Automated packaging station and system for packaging objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814207-B2
Application number	US-201917414563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

An automated packaging station is capable of being used to package objects. The automated packaging station includes a supply of web material, a surface ( 202 ), an aperture ( 206 ) therein, and a closing system. The automated packaging station is configured to form the web material into a pouch. The aperture ( 206 ) is configured such that an object can be inserted therethrough. The automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch. The closing system is configured to close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture. The object is capable of being shipped to a recipient in the package.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automated packaging station comprising:
a supply of web material, wherein the automated packaging station is configured to form the web material into a pouch;
a surface;
an aperture configured such that an object can be inserted therethrough, wherein the automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch; and
a closing system configured to close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture;
wherein the object is capable of being shipped to a recipient in the package;
wherein the supply of the web material is located below the surface;
wherein the web material has a series of chambers;
wherein the automated packaging station further includes an inflation and sealing system configured to inflate the chambers and to individually seal the chambers as part of forming the web material into the pouch;
wherein the automated packaging station further comprises:
a seal and cutting system configured to form a trailing transverse seal, a leading transverse seal, and transverse line of weakness in the web material after inflation of the chambers, wherein the seal and cutting system is located below the surface;
a movable structure located under the surface; and
a housing located under the surface;
wherein the supply, the inflation and sealing system, and the seal and cutting system are positioned on the movable structure;
wherein the supply, the inflation and sealing system, and the seal and cutting system are located within the housing; and
wherein the supply, the inflation and sealing system, and the seal and cutting system are capable of being moved out of the housing by moving the movable structure.

2. The automated packaging station of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pouch biasing system configured to bias open the pouch;
wherein the pouch biasing system is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch.

3. The automated packaging station of claim 2 , wherein the pouch biasing system comprises:
biasing brackets configured to be moved from a closed position to an open position;
wherein, when the biasing brackets are in the open position, the biasing brackets bias edges of an opening of the pouch away from each other.

4. The automated packaging station of claim 3 , wherein:
the biasing brackets are biased toward the closed position; and
when the biasing brackets are in the closed position, the biasing brackets substantially cover the aperture.

5. The automated packaging station of claim 3 , further comprising:
a computing device communicatively coupled to the pouch biasing system wherein the computing device is configured to control the pouch biasing system to:
cause the biasing brackets to move to the open position in response to the automated packaging station being ready to have the object inserted through the aperture, and
cause the biasing brackets to move to the closed position in response to the object being inserted through the aperture.

6. The automated packaging station of claim 1 , the automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that an object inserted through the aperture by falling substantially vertically into the pouch.

7. The automated packaging station of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conveying mechanism configured to carry the package out from the automated packaging station in response to the closing system closing the pouch to form the package.

8. The automated packaging station of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the surface includes a view panel that is transparent or semi-transparent, and wherein the aperture is located in the view panel.

9. An automated packaging station comprising:
a supply of web material, wherein the automated packaging station is configured to form the web material into a pouch;
a surface;
an aperture configured such that an object can be inserted therethrough, wherein the automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch;
a closing system configured to close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture, wherein the object is capable of being shipped to a recipient in the package;
a labelling system configured to apply a label to the package, wherein the label includes shipping information for shipping the package;
a scanning device configured to scan or determine an identifier associated with the object before the object is inserted through the aperture; and
a computing device communicatively coupled to each of the scanning device and the labeling system, wherein the computing device is configured to:
receive the identifier from the scanning device,
determine the shipping information based on the identifier, and
provide the shipping information to the labeling system before the labeling system applied the label to the package.

10. The automated packaging station of claim 9 , wherein applying the label to the package includes at least one of:
printing the shipping information on an adhesive label and adhering the adhesive label to the package; or
printing the shipping information directly on the package.

11. A system for packaging objects, comprising:
a common conveying mechanism; and
a plurality of automated packaging stations, wherein each of the plurality of automated packaging stations includes a surface and an aperture, and wherein each of the plurality of automated packaging stations is configured to:
form a web material into a pouch,
bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that an object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch, and
close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture;

wherein packages formed by respective ones of the plurality of automated packaging stations are configured to be conveyed from the respective ones of the plurality of automated packaging stations to the common conveying mechanism;
wherein the system further comprises a computing system communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of automated packaging stations;
wherein each of the plurality of automated packaging stations includes a scanning device capable of scanning or determining an identifier associated with an object to be packaged;
wherein the computing system is configured to receive identifiers associated with objects from the plurality of automated packaging stations and to provide shipping information to the plurality of automated packaging stations based on the identifiers received from the plurality of automated packaging stations;
wherein each of the plurality of automated packaging stations is configured to apply labels to packages based on the shipping information received from the computing system.

Assignees

• Sealed Air Corp

Inventors

• Vilag Brian
• Powell Bradley
• Stewart Morgan R
• Rodgers Todd
• Woodie Joshua
• Dyer Garrett P
• Bravado James
• Gu Yunji
• Clarke Michael Andrew
• Skolrood Jonathan D
• Stephens Preston Chad

Classifications

• B65B9/08 Primary

  in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing · CPC title

• B65B5/022 Primary

  for making bags · CPC title

• B65B9/093

  the web having intermittent motion · CPC title

• B65B35/12

  by gravity · CPC title

• B65B43/267

  Opening of bags interconnected in a web · CPC title