IP Library Granted Patent US 12,187,469
Granted Patent B1
US 12,187,469 · App. 18/234,875 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Method for packing an article

Inventors: Chin-Chang Liu (Taichung, TW); Chi-Jan Su (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: TRANSPAK EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
B65B13/06B65B13/16B65B13/181B65B13/22B65B13/24
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,187,469
App. No.
18/234,875
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method for packing includes a preparing step, a moving step, a first time feeding strap step, an encircling article step, a first time tightening step, a second time feeding strap step, a manual inserting step, a second time tightening step, and a strap cutting and bonding step. A strap feeding and retreating control unit of the strapping machine is controlled to tighten the packing strap tightly around the article, and then the strap feeding and retreating control unit is controlled to automatically pull out the packing strap, so that two insertion spaces are created between the packing strap and the article. The two right-angle pad elements can be respectively inserted into the two insertion spaces. Then, the packing strap is tightened to tightly wrap around the article and the two right-angle pad elements. Next, the packing strap is cut and bonded to complete the packing action of the article.

Claims (11)

1. A method for packing an article, comprising:

(1) a preparing step comprising preparing an article, a pallet, a strapping machine, and at least two right-angle pad elements, wherein the article has a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surf aces respectively arranged thereon, the top surface having a first edge and a second edge respectively arranged thereon, the article being placed on the pallet via the bottom surface of the article, the pallet having a bottom space disposed thereon, wherein the strapping machine has a plurality of movable wheels, a strap supply unit, a strap feeding and retreating control unit, a strap cutting and bonding unit, and an L-shaped strap guide unit respectively arranged thereon, wherein the plurality of movable wheels are used to move the strapping machine, wherein the strap supply unit is used to provide a packing strap, wherein the packing strap has a supply end arranged thereon, wherein the supply end is capable of being pulled out from the strap supply unit, passing through the strap feeding and retreating control unit and the strap cutting and bonding unit in sequence, and finally being set on the L-shaped strap guide unit, wherein the L-shaped strap guide unit has a strap outlet portion, a strap return portion, and a stopper portion respectively arranged thereon, wherein the supply end is disposed on the strap outlet portion;

(2) a moving step comprising moving the strapping machine by the plurality of movable wheels, and then making the strap outlet portion of the L-shaped strap guide unit extend into the bottom space;

(3) a first strap feeding step comprising controlling the strap feeding and retreating control unit to feed the packing strap so that the supply end of the packing strap extends out of the strap outlet portion;

(4) an encircling article step comprising pulling the supply end of the packing strap to wrap the packing strap around the article, then passing the supply end into the strap return portion and fixing the supply end on the stopper portion so that the packing strap surrounds the article;

(5) a first tightening step comprising controlling the strap feeding and retreating control unit to tighten the packing strap, so that the packing strap is tightly wrapped around the article;

(6) a second strap feeding step comprising controlling the strap feeding and retreating control unit to pull out a first length of the packing strap from the strap supply unit so as to generate a first insertion space between the packing strap and the first edge, and a second insertion space between the packing strap and the second edge;

(7) a manual inserting step comprising inserting the at least two right-angle pad elements into the first insertion space and the second insertion space, respectively, wherein the at least two right-angle pad elements are respectively limited by the packing strap so as to prevent the at least two right-angle pad elements from falling down;

(8) a second tightening step comprising controlling the strap feeding and retreating control unit to automatically tighten the packing strap, so that the packing strap is tightly wrapped around the article and the at least two right-angle pad elements; and

(9) a strap cutting and bonding step comprising controlling the strap cutting and bonding unit to cut off and form an overlapping portion of the packing strap adjacent to the supply end, and to bond the overlapping portion to the supply end via thermal bonding so as to complete packing of the article.

2. The method for packing an article, as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the second strap feeding step, the first length is between 12 and 18 centimeters.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 21, 2024
From: TEKPAK CORPORATION
To: TRANSPAK EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069350/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: TEKPAK CORPORATION; TRANSPAK EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
To: TEKPAK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068201/0723 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2023
From: LIU, CHIN-CHANG; SU, CHI-JAN
To: TEKPAK CORPORATION; TRANSPAK EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064616/0150 →
References Cited (11)
US 3329262A · Martin · 1967 [cited by examiner]
US 3691939A · Goodley · 1972 [cited by examiner]
US 3949662A · Woomer · 1976 [cited by examiner]
US 4011632A · MacDonald · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4587791A · Brouse · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 5289668A · Meyer · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 6360932B1 · Liu · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 6745678B1 · Liu · 2004 [cited by examiner]
BE 890814A · 1982 [cited by examiner]
DE 202010000360U1 · 2010 [cited by examiner]
TW 200505746A · 2005 [cited by examiner]