Patents by Inventor Steven M. Toneff
Steven M. Toneff 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: 11780202Abstract: A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Steven M. Toneff, Hubertus J. M. Cals, Raimond P. M. Demers, Ronny Hubertus Joseph Hendrix, Johannes Hermanus Wilhelmus Driehuijs, Stephen Louis Dominak, Alexandra Snijders, Carrie A. Schlegel, Thomas Bayt, Kevin W. Park, Dennis Wagner
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Publication number: 20230249429Abstract: A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Steven M. Toneff, Hubertus J.M. Cals, Raimond P.M. Demers, Ronny Hubertus Joseph Hendrix, Johannes Hermanus Wilhelmus Driehuijs, Stephen Louis Dominak, Alexandra Snijders, Carrie A. Schlegel, Thomas Bayt, Kevin W. Park, Dennis Wagner
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Patent number: 11498303Abstract: A machine for converting a sheet stock material into a dunnage product includes a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product as the sheet stock material travels along a path from an upstream end of the conversion assembly to a downstream end of the conversion assembly. The machine further includes a transversely extending guide over which the stock material passes for guided entry into the upstream end of the conversion assembly. The guide is rotatable such that the transverse extent of the guide can be moved between a plurality of relatively rotated orientations to guide the sheet stock material from different sides of the conversion assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Jacob G. Popek, Carrie Schlegal
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Patent number: 11325340Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nolle, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
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Publication number: 20220080692Abstract: A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Steven M. Toneff, Hubertus J.M. Cals, Raimond P.M. Demers, Ronny Hubertus Joseph Hendrix, Johannes Hermanus Wilhelmus Driehuijs, Stephan Louis Dominak, Alexandra Snijders, Carrie A. Schlegel, Thomas Bayt, Kevin W. Park, Dennis Wagner
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Publication number: 20200180256Abstract: A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Steven M. Toneff, Hubertus J.M. Cals, Raimond P.M. Demers, Ronny Hubertus Joseph Hendrix, Johannes Hermanus Wilhelmus Driehuijs, Stephan Louis Dominak, Alexandra Snijders, Carrie A. Schlegel, Thomas Bayt, Kevin W. Park, Dennis Wagner
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Patent number: 10518919Abstract: An improved packaging system (10) includes a packaging line that guides containers in a downstream direction, a sensor (12) that can identify a dimension of a container on the packaging line, a dunnage dispenser (14) on the packaging line downstream of the sensor to dispense dunnage to a void volume in a container, and a container closer (16) downstream of the dunnage dispenser (14) to close containers on the packaging line downstream of the dunnage dispenser. The container closer (16) includes an adjustable member (20), and is in communication with the sensor to (12) adjust the adjustable member (20) based on the identified dimension of the container. The system thus includes a way to identify the size of the container before the container reaches the container closer. The container closer can adjust for the container's size before the container arrives, speeding up the container closing operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Daniel L. Carlson, Kevin W. Park, Steven M. Toneff
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Publication number: 20170259522Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
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Patent number: 9676586Abstract: A method of converting a supply of sheet stock into a relatively less dense dunnage product, including the following steps of (i) providing a stack of fan-folded sheet material having fold lines parallel to a width dimension; and (ii) drawing sheet stock material from the stack in a direction parallel to the width dimension.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Richard L. Gwynne, Steven M. Toneff
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Patent number: 9669596Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
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Patent number: 9505549Abstract: 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 staType: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Franklin B. Yap, Steven M. Toneff, Robert C. Cheich, Joseph J. Harding, Judith L. Skiba, James A. Simmons, Jr., James Tekavec, Edward W. Lintala, Erwin Methorst, Koen H. M. Kuypers, Dan Coppus, Raimond P. M. Demers, Pierre Kobben
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Publication number: 20160200065Abstract: A machine for converting a sheet stock material into a dunnage product includes a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product as the sheet stock material travels along a path from an upstream end of the conversion assembly to a downstream end of the conversion assembly. The machine further includes a transversely extending guide over which the stock material passes for guided entry into the upstream end of the conversion assembly. The guide is rotatable such that the transverse extent of the guide can be moved between a plurality of relatively rotated orientations to guide the sheet stock material from different sides of the conversion assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Jacob G. Popek, JR., Carrie Schlegal
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Patent number: 9321235Abstract: A machine for converting a sheet stock material into a dunnage product includes a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product as the sheet stock material travels along a path from an upstream end of the conversion assembly to a downstream end of the conversion assembly. The machine further includes a transversely extending guide over which the stock material passes for guided entry into the upstream end of the conversion assembly. The guide is rotatable such that the transverse extent of the guide can be moved between a plurality of relatively rotated orientations to guide the sheet stock material from different sides of the conversion assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Jacob G. Popek, Jr., Carrie Schlegal
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Publication number: 20150210418Abstract: An improved packaging system (10) includes a packaging line that guides containers in a downstream direction, a sensor (12) that can identify a dimension of a container on the packaging line, a dunnage dispenser (14) on the packaging line downstream of the sensor to dispense dunnage to a void volume in a container, and a container closer (16) downstream of the dunnage dispenser (14) to close containers on the packaging line downstream of the dunnage dispenser. The container closer (16) includes an adjustable member (20), and is in communication with the sensor to (12) adjust the adjustable member (20) based on the identified dimension of the container. The system thus includes a way to identify the size of the container before the container reaches the container closer. The container closer can adjust for the container's size before the container arrives, speeding up the container closing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, Daniel L. Carlson, Kevin W. Park, Steven M. Toneff
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Publication number: 20150014205Abstract: 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 staType: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Franklin B. Yap, Steven M. Toneff, Robert C. Cheich, Joseph J. Harding, Judith L. Skiba, James A. Simmons, JR., James Tekavec, Edward W. Lintala, Erwin Methorst, Koen H.M. Kuypers, Dan Coppus, Raimond P.M. Demers, Pierre Kobben
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Publication number: 20140155241Abstract: A method of converting a supply of sheet stock into a relatively less dense dunnage product, including the following steps of (i) providing a stack of fan-folded sheet material having fold lines parallel to a width dimension; and (ii) drawing sheet stock material from the stack in a direction parallel to the width dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Richard L. Gwynne, Steven M. Toneff
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Publication number: 20130316151Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: RANPAK CORP.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
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Publication number: 20120289392Abstract: A machine for converting a sheet stock material into a dunnage product includes a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product as the sheet stock material travels along a path from an upstream end of the conversion assembly to a downstream end of the conversion assembly. The machine further includes a transversely extending guide over which the stock material passes for guided entry into the upstream end of the conversion assembly. The guide is rotatable such that the transverse extent of the guide can be moved between a plurality of relatively rotated orientations to guide the sheet stock material from different sides of the conversion assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: RANPAK CORP.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Jacob G. Popek, Jr., Carrie Schlegal
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Publication number: 20120225765Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2012Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
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Patent number: 8177697Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Ranpak Corp.Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens