A lifting device (20) for lifting and transporting a dunnage conversion machine (30) to and from an elevated position has a small footprint that allows for better maneuverability in tight spaces difficult for a forklift to access. The lifting device includes a base frame (42), an upright support (44) that is fixed relative to the base frame, and an extendable support (48) that is adjustable between a lower position and a higher position. The lifting device also includes a lifting unit (46) coupled to the extendable support to raise and lower the extendable support relative to the base frame between the lower position and the higher position. The extendable support is configured to be attached to the dunnage conversion machine by a machine interface bracket (60).
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B62B 3/04 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheelsSteering devices thereforEquipment therefor involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carriedLoad handling equipment
A system for closing a shipping container that has a rectangular bottom wall, upstanding side walls extending from the periphery of the bottom wall, and an open top end, includes a sled capable of moving the container between a first station and a second station spaced from the first station, and a flap-folding assembly movable with the sled. The flap-folding assembly is configured to inwardly fold flaps of the container while the sled moves the container between the first station and the second station.
B65B 7/20 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
B65B 7/28 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
B65B 57/12 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
Goods & Services
Kraft paper; packaging materials made of recycled paper; recycled kraft paper; packaging paper; paper for wrapping and packaging; packaging material made of paper; cushioning material made of paper; void fill materials made of paper”.
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
Goods & Services
(1) Kraft paper; packaging materials made of recycled paper; recycled kraft paper; packaging paper; paper for wrapping and packaging; packaging material made of paper; cushioning material made of paper; void fill materials made of paper
A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.
A packaging system and method supplies dunnage products to a distribution assembly for distribution from a supply to a selected one of a plurality of packing stations. The distribution assembly includes a closed distribution path, at least one dunnage carrier configured to transport the dunnage product along the distribution path, a plurality of control surfaces, and a dunnage deflector at each packing station. Each of the control surfaces has multiple cam paths. The dunnage carrier includes at least one cam follower configured to engage a selected one of the cam paths. And the dunnage deflector is selectively operable to engage the dunnage product in the dunnage carrier to direct the cam follower onto the selected cam path to deliver the dunnage product to the selected one of the packing stations.
B65B 37/00 - Supplying or feeding fluent-solid, plastic, or liquid material, or loose masses of small articles, to be packaged
B65B 37/16 - Separating measured quantities from supply
B65B 57/14 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
B65G 47/50 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to destination signals stored in separate systems
B65B 43/56 - Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation movable stepwise to position container or receptacle for the reception of successive increments of contents
B65B 57/16 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
Goods & Services
Kraft paper; packaging materials made of recycled paper; recycled kraft paper; packaging paper; paper for wrapping and packaging; packaging material made of paper; cushioning material made of paper; void fill materials made of paper, namely, filler paper; void fill materials in the nature of honeycomb fillers of paper
A dunnage conversion apparatus for dispensing a cushioning wrap material from a roll of expandable slit sheet material is described. The roll of expandable slit sheet material includes an expandable slit sheet material in an unexpanded state. The expandable slit sheet material is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material and expanded to a pre-expanded state and an expanded state. To expand the expandable slit sheet material and form the cushioning wrap material, a stretching force is applied to the expandable slit sheet material in a stretching direction as it is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material. Accordingly, the dunnage conversion apparatus includes a tensioning device for assisting in the application of such stretching force.
B65H 23/08 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle acting on web roll being unwound
B31D 1/00 - Multiple-step processes for making flat articles
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
A brake assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes a first arm and a second arm rotationally affixed to a first location and a second location on a mounting surface, respectively. The arms include a brake pad disposed at an end opposite the mounting surface. The second mounting location is spaced apart from the first mounting location, and the second arm crosses over the first arm. The brake assembly also includes a spring disposed between the first arm and the second arm. The spring biases the brake pads apart from one another. When a roll of sheet stock material is mounted over the brake pads, the weight of the roll and the spring cooperate to provide a sheet material with a consistent tension from the roll to the dunnage conversion machine.
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65H 23/08 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle acting on web roll being unwound
B65H 23/06 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle
B65H 23/182 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in unwinding mechanisms or in connection with unwinding operations
15.
END-OF-LINE BOX PROCESSING ONBOARD AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS
A packaging system for end-of-line box processing includes two or more end-of-line box processing stations each configured to perform one or more end-of-line processing operations, an autonomous vehicle, and a controller. The box processing stations include a supply of boxes, a product delivery station where objects to be shipped are placed in a box, and a sensor for detecting characteristics of the box and the objects in the box. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously transport the box from the product delivery station to selected ones of the two or more box processing stations. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the autonomous vehicle, and is configured to selectively direct the autonomous vehicle to transport the box from the product delivery station to other selected ones of the two or more box processing stations, based at least in part on information from the sensor.
B65B 7/16 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
B65B 43/42 - Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up stateFeeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging positionLocating containers or receptacles at the filling positionSupporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
B65B 43/54 - Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
B65B 57/04 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
B65B 65/00 - Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided forArrangements of such details
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
B65B 55/20 - Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
A dunnage conversion machine includes a forming assembly configured to form a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that is configured to pull the sheet stock material through the forming assembly. The machine also includes a tear assist assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that includes a pinch arm on one side of the path and a stop opposing the pinch arm on an opposite side of the path. The pinch arm is movable between a resting position in which the pinch arm is located on the one side of the path, and a pinching position in which the pinch arm is located in the path to capture the strip of dunnage between the pinch arm and the stop. Reversing the feed assembly while the pinch arm is in the pinching position causes the strip of dunnage to tear.
A method for wrapping a product for shipment includes advancing a base layer in a downstream direction and placing a product for wrapping on the base layer. After the product is placed on the base layer, an adhesive is deposited onto the base layer at a location adjacent the product. A cover layer is then applied over the top of the product and the base layer. The cover layer is secured to the base layer via the adhesive, and the product is secured to the base layer by the cover layer being secured to the base layer both upstream and downstream of the product. The base layer is then transversely folded over both the cover layer and the product to securely wrap the product for shipment.
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 9/02 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, between opposed webs
B65B 11/50 - Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
B65B 51/02 - Applying adhesives or sealing liquids
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material Custom manufacture of machines that wad and shape paper sheet material for use as packing material inside packages; custom manufacture of packaging and wrapping systems Design services for packaging; design services for packaging, namely, custom design of packaging and wrapping systems
A padded mailer includes a pouch formed by front and rear sheets, each including a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The sheets are connected along their bottom edges and each of their side edges to define an interior space. The top edges of the sheets are unconnected to form an opening into the interior space. The padded mailer also includes a liner disposed in the interior space, including an expandable sheet having a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The bottom edge of the expandable sheet is secured adjacent the bottom edges of the front and rear sheets, and the top edge and the side edges of the expandable sheet are unsecured to the front and rear sheets. Pulling the top edge of the expandable sheet relative to the pouch causes the expandable sheet to expand and increase the thickness of the liner.
B65D 27/00 - Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular flexible containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
B65D 81/03 - Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films
Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping, and parts for such machines; packaging systems comprising a machine for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping and parts for such machines.
(1) Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping, and parts for such machines; packaging systems comprising a machine for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping and parts for such machines
A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.
A lifting device (20) for lifting and transporting a dunnage conversion machine (30) to and from an elevated position has a small footprint that allows for better maneuverability in tight spaces difficult for a forklift to access. The lifting device includes a base frame (42), an upright support (44) that is fixed relative to the base frame, and an extendable support (48) that is adjustable between a lower position and a higher position. The lifting device also includes a lifting unit (46) coupled to the extendable support to raise and lower the extendable support relative to the base frame between the lower position and the higher position. The extendable support is configured to be attached to the dunnage conversion machine by a machine interface bracket (60).
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
A printing system that allows printing directly on surfaces of random-height packages includes features to adjust the height of a printer to accommodate differences in heights of different packages. A macro adjustment of printer height may made of the printer relative to a frame. A conveyer, for example a high-friction belt, moves the package into a printing region between the printer and the belt, where the printer prints information on the package, such as address information and/or other information that might normally be printed on a label. The printer height may be adjusted by a lifter that raises the printer relative to the frame to an individual height suitable for printing on that package. As the package passes through the printing region the printer may be maintained at that individual adjusted height suitable for that particular package.
B41J 25/304 - Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
B41J 25/308 - Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print gap adjustment mechanisms
B65B 61/26 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for marking or coding completed packages
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
28.
Coiler for a dunnage conversion machine and method for coiling a strip of dunnage
A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.
A dunnage conversion system for making a coil of dunnage from a sheet stock includes a coiler, a movable dancer upstream of the coiler and interposed in a path of the sheet stock, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the coiler and the movable dancer. The coiler is configured to wind the sheet stock, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the coiler based on the position of the movable dancer to control tension of the sheet stock upstream of the coiler. The sheet stock drawn about the movable dancer may be a slit-sheet stock having a plurality of slits configured to expand under tension applied in a feed direction. The controller may be configured to control expansion of the slit-sheet stock upstream of the coiler allowing conversion of the sheet stock into a coil of relatively less dense dunnage prior to or during winding.
B65H 23/195 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in winding mechanisms or in connection with winding operations
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65H 23/198 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in winding mechanisms or in connection with winding operations motor-controlled
A bag forming apparatus for forming a flat bottom of a bag includes a base, opposing sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, and a top that is operably coupled to an upper portion of each of the sidewalls. The top has an intermediate pivot axis between the sidewalls that enables the top to pivot about the pivot axis between a collapsed state and an expanded state. In the collapsed state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are closer together and the top extends upright relative to the base to form a tip for insertion into an opening of the bag. In the expanded state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are spaced further apart and the top extends horizontally relative to the base to form a platform for forming the flat bottom of the bag.
An automated pouch package-making apparatus includes a dunnage conversion apparatus and an enveloping apparatus. The dunnage conversion apparatus includes a layering device to layer an upper cover sheet material upon a lower cover sheet material with an expanded slit-sheet material therebetween, and a cross pressure applicator to apply a pressure to the layered product to bond via an adhesive a lower surface of the upper cover sheet material to an upper surface of the lower cover sheet material, thereby forming a strip of expanded dunnage. The enveloping apparatus includes a folding device to fold the strip upon itself, at a cross-wise extending crease, such that an upper surface of a first strip portion overlays an upper surface of a second strip portion, and to compress the opposite longitudinal sides of the strip along respective locations of longitudinally extending adhesive to bond the opposite longitudinal sides of the strip.
A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container includes a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location. The packaging system also includes a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location. A dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location.
B65B 61/22 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents, e.g. cotton-wool in bottles of pills
B65B 57/04 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
34.
DUNNAGE CONVERSION APPARATUS AND METHOD AND POUCH PACKAGE-MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
An automated pouch package-making apparatus includes a dunnage conversion apparatus and an enveloping apparatus. The dunnage conversion apparatus includes a layering device to layer an upper cover sheet material upon a lower cover sheet material with an expanded slit-sheet material therebetween, and a cross pressure applicator to apply a pressure to the layered product to bond via an adhesive a lower surface of the upper cover sheet material to an upper surface of the lower cover sheet material, thereby forming a strip of expanded dunnage. The enveloping apparatus includes a folding device to fold the strip upon itself, at a cross-wise extending crease, such that an upper surface of a first strip portion overlays an upper surface of a second strip portion, and to compress the opposite longitudinal sides of the strip along respective locations of longitudinally extending adhesive to bond the opposite longitudinal sides of the strip.
A machine for converting a sheet material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a forming assembly and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly. The forming assembly is configured to cause lateral edges of the sheet material to roll towards one another, forming a tubular shape. A deflector at a downstream end of the forming assembly is configured to engage the lateral edges of the sheet material and to urge the lateral edges into an interior of the tubular shape. This juxtaposes lateral edge portions of the sheet material adjacent the respective lateral edges. A forming channel at a downstream end of the forming assembly faces the deflector to receive the lateral edge portions and shape them into a tab. Finally, the feeding assembly includes rotating connecting members that engage and connect together the overlapping lateral edge portions of the sheet material forming the tab.
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
38.
Dunnage conversion machine for producing a dunnage pad having slit-sheet material therein
A dunnage conversion machine includes (i) a pair of gripping rollers configured to rotate at a first rotational speed to advance a slit-sheet material in a downstream direction; (ii) a pair of expansion rollers configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, faster than the first rotational speed, creating a stretching force on the slit-sheet material and further advancing the slit-sheet material, causing expansion of the slit-sheet material to a fully expanded state; and (iii) a pair of relaxation rollers configured to rotate at a third rotational speed, slower than the second rotational speed, reducing the stretching force and further advancing the slit-sheet material, allowing the slit-sheet material to relax to a partially expanded state. The pair of relaxation rollers (iii) also are configured to capture the slit-sheet material in the partially expanded state between a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet to form a dunnage pad.
Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping, and parts for such machines; packaging systems comprising a machine for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material, as by wadding, crumpling or shaping and parts for such machines
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
Goods & Services
(1) Paper designed for conversion into a packaging, cushioning, or void fill material for the purposes of protecting a good during shipment; Packaging material made of paper; Cushioning material made of paper; Void materials made of paper; Paper that is designed for superior protective performance for use with paper wadding, crumpling and shaping machines for the production of packaging, cushioning or void fill material
A dunnage conversion apparatus for dispensing a cushioning wrap material from a roll of expandable slit sheet material is described. The roll of expandable slit sheet material includes an expandable slit sheet material in an unexpanded state. The expandable slit sheet material is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material and expanded to a pre-expanded state and an expanded state. To expand the expandable slit sheet material and form the cushioning wrap material, a stretching force is applied to the expandable slit sheet material in a stretching direction as it is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material. Accordingly, the dunnage conversion apparatus includes a tensioning device for assisting in the application of such stretching force.
B65H 23/08 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle acting on web roll being unwound
52.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING A CUSHIONING WRAP MATERIAL
A dunnage conversion apparatus for dispensing a cushioning wrap material from a roll of expandable slit sheet material is described. The roll of expandable slit sheet material includes an expandable slit sheet material in an unexpanded state. The expandable slit sheet material is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material and expanded to a pre-expanded state and an expanded state. To expand the expandable slit sheet material and form the cushioning wrap material, a stretching force is applied to the expandable slit sheet material in a stretching direction as it is pulled from the roll of expandable slit sheet material. Accordingly, the dunnage conversion apparatus includes a tensioning device for assisting in the application of such stretching force.
B65H 23/08 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle acting on web roll being unwound
A system for closing a shipping container that has a rectangular bottom wall, upstanding side walls extending from the periphery of the bottom wall, and an open top end, includes a sled capable of moving the container between a first station and a second station spaced from the first station, and a flap-folding assembly movable with the sled. The flap-folding assembly is configured to inwardly fold flaps of the container while the sled moves the container between the first station and the second station.
B65B 7/20 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
B65B 7/28 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
B65B 57/12 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages
A supply of single-ply, fan-folded sheet stock material includes a holder that facilitates simultaneously loading multiple plies of sheet stock material into a dunnage conversion machine for conversion into a dunnage product. The holder has inclined support surfaces and intersecting support walls that support the support surfaces in their inclined orientations. The holder has a W-shape cross-section, with inclined outer support surfaces and inclined inner support surfaces that may meet in the middle. The inner support surfaces generally are perpendicular to adjacent outer support surfaces to support a generally rectangular stack and sub-stacks of single-ply, fan-folded sheet stock material. The inclined support surfaces of the holder facilitate splitting the stack in half and supporting the two sub-stacks so that pages on top of the two stacks, connected by a center fold line, can be drawn into the conversion machine simultaneously.
A dunnage conversion system includes a conversion machine, a coiling mechanism, and a controller. The conversion machine includes a conversion assembly that converts a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage that has a density that is lower than the density of the stock material. The coiling mechanism is arranged to receive the strip of dunnage from the conversion machine, and includes rotatable coiling elements that can selectively wind the strip of dunnage into a coil configuration. The controller is in communication with the conversion machine and the coiling mechanism and controls operation of the conversion assembly to produce a plurality of discrete lengths of dunnage of a desired length and controls the coiling mechanism to selectively coil one or more lengths of dunnage.
A cushioning conversion machine converts a sheet stock material into a relatively lower-density cushioning dunnage product. An exemplary sheet stock material includes two sheets that each overlap a common side of another sheet and are connected to respective lateral edges of the other sheet. The conversion machine includes a forming assembly having a former for shaping and randomly crumpling the sheet material, a set of adjustable guide members to guide the crumpled sheet material to a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly, and a severing assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that separates discrete lengths of cushioning. The severing assembly includes a window frame passage that guides the crumpled sheet material to an outlet during operation of the feeding assembly and constrains the crumpled sheet stock material during operation of the severing assembly.
A machine for converting a sheet material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a forming assembly and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly. The forming assembly is configured to form the sheet material into a tubular shape with lateral edges of the sheet material adjacent one another. A deflector at a downstream end of the forming assembly is configured to engage the lateral edges of the sheet material and to urge the lateral edges into an interior of the tubular shape. This juxtaposes lateral edge portions of the sheet material adjacent the respective lateral edges. A forming channel at a downstream end of the forming assembly faces the deflector to receive the lateral edge portions and shape them into a tab. Finally, the feeding assembly includes rotating connecting members that engage and connect the overlapping lateral edge portions of the sheet material forming the tab.
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
67.
DUNNAGE CONVERSION MACHINE AND METHOD WITH ASSISTED TEAR APPARATUS
A dunnage conversion machine includes a forming assembly configured to form a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that is configured to pull the sheet stock material through the forming assembly. The machine also includes a tear assist assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that includes a pinch arm on one side of the path and a stop opposing the pinch arm on an opposite side of the path. The pinch arm is movable between a resting position in which the pinch arm is located on the one side of the path, and a pinching position in which the pinch arm is located in the path to capture the strip of dunnage between the pinch arm and the stop. Reversing the feed assembly while the pinch arm is in the pinching position causes the strip of dunnage to tear.
A dunnage conversion machine includes a forming assembly configured to form a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that is configured to pull the sheet stock material through the forming assembly. The machine also includes a tear assist assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that includes a pinch arm on one side of the path and a stop opposing the pinch arm on an opposite side of the path. The pinch arm is movable between a resting position in which the pinch arm is located on the one side of the path, and a pinching position in which the pinch arm is located in the path to capture the strip of dunnage between the pinch arm and the stop. Reversing the feed assembly while the pinch arm is in the pinching position causes the strip of dunnage to tear.
A dunnage conversion system includes a machine for converting a stock material into a strip of relatively lower-density dunnage, a coiling mechanism for winding the strip into a coil, a taping mechanism for automatically securing a trailing end of the strip to the coil, and a coil ejecting mechanism for automatically removing the coil from the coiling mechanism. The taping mechanism includes a guide surface between an outlet of the machine and the coiling mechanism to guide the strip to the coiling mechanism and to guide tape for engagement with a trailing end of the strip and to secure the trailing end of the strip to the coil. The coil ejecting mechanism includes a lever arm that pivots to push the completed coil off the coiling mechanism.
A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.
A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.
A dunnage conversion system for expanding an unexpanded slit sheet stock material to form an expanded dunnage product. The dunnage conversion system includes a converging chute to inwardly gather laterally-extending edges of sheet stock material towards one another, causing random crumpling of the sheet stock material to form a modified ply. The conversion system also includes feed wheels that advance the modified ply through the converging chute and pinch rollers that cooperate with the feed wheels to expand the modified ply traveling between the feed wheels and the pinch rollers to form a dunnage product. The expanded dunnage product is expanded both in a longitudinal feed direction and in thickness as compared to the unexpanded slit sheet stock material, and thus is a three-dimensional product having increased volume and lower density per unit of length as compared to the unexpanded slit sheet stock material.
A padded mailer includes a pouch formed by front and rear sheets, each including a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The sheets are connected along their bottom edges and each of their side edges to define an interior space. The top edges of the sheets are unconnected to form an opening into the interior space. The padded mailer also includes a liner disposed in the interior space, including an expandable sheet having a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The bottom edge of the expandable sheet is secured adjacent the bottom edges of the front and rear sheets, and the top edge and the side edges of the expandable sheet are unsecured to the front and rear sheets. Pulling the top edge of the expandable sheet relative to the pouch causes the expandable sheet to expand and increase the thickness of the liner.
B65D 27/00 - Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular flexible containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
B65D 81/03 - Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
A bound pad presents a compact and convenient form of providing a two-ply construction that includes a slit-sheet stock material that may be positioned on or hung from a flat surface at the end-user's site. The bound pad includes sheets of slit-sheet stock material that are interleafed with non-die cut separator sheets. The sheets are bound together adjacent one edge, and may be weakened adjacent the bound edge to facilitate their removal from the bound pad during use. A user creates tension by pulling a free edge of the sheet of slit sheet material away from the bound edge, thereby expanding the slit material sheet to form an expanded packaging material. The user places an article on the bound pad, wraps the article in the sheets, and tears the sheets to remove the wrapped article from the bound pad.
B65D 81/127 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using rigid or semi-rigid sheets of shock-absorbing material
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65B 61/22 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents, e.g. cotton-wool in bottles of pills
B65D 65/46 - Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials
B65D 81/02 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
A padded mailer includes a pouch formed by front and rear sheets, each including a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The sheets are connected along their bottom edges and each of their side edges to define an interior space. The top edges of the sheets are unconnected to form an opening into the interior space. The padded mailer also includes a liner disposed in the interior space, including an expandable sheet having a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposing side edges. The bottom edge of the expandable sheet is secured adjacent the bottom edges of the front and rear sheets, and the top edge and the side edges of the expandable sheet are unsecured to the front and rear sheets. Pulling the top edge of the expandable sheet relative to the pouch causes the expandable sheet to expand and increase the thickness of the liner.
B65D 81/03 - Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
B65D 27/00 - Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular flexible containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
78.
Supply of sheet stock material for a dunnage conversion machine and a method of converting same into a dunnage product
A supply (22) of sheet stock material (24, 34) for a dunnage conversion machine (26) that is readily spliced to another supply includes (a) one or more plies of sheet material (24, 34) having (i) multiple longitudinally-extending sections, including a center section (42) bounded by lateral sections (40), where the lateral sections (40) are folded over a common face of the center section (42) along longitudinal fold lines (44) at lateral edges of the folded sheet material, and (ii) a leading end (60) and a trailing end (62) at respective longitudinally-opposite ends of the sheet material, where the lateral sections (40) are separated from the center section (42) adjacent the leading end (60) and adjacent the trailing end (62) along respective lines of separation; and (b) a splicing adhesive (76) applied to the sheet material adjacent the leading end (60) or the trailing end (62) on both the center section (42) and each of the lateral WO 2020/092578 A1 sections (40) to facilitate splicing each section to respective sections of two supplies.
A dunnage product has a length dimension with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A plurality of segments are distributed along the length dimension between the first end and the second end, including an uncrumpled segment of uncrumpled sheet stock material. The uncrumpled segment is positioned between at least one randomly-crumpled segment of randomly-crumpled sheet stock material on each side of the uncrumpled segment. The uncrumpled segment facilitates easier insertion of the dunnage product into a container and allows for layering a crossing dunnage product without increasing the thickness of the products in the area of overlap.
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65B 55/20 - Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
80.
MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING DUNNAGE HAVING AN X-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION PROFILE
A dunnage conversion machine includes a bunching assembly that randomly crumples at least two plies of sheet stock material into modified plies having a relatively thicker three-dimensional shape, and a feeding assembly that advances and connects together longitudinally-extending portions of the modified plies to form a dunnage strip. A diverter minimizes overlap of and encourages separation of lateral edges of the modified plies from one another, and a severing assembly severs distinct dunnage products from the strip. An exemplary resultant dunnage product includes two or more plies of crumpled sheet material interconnected along a longitudinally-extending portion having interconnected overlapped portions of each of the plies and a longitudinally-extending line of connection. Each ply may extend laterally outwardly along randomly crumpled edge portions having a crumpled lateral width greater than a lateral width of the longitudinally-extending portion, the edge portions extending from the line of connection to opposed, laterally-extending free edges.
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Automated equipment in the nature of machines for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor. Custom manufacture of automated equipment for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor. Design of automated equipment for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor.
Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material and parts therefor; packaging systems comprising a machine for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material and structural and replacement parts therefor.
(1) Machines for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material and parts therefor; packaging systems comprising a machine for converting paper or other sheet material into a packing material and structural and replacement parts therefor
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Automated equipment in the nature of machines for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor (1) Custom manufacture of automated equipment for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor
(2) Design of automated equipment for handling, forming, sizing, and sealing boxes, cartons, and other containers, and filling boxes, cartons, and other containers with void-fill, cushioning, and insulating material, and components therefor
A bag forming apparatus for forming a flat bottom of a bag includes a base, opposing sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, and a top that is operably coupled to an upper portion of each of the sidewalls. The top has an intermediate pivot axis between the sidewalls that enables the top to pivot about the pivot axis between a collapsed state and an expanded state. In the collapsed state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are closer together and the top extends upright relative to the base to form a tip for insertion into an opening of the bag. In the expanded state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are spaced further apart and the top extends horizontally relative to the base to form a platform for forming the flat bottom of the bag.
A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container includes a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location. The packaging system also includes a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location. A dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location.
B65B 55/20 - Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
B65B 61/22 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents, e.g. cotton-wool in bottles of pills
90.
DUNNAGE PRODUCT TRANSFER USING AN ALIGNMENT REFERENCE PLANE
A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container includes a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location. The packaging system also includes a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location. A dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location.
B65B 55/20 - Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
B65B 61/22 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents, e.g. cotton-wool in bottles of pills
B65B 57/00 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices
91.
DUNNAGE CONVERSION MACHINE FOR PRODUCING A DUNNAGE PAD HAVING SLIT-SHEET MATERIAL THEREIN
A dunnage conversion machine includes (i) a pair of gripping rollers configured to rotate at a first rotational speed to advance a slit-sheet material in a downstream direction; (ii) a pair of expansion rollers configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, faster than the first rotational speed, creating a stretching force on the slit-sheet material and further advancing the slit-sheet material, causing expansion of the slit-sheet material to a fully expanded state; and (iii) a pair of relaxation rollers configured to rotate at a third rotational speed, slower than the second rotational speed, reducing the stretching force and further advancing the slit-sheet material, allowing the slit-sheet material to relax to a partially expanded state. The pair of relaxation rollers (iii) also are configured to capture the slit-sheet material in the partially expanded state between a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet to form a dunnage pad.
A dunnage conversion machine includes (i) a pair of gripping rollers configured to rotate at a first rotational speed to advance a slit-sheet material in a downstream direction; (ii) a pair of expansion rollers configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, faster than the first rotational speed, creating a stretching force on the slit-sheet material and further advancing the slit-sheet material, causing expansion of the slit-sheet material to a fully expanded state; and (iii) a pair of relaxation rollers configured to rotate at a third rotational speed, slower than the second rotational speed, reducing the stretching force and further advancing the slit-sheet material, allowing the slit-sheet material to relax to a partially expanded state. The pair of relaxation rollers (iii) also are configured to capture the slit-sheet material in the partially expanded state between a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet to form a dunnage pad.
A bundle of packing material includes at least two strips of packing material folded into a compact configuration. The strips of packing material include a top strip having a length dimension between first and second end portions and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a bottom strip having a length dimension between first and second end portions and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The central portion of the top strip overlays the central portion of the bottom strip and the length dimension of the top strip is oriented orthogonal to the length dimension of the bottom strip. The first and second end portions of top strip are folded over the central portions, and the first and second end portions of the bottom strip are folded over the central portions.
B65D 81/38 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B65B 13/02 - Applying and securing binding material around articles or groups of articles, e.g. using strings, wires, strips, bands or tapes
B65D 5/50 - Internal supporting or protecting elements for contents
An unpowered, manually operable apparatus for dispensing cushioning wrap material drawn concurrently from a roll of separator material and a self-contained cartridge that includes a roll of expandable sheet material. The rolls are supported on a stand for rotation about respective parallel, spaced-apart axes. In addition to the roll, the cartridge includes a tensioning assembly and support panels that abut respective ends of the roll. The tensioning assembly and the support panels cooperate with the stand to control rotational resistance of the roll. The rotational resistance causes the expandable sheet material to expand in length and thickness as it is manually pulled from the stand with the separator material, and support surfaces on the stand hold the cartridge and the separator roll in position. When the cartridge containing the expandable sheet material is depleted, the cartridge is readily removed and replaced.
B65H 23/08 - Registering, tensioning, smoothing, or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle acting on web roll being unwound
A manually-operated dunnage conversion apparatus includes a housing, a support mounted in the housing and configured to support a supply of sheet material for dispensing from the dunnage conversion apparatus, and one or both of (a) a guide member mounted in the housing downstream of the support and providing a resilient surface across which the sheet material may be drawn to restrict tearing of the sheet material as it is drawn from the dunnage conversion apparatus, and (b) a tensioning assembly mounted in the housing and configured to apply a compressive force between opposite axial sides of the housing to control the force necessary to dispense the supply of sheet material. Except for the tensioning assembly, the apparatus may be made of paper-based products, making the apparatus recyclable, reusable, and composed of a renewable resource, as well as inexpensive to manufacture.
An improved expandable slit-sheet stock material is configured to aid in temporarily restricting opening of a plurality of slits of the slit-sheet stock material, such as during winding of the unexpanded stock material or during expansion of the stock material. Each slit of the plurality of slits includes one or more un-slit reinforcement portions, such as reinforcement ties, extending fully between opposite longitudinal sides of the slit, and disposed between opposed transverse endpoints of the slit. The reinforcement ties minimize or prevent tearing of the stock material during the winding or expansion. A dunnage conversion system for expanding the slit-sheet stock material includes an expander having a pair of opposed rollers. The rollers engage the stock material to effect breaking of the un-slit reinforcement portions and expansion of the slit-sheet stock material.
B31D 1/00 - Multiple-step processes for making flat articles
B31D 3/02 - Making articles of cellular structure, e.g. insulating board honeycombed structures
B31D 3/04 - Making articles of cellular structure, e.g. insulating board cellular packaging articles, e.g. for bottles
B31D 5/00 - Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
B32B 3/24 - Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. apertured or formed of separate pieces of material characterised by an apertured layer, e.g. of expanded metal
B32B 3/26 - Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layerLayered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids
B65B 55/20 - Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
B65D 81/03 - Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films
B65D 85/672 - Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for web or tape-like material wound in flat spiral form on cores
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
B65D 81/02 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
B32B 29/00 - Layered products essentially comprising paper or cardboard
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B32B 3/12 - Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. apertured or formed of separate pieces of material characterised by a layer of regularly-arranged cells whether integral or formed individually or by conjunction of separate strips, e.g. honeycomb structure
100.
Method of loading a dunnage conversion machine and sheet stock material useful therein
A supply of stock material for a dunnage conversion machine includes two plies of sheet stock material wound into a roll or fan-folded into a stack. Each ply has disposed on a corresponding leading or trailing end thereof an adhesive layer and a removable release liner covering the adhesive layer. When applied to a leading end of the supply, the adhesive layer is applied to opposing, outwardly-facing surfaces of the respective plies. When a supply of stock material is almost spent, the operator removes the release liners from both plies to expose respective adhesive layers, and then interposes the leading end of a new supply between the plies of the trailing end of the almost-spent supply and presses the layers together to attach the plies of the new supply to respective plies of the almost-spent supply, for conversion into dunnage.
