Package forming systems and related methods

Abstract

Packaging forming system and related methods are provided. A packaging forming system can include a controller and nip rollers in communication with the controller. The nip rollers are positioned on either side of a product pathway on which products being packaged travel. The packaging forming system can include a top sheet material guide system that is configured to feed a top sheet material and a bottom sheet material guide system that is configured to feed a bottom sheet material to the nip rollers to form sides of packages around one or more products traveling along the pathway. The packaging forming system can include an adjustable table in communication with the controller and positioned along the pathway to provide support to the product being packaged such that the height of the table is movable to adjust a height position of each individual product to be packaged relative to the nip rollers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a package around a product to be shipped in a packaging forming system, the method comprising:
 placing a product to be packaged on a pathway of a packaging forming system supported by an adjustable table of the packaging forming system;   determining a distance that the adjustable table is to be moved in an upwardly or downwardly direction to align a centerline of the product to be packaged with nip rollers of the packaging forming system with a controller of the packaging forming system;   moving the adjustable table the determined distance in an upwardly or downwardly direction to align the centerline of the product to be packaged with nip rollers of the packaging forming system based with the controller of the packaging forming system;   running side edges of the bottom sheet material and side edges of a top sheet material through the nip rollers to form sides of a package on either side of the product; and   engaging a cross seal device to engage the bottom sheet material and the top sheet material in a direction transverse to the direction that the bottom sheet material and the top sheet material are traveling in the packaging forming system to form a leading end and trailing end of the package.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of placing a product to be packaged on the pathway of the packaging forming system comprises using laser lines and a placement gate to determine where to place the product on the pathway. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a distance that the adjustable table is to be moved comprises taking a measurement of a distance between a measuring point and a leading edge of the product as the product travels along the pathway with a sensor, communicating the measurement to the controller and the controller calculating the distance to move the adjustable table. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a distance that the adjustable table is to be moved comprises taking at least one of a height measurement or a length measurement with one or more sensors and communicating the at least one of a height measurement or a length measurement to the controller and the controller calculating the distance to move the adjustable table.