Abstract: A packaging material including one or more expandable layers that provide protection to contents of a packaging enclosure formed with the packaging material. The packaging material includes at least a first layer and a second layer bonded to one another. The first layer is pulled or extended in a first direction that is effective to cause the second layer to expand in a second direction. The second layer is a cut-patterned layer which creates structural strength in the packaging material when expanded.

Abstract: A packaging material including one or more expandable layers that provide protection to contents of a packaging enclosure formed with the packaging material. The packaging material includes at least a first layer and a second layer bonded to one another. The first layer is pulled or extended in a first direction that is effective to cause the second layer to expand in a second direction. The second layer is a cut-patterned layer which creates structural strength in the packaging material when expanded.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for reorienting and transferring inventory items to a packaging device includes a support member and a packaging conveyor. The support member receives an inventory item and reorients the item to a rejection orientation or a packaging orientation. The item is moved onto the packaging conveyor in the packaging orientation and is transported to the packaging device.

Abstract: A mobile, rotatable, transport mechanism may include a rotating carrier having a plurality of conveyor sections. The rotating carrier may be moved within a facility by a robotic drive unit. In addition, the rotating carrier may be rotated between a vertical orientation for transport or storage, and a horizontal orientation for transfer of items or trays. A leveling mechanism may maintain the plurality of conveyor sections in a same relative orientation during rotation of the rotating carrier. Further, a height of the rotating carrier and/or angles of the plurality of conveyor sections may be adjusted to facilitate transfer of trays.

Abstract: An actuator system for fabricating a cavity within thermoplastic material includes a plurality of actuators arranged in an array. When dimensions of an item are determined, the actuator system may be programmed with data regarding such dimensions to fabricate a cavity for the item. A subset of the actuators, and distances by which each of the actuators is to be extended, may be selected based on dimensions of the item, in order to fabricate a cavity within the thermoplastic material that may accommodate the item therein. Additionally, the actuators and the distances may be selected based on intrinsic or extrinsic data regarding the item, and a cavity fabricated within the thermoplastic material may include one or more buffer zones or protective regions that are specifically formed with respect to aspects of the item.

Abstract: A film tensioning and steering system can be configured to extract a film from a film source. One or more film characteristics can require that the film tensioning and steering system be isolated from the film source so that a film tension can be maintained within the film tensioning and steering system. A first drive roller pair and a second drive roller pair can be configured to secure the film and enable a dampening roller to maintain the film tension between the first drive roller pair and the second drive roller pair. Additionally, the dampening roller can store an amount of the film as a film buffer. Accordingly, the film tensioning and steering system can maintain the film tension such that a steering system can align the film before the first drive roller pair provides the film at a proper alignment to a downstream system.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for automatically packaging one or more articles is disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method processes incoming articles having different and/or similar shapes and in random orientations for packaging. The system, apparatus, and method form shipping-ready customized packages, based, at least in part, on data associated with an individual article and gathered by a detecting device as the individual article moves along a first conveyor towards a packaging station of the system. The customized packages are configured to conform to each individual article's shape and size. The packaging preferably is fully recyclable and is made from paper which is expandable to create a cushioning layer around the packaged article.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various aspects of crank-based lighting, which may improve visibility of pedal-based vehicles or conveyances. In some aspects, a light generating apparatus includes a crank interface and lighting system. The crank interface may facilitate mounting of the apparatus to a crank (or crankarm) of a bicycle or other pedal-based vehicle. The lighting system may generate or emit light based on information indicating an angle, movement, and/or position of the crank, such as to cause light emission to emulate or project leg movement of a rider.

Abstract: A packaging cushion includes a first liner and a second liner opposite one another and each defining an inner surface. A transverse liner axis extends normal to the inner surfaces. The packaging cushion includes a mesh bonded to and disposed between the first and second liners. The mesh has a top mesh surface and an opposed bottom mesh surface. The mesh defines a plurality of nodes and a plurality of legs interconnecting the plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes defines 1) a top node surface defined by the top mesh surface, 2) a bottom node surface defined by the bottom mesh surface, and 3) a transverse node axis extending substantially normal to the top and bottom node surfaces. The transverse node axes of at least some of the plurality of nodes are each oriented at an oblique angle relative to the transverse liner axis.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for defect prevention for flexible container sealing systems. In one embodiment, an example flexible container sealing system may include a first camera configured to image an item disposed in a flexible container, a laser system configured to detect presence of items, a cutting assembly configured to cut a material that forms the flexible container, a sealing assembly configured to seal one or more ends of the flexible container, and a computer system configured to determine, using the first camera, a height of the item disposed in the flexible container.

Abstract: A packaging material including one or more expandable layers that provide protection to contents of a packaging enclosure formed with the packaging material. The packaging material includes at least a first layer and a second layer bonded to one another. The first layer is pulled or extended in a first direction that is effective to cause the second layer to expand in a second direction. The second layer is a cut-patterned layer which creates structural strength in the packaging material when expanded.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a moveable support platform within the container to reduce a distance that items fall into the container when stowed. The support platform is lowered by a movement mechanism as items are placed into the container. The movement mechanism may be a bladder filled with air, a biasing device, a pneumatic device, or a mechanical device. The moveable support may form a bottom portion of the container during transport of the container. In some instances, the movement mechanism may lift items out of the container to empty the container at a destination.

Abstract: A package preparation system includes a material conveyable along a longitudinal direction and including two folded layers of polymeric film joined at a fold. The fold extends longitudinally and defines a first side of the material opposite an open second side. A first welding device forms partition welds located between the two folded layers and extending from the fold to a terminus inward of the open side. A second welding device forms first and second seal welds that extend from the fold to the open side and are spaced from each other by a length extending longitudinally and traversing a plurality of the partition welds. The system includes a device comprising a nozzle insertable in the open side, and clamps that traverse the length and temporarily seal the open side around the nozzle while the nozzle inflates interior channels defined between the plurality of partition welds.

Abstract: A method of preparing a packaging laminate includes conveying a mesh of paper material having perforations against a rigid edge causing, at substantially each perforation, a mesh portion at the leading side to have an average elevation lower than that of a mesh portion on the trailing side of the perforation. The method includes expanding the perforations into cells separated from one another by legs interconnected by nodes defined in the mesh Top and bottom surfaces of the legs and nodes are reoriented from an initial orientation substantially parallel with a direction of conveyance of the mesh to an expanded orientation oblique to the direction of conveyance, such that, in the expanded orientation, the top surfaces of the nodes are substantially parallel with each other. The method includes attaching an outer liner to at least some of the bottom surfaces so as to form the packaging laminate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe wireless transmission techniques for mitigating interference between wirelessly controlled machines in a shared space. To mitigate interference, the machines may be assigned different channels within the same frequency band. However, if machines using the same channel in a frequency band receive each other's wireless signals, the wireless signals can interfere. To free up additional bandwidth, in one embodiment, the command signals are transmitted using a different frequency band than a heartbeat signal used to stop the machines in case of emergencies. In another embodiment, time multiplexing or directional antennas can be used to mitigate interference. In another example, antenna diversity and multiple-input-multiple output (MIMO) can be used to further focus the radiation pattern onto the desired machine while avoiding transmitting wireless signals to neighboring machines. In one embodiment, the machines may use dual-channels to transmit and receive duplicate data.

Abstract: A packaging cushion includes a first liner and a second liner opposite one another and each defining an inner surface. A transverse liner axis extends normal to the inner surfaces. The packaging cushion includes a mesh bonded to and disposed between the first and second liners. The mesh has a top mesh surface and an opposed bottom mesh surface. The mesh defines a plurality of nodes and a plurality of legs interconnecting the plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes defines 1) a top node surface defined by the top mesh surface, 2) a bottom node surface defined by the bottom mesh surface, and 3) a transverse node axis extending substantially normal to the top and bottom node surfaces. The transverse node axes of at least some of the plurality of nodes are each oriented at an oblique angle relative to the transverse liner axis.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe wireless transmission techniques for mitigating interference between wirelessly controlled machines in a shared space. To mitigate interference, the machines may be assigned different channels within the same frequency band. However, if machines using the same channel in a frequency band receive each other's wireless signals, the wireless signals can interfere. To free up additional bandwidth, in one embodiment, the command signals are transmitted using a different frequency band than a heartbeat signal used to stop the machines in case of emergencies. In another embodiment, time multiplexing or directional antennas can be used to mitigate interference. In another example, antenna diversity and multiple-input-multiple output (MIMO) can be used to further focus the radiation pattern onto the desired machine while avoiding transmitting wireless signals to neighboring machines. In one embodiment, the machines may use dual-channels to transmit and receive duplicate data.

Abstract: An actuator system for fabricating a cavity within thermoplastic material includes a plurality of actuators arranged in an array. When dimensions of an item are determined, the actuator system may be programmed with data regarding such dimensions to fabricate a cavity for the item. A subset of the actuators, and distances by which each of the actuators is to be extended, may be selected based on dimensions of the item, in order to fabricate a cavity within the thermoplastic material that may accommodate the item therein. Additionally, the actuators and the distances may be selected based on intrinsic or extrinsic data regarding the item, and a cavity fabricated within the thermoplastic material may include one or more buffer zones or protective regions that are specifically formed with respect to aspects of the item.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe wireless transmission techniques for mitigating interference between wirelessly controlled machines in a shared space. To mitigate interference, the machines may be assigned different channels within the same frequency band. However, if machines using the same channel in a frequency band receive each other's wireless signals, the wireless signals can interfere. To free up additional bandwidth, in one embodiment, the command signals are transmitted using a different frequency band than a heartbeat signal used to stop the machines in case of emergencies. In another embodiment, time multiplexing or directional antennas can be used to mitigate interference. In another example, antenna diversity and multiple-input-multiple output (MIMO) can be used to further focus the radiation pattern onto the desired machine while avoiding transmitting wireless signals to neighboring machines. In one embodiment, the machines may use dual-channels to transmit and receive duplicate data.

Abstract: An example system includes a conveyor configured to move a plurality of items, a ramp configured to support at least one item of the plurality of items as the at least one item is transferred from the conveyor to a tote, and a platform supported on a support surface and configured to support the tote at a location proximate the ramp. In some examples, the tote includes a base having a top surface defining at least part of an interior space of the tote. Further, the platform positions the tote such that the top surface of the base extends at an angle, relative to a horizontal plane, greater than approximately 5 degrees and less than approximately 10 degrees.