Timothy P Frederick

US Patent:

20100326021, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/867363

Inventors:

Daniel L. Carlson - Ravenna OH, US
Timothy A. Frederick - Eastlake OH, US

Assignee:

RANPAK CORP. - Concord Township OH

International Classification:

B65B 61/20
B65B 61/22
B65B 57/00

US Classification:

53474, 531395, 53 64

Abstract:

A packaging system includes a controller , an input device in communication with the controller that identifies one or more characteristics of the container, and a manual input device in communication with the controller that provides multiple input options for selection by a packer. The input options represent relative degrees to which a container is filled by one or more objects to be packaged. The controller provides an output signal indicating a quantity of dunnage to dispense to the container based on the selected input option and the one or more identified characteristics of the container. Once the controller receives the container characteristics information, as well as the selected input option representing the relative degree to which the container is filled by the objects to be packaged, the controller can determine the number and lengths of dunnage strips that need to be provided to fill the remaining void in the container. Once the controller has determined the amount dunnage that needs to be dispensed, the controller can signal a dunnage dispenser to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.

US Patent:

20110197550, Aug 18, 2011

Filed:

Nov 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/125318

Inventors:

Daniel L. Carlson - Ravenna OH, US
Timothy A. Frederick - Eastlake OH, US
Joseph J. Harding - Mentor OH, US
Kevin W. Park - Chardon OH, US

Assignee:

Ranpak Corp. - Concord Township OH

International Classification:

B65B 55/20

US Classification:

53472, 53115

Abstract:

A packaging system () includes a controller (), an input device () in communication with the controller () that identifies one or more characteristics of the container, an illustration with indicia representing different degrees of fill for a container; and a manual input device () in communication with the controller () for inputting an estimated degree of fullness of the packing container having one or more articles to be packed correlated with the indicia in the illustration. The controller () provides an output signal indicating a quantity of dunnage to dispense to the container based on the input estimated degree of fullness and the one or more identified characteristics of the container. Then the controller can determine the amount of dunnage that needs to be provided to fill the remaining void in the container, and the controller can signal a dunnage dispenser () to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.