The invention relates to machines for wrapping a load with a film or band of plastic and/or paper material and, in particular, it relates to a wrapping machine of the horizontal rotating ring type. The invention further relates to a wrapping method realized by a wrapping machine of the horizontal rotating ring type.

Known wrapping machines with horizontal rotating ring comprise a main frame to which a secondary frame is slidably connected, or supporting carriage, configured to rotatably support a ring structure, or rotating ring, to which a unit for unwinding or supplying film is fixed.

The rotating ring is rotatable about a vertical wrapping axis, while the supporting carriage is movable linearly and parallel to the wrapping axis. In this way, the film unwinding unit is movable parallel to and about the wrapping axis while the load to be wrapped remains fixed. The load is typically composed of one or more products grouped and arranged on a pallet.

The film or strip unwound by a reel mounted on the unwinding unit is wrapped about the load in such a way so as to form a series of interlaced strips or bands having a helical pattern thanks to the combination of the linear movement and the rotational movement of the unwinding unit.

In the case of plastic film, the unwinding unit is generally provided with a pair of prestretching rollers, comprising a slow roller and a fast roller, respectively upstream and downstream with reference to the movement of the film, to stretch and unwind the extensible film, and one or more diverter or return rollers to divert the film towards the load during the unwinding. By appropriately adjusting the difference between the rotational speeds of the two pre-stretching rollers, it is possible to stretch or elongate the film exiting from the unwinding unit by a defined amount before it is wrapped on the load, according to a fixed pre-stretching or elongation percentage.

The unwinding unit generally comprises an electric motor capable of rotating one of the two pre-stretching rollers, which acts as the drive (master) roller (typically the fast roller), and, via a mechanical transmission assembly, the other pre-stretching roller, which acts as the driven (slave) roller, typically the slow roller. Thereby, a fixed transmission ratio is established between the fast roller and the slow roller, depending on the value of prestretching or elongation to be obtained on the film.

Unwinding apparatuses are also known that are provided with a pair of electric motors arranged to separately and independently drive the two pre-stretching rollers, so as to allow the elongation of the film to be varied, i.e. the percentage of pre- stretching or elongation

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN during the wrapping of the load.

Sensors are also mounted on the unwinding unit to detect operating parameters of the wrapping machine and in some cases means for the transmission of control signals via radio (wireless). in order to electrically power the electric motor or motors driving the pre-stretching rollers and the sensors mounted on the unwinding unit and/or for exchange control signals between the unwinding unit and a control unit of the wrapping machine, in some ring wrapping machines sliding electric contact means are provided, which comprise an annular structure fixed to the supporting carriage and provided on an inner side wall thereof with a plurality of conductive annular bars (sliding contacts) on which respective contacting brushes slide which are instead mounted on the rotating ring and are electrically connected to the electric motors and sensors of the unwinding unit. The conductive bars are connected by electrical cables to an electrical board to drive and control the wrapping machine.

The conductive bars are made of metallic material with high electrical conductivity, typically copper, and are bent (calendered) about the inner side wall of the annular structure and fixed to it. The brushes include sliding elements made of material with high electrical conductivity and low friction coefficient, generally graphite-based sintered material.

The brushes are kept in abutment with the conductive bars with a predefined pushing force by means of elastic elements, such as springs, in order to prevent detachments from the conductive bars during operation caused by vibrations, irregularities in the shape of the annular tracks, the presence of dirt and debris.

Although the brushes are made of material with a low friction coefficient, they are still subject to progressive wear and should be frequently checked and possibly replaced in order to avoid interruptions in the supply of power current and/or control signals.

In particular, in the case of sensors and/or signal transmission means (wireless transmission boards) any discontinuities or interruptions, even of fractions of a second, of the supply of direct electric current at low voltage may cause malfunctions of the wrapping machine.

In order to avoid such malfunctions during the use of the wrapping machine it is therefore necessary to accurately program the periodic maintenance interventions of the sliding electric contact means, in particular of the brushes.

In known wrapping machines the wear of the brushes is also accentuated by the centrifugal force that acts on the brushes during the rotation of the rotating ring and that contributes with the springs to keep the brushes in contact with the annular conductive bars. However, at high rotational speeds of the rotating ring the centrifugal force (that is proportional to the square

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN of the angular speed) can have high values and lead to rapid wear and tear of the brushes.

In the known wrapping machine, the brushes are accessible with difficulty by the operators for the control and replacement operations since the brushes are positioned inside the rotating ring so as to meet the annular tracks fixed to the inner side wall of the annular support structure. These maintenance operations are therefore laborious and time-consuming.

Although subject to less wear, also the annular conductive bars must be periodically checked and possibly replaced.

However replacing the annular conductive bars in the known wrapping machines is a rather complex and difficult procedure since the conductive bars are provided in straight segments that before the assembly must be cut according to the required length and then must be bent (calendered) into an annul ar/arcuate shape. The annular conductive bars thus obtained must then be fixed to the inner side wall of the annular support structure. The entire replacement procedure, in addition to requiring more specialized operators, causes a long shutdown time of the wrapping machine and therefore of production.

It is an object of the invention to improve known wrapping machines with horizontal rotating ring and provided with sliding electric contact means for transmitting electric current and/or control/command signals to the film unwinding unit.

Another object is to provide a wrapping machine that allows considerable reduction in the wear and tear to which the contacting brushes and the annular conductive bars of the sliding electric contact means are subjected, so as to increase the length of the maintenance intervals for their replacement.

A further object is to provide a wrapping machine that allows a quick and easy replacement of the contacting brushes and the annular conductive bars allowing a considerable reduction in the downtime of the wrapping machine.

A still further object is to achieve a wrapping machine that allows any malfunctions of the sliding electric contact means to be detected, in particular in order to schedule maintenance and/or replacement works of the contacting brushes and the annular conductive bars.

A first aspect of the invention includes a wrapping machine according to claim 1.

A second aspect of the invention includes a method for wrapping a load with film or band according to claim 13.

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

- Figure l is a perspective view of the wrapping machine according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view of the wrapping machine of Figure 1;

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN - Figure 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view from below of the wrapping machine of the invention illustrating in particular sliding electric contact means;

- Figure 4 is another enlarged partial perspective view from below of the wrapping machine of the invention illustrating the sliding electric contact means;

- Figure 5 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the wrapping machine of the invention illustrating the sliding electric contact means and moving rings and supporting rings;

- Figure 6 is a plan view of a contacting brush;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of contacting brushes;

- Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the wrapping machine of the invention in which a supporting ring of conductive bar means is disassembled from a supporting carriage of the wrapping machine;

- Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of Figure 8 which illustrates in particular a hooking element of the supporting ring and a connecting element of the supporting carriage which are disengaged and spaced apart;

- Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the wrapping machine of the invention in a first step of the assembly of the supporting ring to the supporting carriage;

- Figure 11 is an enlarged detail of Figure 10 illustrating the hooking element and the connecting element;

- Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the wrapping machine of the invention in a second step of the assembly of the supporting ring to the supporting carriage;

- Figure 13 is an enlarged detail of Figure 10 illustrating the hooking element and the connecting element;

- Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of the wrapping machine of the invention in a third and final stage of the assembly of the supporting ring to the supporting carriage;

- Figure 15 is an enlarged detail of Figure 10 illustrating the hooking element and the connecting element;

- Figure 16 is a schematic view of the wrapping machine of the invention that illustrates in particular sliding electric contact means, drive and control means and electric motors and sensor means of the unwinding unit.

With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a wrapping machine 1 according to the invention arranged to wrap a load 100 with a film 50 or a band of plastic and/or paper material, for example a plastic film of the cold-extendable type, is schematically illustrated.

The wrapping machine 1 comprises a main frame 2, for example provided with a plurality of support columns 13, for example four, interconnected by beam means 14 and a supporting

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN carriage 3 slidably supported by the main frame 2 and moved along a working direction W, in particular substantially vertical.

The wrapping machine 1 also includes a moving ring 4 rotatably supported by the supporting carriage 3 and rotatable about a wrapping axis X parallel to the working direction W, and an unwinding unit 5 fixed to the moving ring 4 and provided with a film reel 51 and prestretching rollers 52, 53 for unwinding and pre-stretching the film.

The moving ring 4 is therefore arranged horizontally, parallel to a supporting plane P on which the wrapping machine 1 rests.

The unwinding unit 5 comprises in particular a pair of pre-stretching rollers 52, 53, which unwind the film 50 from the reel 51 and stretch or lengthen it, and one or more return rollers 54 which divert the film 50 towards the product or group of products forming the load 100 to be wrapped. The unwinding unit 5 further comprises at least one electric motor 37, 38 for driving the pre-stretching rollers 52, 53 and sensor means 39 for detecting operating parameters of the unwinding unit 5.

The load 100 is supported and moved in and out of the wrapping machine by conveyor means 9 of known type.

Sliding electric contact means 10 are provided for transferring electric current to, and/or exchanging electrical signals with, the unwinding unit 5.

The sliding electric contact means 10 comprise in particular brush means 11 fixed to the moving ring 4 and conductive bar means 12 fixed to a supporting ring 6 that is connected to the supporting carriage 3, in particular coaxially to the moving ring 4. In an operating configuration A, the brush means 11 slidably abut the conductive bar means 12 for supplying electric current and/or for exchanging electric signals with the unwinding unit 5.

The supporting ring 6 is for example made of metal sheet and comprises an outer side wall 16, cylindrical shaped and parallel to the wrapping axis X. The outer side wall 16 faces in particular outwards and the supporting columns 13.

The supporting ring 6 is removably connected to the supporting carriage 3, in particular it is interchangeable with another identical supporting ring 6 provided with conductive bar means 12, for example new.

The conductive bar means 12 comprise a plurality of annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33, in particular made of copper, fixed, parallel and adjacent to each other, to the outer side wall 16 of the supporting ring 6, and the brush means 11 comprise a plurality of contacting brushes 20, each of which is configured to abut slidably a respective annular conductive bar 31, 32, 33 in the operating configuration A.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN Each annular conductive bar 31, 32, 33 has a circular shape.

The supporting ring 6 comprises hooking means 7 arranged to removably and reversibly engage connecting means 8 of the supporting carriage 3 in an assembly configuration M in which the supporting ring 6 is coupled to and supported by the supporting carriage 3, as better explained in the following disclosure.

In particular, the hooking means comprise a plurality of hooking elements 7 configured to removably engage respective connecting elements 8 of the connecting means of the supporting carriage 3 in the assembly configuration M.

The hooking elements 7, for example in number of three, are fixed to an inner side wall 17 of the supporting ring 6, regularly spaced apart.

With particular reference to Figures 9, 11, 13, 15, each hooking element 7 comprises an abutment portion 7a adapted to abut a support portion 8a, for example substantially horizontal, of a respective connecting element 8 and provided with a shaped end 7b adapted to engage a through slot 8b made in the support portion 8a, at least in the assembly configuration M.

More specifically, each hooking element 7 has a rectangular flat shape and comprises a lower part 7c fixed, for example welded, to the inner side wall 17 of the supporting ring 6, and a hook-shaped upper part comprising the abutment portion 7a with the shaped end 7b.

The supporting carriage 3 comprises a plurality of connecting elements 8, for example in a number equal to that of the hooking elements 7, each of which is provided with a pair of angular brackets having respective support portions 8a with slots 8b.

Fixing means 15, 19 are provided for reversibly fixing the supporting ring 6 to the plurality of connecting elements 8 in the assembly configuration M.

The fixing means 15, 19 comprise, for example, screws 15 adapted to connect the connecting elements 8 to the supporting ring 6. More precisely, each connecting element 8 is fixed to the supporting ring 6 by means of a pair of screws 15 that are inserted in respective holes made on the support portions 8a of the connecting element 8 and engage nuts 19 fixed, in particular welded, to an upper edge of the supporting ring 6.

In the embodiment of the wrapping machine 1 of the invention illustrated in the figures, the unwinding unit 5 comprises a pair of electric motors 38, 39 adapted to move the two prestretching rollers 52, 53 separately. The sensor means 39 include, for example, a sensor adapted to detect a wrapping force of the film, encoder sensors for measuring the rotational speeds of the electric motors 38, 39, a sensor for detecting the end of the film on the reel, etc.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN The electric motors 37, 38 and/or the sensor means 39 are electrically connected to the brush means 11. The conductive bar means 12 are electrically connected to power supply means, configured to supply electric current, and/or to a central control unit 60 of the wrapping machine 1.

In the illustrated and described embodiment of the wrapping machine 1, the brush means 11 are arranged to receive from the conductive bar means 12 only electric current for the unwinding unit 5.

For this purpose, the conductive bar means 12 comprise two first annular conductive bars 31 for transferring a first electric current, in particular direct current at low voltage, for example at 24V, three second annular conductive bars 32 for transferring a second electric current, in particular alternate three-phase, and a third annular conductive bar 33 for the protective grounding connection.

It is however provided, in an embodiment of the wrapping machine not illustrated, that the brush means 11 and the conductive bar means 12 are adapted to transmit also control and command signals between the unwinding unit 5 and a central control unit 60 of the wrapping machine 1, in particular by means of specific contacting brushes and annular conductive bars.

The wrapping machine 1 of the invention also comprises drive and control means 40 configured to drive and control the electric motors 37, 38 and fixed to the supporting ring 6. A containment casing 41 is provided for containing the drive and control means 40, fixed to the moving ring 4, for example opposite and facing the unwinding unit 5 to act as a counterweight.

The drive and control means 40 comprise, for example, one or more inverters 42 and a local control unit 43, for example a PLC, to drive and control the operation of the electric motors 38, 39. In particular, the drive and control means 40 comprise two inverters 42 connected to the respective two electric motors 37, 38 powered by three-phase alternate electric current through the respective brushes 20 connected to the first annular conductive bars 31 and controlled by the local control unit 43.

The two inverters 52 controlled by the local control unit 43 power the electric motors in a controlled way so as to precisely adjust their rotation speed and/or the power supplied.

The local control unit 43 is powered by the first electric current i.e. by direct electric current at low voltage, for example at 24V through respective brushes 20 connected to the second annular conductive bars 32. Similarly, the sensor means 39 mounted on the unwinding unit 5 are powered by the first electric current through the same brushes 20 and are connected to

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN the local control unit 43 to transmit thereto signals relating to measurements and/or detections made.

In the illustrated embodiment of the wrapping machine 1, the drive and control means 40 also comprise a radio or wireless transceiver device 44 which connects the local control unit 43 to a further radio or wireless retransmission device 61 of the central control unit 60 of the wrapping machine 1.

The radio or wireless transceiver device 44, for example positioned within the containment casing 41, is also powered by the first direct electric current.

At least one electric backup battery 45 or buffer battery connected to brush means 11 is provided, to receive from the conductive bar means 12 the first electric current, in particular direct current at low voltage, and connected to the drive and control means 40 to continuously supply the drive and control means by the first electric current even in case of interruptions in the transmission of the first electric current due to malfunctions of the sliding electric contact means 10.

In particular, the electric backup battery 45 is interposed between the contacting brushes 20 that abut the first annular conductive bars 31 and the local control unit 43, the sensor means 39, the wireless transceiver device 44. The electric backup battery 45 ensures a continuity of power supply of the direct first electric current in case of interruptions of the latter, even of short duration, due to malfunctions of the sliding electric contact means 10, caused by wear and/or dirt of contacting brushes 20 and/or annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33.

The drive and control means 40 also comprise a detector device 46 connected to the brush means 11 so as to receive an electric current from the brush means and configured to detect and record any interruptions in the supply of the said electric current during the operation of the wrapping machine 1.

The central control unit 60 is configured to receive from the detector device 46 data relating to the interruptions in the supply of the electric current, and to determine based on said data maintenance works on the brush means 11 and/or on the conductive bar means 12.

More precisely, the detector device 46 is able to detect and record the frequency and duration of interruptions to the electric current and send related information to the central control unit 60 through the local control unit 43 in order to verify the operation of the wrapping machine 1. In fact, the detector device 46 is connected to the local control unit 43 for transmitting thereto data relating to interruptions in the supply of the electric current. By analysing frequency and duration of interruptions, it is possible to schedule maintenance works for cleaning and/or replacing the contacting brushes 20 and/or the annular conductive bars 31,

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN 32, 33.

In the illustrated embodiment the detector device 46 receives from the brush means I l a first electric current, direct current at low voltage, and is therefore connected to the contacting brushes 20 that abut the first annular conductive bars 31, i.e. it is connected in parallel to the electric backup battery 45.

The brush means 11 further comprise a contacting brush 20 which slidably abuts the third annular conductive bar 33 for the protective grounding connection of the means and devices mounted on the unwinding unit 5 and the moving ring 4.

With particular reference to Figures 5 to 7, each contacting brush 20 is removably fixed to the moving ring 6, in particular it is interchangeable with another identical contacting brush 20, for example in case of excessive wear or malfunction.

Each contacting brush 20 includes at least one conductive sliding block 23 arranged to slidably abut an annular conductive bar and a fixing element 24 reversibly couplable, in particular by an interlocking system with a flexible clip, to bracket means 25 fixed to the moving ring 6. The conductive sliding block 23 is preferably made of graphite or graphite and copper alloy and is provided with a seat 23a for coupling to an end connector of an electrical cable.

The contacting brush 20 further comprises supporting means 26 arranged to connect the conductive sliding block 23 to the fixing element 24 and which allow the conductive sliding block 23 adjustment movements, in particular on an adjustment plane orthogonal to the wrapping axis X and to the external side wall 16 of the supporting ring 6.

Each contacting brush 20 comprises elastic means 27 acting on the conductive sliding block 23 to keep it abutting the respective annular conductive bar in the operating configuration A with a defined contacting force.

In the illustrated embodiment, each contacting brush 20 comprises a pair of conductive sliding blocks 23 adjacent and aligned so as to abut the same annular conductive bar, and the supporting means 26 comprise, for example, a supporting element 28 to which the two conductive sliding blocks 23 are fixed and a supporting arm 29 rotatably connected to the fixing element 24 and rotatably supporting the supporting element 28. The elastic means 27, comprising for example one traction helicoidal spring, joint the end of the supporting arm 29 connected to the fixing element 24 to the supporting element 28.

The bracket means 25, 35 are adjustably fixed to the moving ring 6 to allow a distance of the brush means 11 from the conductive bar means 12 to be varied along an adjustment direction that is orthogonal to the wrapping axis X.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN The bracket means 25, 35 comprise a first bracket 25, angular shaped, to which the fixing elements 24 of the contacting brushes 20 are removably fixable, and a second bracket 35, angular shaped, which supports the first bracket 25 and is adjustably and reversibly fixed to the moving ring 4. The second bracket 35 has a plurality of first through slots 35 a, for example two, for connection to the first bracket 25 by means of screws. The first slots 35a allow adjustment of the position of the first bracket 25 along a direction parallel to the wrapping axis X. The second bracket 35 also has a plurality of second through slots 35b, for example four, for connection to the moving ring 4 by means of screws. The second slots 35b allow adjusting the position of the second bracket 35 along the adjustment direction, in particular orthogonal and radial to the wrapping axis X. In this way, in case of wear of the conductive sliding blocks 23 of the contacting brushes 20 it is possible to quickly and easily modify the position of such conductive sliding blocks with respect to the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33, more precisely to bring the brushes 20 closer to the annular conductive bars

31, 32, 33, so as to keep them properly in abutment with the predetermined contacting force exerted by the elastic means 27.

During the operation of the wrapping machine 1 of the invention in the operating configuration A the contacting brushes 20 of the brush means 11 abut the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 of the conductive bar means 12 and ensure the electrical supply of motor means 37, 38, sensor means 39 and drive and control means 40, in particular with a three- phase alternate electric current and a direct electric current at low voltage.

Thanks to the elastic means 27 the conductive sliding blocks 23 of the brushes 20 abut the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 with a predefined contacting or preloading force so as to guarantee a correct contact and avoid any detachments caused for example by vibrations or shape errors of the annular conductive bars that could cause malfunction of the unwinding unit 5 and therefore of the wrapping machine.

Since the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 are fixed to the outer side wall 16 of the supporting ring 6 the centrifugal force acting on the contacting brushes 20 is not added to the preloading force of the elastic means 27, but is subtracted from the preloading force. In this way, by increasing the rotation speed of the moving ring 4 the resulting force acting on the contacting brushes 20 decrease and therefore the frictional force and the wear to which the contacting brushes are subjected decrease. However, the preloading force exerted by the elastic means 27 is calculated to ensure that even at the highest rotation speeds of the moving ring 4 the conductive sliding blocks 23 do not detach from the annular conductive bars 31,

32, 33.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN This particular configuration of the sliding electric contact means 10 of the wrapping machine 1 of the invention therefore provides longer maintenance intervals than those necessary for the wrapping machines in which the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 are mounted on an inner side wall of the supporting ring.

The position outside the supporting ring 6 of the contacting brushes 20 also provides their easy and convenient inspection by an operator and in particular allows adjusting their position with respect to the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33, along the adjustment direction, for example as a result of wear.

Each contacting brush 20 can also be easily and quickly replaced, even without disassembling the first or second bracket 25, 35 from the moving ring 4, thanks to the fixing element 24 that is reversibly coupled by an interlocking system with flexible clip to the first bracket 25, and thanks to the electric cable that is reversibly coupled by connector to the seat 23b of the conductive sliding block 23.

It is also possible to quickly and easily replace the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 in case of excessive wear by completely removing the supporting ring 6, to which annular conductive bars are fixed, from the supporting carriage 3 and replacing it with an identical supporting ring 6 having annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33.

The replacement procedure is illustrated in Figures 8 to 15 which show the various steps of the assembly procedure of a supporting ring 6 with annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 to the supporting carriage 3.

In a first step (Figures 8 and 9) in which the moving carriage 3 of the wrapping machine 1 is lowered to a suitable height, the supporting ring 6 to be assembled is supported below the moving carriage 3 on the conveyor means 9 substantially coaxial to the wrapping axis X and the moving ring 4. The supporting ring 6 is then lifted, in a second step (Figures 10 and 11), for example by two operators, in such a way as to bring the abutment portions 7a of the hooking elements 7 adjacent to support portions 8a of respective connecting elements 8. In particular, the abutment portions 7a are slightly higher than the support portions 8a such that in a third step (Figures 12 and 13), by slightly rotating the supporting ring 6 about the wrapping axis X, the shaped ends 7b of the abutment portions 7a are overlapped and aligned with the through slots 8b made in the support portions 8a. In a fourth step (Figures 14 and 15), the supporting ring 6 is lowered in such a way that the abutment portions 7a rest on the support portions 8a and the shaped ends 7b are inserted into the through slots 8b by stably coupling the supporting ring 6 to the supporting carriage 3 in the assembly configuration M. In this assembly configuration M, it is therefore not necessary to keep the supporting ring 6

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN lifted, which is already supported and connected to the supporting carriage 3, but it is only necessary to restrain it by means of fixing means 15, 19 to the plurality of connecting elements 8. In particular, only one operator is needed to screw the screws 15 inserted in the holes of the support portions 8a of the connecting element 8 to the nuts 19 fixed to the upper rim of the supporting ring 6.

Therefore the wrapping machine 1 of the invention allows not only considerable reducing wear and tear to which the contacting brushes 20 and the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33 are subj ected (so as to increase the length of the maintenance intervals for their replacement), thanks to the assembly of the annular conductive bars on the external side wall 16 of the supporting ring 6, but also allows an easily and quickly replacing both the contacting brushes 20 and the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33, thus providing a considerable reduction in the shutdown times of the wrapping machine 1.

Moreover, thanks to the detector device 46 that is included in the drive and control means 40 it is possible during the operation of the wrapping machine 1 to detect and record possible interruptions of the supply of the electric current, in particular of a first direct electric current, due to malfunctions of the sliding electric contact means 10, caused by wear and/or dirt of the contacting brushes 20 and/or of the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33.

Based on data relating to frequency and duration of such interruption of the supply of electric current it is possible to schedule maintenance works on brush means 11 and/or conductive bar means 12 for cleaning and/or replacing the contacting brushes 20 and the annular conductive bars 31, 32, 33.

The invention further relates to a method for wrapping a load 100 with a film 50 or a band of plastic and/or paper material by means of a wrapping machine 1 comprising a moving ring 4 rotatably supported by a supporting carriage 3, in particular movable along a working direction W on a main frame 2, and rotatable about a wrapping axis X, an unwinding unit 5 fixed to the moving ring 4 and provided with a reel 51 of film 50, sliding electric contact means 10 for supplying electric current to, and/or exchanging electrical signals with, the unwinding unit 5. The method further comprises: detecting and recording by means of a detector device 46 connected to the brush means 11 of the sliding electric contact means 10 possible interruptions in the supply of the electric current during the operation of the wrapping machine 1; transmitting data relating to interruptions of the supply of electric current to a central control unit 60 of the wrapping machine based on said data, maintenance works for the sliding electric contact means 10.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN The method further comprises detecting and recording, by the detector device 46 frequency and duration of interruptions to electric current. The electric current is in particular a first electric current, in particular a direct current at low voltage, by which drive and control means 40 are powered that are configured to drive and control at least one electric motor 37, 38 for driving pre-stretching rollers 62, 53 of the unwinding unit 5, and sensor means 39 of the unwinding unit 5 adapted to detect operating parameters thereof.

A012.PAT.1846.WO EN