim 59.

67. A computer system according to claim 66, wherein the computer system comprises at least 15 one entity from the group consisting of: a general purpose computer, a personal computer (PC), a programmable logic control (PLC) unit, a soft programmable logic control (soft-PLC) unit, a hard programmable logic control (hard-PLC) unit, an industrial personal computer (industrial PC), and a dedicated microprocessor.

20 68. A computer system according to claim 66, wherein the computer system is capable of selecting at least one stable solution for building and wrapping the load of load units based on information about at least the load units and the packaging materials, preferably information such as weight of the load units, dimensions of the load units and type, strength and elasticity of the packaging material.

25 69. A computer program product being adapted to enable a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means associated therewith to control the method for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to any of the claims 1-53.

30 70. A computer readable medium having stored therein a set of routines for enabling a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means associated therewith to control the method for building and wrapping loads of layers of load units in a packaging material according to any of the claims 1-53.

35 71. Use of an apparatus according to claim 59, comprising an initial step of providing a dispensing member in a load building and wrapping area, the dispensing member being capable of fixating at least part of the packaging material to a form being equal to or larger than the horizontal projection of the load to be wrapped, the use further comprising 0 the steps of: a) providing at least one layer of load units within said part of the packaging material , and

b) displacing at least once the dispensing member relative to the at least one layer of load units substantially vertically upwards a predefined distance along the at least one layer of load units to be wrapped and applying at least some of the packaging material from the periphery of the dispensing member.