Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC

Eric Charles Wright

Thomas David Wetsch

Michael Edward Ferringer

Disclosed is a dunnage apparatus, including a converting station and a deflector. The converting station converts a line of high-density supply material into low-density dunnage and ejects the dunnage at an exit in an exit trajectory along a path. The deflector is repositionable with respect to the exit between a first position, in which the deflector is interposed in the path to deflect the path of the dunnage from the exit trajectory to a first deflected trajectory, and a second position. The deflector is retained in each position during the ejection of the dunnage.

Dunnage apparatus carton filler

Stock material units that may be used in a dunnage conversion machine. For example, stock material units include sheet material that may be fed into the dunnage conversion machine and may be converted thereby into dunnage.

Strap assembly on stock material units for a dunnage conversion machine

Splice member on stock material units for a dunnage conversion machine

Disclosed herein are protective packaging stock material units that are used in a dunnage system. A dunnage system includes a dunnage conversion machine and a supply station. The supply station is a cart that includes a biased support that is connected to a vertical side support. The biased support is movable from an open position to a closed position with respect to opposing vertical side supports. In the closed position, the biased support is configured to at least partially block the opening between the opposing vertical side supports. In the open position, the biased support leaves the opening between the opposing vertical side supports sufficiently open to load fanfold stock material therein. The biased support is biased towards the closed position and the open position. The supply station also includes an alignment device forming a funnel positioned under its base. The alignment device receives a dunnage machine stand base causing the supply cart to consistently align with the stand base in response to the stand base being slid into engagement with the alignment device.

Fanfold supply cart

Provided is a dunnage apparatus, comprising a converting station and a static remover. The converting station converts a line of high-density stock material into low density dunnage and moves the dunnage along a material path in a downstream direction. The static remover is electrically grounded and contacts the dunnage to thereby remove static buildup from the material.

Dunnage apparatus with static remover

Stock material units that may be used in a dunnage conversion machine. For example, stock material units include sheet material that may be fed into the dunnage conversion machine and may be converted thereby into dunnage. The stock material unit includes a continuous sheet of material including a tapered sheet section defined by a plurality of slanted folds and positioned adjacent to at least one face of the three-dimensional body, and a splice member. The splice member includes a base having a first side attached to a portion of the continuous sheet of foldable material that is positioned adjacent to the tapered sheet section and has an opposite, second side. The splice member also includes a connector that has a first portion non-removably attached to the tapered sheet section and a second portion removably attached to at least a portion of the second side of the base.

Disclosed herein is a dunnage conversion machine for converting stock material to dunnage. The dunnage conversion machine includes a converting station and a drive mechanism positioned downstream of the converting station. The converting station includes a dunnage intake and a shaping member. The intake member includes an opening that constricts stock material as the stock material is pulled into and through the intake. The shaping member is positioned upstream of the intake member. The shaping member manipulates the path of the stock material in a way that causes the stock material to begin to bend or curl prior to being pulled into the intake. The drive mechanism receives the stock material and pulls the stock material over the shaping member.

Dunnage supply intake

Stock material units that may be used in a dunnage conversion machine. For example, stock material units include sheet material that may be fed into the dunnage conversion machine and may be converted thereby into dunnage. The stock material unit includes one or more material sheets that form a three-dimensional body and a strap assembly wrapped about the three-dimensional body. The strap assembly includes a base sheet that defines a first face of the strap assembly, a reinforcement member secured to the base sheet and extending along at least a portion of a length thereof, and an adhesive securing a first end of the strap assembly to an opposite, second end of the strap assembly to retain the dunnage in the stock material unit configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Bolingbrook, IL, United States of America

Eric Charles Wright