Object tracking in packaging systems

Abstract

A packaging system includes a conveyance system, a package forming system, and a tracking system. The conveyance system is configured to receive objects and to convey the objects through the packaging system. Spacing between the objects is non-uniform as the objects are received by the conveyance system. The package forming system is configured to feed a packaging material to form a tube of the packaging material and to seal the tube of the packaging material around the objects to form packages of the packaging material around the objects. The tracking system configured to track locations of the objects as the objects are conveyed through the packaging system on the conveyance system. In some cases, the tracking system is configured to track locations of the objects independently of any marks on the packaging material and/or independently of the location of inducting documents placed on the objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system comprising:
 a conveyance system configured to convey objects through the packaging system, wherein the objects include a preceding object and a following object;   a package forming system configured to feed a packaging material to form an interior space bounded by the packaging material, wherein the conveyance system configured to convey the objects into the interior space bounded by the packaging material;   one or more infeed sensors configured to detect heights and longitudinal lengths of the objects as the objects are conveyed by the conveyance system;   a computing device configured to:
 receive signals from the one or more infeed sensors indicative of the height and the longitudinal length of each of the preceding object and the following object, 
 determine a spacing between the preceding object and the following object based at least in part on the height and the longitudinal length of each of the preceding object and the following object, and 
 cause the conveyance system to insert the preceding object and the following object into the interior space bounded by the packaging material such that the preceding object and the following object are spaced apart based on the determined spacing; and 
   a sealing mechanism configured to seal the packaging material around each of the preceding object and the following object, including being configured to form a transverse seal in the packaging material between the preceding object and the following object.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse seal in the packaging material includes a trailing edge seal and a leading edge seal. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to cut the packaging material between the trailing edge seal and the leading edge seal. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the cut of the packaging material between the trailing edge seal and the leading edge seal severs a package around the preceding object from the packaging material in which the following object is located. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system comprises:
 an infeed conveyor configured to receive the objects, wherein the objects are non-uniformly spaced when they are received by the infeed conveyor.   
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the conveyance system further comprises:
 an infeed spacing conveyor configured to receive the objects from the infeed conveyor and to convey the objects by the one or more infeed sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system comprises:
 an object conveyor configured to support the packaging material and the objects located in the interior space bounded by the packaging material.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system comprises:
 a discharge conveyor configured to convey the package around the preceding object after the package has been severed from the packaging material.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more infeed sensors are configured to generate signals indicative of the detected heights of the objects as the objects, wherein the signals indicative of the detected heights include at least one of:
 an indication whether any portion of one of the objects exceeds a predetermined height,   an indication of a height of a leading edge of one of the objects,   an indication of a height of a trailing edge of one of the objects,   an indication of a height profile of one of the objects.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal sealer configured to form a longitudinal seal in the packaging material, wherein the longitudinal seal closes a longitudinal edge of the package around the preceding object.   
     
     
         11 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material is multilayered and include an outer layer adapted to be heat sealed to seal the packaging material to itself. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a downstream package handling system configured to receive packages severed from the packaging material and to selectively route each of the packages to one of a plurality of package destinations.   
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of package destinations comprises:
 a first bin designated to hold packages to be shipped by a first shipping company; and   a second bin designated to hold packages to be shipped by a second shipping company.   
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of package destinations further comprises:
 a third bin designated to hold packages that are deemed to be flawed.   
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the downstream package handling system includes one or more routing elements configured to selectively route the each of the packages to one of the plurality of package destinations. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more routing elements includes at least one of: a set of directional rollers, a conveyor belt, a door, or a robotic arm. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the downstream package handling system is configured to receive signals from the computing device indicative of the one of the plurality of package destinations to which each of the packages is to be routed. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a labeling mechanism configured to print or place labels on the packages.   
     
     
         19 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the labels include at least one of human-readable information or machine-readable information. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the labels include shipping information for the packages.