Automated packaging assembly line for perishable items

A method for automatically configuring and producing packaging for orders of variable configurations of perishable items, the method comprising:

• providing at least one automatic case erector-sealer configured for constructing shipping cartons of a plurality of sizes;
• configuring at least one packing liner dispenser to dispense insulated packing liners of a plurality of types and sizes, each type having a different thermal R value;
• configuring a cold pack dispenser to dispense cold packs of a plurality of sizes;
• communicably coupling a control system to the case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser, the control system having a memory and a processor, wherein the memory includes a stored program executable by the processor;
• communicably coupling a specialized point of sale and/or ecommerce platform to the control system;
• communicably coupling a data processor to the control system, and to the point of sale and/or ecommerce platform;
• configuring the data processor to capture order configuration, order destination, available order points of origin;
• and
• with the stored program of the control system:
• (a) capturing from the data processor, the order configuration, order destination, and expected delivery date;
• (b) using the order destination, the expected delivery date, to generate a time in transit (TNT) for the order;
• (c) using the order configuration to generate a total volume of items in the order, a cold volume of items in the order requiring refrigeration, and an ambient volume of items in the order not requiring refrigeration;
• (d) using the total volume and cold volume to generate a product cube category (PCC);
• (e) using the TNT and the PCC to generate a packaging configuration for the order, the packaging configuration including carton size, type and size of insulated packing liner, size and amount of cold packs, and placement of a partition within the carton to create a cold portion sized and shaped to receive the cold volume;
• (f) using the packaging configuration to generate and send operational directives to at least one or more of the automatic case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser, the operational directives including instructions to at least one of erecting a shipping carton of a particular size, dispensing a particular type and size of packing liner, and dispensing a particular size and amount of cold packs;
• and
• (g) responsive to operational directives sent by the control system, the at least one automatic case erector-sealer erecting a shipping carton of particular size (shipping carton), the at least one packing liner dispenser dispensing a particular type and size of packing liner into the shipping carton, and the cold pack dispenser dispensing a particular size and amount of cold packs into the shipping carton.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for automatically configuring and producing packaging for orders of variable configurations of perishable items, the article of manufacture comprising:

• a stored program configured to:
• (a) capture from a data processor, an order configuration, order destination, and expected delivery date;
• (b) use the order destination, and the expected delivery date, to generate a time in transit (TNT) for the order;
• (c) use the order configuration to generate a total volume of items in the order, a cold volume of items in the order requiring refrigeration, and an ambient volume of items in the order not requiring refrigeration;
• (d) use the total volume and cold volume to generate a product cube category (PCC);
• (e) use the TNT and the PCC to generate a packaging configuration for the order, the packaging configuration including carton size, type and size of insulated packing liner, size and amount of cold packs, and placement of a partition within the carton to create a cold portion sized and shaped to receive the cold volume;
• and
• (f) use the packaging configuration to generate and send operational directives to at least one or more of the automatic case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser, the operational directives including instructions to at least one of erecting a shipping carton of a particular size, dispensing a particular type and size of packing liner, and dispensing a particular size and amount of cold packs;
• wherein in response to the operational directives, the at one automatic case erector-sealer erects a shipping carton of a particular size (shipping carton), the at least one packing liner dispenser dispenses a particular type and size of packing liner into the shipping carton, and the cold pack dispenser dispenses a particular size and amount of cold packs into the shipping carton.