Box-last packaging system, method, and computer program product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10402890-B2
Application number	US-201414502980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Jan 9, 2012
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

Implementations of the present invention relate to systems and methods for receiving an order that has been gathered and is ready for packaging. After the order is received, a tracking code can be scanned. The tracking code may be associated with packaging information relating to the order's packaging attributes. A request can then be send to a packaging system to generate a packaging template. The packaging system can then generate the requested packaging template.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for creating a packaging template after an order has been gathered, comprising:
one or more processors, and
one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors configure the computer system to perform at least the following:
receive a first order for a group of items, including at least a first item and a second item;
generate first dimensions for a first box associated with a first packaging template type, the first packaging template type sized and configured to hold the group of items, including at least the first item and the second item;
print a first tracking label to be associated with the first item within the first order, wherein the first tracking label comprises:
a serial number associated with the first packaging template type, wherein the first packaging template type comprises a pre-determined template type that is associated with variable dimensions,
the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
an indication that the first item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type;
print a second tracking label to be associated with the second item within the first order, wherein the second tracking label comprises:
the serial number associated with the first packaging template type,
the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
an indication that the second item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type;
receive, from a tracking code scanner, a first indication that the first tracking label has been scanned;
after receiving the first indication, send a request to a packaging system to construct a particular packaging template of the first packaging template type using the generated first dimensions; and
create the particular packaging template after receiving the first indication, wherein the particular packaging template is custom created by the packaging system to fit at least the first item and the second item.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to apply one or more tracking labels to a set of one or more ordered items.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to apply tracking labels to each ordered item within the set of one or more ordered items.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the tracking labels associates the order with the particular packaging template.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein requesting the particular packaging template from a packaging system comprises scanning any one of the tracking labels.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to apply a single tracking label to the entire set of the set of one or more ordered items.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein requesting the particular packaging template from a packaging system comprises scanning the single tracking label.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein first item and the second item are gathered within a tote.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the packaging template is selected from a collection of pre-generated packaging templates.

10. A method for utilizing a converting machine in a packaging system for packaging orders, the method comprising:
receiving a first order for a group of items, including at least a first item and a second item;
generating first dimensions for a first box associated with a first packaging template type, the first packaging template type sized and configured to hold the group of items, including at least the first item and the second item;
receiving, with a computer processor, the first order that has been gathered and is ready for packaging, the first order comprising the first item that is associated with a first tracking label and the second item that is associated with a second tracking label, wherein:
the first tracking label comprises:
a serial number associated with the first packaging template type, the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
an indication that the first item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type, and the second tracking label comprises:
the serial number associated with the first packaging template type,
the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
an indication that the second item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type;
after receiving the first order, scanning, with the computer processor, the first tracking label that is associated with the first item;
sending, with the computer processor, a request to a packaging system to generate a particular packaging template, wherein:
the particular packaging template is based upon the first packaging template type using the generated first dimensions, and
the particular packaging template is associated with the first order after the first order has been gathered; and
after scanning the first tracking label, generating, with the computer processor, the particular packaging template.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first packaging template is selected from a collection of pre-generated packaging templates.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pre-generated packaging templates comprise adjustable dimensions that are custom sized to package the first order.

13. A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause a computer system to perform a method for creating a packaging template after an order has been gathered, the method comprising:
receiving a first order for a group of items, including at least a first item and a second item;
generating first dimensions for a first box associated with a first packaging template type, the first packaging template type sized and configured to hold the group of items, including at least the first item and the second item;
printing a first tracking label to be associated with the first item within the first order, wherein the first tracking label comprises:
a serial number associated with the first packaging template type,
the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
an indication that the first item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type;
printing a second tracking label to be associated with the second item within the first order, wherein the second tracking label comprises:
the serial number associated with the first packaging template type,
the generated first dimensions for the first packaging template type, wherein the generated first dimensions were generated after receipt of the first order, and
indication that the second item is to be packaged within the first box created from the first packaging template type;
receiving, from a tracking cod

Assignees

• Packsize Llc

Inventors

• Pettersson Niklas
• Featherstone Chris R
• Smith Clinton P
• Lingstuyl Robert
• Rasmussen Jeffrey Lee

Classifications

• B65B59/003

  Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material · CPC title

• B65B59/001

  Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged · CPC title

• B65B5/024

  for making containers from preformed blanks · CPC title

• B65C1/00

  Labelling flat essentially-rigid surfaces (labelling of fabrics B65C5/00) · CPC title

• B65B2210/04

  Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material · CPC title