Systems and methods for longitudinal scoring of roll-formed containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12172791-B2
Application number	US-202217932541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2022
Priority date	Sep 15, 2022
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for longitudinal scoring of roll-formed containers. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first scoring device having a first rolling die, a first arm coupled to the first rolling die, a second rolling die, a second arm coupled to the second rolling die, and a first support member configured to support the first arm and the second arm. The first arm and the second arm may be configured to: (i) slide along the first support member, such that a distance between the first rolling die and the second rolling die is adjusted, and (ii) rotate about the first support member from a first position to a second position, such that the first rolling die and the second rolling die move from the first position to the second position. The first scoring device may score ends of the packaging material.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An item packing station comprising:
a first conveyor configured to transport an item for packing;
a second conveyor configured to transport packaging material, wherein the second conveyor is disposed adjacent to the first conveyor and both the first conveyor and the second conveyor move at substantially the same speed;
an end scoring device comprising:
a first rolling die comprising a crease pattern;
a first arm coupled to the first rolling die;
a second rolling die comprising the crease pattern;
a second arm coupled to the second rolling die; and
a first support member configured to support the first arm and the second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to: (i) slide along the first support member, such that a distance between the first rolling die and the second rolling die is adjusted, and (ii) rotate about the first support member from a first position to a second position, such that the first rolling die and the second rolling die move from the first position to the second position;
wherein the end scoring device is configured to score a first end and a second end of the packaging material with the crease pattern; and

a longitudinal scoring device configured to score longitudinal lines on the packaging material, the second scoring device comprising:
a second support member; and
a first scoring assembly comprising:
a first base configured to slide along the second support member, such that the first scoring assembly moves from a third position to a fourth position;
a first creasing wheel;
a third arm coupled to the first creasing wheel and the first base;
a second creasing wheel; and
a fourth arm coupled to the second creasing wheel and the first base;
wherein the third arm is configured to slide along the first base, such that a distance between the first creasing wheel and the second creasing wheel is adjusted, and wherein the third arm and the fourth arm are configured to rotate about the second support member;
wherein the first scoring assembly is configured to score a first pair of linear lines along the packaging material.

2. The item packing station of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal scoring device further comprises:
a second scoring assembly coupled to the second support member, the second scoring assembly comprising:
a second base configured to slide along the second support member;
a third creasing wheel;
a fifth arm coupled to the third creasing wheel and the second base;
a fourth creasing wheel; and
a sixth arm coupled to the fourth creasing wheel and the second base;
wherein the fifth arm is configured to slide along the second base, such that a distance between the third creasing wheel and the fourth creasing wheel is adjusted, and wherein the fifth arm and the sixth arm are configured to rotate about the second support member;
wherein the second scoring assembly is configured to score a second pair of linear lines along the packaging material.

3. The item packing station of claim 1 , wherein the crease pattern forms a Y-shaped pattern that is formed between the first pair of crease lines, and at least a portion of the Y-shaped pattern extends over each line of first pair of crease lines.

4. The item packing station of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the first rolling die and the second rolling die is paused for at least a portion of time when the first creasing wheel, the second creasing wheel, the third creasing wheel, and the fourth creasing wheel are simultaneously scoring the packaging material.

5. A system to produce a roll-formed container, the system comprising:
a first scoring device configured to score a packaging material, the first scoring device comprising:
a first rolling die comprising a crease pattern;
a first arm coupled to the first rolling die;
a second rolling die comprising the crease pattern;
a second arm coupled to the second rolling die; and
a first support member configured to support the first arm and the second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to: (i) slide along the first support member, such that a distance between the first rolling die and the second rolling die is adjusted, and (ii) rotate about the first support member from a first position to a second position, such that the first rolling die and the second rolling die move from the first position to the second position;
wherein the first scoring device is configured to score a first end and a second end of the packaging material with the crease pattern.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second scoring device configured to score the packaging material, the second scoring device comprising:
a second support member; and
a first scoring assembly comprising:
a first base configured to slide along the second support member, such that the first scoring assembly moves from a third position to a fourth position;
a first creasing wheel;
a third arm coupled to the first creasing wheel and the first base;
a second creasing wheel; and

a fourth arm coupled to the second creasing wheel and the first base;
wherein the third arm is configured to slide along the first base, such that a distance between the first creasing wheel and the second creasing wheel is adjusted, and wherein the third arm and the fourth arm are configured to rotate about the second support member;

wherein the first scoring assembly is configured to score a first pair of linear lines along the packaging material.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second scoring device further comprises:
a second scoring assembly coupled to the second support member, the second scoring assembly comprising:
a second base configured to slide along the second support member;
a third creasing wheel;
a fifth arm coupled to the third creasing wheel and the second base;
a fourth creasing wheel; and
a sixth arm coupled to the fourth creasing wheel and the second base;
wherein the fifth arm is configured to slide along the second base, such that a distance between the third creasing wheel and the fourth creasing wheel is adjusted, and wherein the fifth arm and the sixth arm are configured to rotate about the second support member;

wherein the second scoring assembly is configured to score a second pair of linear lines along the packaging material.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein rotation of the first rolling die and the second rolling die is paused for at least a portion of time when the first creasing wheel, the second creasing wheel, the third creasing wheel, and the fourth creasing wheel are simultaneously scoring the packaging material.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the crease pattern is formed between the first pair of crease lines.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the crease pattern comprises a Y-shaped pattern, and at least a portion of the Y-shaped pattern extends over each line of first pair of crease lines.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the crease pattern is formed on the packaging material at least two times by the first rolling die, and at least two times by the second rolling die.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first scoring device further comprises:
a first actuator configured to cause both the first rolling die and the second rolling die to rotate with respect to the first support member.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first scoring device further comprises:
a second actuator configured to cause the first arm and the second arm to rotate from the first position to the second position; and
a third actuator configured to cause the first arm and the second arm to slide along the first suppo

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Ochs Garett
• Thomas Terin

Classifications

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B65B41/16

  by rollers · CPC title

• B65D5/06

  with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body · CPC title

• B65B5/024

  for making containers from preformed blanks · CPC title

• B65B43/10

  by folding the material · CPC title