System and method for automatically packaging an item

A system for packaging a set of items to be shipped, comprising:

• a scan device configured to obtain data from a shipping item;
• a roll section that provides support for a pair of rolls of prefabricated expandable packaging material that are unrolled into webs and matched into a web set, the roll section comprising:
• a mating roller to match the webs into the matched web set;
• and
• a plurality of feed rollers downstream of the mating roller configured to feed the matched web set to the package section;
• a package section that provides a form zone, a fill zone and a finish zone;
• wherein the matched web set from the roll section is expanded in the form zone, receives the shipping item in the fill zone, and is finish-sealed and separated from the webs in the finish zone to comprise a finished package;
• wherein the system further comprises a controller communicatively connected with the scan device, the controller being configured to control a set of movements of the matched web set through the roll section and through the package section based at least in part on the data scanned from the shipping item;
• and
• wherein the package section further comprises a set of grippers that are communicatively connected with the controller;
• wherein the set of grippers comprises:
• at least one gripper of the set of grippers that is configured to expand a determined amount of the web set in the form zone based at least in part on the data from the shipping item;
• and
• at least another gripper of the set of grippers and the at least one gripper that are configured to index the expanded amount of web set from the form zone to the fill zone.

A system for packaging of one or more of a shipping item, comprising:

• a controller provided with programming to control production of the packaging;
• a roll section that provides support for a pair of rolls of prefabricated expandable packaging material that are unrolled into webs and matched into a web set;
• a package section including a tension roller;
• a set of grippers of the package section positioned downstream of the tension roller and being communicatively connected with the controller, the set of grippers including at least one first gripper and at least one second gripper, the at least one first gripper and the at least one second gripper being distinctly movable relative to one another in a direction parallel to the web path to expand the web set a determined amount;
• and
• a set of sealers of the package section positioned downstream of the tension roller and being communicatively connected with the controller;
• wherein the programming determines a set of movements of the matched web set through the roll section and through the package section based at least in part on a data associated with the shipping item.

A system for custom packaging a set of items to be shipped, comprising:

• a scan device configured to obtain data from a shipping item;
• a roll section that provides support for a pair of rolls of prefabricated expandable packaging material that are unrolled into webs and matched into a web set, the roll section comprising:
• a mating roller to match the webs into the matched web set;
• and
• a plurality of feed rollers downstream of the mating roller configured to feed the matched web set to the package section;
• and
• a package section that provides a form zone, a fill zone and a finish zone;
• wherein the matched web set from the roll section is expanded in the form zone, receives the shipping item in the fill zone, and is finish-sealed and separated from the webs in the finish zone to comprise a finished package;
• wherein the system further comprises a controller, the controller communicatively connected with the scan device, wherein the controller is configured to control a set of movements of the matched web set through the roll section and through the package section based at least in part on the data scanned from the shipping item;
• and
• wherein the package section further comprises a set of grippers that are communicatively connected with the controller;
• wherein the set of grippers comprises grippers that are movable relative to one another along a web path of the matched web set;
• and
• wherein the set of grippers is configured to translate relative to the web set, to grip the web set, to expand a determined amount of the web set in the form zone based at least in part on the data from the shipping item, and to index the expanded amount of web set from the form zone to the fill zone.