Ranpak Corporation

Caterpillar Industrial Inc.

Rappak Corp.

Joseph J Harding

Richard O Ratzel

James A Simmons, Jr

Thomas E Manley

Edward W Lintala

Michael J Lencoski

James A Simmons

Robert C Cheich

Donald J Barnhouse

Daniel L Carlson

Erwin Methorst

Roger P M Rinkens

Judith L Skiba

Pierre Kobben

Pieter Fennema

Theo Corthout

James Tekavec

Koen H M Kuypers

Dan Coppus

Dirk Johannes Siekmann

Raymond P M Demers

Grant C Melocik

Ronald Rich

Scott J Williams

Kevin Park

Steven M Toneff

Thomas A Bilkie

David Pierson

Mike J Timmers

Andrew P Blau

Raimond P M Demers

Paul C Gilles

Paul D Grohsmeyer

Darren L Krahn

Harry H Lu

Michael Adam Pintz

James J Corbett

Kurt K&uuml;ng

Timothy A Frederick

Dan Koppus

Victor E Noviski

Franklin B Yap

Livio Marchioni

Rogers P M Rinkens

David M Gabrielsen

Charles D Molitor

Rapheal R Still

Timothy E Sull

David M Gabrielson

David A Pierson

Raimond P Demers

Michael A Pintz

Raymond PM Demers

Koen HM Kuypers

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 system () includes a controller (), an input device () in communication with the controller () that identifies one or more characteristics of the container, an illustration with indicia representing different degrees of fill for a container; and a manual input device () in communication with the controller () for inputting an estimated degree of fullness of the packing container having one or more articles to be packed correlated with the indicia in the illustration. The controller () provides an output signal indicating a quantity of dunnage to dispense to the container based on the input estimated degree of fullness and the one or more identified characteristics of the container. Then the controller can determine the amount of dunnage that needs to be provided to fill the remaining void in the container, and the controller can signal a dunnage dispenser () to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.

Manually-assisted void-fill dunnage dispensing system and method

A packaging method includes the step of comparing a total package weight to a freight rate schedule and thereby determining a normal freight rate. The total package weight includes the weight of a container (), an article () to be shipped and a normal amount of dunnage. If predetermined criteria are met, the method also includes the step of reducing the amount of dunnage dispensed below that of the normal amount of dunnage such that the total package weight falls within a freight rate that is less than the normal freight rate. The predetermined criteria include one or more of a predetermined percentage above a change in freight rate, a predetermined weight above a threshold weight for an increase in freight weight, and dunnage requirements including void-volume, degree of fill for the void-volume, type of article, weight of article and type of dunnage.

Packaging system and method with freight rate analysis

A system for providing dunnage to a container for packaging an object in the container includes a void volume probe and a supply of dunnage. The void volume probe measures the void volume of the container and outputs information representative of the measured void volume. And the supply of dunnage is controllable to dispense an amount of dunnage to fill the void volume based on the information output from the void volume probe.

Dunnage system with void volume probe

A system, and associated components and methodology, that provides for automatic determination and supply of an amount of dunnage to fill the void left in a container in which one or more objects have been placed. The system comprises a dunnage dispenser which is operable to dispense a controlled amount of a dunnage, a container scanner, and a logic device. The container scanner includes a height sensor for sensing a height characteristic of a container, a width sensor for sensing a width characteristic of the container, and a contour sensor for sensing a contour characteristic of the objects in the container. The logic device can (1) process sensed characteristic information from the height sensor, width sensor and contour sensor, (2) determine the amount of dunnage needed to fill the void not occupied by the objects, and (3) command the dunnage dispenser to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.

Packaging method with void-fill density determination

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

A system () for dispensing dunnage material includes a chute () connectable to a supply () of flowable dunnage. A container () or a bottom of the chute () is moved into a dispensing position where the bottom of the chute () is proximate the fill plane of the container (). A controller () selectively opens a shutter () at the bottom of the chute () to dispense dunnage and then closes the shutter () to separate the dispensed dunnage from the dunnage in the chute () while also removing the dunnage above the fill plane of the container (). The chute () includes at least one substantially horizontal plate member () that is openable to selectively vary the size of an aperture () created thereby at the bottom of the chute () for dispensing dunnage material therethrough.

Automated flowable dunnage dispensing system and method

A system, and associated components and methodology, having a dunnage supply with an outlet through which one or more crumpled strips are supplied, a positioning device that positions in juxtaposition portions of the one or more strips of dunnage, and a stapler for connecting the juxtaposed portions to hold them together. In a particular system, the system includes a converter that has a conversion assembly that converts a sheet stock material into a crumpled strip of dunnage and has an outlet through which the strip of dunnage is emitted. The system also includes a coiler that rolls the strip of dunnage into a coil, and a stapler that secures the trailing end portion of the strip of dunnage to at least the next-innermost portion of the strip in the coil by inserting a staple through the trailing end portion and the juxtaposed portion of the coiled strip.

System and method for making a coiled strip of dunnage

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

An automated packaging system has a plurality of dunnage dispensing stations that can dispense dunnage and a transport network for conveying containers to and from at least two dispensing stations for dunnage to be placed therein. At at least one loading station upstream of a dispensing station articles are placed in the containers for shipping. Optionally, an intermediate void determination station determines how much dunnage to dispense.

Packaging system and method

A dunnage conversion machine () has an output chute () with a guard () that inhibits access to internal areas of the machine () through the output chute (). Upstream of the output chute () the conversion machine () has a conversion assembly () that converts a stock material () into a strip of dunnage () as the stock material passes therethrough in a downstream direction. The output chute (), through which the strip of dunnage () is discharged downstream of the conversion assembly (), includes the pivotably-mounted guard () extending into the chute (). The guard () has at its free end () both a forward glide surface () operative to glide along an outer surface of the strip of dunnage () as the strip moves in the downstream direction and a rearward glide surface () operative to glide along an outer surface of the strip of dunnage () as the strip moves in an upstream direction opposite the downstream direction.

Dunnage conversion machine and output chute guard

A novel cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a novel cushioning product and for producing discrete sections or pads of desired length, without the need for a cutting assembly, thereby enabling the construction of a less expensive, smaller and less complex machine. The machine and method are characterized by a weakening device for perforating a sheet stock material of one or more plies along tear lines so that as a strip of cushioning is formed from the stock material, discrete sections or pads of desired length may be detachable along the tear lines. The stock material includes material which is biodegradable, recyclable and composed of a renewable resource, such as kraft paper.

Cushioning conversion machine and method

Packaging system with void fill measurement

A monitoring system for monitoring one or more packaging material conversion machines includes one or more sensors for monitoring one or more operating characteristics of the one or more conversion machines. The system also includes a controller in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller evaluates the one or more operating characteristics of the one or more conversion machines to thereby provide diagnostic, inventory and machine usage information. In addition, a method of monitoring one or more packaging material conversion machines includes sensing an operating characteristic of the one or more conversion machines and evaluating the operating characteristic of the one or more conversion machines. The sensed operating characteristics may be evaluated either local to the conversion machines or at a remote site, thereby providing a substantial amount of flexibility.

Packing material product and method and apparatus for making, monitoring and controlling the same

A conversion machine and related method for making a dunnage product by converting a sheet-like stock material of at least one ply into a dunnage product is characterized by a manual reversing mechanism that is useful, for example, for clearing paper jams. The conversion machine includes a housing through which the stock material passes along a path, and an assembly that advances the stock material from a source thereof along the path, crumples the stock material, and maintains the shape of the crumpled stock material to produce a strip of dunnage. This assembly includes at least one rotatable member rotatable in a first direction for engaging and advancing the stock material, a feed motor for driving a driven rotatable member in the first direction, and a crank connected to the rotatable member for enabling rotation of the driven rotatable member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Growing community of inventors

Mentor, OH, United States of America

Joseph J Harding