US 12,297,002 B2
Stretch-hood machine with film-evaluation feature
Tonny Konstmann, Nordborg (DK); and Kevin Cukierski, Elmhurst, IL (US)
Assigned to SIGNODE INDUSTRIAL GROUP LLC, Tampa, FL (US)
Appl. No. 18/569,766
Filed by Signode Industrial Group LLC, Tampa, FL (US)
PCT Filed May 12, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/072279
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 13, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/266567, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,110, filed on Jun. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0262548 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. B65B 9/13 (2006.01); B65B 61/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 9/135 (2013.01) [B65B 61/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a stretch-hood machine to evaluate a segment of tubular film, the method comprising:
with a plurality of reefing devices in respective reefing positions, each reefing device comprising a reefing finger, reefing the segment of tubular film onto the reefing fingers;
moving the reefing devices laterally outwardly from their respective reefing positions to respective stretching positions, thereby causing the segment of tubular film to stretch;
moving the reefing devices laterally inwardly from their respective stretching positions toward their respective reefing positions, thereby enabling the segment of tubular film to retract;
determining, via a controller, a measured performance parameter of the segment of tubular film based on feedback associated with the movement of the reefing devices;
comparing, via the controller, the measured performance parameter of the segment of tubular film with a baseline performance parameter; and
outputting an indication based on the comparison between the measured performance parameter and the baseline performance parameter.