Packaging machine and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11634244-B2
Application number	US-201917252722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 21, 2018
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A system for packaging one or more items includes an order arrangement station where the one or more items can be arranged into a stack with a desired configuration. A dimensioning mechanism determines the outer dimensions of the stack and a converting assembly creates a box template that when erected forms a box that is custom sized to the dimensions of the stack. A crowder assembly holds and maintains the stack in the desired configuration while the box template is at least partially folded around the stack. The box template is secured around the stack in the form of a box.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine comprising:
a frame structure;
a crowder assembly movably mounted on the frame structure and configured to receive and maintain an arrangement of a stack of one or more items during a packaging process, the crowder assembly comprising:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall, the second sidewall being positioned opposite the first sidewall, the second sidewall being selectively movable towards and away from the first sidewall;
a back wall or back wall assembly positioned or positionable adjacent to the first and second sidewalls;
a floor associated with the first and second sidewalls; and
a front wall assembly, the front wall assembly comprising a variable width front wall to enable the front wall to be positioned between the first and second sidewalls, the front wall being selectively movable between the first and second sidewalls and towards the back wall or back wall assembly.

2. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the front wall assembly is movable along the frame structure independent of the first and second sidewalls.

3. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall is selectively movable towards and away from the second sidewall.

4. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the crowder assembly is configured to have a stack of one or more items disposed on the floor and between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein at least one or more of the following:
the second sidewall is configured to move towards the first sidewall with the stack of one or more items therebetween until the distance between the first and second sidewalls is generally equal to a dimension of the stack of one or more items; or
the front wall is configured to move towards the back wall or back wall assembly with the stack of one or more items therebetween until the distance between the front wall and the back wall or back wall assembly is generally equal to a dimension of the stack of one or more items.

5. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the front wall assembly comprises a plurality of front wall sections.

6. The packaging machine of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of front wall sections can be selectively positioned into a space between the first and second sidewalls.

7. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the crowder assembly is configured to move along the frame structure to position the stack of one or more items over a panel of a box template.

8. The packaging machine of claim 7 , further comprising one or more folding mechanisms configured to fold the box template around the stack of one or more items, wherein components of the crowder assembly are configured to be sequentially withdrawn or retracted away from the stack of one or more items as the one or more folding mechanisms fold the box template around the stack of one or more items.

9. The packaging machine of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more folding mechanisms are configured to fold a portion of the box template against the back wall on a side of the back wall opposite to the stack of one or more items;
the floor and back wall or back wall assembly are configured to be withdrawn or retracted away from the stack of one or more items, thereby depositing the stack of one or more items on the panel of the box template;
the first and second sidewalls are configured to be withdrawn or retracted away from the stack of one or more items after the floor and back wall or back wall assembly are withdrawn or retracted;
the front wall is configured to be withdrawn or retracted away from the stack of one or more items after the first and second sidewalls;
the first and second sidewalls are configured to move along the frame structure away from the stack of one or more items before the front wall is withdrawn or retracted; and
the front wall assembly is configured to move along the frame structure away from the stack of one or more items after the first and second sidewalls move along the frame structure away from the stack of one or more items.

10. The packaging machine of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more fastening apparatuses that are configured to apply one or more fasteners to the box template to secure various flaps of the box template together around the stack of one or more items; and
a converting assembly that is configured to form box templates.

11. A system for packaging one or more items, the system comprising:
an order arrangement station where the one or more items can be arranged into a stack;
one or more dimensioning mechanisms configured to determine outer dimensions of the stack;
a converting assembly configured to create a box template that when erected forms a box that is custom sized to the dimensions of the stack;
a crowder assembly that is configured to hold and maintain the stack in a desired configuration while the box template is at least partially folded around the stack;
one or more folding mechanisms configured to fold the box template around the stack; and
one or more fastening apparatuses that are configured to apply one or more fasteners to the box template to secure the box template around the stack in the form of a box.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the crowder assembly comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor, a back wall, and a front wall assembly, wherein the one of the first or second sidewalls is configured to move relative to the back wall and floor and towards and away from the other of the first and second sidewalls.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the front wall assembly comprises a plurality of front wall sections that are configured to be selectively positioned between the first and second sidewalls and movable towards the back wall.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the crowder assembly comprises a pre-crowder, a crowder, a front wall assembly, and a back wall assembly, wherein:
the pre-crowder comprises opposing sidewalls and a floor, the opposing sidewalls being moveable relative to one another and the floor; and
the front wall assembly comprises a plurality of front wall sections configured to move into position between the opposing sidewalls and adjacent to the one or more items to form a front wall, the plurality of front wall sections comprising a first front wall section and a second front wall section, the first and second front wall sections comprise at least partially overlapping plates, the first and second front wall sections are movable relative to one another to vary the amount of overlap of the plates.

15. The system of any of claim 14 , wherein the back wall assembly comprises a plurality of back wall sections configured to move into position between the opposing sidewalls and adjacent to the one or more items to form a back wall, the plurality of back wall sections comprising a first back wall section and a second back wall section, the first and second back wall sections comprise at least partially overlapping plates, the first and second back wall sections being movable relative to one another to vary the amount of overlap of the plates.

16. The system of any of claim 14 , wherein the crowder is configured to move away from and towards the pre-crowder.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the front wall assembly and the back wall assembly are configured to move with the crowder away from and towards the pre-crowder.

18. A method for packaging one or more items, the method comprising:
arranging the one or more items into a stack with a desired configuration;
determining the outer dimensions of the stack;
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Assignees

• Packsize Llc

Inventors

• Engleman Clinton
• Zarate Raul
• Wodowski Alec
• Hermansen Ryan
• Jimenez Javier

Classifications

• B65B49/08

  Reciprocating or oscillating folders · CPC title

• B65B35/50 Primary

  Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging · CPC title

• B65B11/004 Primary

  in blanks, e.g. sheets precut and creased for folding · CPC title

• B65B59/001

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

• B65B51/04

  Applying separate sealing or securing members, e.g. clips, (applying separate lids or covers B65B7/28) · CPC title