Dunnage product transfer using an alignment reference plane

A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container, the packaging system comprising:

• a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location;
• a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location;
• and
• a dunnage placement apparatus configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location, and further comprising:
• a controller configured:
• to receive a dunnage alignment signal, transmitted from the dunnage sensor, after the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location;
• to receive a package alignment signal, transmitted from the package sensor, after the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location;
• and
• to transmit, upon receipt of both the dunnage alignment signal and the package alignment signal, a dunnage placement signal to the dunnage placement apparatus;
• wherein upon receipt of the dunnage placement signal, the dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location.