Automatic Pallet Wrapper

Executive summary

An automatic pallet stretch wrapper executes the entire containment cycle without requiring an operator at the load: it automatically clamps the film leading edge, initiates the wrap sequence, severs the film, and wipes down the tail. On the FHOPE B100 turntable system, a pneumatic pantograph gripper holds the film end, an instant impulse heating wire cuts the web cleanly, and an integrated soft-bristle brush presses the trailing film securely onto the pallet perimeter. The machine reliably delivers a throughput of at least 24 loads per hour at 250% fixed power pre-stretch on a heavy-duty 2,200 mm structural turntable.

The FHOPE B100 integrates an automated clamp, cut, and wipe arm directly adjacent to the turntable perimeter. During the cycle wrap termination, the pneumatic assembly indexes inward toward the rotating pallet, captures the film web against the load surface, separates the stretched LLDPE film cleanly via a pulsed thermal wire, and seals the trailing tail with a compliant brush wiper while positively retaining the leading edge for the subsequent cycle.

Table of Contents

• Semi-Automatic vs. Automatic Turntable Wrappers
• Pneumatic Film Clamp, Cut, and Wipe Mechanics
• Step-by-Step Automatic Cycle Kinematics
• Engineering Specifications (B100 Model)
• Worked Engineering Example: Cycle Time and Film Yield
• Engineering Selection & Application Checklist
• Safety Standards & Compliance: EN 415-6, ISO 12100, and EN 60204-1
• Frequently Asked Engineering Questions
• System Configuration & RFQ Submission
• Related Technical Documentation
• Reference Standards & Sources

Semi-Automatic vs. Automatic Turntable Wrappers

Eliminating manual intervention does not merely accelerate film separation. Forklift drivers stage and remove pallets without leaving their seats, eliminating operator exposure to moving industrial equipment and eliminating loose film tails that foul conveyor rollers or automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).

Pneumatic Film Clamp, Cut, and Wipe Mechanics

• Pneumatic Gripper Jaw: A scissor-type pneumatic clamp retains the film tail at the start of the wrapping sequence. It maintains clamping force through the bottom lock turns and releases only when the overlying film wraps have anchored the film securely to the load.
• Impulse Cutting Wire: At cycle completion, an articulated swing arm extends toward the rotating pallet. A low-voltage, high-amperage Nichrome thermal wire pulses instantaneously to melt through the tensioned LLDPE film web without producing open flame or burnt polymer odor.
• Surface Wipe Brush: A resilient, non-marking bristle brush follows the cutting wire, wiping the trailing film flat against the pallet side to eliminate tail flagging during transit and automated racking.
• Ready-Position Film Staging: As the trailing web is wiped onto the pallet, the gripper jaw retains the new leading film tail in ready position, eliminating manual restringing for subsequent pallet loads.
• Pneumatic & PLC Integration: The entire subassembly is actuated by ISO standard pneumatic cylinders operating at 0.6–0.8 MPa (6–8 bar) with an average air consumption of approximately 1.5–2.0 NL per complete wrapping cycle.

Step-by-Step Automatic Cycle Kinematics

1. Load Placement: The pallet load is positioned centrally onto the 2,200 mm turntable via forklift or pallet truck ramp.
2. Optical Height Sensing: An integrated retro-reflective photocell detects the top edge of the product load, compensating for variable pallet heights automatically.
3. Soft-Start & Bottom Reinforcement: Frequency inverters accelerate the turntable smoothly from 0 to 12 RPM. The bottom carriage applies preset reinforcement wraps (e.g., 3 turns) while the pneumatic clamp secures the film start.
4. Ascending/Descending Wrap Cycle: The gripper releases the film web as hoop tension anchors it. The dual-chain driven carriage elevates at 2.9 m/min, overlapping the film spiral based on the selected pitch, applies preset top wraps, and traverses back down.
5. Home Position Indexing & Cut-Wipe Sequence: The turntable decelerates and stops within ±5 mm of its original home position. The pneumatic arm pivots in: the thermal wire severs the film, the brush wipes the tail down, and the clamp grabs the incoming film end.
6. Discharge: The wrapped pallet is retrieved immediately, while the clamp arm remains charged and staged for the next incoming unit.

Engineering Specifications (B100 Model)

Worked Engineering Example: Cycle Time and Film Yield

Consider a standard distribution pallet measuring 1,200 mm (L) × 1,000 mm (W) × 1,500 mm (H), programmed with 3 bottom reinforcement winds, 3 top reinforcement winds, and a rotational turntable velocity of 12 RPM.

Engineering Takeaway: The net wrapping time of 92 seconds allows 58 seconds for turntable deceleration, automatic pneumatic cut/wipe execution (typically 6–8 seconds), and pallet transfer. This cycle reliably fits within the 150-second operational window required for 24 loads per hour. A 250% pre-stretch delivers an elongation factor of 3.5:1, drawing only 23.1 meters of parent LLDPE film per wrapped unit.

Engineering Selection & Application Checklist

1. Payload Geometry & Footprint: Determine maximum pallet dimensions, total height (including wood pallet base), and heaviest unit weight to verify turntable diameter and bearing capacity.
2. Throughput Target: Calculate required loads per hour to determine if a stand-alone turntable wrapper or an in-line conveyorized rotary arm wrapper is optimal.
3. Loading Logistics: Identify staging method (forklift, electric walkie, or automated infeed roller conveyor) to select floor flush mounting, drive-on ramp, or conveyor integration.
4. Pneumatic Utility Availability: Ensure plant supply provides clean, filtered, dry air at 0.6–0.8 MPa (6–8 bar) within 5 meters of the machine footprint.
5. Load Integrity Requirements: Determine if unstable, lightweight boxes require a pneumatic top-platen stabilizer, or if harsh export conditions dictate an automated top-sheet dispenser for complete five-sided water resistance.

Safety Standards & Compliance: EN 415-6, ISO 12100, and EN 60204-1

Pallet wrapping equipment involves inherent mechanical and thermal pinch points. The FHOPE B100 conforms to the following industrial safety standards:

• EN 415-6 (Packaging Machines – Pallet Wrapping Machines): Specific compliance with safeguarding mechanisms for rotating turntables, moving vertical lift carriages, and pivoting cut-wipe mechanical assemblies.
• EN ISO 12100:2010 (Safety of Machinery – Risk Assessment): Comprehensive hazard mitigation including mechanical shielding, chain-break fall protection for the film carriage, and low-voltage isolation for the heating wire.
• EN 60204-1 (Safety of Machinery – Electrical Equipment of Machines): Lockable main power disconnect, category 0/1 emergency stop pushbuttons with dual-channel safety relays, and industrial IP54-rated industrial control enclosures.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 Compliance: Full Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) isolation capability for electrical and stored pneumatic energy.

Frequently Asked Engineering Questions

Q: Does the operator ever need to manually cut the stretch film? A: No. The automated swing arm grips, impulse cuts, and wipes the film tail in an automatic cycle sequence, fully isolated from operator contact.

Q: Can the B100 turntable wrapper maintain 24 loads per hour consistently? A: Yes. With a 92-second active wrapping cycle, the machine provides up to 58 seconds of buffer time per cycle for loading, turntable indexing, and clamp-cut-wipe functions, achieving 24–30 loads per hour under standard conditions.

Q: What exact pneumatic supply must be plumbed to the machine? A: A regulated 0.6–0.8 MPa (6–8 bar) dry pneumatic line. Consumption is approximately 1.5–2.0 NL per cycle, equating to roughly 35–50 NL/min under continuous full-capacity operation.

Q: Can the turntable machine be incorporated into an automated packaging line? A: Yes. The B100 architecture supports motorized roller or chain conveyor integration with PLC handshakes (dry contacts or industrial Ethernet) for fully automated infeed, wrapping, and outfeed.

System Configuration & RFQ Submission

1. Submit Pallet Parameters: Send your maximum load dimensions (L × W × H), weight range, and required throughput rate to info@fhopepack.com.
2. Technical Review & Layout: Our engineering department matches the exact carriage gearing, pre-stretch motor, turntable capacity, and safety enclosure to your floor layout.
3. Formal Proposal Delivery: Receive a technical CAD footprint drawing, formal specification sheet, and direct OEM quotation within 24 hours.

Related Technical Documentation

• Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machine B100 (Product Specifications)
• Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machine B200 (Heavy-Duty Line)
• Pallet Wrapping Machine with Auto Film Cutting System (Application Video)
• Automatic Pallet Stretch Wrapping Machine with Mechanical Film Cutter

Reference Standards & Sources

• FHOPE Packaging Machinery Technical Specification: B100 Automatic Turntable Series.
• European Committee for Standardization: EN 415-6 (Safety of Pallet Wrapping Machines).
• International Organization for Standardization: ISO 12100:2010 & ISO 13849-1 (Machinery Safety).
• European Electrotechnical Committee: EN 60204-1 (Electrical Safety of Industrial Machinery).

Last reviewed: 2026-10-19