Abstract:
A cushioning dunnage producing machine (10) comprises a crumpler (16), a roll (20) of paper sheet material (202) having a first end (204) at a radially innermost location (206) and a second end (208) at a radially outermost location (210), the first end (204) fed into the crumpler (16), the crumpler (16) drawing the paper sheet (22) from the roll (20) and crumpling the paper sheet (202) into cushioning dunnage, and a cutter (40) which travels laterally across the cushioning dunnage to cut the dunnage into a strip of a desired length.
Abstract:
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Papier-Polstern aus einer zu einer Vorratsrolle (12) aufgerollten Papierbahn (8), wobei die Vorrichtung eine Maschine mit einer Lagervorrichtung zur drehbaren Lagerung der Vorratsrolle, eine Umformeinrichtung (22, 22', 22'') zum Umformen der Papierbahn und eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen der Papier-Polster aufweist. In einem Bereich vor dem Eintritt der Papierbahn in die Umformeinrichtung ist ein zwischen einer Andrückposition und einer Freigabeposition verschwenkbarer Bügel (30) vorgesehen, der in der Andrückposition auf der Papierbahn aufliegt.
Abstract:
A motor-free dunnage conversion system for converting a sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage includes a container having a wall with an opening therethrough, a supply of sheet stock material within the container, and a forming member. The forming member has converging sidewalls that define a passage alignable with the opening in the wall. The forming member is a converging chute having a relatively larger inlet spaced from the outlet, which is relatively smaller than the inlet. The forming member functions to crumple the sheet stock material as a packer draws the sheet stock material through the forming member to form a crumpled strip of dunnage. The forming member has a dimension that is larger than a corresponding dimension of the opening to keep the forming member from escaping the container as the packer pulls the stock material through the forming member.
Abstract:
A packaging system (10) and method for supplying and distributing dunnage products to multiple packing stations (14, 16) is characterized by a supply of dunnage products (12), a plurality of packing stations (14, 16), and a distribution assembly (20) that selectively distributes the dunnage products from the supply (12) to selected ones of the packing stations (14, 16). The supply of dunnage (12) may include a converter (22) that converts sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product. The distribution assembly (20) includes a conveyor (40), an alignment device (50) downstream of the conveyor (40), and a tiltable dunnage product support surface (60) below the alignment device (50). The alignment device (50) controls the descent of a dunnage product therethrough to the support surface (60). The support surface (60) is tiltable to selectively direct the dunnage product toward respective packing stations (14, 16).
Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine having a novel former around which a sheet material is folded to form an improved cushioning product. The former has longitudinally spaced side surfaces inclined from bottom to top toward a downstream end of the machine. The side surfaces cause the obstruction of the sheet stock material upstream of the side surfaces so that the sheet material crumples in the spaces upstream of the side surfaces, thereby increasing the cushioning properties of pillow portions of the cushioning product. The former also has a centrally located base plate which minimizes crumpling in a central portion of the sheet material so that the folded over portions and the central portion can be connected to maintain more effectively the shape of the pillow portions in the resulting cushioning product. In addition, the former has a guard plate mounted above longitudinally spaced bottom edges extending laterally outwardly from the base plate and upstream from a vertical central plane. The former also has a pair of mandrels at its downstream end which internally fluff the crumpled pillow portions before the central portion is connected. The machine also has a width adjustment device for selectively adjusting the width of the resulting cushioning product.
Abstract:
A pad production (supply) and packaging system and method for automatically producing dunnage pads and inserting one or more of the produced dunnage pads into a container for packaging of an article in the container. The invention is characterized by a pad discharge assembly (14) and/or pad insertion assembly to provide an automatic pad production and packaging system and method, that afford advantages over existing pad production and packaging arrangements. The discharge assembly, which provides for controlled discharge of dunnage pads produced by a pad producing machine, includes a gating device for affecting passage of the pad out of the holding zone in a direction transverse to the pad length. A controller (85) causes the discharge assembly to release a pad held in the holding zone for passage onto a working surface and preferably a conveyor in synchronous relation to movement of the conveyor for controlled deposition of pads onto the conveyor. The conveyor (13) conveys the pad into a pad insertion zone in a first direction, and a pusher assembly is operative to push the pad from the pad insertion zone in a direction transverse to the first direction. The pusher assembly includes a plunger for engaging and pushing a pad located at the pad insertion zone; and the pad insertion zone includes an opening over which a pad is conveyed by the conveyor, and the plunger is operable to push the pad through the opening for insertion into a container. A sensor curtain is disposed near the holding zone and/or pad insertion zone to detect the insertion of a foreign object and provide an output for disabling a severing operation. One or more pad insertion assemblies can be swivelly mounted to a stand to permit relative rotatable movement therebetween from an operating position to a loading/servicing position and vice versa.
Abstract:
A cushioning conversion system (20; 120; 320) and method for making a coil of cushioning product, including a cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322) and a coiler (24; 124; 224; 324). As a strip of cushioning product (S) is emitted from the cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322), the coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) rolls the strip of cushioning product (S) into a coiled configuration to form a coil of cushioning product (C). The coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) is adapted to allow the coil of cushioning product (C) to be removed in its coiled configuration. The cushioning conversion system may also include a guide device (26; 326), which guides the strip of cushioning product from the cushioning conversion machine's outlet (34) to the coiler (24; 124; 324), and/or a controller (28; 328), which controls the coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) based on the production of the cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322).
Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine (100) and related methodology characterized by one or more features including a feeding/connecting assembly (111) which enables an operator to easily vary a characteristic, for example density, of the cushioning product; a feeding/connecting assembly (111) wherein input and/or output wheels or rollers (127) thereof are made of at least in part of an elastomeric or other friction enhancing material, which reduces the cost and complexity of the input and output rollers (127); a modular arrangement of a forming assembly (110) and feeding/connecting assembly (111) in separate units that may be positioned remotely from one another, as may be desired for more efficient utilization of floor space; a turner bar (118) which enables alternative positioning a stock supply roll; and a volume expanding arrangement (370) cooperative with the feeding/connecting assembly (111) for reducing the density of the cushioning product and increasing product yield.
Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine having a feed apparatus for feeding stock through the machine and converting it to a cushioning product, a cutting assembly for cutting the cushioning product and a controller which includes a plurality of sensing devices for sensing the occurrence of predetermined events, a plurality of output ports for controlling one of a plurality of possible cutting assemblies which may be employed with the cushioning conversion machine, a selector switch for selecting one of a plurality of control options, and a processor for controlling the employed cutting assembly in accordance with events detected by the sensing devices and the control option selected.
Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into a continuous strip of a cushioning product. The machine includes a stock-preparing assembly which prepares the stock material; a stock-shaping assembly which shapes the prepared stock material into a continuous strip having a pillow-like portion and at least one tab portion projecting therefrom; and a tab-connecting assembly which connects the tab portion of the continuous strip whereby the pillow-like portion will maintain its pillow-like geometry.