Recipe controlled process for making packaging materials
AssigneePregis Innovative Packaging LLC
InventorsThomas D. Wetsch, Keith Maranto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to an inflation and sealing machine and in particular to a method for modifying one or more parameters of the machine. The method includes identifying a configuration of a supply material to be used with the inflation and sealing machine, such as by receiving a user input, automatically detecting characteristics of the material, and/or receiving data such as from a sensor regarding the characteristics of the material. Once the configuration of the supply material is identified, the method includes receiving a selection of a prestored recipe according to a configuration of the supply material, where the recipe determines or sets the value for one or more operating parameters of the machine.
Claims20
A film inflation and sealing system comprising:
- a web inflation and sealing machine configured to inflate and seal a supply of film material to make packaging material;
- and
- a controller, configured to select a prestored recipe from a plurality of prestored recipes based on a configuration of the supply of film material received by the controller, wherein each of the plurality of prestored recipes includes settings for a plurality of operating parameters of the web inflation and sealing machine, and wherein the controller is further configured to modify one or more settings for corresponding one or more operating parameters of the web inflation and sealing machine according to the selected prestored recipe.
A control system for modifying one or more parameters of a film inflation and sealing machine configured to receive supplies of film material of different configurations for making packaging material, the apparatus comprising:
- a controller in communication with the film inflation and sealing machine;
- and
- a memory in communication with the controller, wherein the memory stores a plurality of prestored recipes, wherein each of the plurality of prestored recipes includes settings for a plurality of operating parameters of the film inflation and sealing machine, and wherein different ones of the plurality of prestored recipes correspond to different supply material configurations, wherein the controller is configured to select a first one of the prestored recipes corresponding to a first supply material configuration from the plurality of prestored recipes stored in the memory component, and modify one or more settings for corresponding one or more operating parameters of the film inflation and sealing machine according to the first prestored recipe.
An inflation and sealing assembly, comprising:
- a spindle for receiving a supply of material;
- a brake mechanism operably connected to the spindle, wherein the brake mechanism selectively applies a frictional force to the supply of material;
- and
- a control system in communication with the brake mechanism, the control system selectively varying the frictional force applied by the brake mechanism based on a recipe corresponding to the material.
A method for operating an inflation and sealing assembly, comprising:
- selecting at least one material parameter of a packaging material;
- and
- determining a ramp up profile for at least one component of the inflation and sealing assembly based on the at least one material parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.