Adhering modular elements for packaging structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840347-B1
Application number	US-201414574201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

In response to a request to package item(s), embodiments determine characteristic data for the item(s), which include an indication of a volume of each item. Container(s) for packaging the item(s) is determined based at least on the volume of each item. An arrangement of the item(s) in the container(s) is determined. One or more protective structures including one or more features are configured to position the item(s) in the container(s) according to the arrangement. Relative positions are determined for a plurality of modular elements to form the one or more protective structures. Subsets of the plurality of modular elements are deposited to corresponding relative positions to form at least one of the protective structures. The item(s) are packaged in the container(s) with the one or more protective structures to position the item(s) in the container(s) in the arrangement.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for on-demand packaging of one or more items, comprising:
receiving a request to package one or more items;
in response to receiving the request, determining characteristic data for the one or more items, the characteristic data including an indication of a volume of each item;
determining one or more containers for packaging the one or more items based at least on the volume of each item;
determining an arrangement of the one or more items in the one or more containers;
determining one or more protective structures including one or more features configured to position the one or more items in the one or more containers according to the arrangement;
determining relative positions for a plurality of self-adhering modular elements to form the one or more protective structures with the one or more features;
receiving subsets of the plurality of self-adhering modular elements;
depositing the subsets of the plurality of self-adhering modular elements to corresponding relative positions to form at least one of the protective structures, the self-adhering modular elements adhering to each other as the subsets of self-adhering modular elements are deposited and the self-adhering modular elements come into contact with each other; and
packaging the one or more items in the one or more containers with the one or more protective structures to position the one or more items in the one or more containers according to the arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an adhesive material to the self-adhering modular elements.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of cooling, drying, or curing the plurality of self-adhering modular elements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the protective structures includes one or more outwardly extending structures, each outwardly extending structure being configured to extend from a side of the at least one of the protective structures to a facing interior surface of a respective container and to space a part of the side of the at least one of the protective structures from the facing interior surface of the respective container.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of self-adhering modular elements includes more than one shape.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of self-adhering modular elements includes more than one size.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of self-adhering modular elements are formed from a material that has inherent adhesive properties to allow the self-adhering modular elements to adhere to each other.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subsets of the plurality of self-adhering modular elements are deposited with a feeder including an array of one or more chambers that receives each subset of self-adhering modular elements.

9. A method for on-demand packaging of at least one item, comprising:
receiving a request to package one or more items;
in response to receiving the request, determining characteristic data for the one or more items, the characteristic data including an indication of a volume of each item;
determining one or more containers for packaging the one or more items based at least on the volume of each item;
determining an arrangement of the one or more items in the one or more containers;
determining one or more protective structures including one or more features configured to position the one or more items in the one or more containers according to the arrangement;
determining relative positions for a plurality of modular elements to form the one or more protective structures with the one or more features;
receiving subsets of the plurality of modular elements including an unactivated adhesive material applied thereto;
depositing the subsets of the plurality of modular elements to corresponding relative positions to form at least one of the protective structures;
activating the unactivated adhesive material on the subsets of modular elements to cause the plurality of modular elements to adhere to each other while disposed in the relative positions; and
packaging the one or more items in the one or more containers with the one or more protective structures to position the one or more items in the one or more containers according to the arrangement.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the unactivated adhesive material includes treating the plurality of modular elements with water.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the unactivated adhesive material includes treating the plurality of modular elements with heat.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the unactivated adhesive material includes treating the plurality of modular elements with a solvent.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising at least one of cooling, drying, or curing the plurality of modular elements.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the protective structures includes one or more outwardly extending structures, each outwardly extending structure being configured to extend from a side of the at least one of the protective structures to a facing interior surface of a respective container and to space a part of the side of the at least one of the protective structures from the facing interior surface of the respective container.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of modular elements includes more than one shape.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of modular elements includes more than one size.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subsets of the plurality of modular elements are deposited with a feeder including an array of one or more chambers that receives each subset of modular elements.

18. A system for manufacturing packaging, comprising:
a computing system configured to execute instructions stored on computer-readable media, the instructions causing the computing system to:
receive a request to package one or more items;
in response to receiving the request, determine characteristic data for the one or more items, the characteristic data including an indication of a volume of each item;
determine one or more containers for packaging the one or more items based at least on the volume of each item;
determine an arrangement of the one or more items in the one or more containers;
determine one or more protective structures including one or more features configured to position the one or more items in the one or more containers according to the arrangement; and
determine relative positions for a plurality of modular elements to form the one or more protective structures with the one or more features;

a source for the plurality of modular elements; and
a feeder coupled to the computing system and the source, the feeder including an array of one or more chambers, the one or more chambers receiving a subset of the plurality of modular elements, the feeder being configured to position the array to deposit the subset of modular elements into the respective relative positions to form at least one of the protective structures.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising at least one applicator for applying an adhesive material to the plurality of modular elements.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the modular elements are self-adhering, and the self-adhering modular elements adhere to each other as the subset of self-adhering modular elements are deposited and the self-adhering modular elements come into contact with each other.

21. The

Assignees

• X Dev Llc
• X Dev Llx

Inventors

• Linnell Jeff
• Bitterman Matthew

Classifications

• B65D81/051

  using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric · 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

• B65B57/10

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged · CPC title

• B65B23/00

  Packaging fragile or shock-sensitive articles other than bottles; Unpacking eggs (embedding articles in shock-absorbing media B65B55/20) · CPC title

• B65D81/113

  of a shape specially adapted to accommodate contents {(B65D81/053 takes precedence)} · CPC title