Reusable package, apparatus, and method

Abstract

A package for the delivery of products of various sizes and shapes to customers, and apparatus and a method of producing the package are disclosed, wherein a sealing and a cutting process is employed to produce a customized shipping package from a first and a second web of material. The package is readily adaptable to be reused by the customer to return the product to the original source.

1 . An apparatus for producing packages for differing sized objects comprising:
 a first dispensing member adapted to supply a first web of flexible material having spaced apart side edges;   a second dispensing member adapted to supply a second web of flexible material having spaced apart side edges in superposed relation with the first web; and   a sealing mechanism adapted to seal an object between facing surfaces of the first web and the second web forming a sealed package containing an object.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the sealing mechanism further comprising:
 a side sealing member to seal the respective side edges of the first web to the second web; and   an end sealing member for forming a pair of spaced apart sealed end edges at required spaced apart intervals in the first and second webs to accommodate the object being packaged.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a perforator to form a line of perforation extending generally parallel to the sealed side edges and adjacent at least one of the sealed side edges. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising an adhesive dispensing member for dispensing a selectively usable adhesive adjacent the line of perforation on at least one side of the facing surfaces of the first and second webs. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control system having an electronic processor, the control system in communication with at least the sealing mechanism and effective to control an operation of the sealing mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a scanner in communication with the control system and adapted to detect the object being packaged. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a material dispensing apparatus for disposing selected materials adjacent the object to be packaged, the material dispensing apparatus in communication with the control system. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a printer in communication with the control system and adapted to provide printed indicia to be packaged. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the control system and adapted to determine a length of the first and second webs required to form the sealed package containing the object. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a weight scale in communication with the control system adapted to detect the weight of the sealed package and transmit a signal. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a label station in communication with the control system, the label station having:
 a printer adapted to print a shipping label;   an applicator for attaching the shipping label to the package; and   a scanner adapted to verify the attachment of the shipping label to the package.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for producing packages for differing sized objects comprising:
 a first dispensing member adapted to supply a first web of flexible material having spaced apart side edges;   a second dispensing member adapted to supply a second web of flexible material having spaced apart side edges in superposed relation with the first web;   a sealing mechanism adapted to seal an object between facing surfaces of the first web and the second web forming a sealed package containing an object, the sealing mechanism including a side sealing member to seal the respective side edges of the first web to the second web and an end sealing member for forming a pair of spaced apart sealed end edges at required spaced apart intervals in the first and second webs to accommodate the object being packaged;   at least one conveyor adapted to transport at least one of the object to be packaged and the sealed package containing the object; and   a control system having an electronic processor, the control system in communication with at least the sealing mechanism and effective to control an operation of the sealing mechanism.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a scanner in communication with the control system and adapted to detect the object being packaged. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a material dispensing apparatus for disposing selected materials adjacent the object to be packaged, the material dispensing apparatus in communication with the control system. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a printer in communication with the control system and adapted to provide printed indicia to be packaged. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the control system and adapted to determine a length of the first and second webs required to form the sealed package containing the object. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a weight scale in communication with the control system adapted to detect the weight of the sealed package and transmit a signal. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a label station in communication with the control system, the label station having:
 a printer adapted to print a shipping label;   an applicator for attaching the shipping label to the package; and   a scanner adapted to verify the attachment of the shipping label to the package.   
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a package, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first web of flexible sheet material having parallel spaced apart side edges and a longitudinal axis;   providing a second web of flexible sheet material in superposed relation with the first web having parallel spaced apart side edges in alignment with the respective side edges of the first web and a longitudinal axis;   applying a selectably useable adhesive strip on at least one of the facing surfaces of the first and second webs;   sealing the respective spaced apart side edges of the first and second webs;   providing a weakening line extending generally parallel and adjacent to at least one of the sealed side edges;   providing a control system having an electronic processor and at least one sensor in communication with the processor;   detecting the critical dimensions of an object to be packaged with the at least one sensor;   transmitting a signal representative of the critical dimensions from the sensor to the electronic processor effective to cause a sealing member to form a pair of spaced apart sealed ends in the first and second webs to form the sealed package containing the object.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a printer in communication with the processor adapted to print a shipping label for the package employing electronic data received from the processor;   providing an applicator for attaching the shipping label to an outer surface of the first web; and   providing a scanner adapted to verify the attachment of the shipping label to the outer surface of the first web.