Ranpak Corporation

Other

Heat Seal LLC

James A Simmons, Jr

Richard O Ratzel

Joseph J Harding

Steven E Armington

David V Murphy

Edward W Lintala

Robert C Cheich

Michael J Lencoski

Erwin Methorst

Judith L Skiba

James Tekavec

Pierre Kobben

Koen H M Kuypers

James E Tekavec

Thomas E Manley

Dan Coppus

Raymond P M Demers

Steven M Toneff

Edwin P Beierlorzer

Raimond P M Demers

Pierre H G Kobben

Herman R L Van Heumen

Dan Koppus

Andre Gunneweg

Luther Paul Myers

Franklin B Yap

Kenneth A Javor

Walt Ireland

Robert; c/o Ranpak Corp Cheich

A method of loading a stack of sheet stock material for use by a dunnage conversion machine, includes the following steps: (i) providing first and second stacks, the second stack being protected by a carrier having a central portion and longitudinally-spaced extensions that bound a central portion, the extensions and the central portion being joined along a weakened area defining a tear line, the central portion and the longitudinally-spaced extensions forming a planar bottom panel and a planar side panel, each panel extending substantially the length of the stack, and at a right angle to each other about a fold line over a bottom and an adjacent side of the stack, and one or more bale ties longitudinally inwardly of the tear lines holding the carrier to the stack; (ii) removing the extensions from the carrier; (iii) setting the second stack on top of the first stack; and (iv) removing the bale ties and the carrier, whereby an adhesive bonds the top page of the first stack to the bottom page of the second stack.

Carrier for a bundle of fan folded sheet material to be converted into dunnage

A packaging machine of the type that is used to hand-wrap a package with a stretchable film that is heat-fused/sealed. The machine includes a supply of film for wrapping a package and a hot plate mechanism for heat fusing the film after the package is wrapped. The hot plate mechanism includes a fever arm that moves a sealing platform from a raised position to a lowered, heat sealing position when the package is placed on the platform. A control circuit energizes a heating element forming part of the sealing platform and causes it to reach a desired heating temperature in 2 to 4 seconds, whereby fusing of the sealing film is achieved. An interval timer is used to control a signaling device such as a light to Indicate the machine is in a heating cycle. A separate timer, in conjunction with a temperature sensing thermistor, controls a length of time the heating element is energized and terminates power to the heating element prior to the end of a sealing Interval if a predetermined temperature is exceeded. The sealing intervals are selectable by the operator using a multi-positioned switch which connects selected timing resistors to the interval timers. Power to the heating element is only delivered to the heating element during a heating cycle, thus conserving electrical power.

Packaging machine

A packaging system for automatically producing dunnage pads and inserting one or more of the pads into a container for packaging an article in the container. The invention includes a pad discharge assembly and/or pad insertion assembly. The discharge assembly includes a gating device for effecting passage of the pad out of a holding zone in a direction transverse to the pad length and onto a working surface, preferably a conveyor. The conveyor 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. A plunger is provided for pushing a pad located at the pad insertion zone through an opening over which the pad is conveyed for insertion into a container.

Dunnage production and packaging

An easy load packaging system, and a stand and a dunnage conversion machine therefor are disclosed. The stand includes a base and a pair of upright guide members mounted to the base and supporting at the upper ends thereof a dunnage conversion machine. The guide members define there between a channel for guiding sheet stock material to the dunnage conversion machine. The dunnage conversion machine is pivotable relative to the stand between an operating position and a servicing/loading position whereat access to internal components of the machine is simplified. A stack of sheet stock material is jacketed and/or baled for simplified loading into a packaging system or stand. An adhesive layer on the bottom or top of the stack enables the stack to be easily spliced to another stack.

Dunnage converter system

A dunnage conversion machine is characterized by a forming assembly which causes lateral edge portions of a substantially continuous sheet stock material to crumple and to fold upon themselves, leaving an unfolded central portion between the laterally spaced apart folded portions. The layers of sheet stock material in the folded portions are fixed by a feeding/fixing assembly having two pairs of laterally spaced feed assemblies to form a dunnage product which does not come apart as it is manipulated. A severing assembly severs discrete dunnage products from the continuous strip of dunnage.

Dunnage conversion machine, method and dunnage product

A cushioning conversion system ( ) and method for making a coil of cushioning product, including a cushioning conversion machine ( ) and a coiler ( ). As a strip of cushioning product (S) is emitted from the cushioning conversion machine ( ), the coiler ( ) rolls the strip of cushioning product (S) into a coiled configuration to form a coil of cushioning product (C). The coiler ( ) 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 ( ), which guides the strip of cushioning product from the cushioning conversion machine's outlet ( ) to the coiler ( ), and/or a controller ( ), which controls the coiler ( ) based on the production of the cushioning conversion machine ( ).

Cushioning conversion system and method for making a coil of cushioning product

A novel dunnage-creating machine and methodology characterized by various features including, inter alia, a modular construction, easier access to interior components, and a low cost cutting assembly. The machine comprises front and rear units having separate housings. The housing of the rear unit includes an outer shell having a converging chute surrounding a shaping member over which sheet-like stock material is drawn to form the stock material into a three-dimensional shape. The front unit includes in the housing thereof a feed mechanism for drawing the stock material over the shaping member and stitching the shaped material to form a strip of dunnage product. The front unit also includes a manual cutting mechanism for cutting the strip to form cut pieces, which manual cutting mechanism includes a readily replaceable blade assembly.

Cushioning conversion machine and method

A cushioning conversion system includes a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into a plurality of cut pads, and a conveyor system positioned to receive pads produced by the cushioning conversion machine and including a conveyor which conveys the pads away from the machine and at least one moveable gate having an open position allowing a pad to pass, therethrough and a closed position for stopping progress of a pad along the conveyor when there is insufficient space on the conveyor downstream of the gate to permit a pad to progress substantially through the gate.

Cushioning conversion system with stop gate

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 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 effecting passage of the pad out of the holding zone in a direction transverse to the pad length. A controller 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 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.

Dunnage pad production and packaging system

A cushioning conversion system including a cushioning conversion machine having conversion assemblies for converting a sheet stock material into a relatively lower density cushioning dunnage product, a stand for supporting the cushioning conversion machine at a convenient height and/or angular orientation, and a stock supply cart including a dancer roller for helping to maintain a greater uniformity of tension on the sheet material being fed through the conversion assemblies from changes in loads acting on the sheet material upstream of the dancer roller regardless of the angular orientation of the cushioning conversion machine.

Cushioning conversion system and method with dancer roller cart

A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into cut sections of a pad-like cushioning dunnage product is provided. The machine includes a frame, conversion assemblies which convert the sheet-like stock material into the cushioning dunnage product, and a cutting assembly (,) which cuts the cushioning dunnage product into cut sections. The frame (,) includes an outlet opening (,) through which the cushioning dunnage product emerges. The cutting assembly (,), which is mounted downstream of the outlet opening (,), comprises a first blade (,) and a second blade (,). The second blade (,) is mounted on the frame (,) in such a manner that it travels between a rest position whereat it is removed from the first blade (,) to a cutting position whereat it coacts with the first blade (,) to cut the cushioning dunnage product into a cut section. The cutting assembly (,) further comprises an automatic alignment device (,) which automatically aligns the cut section with the outlet opening (,) when the second blade (,) is moved from the cutting position to the rest position.

Cutting assembly for a cushioning conversion machine

A cushioning product including a pillow-like portion made from multiple plies of a sheet-like stock material. The cushioning product is characterized by the pillow-like portion including an inner stuffing and a shell which surrounds the inner stuffing. The multiple plies of the sheet-like stock material include at least one ply shaped to form the shell of the pillow-like portion and remaining plies crumpled to form the inner stuffing. The inner stuffing is formed only from the remaining plies of the sheet-like stock material.

Cushioning product

A cushioning conversion system comprising a cushioning conversion machine, a packaging surface, and a dispenser. The cushioning conversion machine includes a conversion assembly which converts a sheet-like stock material into cushioning pads. The dispenser includes a receptacle in which the pads are placed in a vertical stack as they are produced by the cushioning conversion machine. The receptacle is positioned above the packaging surface when the pads are selectively withdrawn therefrom to package items on the packaging surface. The cushioning conversion system allows the accumulation of a plurality of cushioning pads for selective withdrawal without the packaging person having to bend over, without sacrificing valuable packaging surface space, and/or without substantially increasing the system's footprint.

Growing community of inventors

Painesville Township, OH, United States of America

James A Simmons, Jr