Ranpak Corporation

John E Silvis

Steven E Armington

Richard O Ratzel

William J Dobson

Walter J Brugge

Bruno H Baldacci

A cushioning dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multiply form, into cut sections of relatively low density pad-like cushioning product, and cutting assembly therefor, is provided. The machine includes a stock supply assembly, a forming assembly, a pulling/connecting assembly and a cutting assembly, all of which are mounted on a machine frame. The machine frame includes a base plate having an upstream end and a downstream end, a first end plate extending generally perpendicular from the upstream end of the end plate and a second end plate extending generally perpendicular from the downstream end of the base plate. The cutting assembly includes an end plate, a first blade mounted on the end plate, a second blade also mounted on the end plate and positioned to coact with the first blade to cut such coined strip into cut sections, a motor for powering the cutting assembly, a cutter linkage connected to one of the blades, a drive linkage pivotally connected to the cutter linkage, a motion disk connected to the drive linkage; and a shaft connecting the motion disk to the motor.

Downsized cushioning dunnage conversion machine and cutting assemblies

Downsized cushioning dumnage conversion machine and cutting assemblies

A cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into cut sections of relatively low density pad-like cushioning product. The machine includes conversion assemblies which convert the stock material into a strip of dunnage, a stock supply assembly which supplies the stock material to the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly which cuts the strip into cut sections of a desired length, and a post-cutting constraining assembly which circumferentially constrains the cut section.

Downsized cushioning dunnage conversion machine and packaging systems

A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material, such as a paper in multi-ply form, into cut sections of cushioning product is provided. The machine includes a stock supply assembly, a forming assembly, a pulling/connecting assembly and a cutting assembly, all of which are mounted on a machine frame. The machine frame includes a base plate having an upstream end and a downstream end, a first end plate extending generally perpendicular from the upstream end of the base plate and a second end plate extending generally perpendicular from the downstream end of the base plate. The frame base plate and the two frame end plates together form a 'C' shaped structure. The stock supply assembly is mounted on the first frame end plate, the forming assembly is mounted on an intermediate portion of the frame base plate, the pulling/connecting assembly is mounted on an upstream side of the second end plate, and the cutting assembly is mounted on the downstream side of the second end plate. The machine may also include a post-cutting constraining assembly for circumferentially constraining the cut sections of the cushioning dunnage product and/or a pivot cover on one of the components of the forming assembly to aid in the manual threading of the machine.

A cushioning dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into cut sections of relatively low density pad-like cushioning product, and cutting assembly therefor, is provided. The machine includes a stock supply assembly, a forming assembly, a pulling/connecting assembly and a cutting assembly, all of which are mounted on a machine frame. The machine frame includes a base plate having an upstream end and a downstream end, a first end plate extending generally perpendicular from the upstream end of the end plate and a second end plate extending generally perpendicular from the downstream end of the base plate. The cutting assembly includes an end plate, a first blade mounted on the end plate, a second blade also mounted on the end plate and positioned to coact with the first blade to cut such coined strip into cut sections, a motor for powering the cutting assembly, a cutter linkage connected to the cutter linkage, a motion disk connected to the drive linkage; and a shaft connecting the motion disk to the motor.

A gear-like stitching assembly adapted for use in a converter mechanism of the type providing for the production of pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material which is conventionally disposed in multi-ply, roll form for use with the converter mechanism. The stock material is pulled from the stock roll by the converter and the lateral edges of the stock material are rolled inwardly prior to being formed into the pad-like product. The stitching assembly comprises a pair of rotatable gear-like members adapted to be disposed in coacting, meshed condition, and to stitch confronting and generally abutting rolled edge portions of the sheet-like stock material together by coining, as the latter rolled edge portions pass between the members. The teeth of at least one of the members have projections extending outwardly thereform, for perforating the stock material along the central coined section of the pad-like product, to aid the coined section in maintaining the product in its pad-like form. A novel method is also disclosed.

Stitching gear assembly having perforating projections thereon, for use

A flexible, cushioning dunnage product producible on a converter mechanism from a roll of sheet-like stock material, such as biodegradable paper. As the stock material is pulled off the roll by the converter, the edges of the stock material are rolled inwardly to form pillow-like portions which are urged by the converter mechanism laterally inwardly with respect to one another into confronting abutting relation, with the pillow-like portions being then connected together along their engaged abutting sides by in the preferred embodiment, transversely extending coined sections extending transversely of the product and defining a generally central connecting portion running in a direction lengthwise of the product. The lateral, spaced pillow-like portions possess considerable resiliency and thickness as compared to the coined central connecting portion, and perforations are provided in the connecting portion to aid the overlapped coined sections in preventing opening up or separation of the connecting portion, and thus such perforations aid in maintaining the pad-like form of the product for packaging or packing.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, OH, United States of America

John E Silvis