Apparatus and method for filling cushioning member

A cushioning member filling method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring box space information having first space information about the entire space of a box with a set of goods loaded therein and second space information about a loading space occupied by the set of goods in the entire space of the box;
• producing a cushioning member making schedule and a cushioning member filling schedule according to the acquired box space information;
• controlling a cushioning member maker to make cushioning members to be filled into the box according to the cushioning member making schedule;
• and
• controlling a cushioning member filler to pick up the cushioning members received from the cushioning member maker and thus fill the cushioning members into the box according to the cushioning member filling schedule,
• wherein the step of producing the cushioning member making schedule and the cushioning member filling schedule comprises the steps of:
• comparing the first space information with the second space information to acquire third space information about a remaining space obtained by removing the loading space from the entire space;
• imaginarily dividing the remaining space into a plurality of vertical spaces that are vertical relative to a top surface of the remaining space;
• and
• determining sizes, total numbers, and filling positions of cushioning members to be filled into the plurality of vertical spaces,
• wherein the step of producing the cushioning member making schedule and the cushioning member filling schedule further comprises the steps of:
• arranging making commands representing the sizes and the total numbers of cushioning members determined for the plurality of vertical spaces according to space ID numbers assigned to the plurality of vertical spaces to thus produce the cushioning member making schedule;
• and
• arranging filling commands representing the total numbers and the filling positions of cushioning members determined for the plurality of vertical spaces according to the space ID numbers assigned to the plurality of vertical spaces to thus produce the cushioning member filling schedule.