ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,552,571, issued on Feb. 17.
"Film free end control apparatus and method for a stretch wrapping machine" was invented by Stephen L. Heston (Clackamas, Ore.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An apparatus and method for stretch wrapping of a palletized load uses film tension feedback derived from a film tension control load cell to control film dispensation. The load cell measures film tension and the film payout rates is determined by the film tension. Film tension values are used to determine when an out of bounds condition occurs, namely, when a film break has occurred, or when a possible film break is about to occur or when the film has be...