Method for packaging of an article of merchandise

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for packaging an article of merchandise with a film material using a packaging apparatus. The film is a side-pleated tubular film roll. An input device receives the sole film packaging parameters of the thickness of the film, the width of the film, and the distance between a first side fold and a second side fold of the film. Based on these three film packaging parameters, a controller determines a specified length of the tubular film for packaging the article, and the packaging apparatus cuts off a segment of the tubular film having that specified length. The packaging apparatus then draws the segment of tubular film over the article being packaged.

Claims

1. A method for packaging an article using a roll of side-pleated tubular film, said method comprising: receiving, by an input device and from an operator, a plurality of film packaging parameters including: (1) a thickness of the tubular film, (2) a width of the tubular film, and (3) a distance between a first side fold of the tubular film and a second side fold of the tubular film; determining, by a controller, a designated length based on: (1) one or more of the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film; and (2) one or more values stored in a database; cutting a segment of tubular film having the designated length off of the roll of side-pleated tubular film; and drawing the segment of tubular film over the article.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the designated length includes determining, by the controller, a length of a perimeter of the tubular film using the width of the tubular film and the distance between the first and second side folds of the tubular film.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes measuring a height of the article.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes welding an upper end of the segment of tubular film before drawing the segment of tubular film over the article to be packaged.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes determining, by the controller, a time required for the welding based on the tubular film thickness.

6. The method of claim 4, which includes determining, by the controller, a required post-welding cooling time based on at least one of the tubular film thickness and the time required for the welding.

7. The method of claim 4, which includes determining, by the controller, a temperature of a weld seam that is to be reached following the welding based on at least one of the tubular film thickness and the time required for the welding.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein cutting the segment of tubular film includes cutting the segment of tubular film via an advancing element of a packaging apparatus, wherein the controller takes into account at least one of a braking time and a run-over time of the advancing element in association with the cutting.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the designated length includes accessing, by the controller, information stored in a data storage device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is associated with at least one of: (1) one or more of the received film packaging parameters, and (2) a height of the article.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information includes one or more numerical values.

12. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying, by a display device, the plurality of received film packaging parameters.

13. The method of claim 1, which includes enabling input of first information when an authorization level is a first authorization level and enabling input of second different information when an authorization level is a second different authorization level.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film are the only received film packaging parameters.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the controller, the designated length based on: (1) the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film; and (2) the one or more values stored in a database.

16. A packaging system comprising: a packaging apparatus configured to cut a segment of tubular film off of a roll of side-pleated tubular film, said segment having a designated length, and to draw the segment of tubular film over an article to be packaged; an input device configured to receive, from an operator, a plurality of film packaging parameters including: (1) a thickness of the tubular film, (2) a width of the tubular film, and (3) a distance between a first side fold of the tubular film and a second side fold of the tubular film; and a controller configured to determine the designated length based on: (1) one or more of the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film; and (2) one or more values stored in a database.

17. The packaging system of claim 16, which includes the roll of side-pleated tubular film.

18. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine the designated length in part by determining a circumference of the tubular film from the received plurality of film packaging parameters.

19. The packaging system of claim 16, which includes a welder configured to weld an upper end of the segment of tubular film before drawing the segment of tubular film over the article to be packaged.

20. The packaging system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to determine a time required for the welding based on the tubular film thickness.

21. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film are the only received film packaging parameters.

22. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine the designated length based on: (1) the thickness of the tubular film, the width of the tubular film, and the distance between the first side fold of the tubular film and the second side fold of the tubular film; and (2) the one or more values stored in a database.

Description

(1) In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail, with reference to the drawings, which are in the form of schematic depictions.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side-pleated tubular film roll, as delivered by a film manufacturer.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section through a slightly opened tubular film.

(4) The operator may see from the label of the side-pleated tubular film 1 that the film thickness is, e.g., 80 microns. The operator enters this value for the packaging into his input means. The operator also determines the width of the film by measuring the length ND (ND=normal direction) of the side-pleated tubular film roll 1. The operator enters this value as well into his input means. Further, the operator determines the distance between the first side fold 2 and the second side fold 3 of the tubular film by measuring the distance X between the first side fold and the second side fold of the side-pleated tubular film roll 1. The operator also enters this value into his input means, at which point he has provided all the information necessary for the packaging. The control means then calculates from these data the width of the film, TD (TD=transverse direction), as TD=NDX. For example, if the operator measures ND=950 mm and X=430 mm in size, then the calculated value TD=520 mm (see. FIG. 2). The control means determines, from the film packaging parameters entered, the values required for the packaging, and displays these values to the operator, who may adjust or trim the values, if necessary or desirable.

(5) Thus, e.g., a display will appear which informs the operator of the welding time, which was determined by the control means based on the value of the film thickness which the operator entered. The welding time may be, e.g., 1.4 seconds, wherewith the operator will be allowed to change this value within predetermined limits, e.g., by 0.2 seconds (or e.g., 20%) upward or downward. It is also conceivable that the operator may be allowed only a relative adjustment, thus e.g., the absolute welding time might not be displayed, but instead a trimming function might be provided. For example, the welding time may be represented by an output value of 0, which may be adjusted, e.g., in the range +1 to 1.

(6) It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the present embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.