US 6,877,297 B2 · Cushioning conversion system and method

Abstract

A packaging system includes a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into relatively low density cushioning material or dunnage and a packaging system controller. The packaging system controller provides packaging instructions related to a part or parts to be packaged and instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the cushioning material. In one aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by retrieving a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with a particular part. In another aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by determining an optimized packaging methodology using one or more characteristics of the part or parts to be packaged. The packaging system also provides for automated inventory control and productivity monitoring.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A packaging system for presenting packaging information for packaging a part to an operator, comprising:

an input device used to identify a part and generate a signal indicative of the identified part;
a controller coupled to the input device to receive the signal indicative of the identified part, the controller programmed to retrieve a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with the identified part from a memory, the packaging instructions including a step to be completed by the operator, which step contains an instruction for packaging the identified part;
and
an output device coupled to the controller to receive an output signal from the controller, the output device being operative to communicate the step to be completed by the operator based on the output signal, the output device being operative to communicate to the operator at least one of an audible and a visual output of the instruction for packaging the identified part.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cushioning conversion system and method

Life of this patent

Cushioning conversion system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14