Packaging system

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 programming the instructions using an instruction programming tool. The packaging system also provides for pacing a packager through a set of packaging instructions and monitoring the packager's productivity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging system comprising: 
 a packaging system controller for sequentially providing packaging instruction steps related to at least one part to be packaged, and    an output device for conveying the packaging instruction steps to a packer for use in packing the part, and    wherein the packaging system controller automatically advances from a first packaging instruction step to a second packaging instruction step after a predetermined amount of time sufficient to enable performance of the first packaging instruction step by the packer.    
     
     
         2 . A packaging system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a packaging material supply device for supplying a packaging material; and wherein the packaging system controller instructs the packaging material supply device to provide the packaging material for the at least one part to be packaged in coordinated relationship with the instruction steps conveyed to the packer.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the packaging instruction steps are programmed using an instruction programming tool, the instruction programming tool having a database of previously stored images.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the packaging instruction steps are programmed using an instruction programming tool, the instruction programming tool being executed by the packaging system controller.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of any preceding claim, wherein the [display] output device provides an illustration of the packing technique of the part being packaged.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of any one of claims  2 - 5 , wherein the packaging material supply device includes a conversion machine that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product.  
     
     
         7 . A method of packaging parts, comprising the steps of: 
 retrieving packaging instruction steps associated with the at least one part to be packaged; and    sequentially conveying the packaging instruction steps to a packer for use in packing the part, wherein the packaging system controller automatically advances from a first packaging instruction step to a second packaging instruction step after a predetermined amount of time sufficient to enable performance of the first packaging instruction step by the packer.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of programming the packaging instructions using an instruction programming tool, the step of programming the packaging instruction including the step of retrieving a previously stored image from an image database.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  or  claim 8 , comprising the step of controlling a packaging material supply device to provide the packaging material for the at least one part to be packaged in coordinated relationship with the instruction steps conveyed to the packer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein sheet stock material is supplied to the packaging material supply device for conversion into a packaging material.  
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging differing parts, comprising the steps of: 
 determining a step by step set of packaging instructions associated with each of a plurality of parts;    programming the set of packaging instructions using an instruction programming tool; and    storing the set of packaging instructions for subsequent retrieval.    
     
     
         12 . A packaging system comprising: 
 a packaging system controller for providing packaging instructions related to at least one part to be packaged, and    a display for displaying the packaging instructions to a packer for use in packing the part,    wherein the packaging instructions are programmed using an instruction programming tool, the instruction programming tool having a database of previously stored images.    
     
     
         13 . A packaging system comprising a packaging material supply device for supplying a packaging material; and a packaging system controller for providing packaging instructions related to at least one part to be packaged and instructing the packaging material supply device to provide the packaging material for the at least one part to be packaged.  
     
     
         14 . A method of packaging parts, comprising the steps of: 
 identifying at least one part to be packaged;    retrieving packaging instructions associated with the at least one part to be packaged; and    controlling a packaging material supply device using the packaging instructions.