SELF-CONTAINED COMPUTATIONAL DEVICE FOR PROTECTIVE PACKAGING SYSTEMS

1 . A machine for creating protective packaging comprising:

a plurality of electromechanical components configured to create protective packaging items;

a housing enclosing at least a portion of the plurality of electromechanical components; and

a controller communicatively coupled one or more of the electromechanical components and securely mounted to the housing, wherein the controller selectively modifies one or more output characteristics of the one or more electromechanical components to generate the protective packaging items.

2 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller enclosure securely mounted to the housing, wherein the controller is received within the enclosure.

3 . The machine of claim 2 , wherein the enclosure is movable between two or more positions relative to the housing.

4 . The machine of claim 3 , wherein the enclosure rotates from a first position substantially parallel to an outer surface of the housing to a second position substantially parallel to the outer surface.

5 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel affixed to the housing and configured to selectively control a subset of the plurality of electromechanical components.

6 . The machine of claim 5 , wherein the subset of the plurality of electromechanical components includes the one or more electromechanical components communicatively coupled to the controller.

7 . An apparatus, comprising:

a packaging device for creating packaging elements; and

a self-contained computing device mounted to the packaging device and communicatively coupled to the packaging device to control the creation of packaging elements by the packaging device.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a control panel in communication with components of the packaging device to independently control creation of packaging elements by the packaging device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control panel is configured to modify a first set of packaging element characteristics and the computing device is configured to modify the first set of packaging element characteristics and a second set of packaging element characteristics.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the components is a motor, a drive gear, or a pump.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the self-contained packaging device communicates with components of the packaging device to control the packaging device's creation of packaging elements.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the components is a motor, a drive gear, or a pump.

13 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the self-contained computing device can communicate with another packaging device to control the other packaging device's creation of other packaging elements.

14 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the packaging elements are different than the other packaging elements.

15 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the packaging device is one of a foam-in-bag device, an inflatable air cushion device, or a paper dunnage machine.

16 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

the packaging device includes a control panel; and

the self-contained computing device and the control panel both include inputs to control components of the packaging device to control the creation of the packaging elements.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the functionality of the inputs on the self-contained computing device are substantially similar to the functionality of the inputs on the control panel.

18 . An apparatus, comprising:

a packaging device including a plurality of device components;

a mounting assembly affixed to the packaging device; and

a self-contained computing device contained within the mounting assembly, wherein the self-contained computing device controls one or more operations of the packaging device by directly communicating with the device components.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the packaging device is one of a foam-in-bag device, an inflatable air cushion device, or a paper dunnage machine.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a housing having a back plate and an enclosure, and wherein the mounting assembly rotates from a nested configuration to an extended configuration.

21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mounting assembly allows the self-contained computing device to rotate relative to the packaging machine.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the mounting assembly includes a hinge that allows the self-contained computing device to rotate on a pivot point to angles between 0 and 180 degrees.

23 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the hinge includes a pin exerting a frictional torque against the rotation of the self-contained computing device, and wherein the frictional torque is adjustable.

24 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a latch that secures the self-contained computing device.

25 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mounting assembly includes a top cover and multiple brackets for securing the self-contained computing device within the mounting assembly.

26 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the self-contained computing device includes at least one of a microphone or a speaker for communicating with a remote computer.

27 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the self-contained computing device includes a locating beacon that can locate the packaging device and communicate the location of the packaging device to a remote computer.

28 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the self-contained computing device is in communication with one or more other packaging devices.

29 . The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the self-contained computing device includes a locating beacon that can locate the one or more other packaging devices.

30 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the self-contained computing device can be entirely removed from the mounting assembly.

31 . A packaging machine for creating protective packaging components comprising:

a supply material input for receiving raw supplies;

one or more machine components configured to convert the raw supplies into completed packaging materials;

a material output for outputting completed packaging materials created using the raw supplies; and

a self-contained computing device in electrical in communication with one or more machine components and configured to selectively adjust characteristics of the one or more machine components.

32 . The packaging machine of claim 31 , wherein the self-contained computing device is contained within a mounting assembly.

33 . The packaging machine of claim 32 , wherein the self-contained computing device is removable from the mounting assembly.