Systems and methods for packing items for delivery

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to packing one or more commercial product items for delivery to customers. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for packing one or more commercial product items including an elongated strip comprising a material that is at least flexible and bendable; at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coupling device secured to a first portion of the elongated strip, wherein the UAV coupling device comprises a plate configured to couple the elongated strip to a UAV configured to deliver the one or more commercial product items; a securing mechanism at a second portion of the elongated strip; and a wrapping material covering at least exposed areas of the one or more commercial product items not covered by the elongated strip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for packing one or more commercial product items for delivery to customers comprising:
 an elongated strip comprising a material that is at least flexible and bendable and configured to wrap around a perimeter of the one or more commercial product items and hold the one or more commercial product items in a generally fixed arrangement against each other and leaving portions of the one or more commercial product items exposed where not covered by the elongated strip;   at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coupling device secured to a first portion of the elongated strip, wherein the UAV coupling device comprises a plate configured to couple the elongated strip to a UAV configured to deliver the one or more commercial product items;   a securing mechanism at a second portion of the elongated strip, wherein the securing mechanism is configured to hold the elongated strip around the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement; and   a wrapping material covering at least exposed areas of the one or more commercial product items not covered by the elongated strip, wherein the wrapping material is configured to secure the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement formed by the elongated strip during a delivery.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises:
 a first notch; and   a second notch opposite the first notch, wherein each of the first and second notches is configured to receive a handle of a claw of a plurality of claws of a package attachment system of a UAV configured to carry the one or more commercial product items.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a line cord coupled to a first surface of the plate that is opposite a second surface of the plate secured to the first portion of the elongated strip, wherein the line cord is configured to hook over a handle of a package attachment system of a UAV to carry the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises one or more threaded holes to receive one or more screws of a package attachment system of a UAV, wherein the one or more screws are driven by a motor of the package attachment system. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises:
 a first end of the elongated strip comprising an adhesive portion; and   a second end of the elongated strip comprising an opening, wherein, in holding the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement, the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip is substantially inserted through the opening and coupled to the second end of the elongated strip.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises:
 a first end of the elongated strip comprising an adhesive portion; and   a second end of the elongated strip, wherein, in holding the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement, the second end of the elongated strip is substantially wrapped over and affixed on the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive portion comprises a first adhesive side and a second adhesive side, and wherein the first adhesive side is exposed to securely wrap the elongated strip around the perimeter of the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises a belt loop to guide the second end of the elongated strip over the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip, and to further secure the elongated strip around the perimeter of the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises one or more grippers on an edge of the second end of the elongated strip, the one or more grippers configured to detachably couple to a robotic arm guiding the second end of the elongated strip over the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that an RFID reader is configured to read to at least one of: track and confirm receipt of the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         11 . A system for packing one or more items for delivery comprising:
 a conveyor configured to move one or more commercial product items towards an opening of an elongated strip;   the elongated strip comprising:
 a material that is at least flexible and bendable; and 
 a securing mechanism at a first end of the elongated strip, wherein the securing mechanism is configured to hold a streamlined packing of the one or more commercial product items in place; 
   a holding structure comprising a first arm end and a second arm end, the holding structure configured to hold the elongated strip in a U-shape forming a volume, wherein the one or more commercial product items are received and retained in the volume as the one or more commercial product items travel on the conveyor, and wherein vibrating motion of the conveyor causes the one or more commercial product items to be positioned in a generally fixed arrangement against each other;   one or more sensors configured to read identification tags of the one or more commercial product items; and   a control circuit coupled to the one or more sensors and the conveyor, the control circuit configured to:
 determine a quantity of the one or more commercial product items received in the volume based on the identification tags read by the one or more sensors; 
 determine whether the quantity is equal to a predetermined threshold associated with the elongated strip; and 
 in response to the quantity being equal to the predetermined threshold, initiate operation of the holding structure to secure the one or more commercial product items in the volume formed by the elongated strip through operation of the first arm end and the second arm end. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a rod operatively coupled to the control circuit, the rod configured to nudge the one or more commercial product items in the volume as the first arm end and the second arm end operate to secure the one or more commercial product items in the volume via the securing mechanism of the elongated strip. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coupling device secured to a first portion of the elongated strip, wherein the at least one UAV coupling device comprises a plate configured to couple the elongated strip to a UAV configured to deliver the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises:
 a first notch; and   a second notch opposite the first notch, wherein each of the first and second notches is configured to receive a handle of a claw of a plurality of claws of a package attachment system of a UAV that is configured to carry the one or more commercial product items.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises a line cord coupled to a first surface of the plate that is opposite a second surface of the plate secured to the first portion of the elongated strip, wherein the line cord is configured to hook over a handle of a package attachment system of a UAV to carry the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises one or more threaded holes to receive one or more screws of a package attachment system of a UAV, wherein the one or more screws are driven by a motor of the package attachment system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an adhesive portion, wherein the elongated strip further comprises a second end, the second end comprises an opening, and wherein, in positioning the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement, the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip is substantially inserted through the opening and coupled to the second end of the elongated strip. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an adhesive portion, wherein the elongated strip further comprises a second end, wherein, in positioning the one or more commercial product items in the generally fixed arrangement, the second end of the elongated strip is substantially wrapped over and affixed on the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive portion comprises a first adhesive side and a second adhesive side, and wherein the first adhesive side is exposed to securely wrap the elongated strip around a perimeter of the one or more commercial product items. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises a belt loop to guide the second end of the elongated strip over the adhesive portion of the first end of the elongated strip, and to further secure the elongated strip around the perimeter of the one or more commercial product items.