Abstract:
A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.
Abstract:
A dunnage conversion machine includes a conversion assembly having a pair of rotating members to feed stock material along a path between the rotating members mounted for rotation about respective axes to feed stock material along a path between the rotating members, and a chute that bounds the path between the rotating members. One of the rotating members and a portion of the chute are mounted for common movement toward and away from the other rotating member and another portion of the chute. The floating rotating member and floating portion of the chute are part of a subassembly that can be removed from the conversion assembly as a unit, separate from another portion of the chute and the other rotating member.
Abstract:
A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.
Abstract:
A dunnage conversion machine includes a conversion assembly having a pair of rotating members (60) to feed stock material along a path between the rotating members mounted for rotation about respective axes to feed stock material along a path between the rotating members, and a chute (112) that bounds the path between the rotating members. One of the rotating members and a portion of the chute are mounted for common movement toward and away from the other rotating member and another portion of the chute (114). The floating rotating member and floating portion of the chute are part of a subassembly that can be removed from the conversion assembly as a unit, separate from another portion of the chute and the other rotating member.
Abstract:
A dunnage conversion machine (10) and method for providing strips of dunnage that fill a void in a container are characterized by means (24) for separately guiding at least two sheets of stock material (14 and 16) to respective laterally-disposed regions of an inlet (20) to a conversion assembly (40) such that one sheet does not wrap around another sheet, and means (12) for converting the sheets into strips of dunnage that can readily separate and follow separate paths.