Patents by Inventor Erwin Riga
Erwin Riga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9370914Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Raimond Demers, Erwin Riga, Dan Coppus, Patrick Klemke, Kristien Varrewaere
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Patent number: 7722519Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (10) and corresponding method for converting a supply of sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a conversion assembly (20) that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product, and a tension-adjusting assembly (26) having a sequence of transversely extending members (28) disposed upstream of the conversion assembly (20). The transversely extending members (28) engage the stock material and help to prevent or to minimize excessive edge tension and/or the tearing associated therewith, while maintaining sufficient tension for proper tracking, especially for the conversion of single ply, lesser quality and/or short fiber paper, and/or otherwise improves or enhances the conversion process. The transversely extending members (28) are generally aligned end-to-end, and define a path for the stock material from a supply thereof, via a stock supply assembly (15) to the conversion assembly (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Ranpak CorporationInventors: Mike J. Timmers, Jos Saive, Dan Coppus, Raimond Demers, Erwin Methorst, Erwin Riga
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Publication number: 20090325773Abstract: A motor-free dunnage conversion system comprises a housing (20) having a dispensing outlet (40) through which sheet stock material (34) can be pulled by a user to form a strip of dunnage. The housing (20) has a forming member (44, 50) with circumferentially converging side walls that gradually inwardly gather and crumple the sheet stock material as it is pulled therethrough. The system can also include one or more of a stand having a support mounted thereto for supporting a supply of stock material, a repositionable member (22) supporting the forming member (44, 50), a guide member at the upstream end of the housing to guide the stock material from a supply to the forming member, and a catch device operative upon movement of the dunnage strip relative thereto to catch and hold the strip for severing a dunnage product therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: RANPAK CORP.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Hubertus Y.M Cals, Erwin Riga, Donald Gorg, Daniel L. Carlson, Shawn Baiers, Edward S. Martis, Jr., Carrie A. Schlegel
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Patent number: 7585268Abstract: A motor-free dunnage conversion system comprises a housing (20) having a dispensing outlet (40) through which sheet stock material (34) can be pulled by a user to form a strip of dunnage. The housing (20) has a forming member (44, 50) with circumferentially converging side walls that gradually inwardly gather and crumple the sheet stock material as it is pulled therethrough. The system can also include one or more of a stand having a support mounted thereto for supporting a supply of stock material, a repositionable member (22) supporting the forming member (44, 50), a guide member at the upstream end of the housing to guide the stock material from a supply to the forming member, and a catch device operative upon movement of the dunnage strip relative thereto to catch and hold the strip for severing a dunnage product therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Hubertus Y. Cals, Erwin Riga, Donald Gorg, Daniel L. Carlson, Shawn M. Baiers, Edward S. Martis, Jr., Carrie A. Schlegel
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Patent number: 7407471Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Raimond Demers, Dan Coppus, Patrick Klemke, Erwin Riga, Kristien Varrewaere
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Publication number: 20080125300Abstract: A motor-free dunnage conversion system comprises a housing (20) having a dispensing outlet (40) through which sheet stock material (34) can be pulled by a user to form a strip of dunnage. The housing (20) has a forming member (44, 50) with circumferentially converging side walls that gradually inwardly gather and crumple the sheet stock material as it is pulled therethrough. The system can also include one or more of a stand having a support mounted thereto for supporting a supply of stock material, a repositionable member (22) supporting the forming member (44, 50), a guide member at the upstream end of the housing to guide the stock material from a supply to the forming member, and a catch device operative upon movement of the dunnage strip relative thereto to catch and hold the strip for severing a dunnage product therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2005Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: RANPAK CORP.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Hubertus Y.M. Cals, Erwin Riga, Donald Gorg, Daniel L. Carlson, Shawn Baiers, Edward S. Martis Jr, Carrie A. Schlegel
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Publication number: 20080076654Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Applicant: RANPAK CORP.Inventors: Erwin Riga, Dan Coppus, Raimond Demers, Patrick Klemke, Kristien Varrewaere
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Publication number: 20070123406Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: May 31, 2007Applicant: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Raimond Demers, Erwin Riga, Dan Coppus, Patrick Klemke, Kristien Varrewaere
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Patent number: 7186208Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Raimond Demers, Erwin Riga, Dan Coppus, Patrick Klemke, Kristien Varrewaere
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Publication number: 20060128545Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (10) and corresponding method for converting a supply of sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a conversion assembly (20) that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product, and a tension-adjusting assembly (26) having a sequence of transversely extending members (28) disposed upstream of the conversion assembly (20). The transversely extending members (28) engage the stock material and help to prevent or to minimize excessive edge tension and/or the tearing associated therewith, while maintaining sufficient tension for proper tracking, especially for the conversion of single ply, lesser quality and/or short fiber paper, and/or otherwise improves or enhances the conversion process. The transversely extending members (28) are generally aligned end-to-end, and define a path for the stock material from a supply thereof, via a stock supply assembly (15) to the conversion assembly (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2005Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: Mike Timmers, Jos Saive, Dan Coppus, Raimond Demers, Erwin Methorst, Erwin Riga
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Publication number: 20050181924Abstract: A tabletop converter has a conversion assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples a stock material to form a strip of dunnage. The conversion assembly includes a feeding assembly that moves the stock material and a controller that controls the feeding assembly to operate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. To automatically separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip, a holder grabs and holds the strip of dunnage at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly then operates in a reverse direction and urges the strip away from the holding location. This causes the strip to separate at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly, leaving a discrete dunnage product ready for use. The converter is mounted to a stand that allows the converter to rotate relative to part of the stand about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2004Publication date: August 18, 2005Inventors: Raimond Demers, Erwin Riga, Dan Coppus, Patrick Klemke, Kristien Varrewaere