Telescoping Pallet Wrapping Handle With Friction Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual pallet wrapping methods are limited by the height of the wrapping material handle, difficulty in applying sufficient pressure, and inadequate wrapping of the bottom pallet sections, leading to instability during transport, and are often restricted to specific types of stretch film and require specialized tools or knowledge.
Innovation Solution
A hand-operated pallet wrapping device featuring an elongated shaft with a fixed handle and sliding handle unit, including a ring-shaped member with high friction material, and a mechanical tensioning unit with adjustable deformable wires, allowing for efficient wrapping of pallets of varying sizes and heights without the need for specialized tools or knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pallet wrapping is performed using traditional cardboard handles, then the wrapping process can be done without specialized equipment, but the handle length limits the maximum pallet height that can be wrapped
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple telescoping segments that can extend and retract. The inner segment contains the film dispensing mechanism while the outer segment provides the extended reach. This segmentation allows the handle to achieve greater length when needed while maintaining a compact form when retracted, resolving the contradiction between manual operability and sufficient length for tall pallets.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle transitions from a static fixed-length design to a dynamic telescoping structure. The handle can extend to reach higher pallets and retract to a manageable size for storage and transport. This dynamic capability allows the same handle to adapt to different pallet heights, eliminating the limitation of fixed-length handles while maintaining ease of manual operation.
2Weight of moving object
If lightweight cardboard handles are used for manual wrapping, then the device remains simple and easy to handle, but sufficient pressure cannot be applied to secure the film properly
Solution Approach 1:
The handle incorporates a composite structure combining lightweight aluminum or plastic segments with strategic reinforcement elements. The telescoping segments use thin-walled construction for lightness, while the film tensioning mechanism includes reinforced components that can transmit high forces. This composite approach maintains overall lightness while providing localized strength where force application is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A film tensioning mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's manual force and the stretch film. This mechanism amplifies the applied force through mechanical advantage, allowing the user to generate sufficient tension on the film without needing to apply extreme force directly. The tensioning mechanism transfers and multiplies the input force to achieve proper film securation.
3Reliability
If the user manually wraps the bottom of the pallet, then wrapping coverage is achieved, but the user cannot easily access and adequately wrap the bottom section
Solution Approach 1:
The handle extends vertically along the pallet height, providing access to all sections including the bottom. By utilizing the vertical dimension fully, the handle allows the user to apply wrapping force at the bottom of tall pallets without needing to crawl or bend excessively. The extended reach in the vertical dimension solves the accessibility problem while maintaining comprehensive wrapping coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical approach of crawling around the pallet base with a leveraged mechanical system. The telescoping handle with its length advantage provides mechanical leverage that allows the user to reach and secure the bottom sections from a more ergonomic position, substituting the need for physical contortion with mechanical reach extension.
4Productivity
If automated pallet wrapping machines are used, then high volume uniform pallets can be wrapped efficiently, but the high cost limits use to manufacturers shipping extremely high volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables the user to perform the wrapping function themselves without requiring expensive automated machinery. The telescoping handle with integrated film dispensing and tensioning mechanisms allows manual operation to achieve results previously requiring automated equipment. This self-service approach eliminates the need for high-capex automated systems while maintaining adequate wrapping productivity for most applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, complex automated wrapping machines with a simple, inexpensive manual device. The telescoping handle is constructed from relatively cheap materials like aluminum or plastic and can be manufactured at low cost. While not permanent infrastructure like automated machines, this affordable device can be easily replaced or upgraded as needed, providing cost-effective wrapping capability without the high investment required for automated systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure wrapping of taller pallets, improves pressure application, and ensures adequate bottom wrapping, enhancing stability and usability with any type or size of stretch film, thus overcoming the limitations of existing manual wrapping methods.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding handle unit can include a ring shaped member having a high friction material along one surface
Implementation Method 2
A mechanical tensioning unit can be disposed along the elongated shaft. The tensioning unit can include a first end, a second end, and a plurality of deformable wires that are suspended therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet wrapping device includes an elongated shaft having a fixed handle along a first end, and a diameter for slidingly receiving the hollow central channel of a roll of stretch film. A stopper is positioned along the second end of the elongated shaft, and includes a dimension that is greater than the dimension of the central channel of the roll of stretch film. A sliding handle unit having a first handle segment, a second handle segment and a hollow interior channel is slidingly positioned along the elongated shaft, and functions as a guide for dispensing the stretch film. A ring shaped member having a high friction material along one surface is disposed between the handle segments, and each handle segment includes an outside dimension that is positionable within the central channel of the roll of stretch film.