Sealed Air Corporation (us)

Sealed Air Corporation

Christopher C Hamlin

Thomas P Orsini

Russell T Christman

Patrick G White

Daniel N LaFrance

A dunnage conversion system () includes a supply area (), a dunnage conversion machine (), and an arcuate slot (). The supply area () is configured to hold a supply of a sheet material (). The sheet material () is in a substantially flat configuration in the supply area (). The dunnage conversion machine () is configured to pull the sheet material () from the supply area () and to convert the sheet material () into a non-flat configuration. The arcuate slot () is positioned between the supply area () and the dunnage conversion machine () such that the sheet material () is fed through the arcuate slot () as the sheet material () passes along a path from the supply area () to the dunnage conversion machine ().

System with arcuate slot for feeding sheet material

A drive system is configured to feed a sheet material. The drive system includes a first roller and a second roller. A circumference of the first roller has a first curved profile. A circumference of the second roller has a second curved profile. The first and second rollers are arranged such that, when the sheet material is not located between the first and second rollers, the first curved profile of the first roller contacts the second curved profile of the second roller. The first and second rollers are further arranged such that, when the sheet material is located between the first and second rollers, rotation of at least one of the first and second rollers causes the sheet material to be fed through the drive system.

Sheet material drive rollers having circumferences with curved profiles

A system () for closing mailers includes a forming funnel () and a fusing device (). The forming funnel includes funneling surfaces that receive an opening of a mailer in an insertion direction () and constrain the opening of the mailer after the opening of the mailer is inserted. The funneling surfaces are arranged to continue constraining the opening of the mailer as the mailer moves in a sliding direction (). The fusing device includes a slot that receives the constrained opening of the mailer from the forming funnel. The fusing device applies pressure and heat to the opening of the mailer as the opening of the mailer moves through the slot. The pressure and the heat applied by the fusing device cause portions of the opening to fuse together to close the mailer.

Forming funnel for constraining cushioned mailers as well as system and method for closing an opening of a mailer

A dispenser () includes a supply structure () and a biasing structure (). The supply structure holds mailers (). A mailer from the mailers includes a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are closed at a first side of the mailer, closed at a second side of the mailer, and closed at a closed end of the mailer. The first and second walls are not closed at an open end of the mailer. The mailer is arranged to be dispensed from the supply structure (). The biasing structure () is arranged to engage the mailer as the mailer is dispensed from the supply structure (). The biasing structure () has narrowing surfaces configured to contact the sides of the mailer as the mailer is dispensed. The narrowing surfaces of the biasing structure () are arranged to narrow the open end of the mailer thereby causing the open end to be biased open.

Mailer dispensers

A system includes a forming funnel, a cutting element, and a fusing device. The forming funnel has divergent surfaces arranged to receive a mailer in an insertion direction between the divergent surfaces. The forming funnel includes a slot that constrains the mailer after the mailer is inserted between the divergent surfaces. The cutting element cuts off a portion of the mailer and to forms a cut end of the mailer as the mailer is moved through the slot in a sliding direction. The fusing device applies pressure to an exterior of the cut end of the mailer and applies heat to the cut end of the mailer as the mailer is moved through the slot. The pressure and the heat applied by the fusing device cause portions of the cut end to fuse together to close the mailer.

Size reduction of mailers

A reloading supply system includes a loading cart () and a machine (). The loading cart has a first material tray () that includes a first combed surface () configured to retain a supply material in the first material tray. The machine has a second material tray () that includes a second combed surface () configured to retain the supply material in the second material tray after the supply material is transferred from the first material tray of the loading cart to the second material tray of the machine. Teeth () of the first combed surface are configured to pass by teeth () of the second combed surface. The first combed surface and the second combed surface are configured such that the supply material in the first material tray is transferred to the second material tray as the teeth of the first combed surface pass by the teeth of the second combed surface.

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

Christopher C Hamlin