Automated packaging machine

Abstract

An automatic packaging machine for enclosing packages in a pliable film includes a conveyor for moving a package through the packaging machine, an end seal bar configured to cut and/or seal a pliable film transversely to a longitudinal axis of the pliable film, and first and second side sealers disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor and configured to cut the pliable film along the longitudinal axis of the pliable film. The side sealers are automatically moved in a vertical direction to align the side sealers with a centerline of the package. The side sealers are also automatically moved in a horizontal direction to approximate a known width of the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic packaging machine for enclosing packages in a pliable film, the automatic packaging machine comprising:
 a conveyor for moving a package along a horizontal path through the packaging machine;   an end seal bar configured to at least one of cut or seal a pliable film along an axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pliable film; and   first and second side sealers disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor and configured to cut the pliable film along the longitudinal axis of the pliable film, wherein the first and second side sealers are configured to automatically adjust a vertical position thereof based on a known height of the package and automatically adjust a horizontal distance between the first and second side sealers based on a known width of the package.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for determining the height and width of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the determined height and width of the package from the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to effect a movement of the first and second side sealers vertically and horizontally based on the determined height and width of the package, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a dimension light barrier sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vertical rail supporting at least the first side sealer, wherein the first side sealer is configured to move in a vertical direction along an axis of the vertical rail; and   a horizontal rail, wherein at least the first side sealer is configured to move in a horizontal direction along an axis of the horizontal rail.   
     
     
         6 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side sealer includes an upper assembly including:
 a drive motor having a rotatable drive shaft;   an upper first pulley non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable drive shaft, such that the upper first pulley rotates with a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft;   an upper second pulley horizontally spaced from the upper first pulley;   an upper drive belt drivingly coupled to the upper first and second pulleys; and   a knife disposed between the upper first and second pulleys and configured to cut the pliable film as the pliable film is transmitted past the knife via the upper drive belt.   
     
     
         7 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the first side sealer includes a lower assembly including:
 a drive motor having a rotatable drive shaft;   a lower first pulley non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable drive shaft of the lower assembly, such that the lower first pulley rotates with a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft of the lower assembly;   a lower second pulley horizontally spaced from the lower first pulley; and   a lower drive belt drivingly coupled to the lower first and second pulleys and in opposing relation with the upper drive belt.   
     
     
         8 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising first and second jaw members disposed in front of the upper and lower assemblies, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to move between a spaced-apart configuration in which the pliable film is received therebetween, and a closed configuration to guide the pliable film to between the upper and lower drive belts. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes:
 front and rear pulleys; and   a belt operably coupled to the front and rear pulleys.   
     
     
         10 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising a trim belt disposed alongside of the upper drive belt and configured to receive a trimmed portion of the pliable film from the upper drive belt and to discard the trimmed portion. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second jaw members disposed in front of the first side sealer, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to move between a spaced-apart configuration in which the pliable film is received therebetween, and a closed configuration to guide the pliable film into the first side sealer. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes:
 front and rear pulleys; and   a belt operably coupled to the front and rear pulleys.   
     
     
         13 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a trim belt disposed alongside of the first side sealer and configured to receive a trimmed portion of the pliable film from the first side sealer and to discard of the trimmed portion. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic packaging machine for enclosing packages in a pliable film, the automatic packaging machine comprising:
 a conveyor for moving a package along a horizontal path through the packaging machine;   an end seal bar configured to at least one of cut or seal a pliable film along an axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pliable film;   a first side sealer disposed alongside the conveyor and configured to cut the pliable film along an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pliable film;   a sensor configured to determine a height and width of a package; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to:
 adjust a vertical distance between the first side sealer and the package based on the determined height of the package to align the first side sealer with a centerline of the package; and 
 adjust a horizontal distance between the first side sealer and the package based on the determined width of the package. 
   
     
     
         15 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a vertical rail supporting the first side sealer, wherein the first side sealer is configured to move in a vertical direction along an axis of the vertical rail; and   a horizontal rail, wherein the first side sealer is configured to move in a horizontal direction along an axis of the horizontal rail.   
     
     
         16 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the first side sealer includes an upper assembly including:
 a drive motor having a rotatable drive shaft;   an upper drive belt drivingly coupled to the rotatable drive shaft; and   a knife disposed alongside the upper drive belt and configured to cut the pliable film as the pliable film is transmitted past the knife via the upper drive belt.   
     
     
         17 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the first side sealer includes a lower assembly including:
 a drive motor having a rotatable drive shaft; and   a lower drive belt drivingly coupled to the rotatable drive shaft of the lower assembly, the lower drive belt being in opposing relation with the upper drive belt.   
     
     
         18 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising first and second jaw members disposed in front of the upper and lower assemblies, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to move between a spaced-apart configuration in which the pliable film is received therebetween, and a closed configuration to guide the pliable film to between the upper and lower drive belts. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic packaging machine according to  claim 14 , further comprising a trim belt disposed alongside of the first side sealer and configured to receive a trimmed portion of the pliable film from the first side sealer and to discard the trimmed portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method of encasing a package in a pliable film, the method comprising:
 conveying a package along a horizontal path to engage a leading end portion of the package with a leading end portion of a pliable film;   severing a trailing end portion of the pliable film along an axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal path, thereby forming a discrete segment of the pliable film;   automatically adjusting a vertical position of first and second side sealers relative to the package based on a predetermined height of the package;   automatically adjusting a horizontal distance between the first and second side sealers based on a predetermined width of the package; and   guiding first and second lateral sides of the discrete segment of the pliable film into the respective first and second side sealers, whereby the first and second side sealers sever the first and second lateral sides of the discrete segment of the pliable film.