R2V packaging process and system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert D. Shenefelt, Gary L. Perkins, Roxanne M. Fairfax
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for creating customized packing for an item to be packed. An image of the item is created and an outline of the image is traced. The packing material is then cut to conform to the outline. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the image is converted to an outline form by a raster-to-vector conversion. In further aspects of the invention, multiple outlines are configured in a packing configuration. The configurations may be edited and stored. In other aspects, manufacturing of customized packing for tools and tool kit management may be performed by the method of the current invention.
Claims110
A method for creating customized packing for an item to be packed, the method comprising:
- providing a raster image of the item on at least one computer;
- determining an outline of the raster image using the at least one computer;
- converting the outline of the image to a vector form using the at least one computer;
- and
- manufacturing a packing material to conform to the outline using the at least one computer.
A method for creating customized tool kit packing for at least one tool, the method comprising:
- creating at least one image of the at least one tool;
- tracing at least one outline of the at least one image using a software routine operating on a computer;
- converting the at least one outline to a machine readable form;
- and
- cutting a packing material for a tool kit to conform to the at least one outline by utilizing a cutting machine guided by the machine readable form.
A method for managing packing preparation for at least one item, the method comprising:
- providing a set of images of corresponding set of items on at least one computer;
- tracing a set of outlines corresponding to the set of images using the at least one computer;
- converting the set of outlines to at least one machine readable form using the at least one computer;
- and
- storing the set of outlines in an outline library.
A method for managing tool kit packing preparation for at least one tool, the method comprising:
- providing a set of images of at least one tool;
- tracing a set of outlines of the images of the at least one tool using a software routine operating on a computer;
- converting the set of outlines to a machine readable form;
- and
- storing the set of outlines in an outline library.
A method for managing tool kit inventory and assembly for a plurality of tool kits, the method comprising:
- securing a raster image of an item on at least one computer;
- determining an outline of the raster image using the at least one computer;
- converting the outline of the raster image to a vector form using the at least one computer;
- storing the outline of the vector imagee in a first library on the at least one computer;
- arranging the outline of the vector image in a packing configuration to fit within a tool case using the at least one computer;
- storing the packing configuration in a second library on the at least one computer;
- manufacturing a packing material to conform to the packing configuration using the at least one computer;
- assembling a tool kit by placing the packing material in the tool case and placing the tool within the packing material;
- and
- logging the tool kit into a third library on the at least one computer.
A system for preparing packing material, the system comprising:
- an imaging device configured to provide a raster image of at least one item;
- a processor coupled to the imaging device and arranged to accept the raster image of the at least one item from the imaging device, the processor including a first component configured to determine an outline of the raster image and convert the outline to a vector form;
- and
- a manufacturing device coupled to the processor and configured to manufacture a packing material to conform to the outline.
An apparatus for creating customized tool kit packing for at least one tool, the system comprising:
- an imaging device configured to create at least one image of the at least one tool;
- a processor arranged to accept the at least one image from the imaging device, the processor including a first component configured to trace at least one outline of the at least one image using a software routine accessible by the processor, the processor being further adapted to convert the at least one outline from a raster form to a vector form;
- and
- a cutting device adapted to receive command signals from the processor and configured to cut a packing material for a tool kit responsive to the command signals, the tool kit being adapted to conform to the at least one outline and to fit within a tool case.
An apparatus for managing inventory and assembly for a plurality of tool kits, the system comprising:
- an imaging device configured to create an image of at least one tool;
- a processor arranged to accept the image of the at least one tool, the processor including a first component configured to trace at least one outline of the image, the processor being adapted to convert the at least one outline from a raster form to a vector form;
- a cutting device adapted to receive command signals from the processor and configured to cut a packing material for a tool kit in response to the command signals, the tool kit being adapted to conform to the at least one outline and to fit within a tool case;
- and
- a first storage component for logging the tool kit.
A computer program product for packing an item, the computer program product comprising:
- a first computer readable program code configured to receive a raster image of an item;
- a second computer readable program code coupled to the first computer readable program code and configured to determine an outline of the raster image;
- a third computer readable program code coupled to the second computer readable program code and configured to convert the outline to a vector form;
- and
- a fourth computer readable program code coupled to the third computer readable program code and configured to control manufacturing of a packing material to conform to the outline.
A computer program product for creating customized tool kit packing for a plurality of tools comprising:
- first computer readable program code means for receiving a set of images of a plurality of tools;
- second computer readable program code means for tracing a set of outlines of the set of images, and adapted to convert the set of outlines to one or more vector forms;
- third computer readable program code means for selecting a subset of outlines from the set of outlines;
- fourth computer readable program code means for arranging the subset of outlines in a packing configuration to fit within a tool case;
- and
- fifth computer readable program code means for cutting a packing material to conform to the packing configuration.
A system for managing tool kit inventory and assembly for a plurality of tool kits, the system comprising:
- a means for providing a raster image of an item;
- a means for receiving the secured raster image and determining an outline of the raster image;
- a means for receiving the outline and converting the outline to a vector form;
- and
- a means for receiving the vector form outline and manufacturing a packing material to conform to the outline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.