# US 11,999,515 B2 · Automated furniture bagger and material therefor

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- Number: US 11,999,515 B2
- Document ID: US11999515B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/688,737
- Filed: 2022-03-07
- Published: 2022-06-16
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-01
- Assignees: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC
- Applicants: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC
- Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999515B2

## CPC

- B65B 11/50: Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins (apparatus or devices for forming pockets in or from sheets, blanks or webs B65B47/00)
- B32B 3/02: characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions {(non-uniform thickness B32B3/263)}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 27/065: {of foam}
- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- B65B 9/026: {the webs forming a curtain}
- B65B 25/00: Packaging other articles presenting special problems (bundling B65B27/00)
- B65B 35/24: by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/205 takes precedence)}
- B65B 35/243: {using cooperating conveyors engaging the articles simultaneously}
- B65B 41/12: Feeding webs from rolls
- B65B 51/16: by rotary members
- B65B 51/26: Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
- B32B 2266/025: Polyolefin
- B32B 2439/00: Containers; Receptacles
- B65B 41/16: by rollers
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

Provided herein is a furniture wrapping system. The furniture wrapping system includes a film roll support configured to unroll a first film across a path of the furniture article in a first direction, such that the film roll support positions a film barrier across the path. The furniture wrapping system includes a conveyor mechanism configured to carry the furniture article along the path and into the barrier. The furniture wrapping system includes a sealer configured to extend across the path to form a seal such that the furniture article is partially enclosed in the first film.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A supply web of material, comprising:
a film layer; and
a foam layer overlaying the film layer;
wherein the material includes a first gusset comprising:
a first longitudinal fold, and
a second longitudinal fold parallel to, and folded in an opposite direction from, the first longitudinal fold, wherein opposing ends of the material face outwardly relative to the supply web.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of the material are spaced apart from each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of the material face away from each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein:
the supply web of material is rolled to form a roll of web material; and
the first and second longitudinal folds wrap circumferentially around the roll.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The supply web of material of claim 4, wherein the first gusset is disposed radially outwardly from the roll as the material is rolled.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein the film layer and the foam layer are attached to one another at laterally opposing ends of the material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein the film layer and the foam layer are attached to one another with a pattern of seals disposed near one or more longitudinal edges of the foam layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein the foam layer and the film layer are detached from each other in an unsealed area disposed between the longitudinal edges such that the film layer is able to slide with respect to the foam layer in the unsealed area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein the film layer is laterally wider than the foam layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, wherein the film layer and the foam layer each comprise a polymer material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The supply web of material of claim 10, wherein the film layer comprises a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and the foam layer comprises a low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The supply web of material of claim 1, further comprising a second gusset, the second gusset comprising:
a third longitudinal fold; and
a fourth longitudinal fold parallel to, and folded in an opposite direction from, the third longitudinal fold.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The supply web of material of claim 12, wherein the first gusset and the second gusset have a similar width.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The supply web of material of claim 12, further comprising:
a first transverse distance between the first longitudinal fold and the third longitudinal fold; and
a second transverse distance between the second longitudinal fold and the fourth longitudinal fold, wherein the first transverse distance is less than the second transverse distance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A furniture wrapping system, comprising:
a conveyor mechanism configured to move a furniture article along a path;
the supply web of material as defined in claim 1, wherein the supply web of material crosses the path of the furniture article to provide a film barrier across the path; and
wherein the conveyor mechanism is further configured to move the furniture article into the film barrier, causing the first gusset of the supply web of material to unfold as the furniture article intersects the film barrier and causing the unfolded web material to at least partially enclose the furniture article.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 15, further comprising a first longitudinal sealer configured to form a first longitudinal seal to further enclose the furniture article.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 16, wherein:
a portion of the conveyor mechanism comprises a first conveyor portion and a second conveyor portion;
the first conveyor portion and the second conveyor portion are separated by a gap; and
the first longitudinal sealer is disposed within or below the gap.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 16, further comprising a second longitudinal sealer configured to form a second longitudinal seal to further enclose the furniture article, wherein the first and second longitudinal sealers are configured to form longitudinal seals above and below the furniture article.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 15, wherein the supply web of material is fanfolded into a fanfold configuration.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 15, wherein the supply web of material is rolled into a rolled configuration.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 15, wherein:
the supply web of material comprises a first supply of first web material and a second supply of second web material; and
the furniture wrapping system further comprises a transverse sealing mechanism configured to seal the first web material to the second web material to form the film barrier across the path.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 21, wherein:
the first supply and the second supply comprise a fanfold supply or a roll supply.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The furniture wrapping system of claim 21, wherein the transverse sealing mechanism is movable to extend at least partially across the path to seal the first web material to the second web material.