Apparatus for wrapping and method therefor

Claim 1

A wrapping apparatus for stretching a band-like member and winding the stretched band-like member around at least one article having a predetermined height, comprising: means for supplying a band-like member which will elastically shrink when it is stretched, said band-like member having two widthwise opposite ends and initial lateral width; lateral stretch means for stretching said band-like member at least twice as long as said initial lateral width thereof whereby a band-like member is obtained stretched in the lateral direction, said lateral strength means being provided with running means moving at a predetermined speed for running said stretched band-like member whereby said stretched band-like member is spread like an unfolded fan and gripping means for gripping regions respectively near said widthwise opposite ends of said stretched band-like member in such a manner that said regions of said stretched band-like member are detachable from said running means; a longitudinal post-stretch mechanism for longitudinally stretching said stretched band-like member after the stretched band-like member is laterally stretched by said lateral stretch means: a turntable on which said at least one article is placed, said turntable being rotatable around an axis approximately parallel to said lateral direction of said lateral stretch means; and means for winding said stretched band-like member around said at least one article by rotating the turntable with respect to the stretched band-like member at a speed higher than said pre-determined speed of said lateral stretch means, said winding means operating with tension and comprising means for regulating said winding tension of the stretched band-like member around the article, wherein said running means comprises a first running portion and a second running portion and said running means comprises a first rotary disc having a peripheral portion constituting said first running portion and a second rotary disc having a peripheral surface constituting said second running portion, and said gripping means comprises a first gripping member for detachably fixing the region of one of said opposite widthwise ends of said stretched band-like member to said first running portion, and a second gripping member for fixing the region of the other of said opposite widthwise ends of said stretched band-like member so that it is detachable from said second running portion, guide means for guiding said stretched band-like member gripped by said gripping means wherein said guide means comprises rotatable guide turn rolls, said first and second rotary discs have a periphery, said guide turn rolls are arranged such that each roll substantially touches internally to the periphery of the cylinder-like shape formed by the first and second rotary discs, for guiding the band-like member so that the difference in running length of the band-like member is reduced in the widthwise direction.