Automated container resizing apparatus, a system including the apparatus, and a method of resizing a container

Abstract

The disclosure provides an automated container resizing apparatus and system, an automated method of resizing a container, and a cutting tool that can be used for the resizing. In one example, the system includes the cutting tool, a controller, a conveyor, and a moveable support that can be a robotic arm. The controller can operate the conveyor to position a container in a cutting zone. The dimensions of the box and product fill height within the container are obtained and translated by the controller into a programmed cutting pattern. The controller then operates the robotic arm to perform the programmed cutting pattern on the box with the cutting tool. The cutting tool can be mounted on the robotic arm that rotates about its axis to cut side walls of the container for resizing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated container resizing system, comprising:
 a cutting tool; and   a controller configured to direct operation of the cutting tool to resize a container based on a principal dimension of one or more products within a volume of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one dimensioning device configured to obtain dimensional information corresponding to the one or more products, wherein the controller is configured to determine the principal dimension from the dimensional information. 
     
     
         3 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a moveable support, wherein the cutting tool is attached to the moveable support and the controller directs operation of the moveable support in cooperation with the cutting tool to resize the container. 
     
     
         4 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the controller, by directing the moveable support, moves the cutting tool along at least two orthogonal axes to resize the container. 
     
     
         5 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moveable support is rotatable about at least one of the two orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         6 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the controller determines a cutting pattern and moves the cutting tool via the moveable support according to the cutting pattern to resize the container. 
     
     
         7 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the controller determines the cutting pattern based on at least two dimensions of the container and the principal dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional dimensioning device that obtains the at least two dimensions from the container. 
     
     
         9 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool resizes containers within a cutting zone and the system further comprises a conveyor that moves the container to the cutting zone. 
     
     
         10 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a first rail being orthogonal to a direction of the conveyor in the cutting zone and being selectively operable to stop the container in the cutting zone. 
     
     
         11 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a second rail being parallel to the direction of the conveyor and being selectively operable to move the container on the conveyor against a third rail, the third rail being fixed and parallel to the second rail. 
     
     
         12 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable support includes a robotic arm and the cutting tool is connected to the robotic arm. 
     
     
         13 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool includes at least one blade. 
     
     
         14 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the cutting tool provides structural support to the container when using the at least one blade. 
     
     
         15 . The automated container resizing system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to oscillate the at least one blade in a direction perpendicular to a side wall of the container to resize the container. 
     
     
         16 . An automated method of resizing a container, comprising:
 determining a principal dimension of one or more products within a container;   obtaining at least two orthogonal dimensions of the container;   determining a cutting pattern for resizing the container based on the principal dimension and the two orthogonal dimensions; and   resizing the container according to the cutting pattern.   
     
     
         17 . The automated method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein determining the principal dimension includes obtaining dimensional information of the one or more products with the container. 
     
     
         18 . The automated method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the method resizes multiple containers that have various dimensions. 
     
     
         19 . The automated method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the resizing is performed by moving a cutting blade along a cut line of the cutting pattern in an oscillating motion. 
     
     
         20 . A container cutting system, comprising:
 a cutting tool having at least one blade; and   one or more processors to perform operations including:
 directing the cutting tool to cut a container along a cut line, wherein the directing includes oscillating the at least one blade.