Item packaging machine with longitudinal and lateral package sizing

An order packaging machine configured to form a package enveloping an order from a roll of packaging material having a center fold, the order packaging machine comprising:

• an induction conveyor that advances each order into the order packaging machine;
• a height sizing conveyor that advances each order to an order enveloping assembly including a first bracket that adjustably positions an upper layer of packaging material over the order and a second bracket that positions a lower layer of packaging material under the order, wherein the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material at the height sizing conveyor together form a package with an unsealed leading edge, an unsealed trailing edge, and an unsealed side opposite a closed side of the package;
• a first sealing assembly positioned between the height sizing conveyor and a package draw conveyor, wherein the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material of an immediately preceding package advanced past the first sealing assembly extends continuous with the upper layer and the lower layer of the packaging material of the package at the height sizing conveyor, respectively, and the first sealing assembly is configured to separate the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material between the immediately preceding package and the package at the height sizing conveyor and seal the unsealed leading edge of the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material of the package at the height sizing conveyor together to form a sealed leading edge and simultaneously seal a trailing edge of the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material of the immediately preceding package together;
• a package draw member selectively engaging the package at the height sizing conveyor and advancing the package onto the package draw conveyor and past the first sealing assembly a longitudinal distance corresponding to a length dimension of the order, the package draw conveyor operable to convey the package to a width trim module;
• the width trim module comprising gripping members configured to selectively engage the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material along the unsealed side of the package, and, with the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material engaged by the gripping members, the gripping members advanceable relative to a conveyor run of the width trim module to pull the package engaged by the gripping members across the conveyor run, transverse to a direction of conveyance, toward a second side thereof;
• and
• a second sealing assembly positioned between the conveyor run of the width trim module and the gripping members, the second sealing assembly configured to seal the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material together to form a longitudinal seal along the unsealed side of the package after the package has been pulled relative to the conveyor run of the width trim module and to cut away a portion of each of the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material extending on a side of the longitudinal seal opposite the order in the package.

A method of forming a package around an order in an order packing machine configured to use a packaging material having a center fold, the method comprising:

• determining a length dimension and a width dimension of the order;
• advancing the order past an order enveloping assembly operable to advance an upper layer of packaging material over the order and a lower layer of packaging material under the order with the center fold of the packaging material extending across a first side of the order;
• separating and sealing a leading edge of the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material to form a sealed leading edge of the package extending transverse to the first side of the order;
• engaging the package proximate the sealed leading edge and advancing the package with the order enveloped therein onto a package draw conveyor a distance corresponding to the length dimension of the order;
• separating and sealing a trailing edge of the upper layer and lower layer of packaging material to form a sealed trailing edge of the package extending transverse to the first side of the order;
• advancing the package with the order enveloped therein onto a conveyor run of a width trim module such that the upper layer and lower layer of an unsealed side opposite the first side of the order are engageable by gripping members;
• selectively engaging the upper layer and the lower layer of the unsealed side of the package by the gripping members;
• moving the gripping members engaging the unsealed side of the package relative to the conveyor run to pull the package with the order enveloped therein across the conveyor run, transverse to a direction of conveyance, to advance the order contained in the package proximate to a cutting and sealing assembly and based upon the width dimension of the order;
• and
• advancing the cutting and sealing assembly into engagement with the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material along the unsealed side of the package to form a side seal after the package has been pulled laterally relative to the conveyor run and cutting away a portion of each of the upper layer and lower layer of the packaging material extending on a side of the side seal opposite the order enveloped in the package.