Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus for making slotted tubular dunnage in which a resilient plastic tube having a pair of flanges at opposite sides extending along the length of the tube is held by gripping the flanges at opposite sides of the tube and squeezing sides of the tube together. The apparatus then moves the tube into a slotting position between a steel rule die and a kissing plate while holding the tube with the sides squeezed together. The apparatus then shifts the die against and through the sides of the tube forming a slot therein surrounding a cutout slug of the tube. The apparatus then withdraws the die from the tube while retaining the slug within the slot and moves the tube to a discharged position and discontinues the squeezing of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus for making slotted tubular dunnage in which a resilient plastic tube having a pair of flanges at opposite sides extending along the length of the tube is held by gripping the flanges at opposite sides of the tube and squeezing sides of the tube together. The apparatus then moves the tube into a slotting position between a steel rule die and a kissing plate while holding the tube with the sides squeezed together. The apparatus then shifts the die against and through the sides of the tube forming a slot therein surrounding a cutout slug of the tube. The apparatus then withdraws the die from the tube while retaining the slug within the slot and moves the tube to a discharged position and discontinues the squeezing of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of making slotted tubular dunnage. The method of the present invention includes providing a tube having a pair of flanges at opposite sides extending along the length of the tube, and holding the tube by gripping the flanges at opposite sides of the tube and squeezing sides of the tube together. The method further includes moving the tube into a slotting position between a steel rule die and a kissing plate while holding the tube with the sides squeezed together. The method further includes shifting the die against and through the sides of the tube forming a slot therein surrounding a cutout slug of the tube. The method further includes withdrawing the die from the tube while retaining the slug within the slot. Furthermore, the method includes moving the tube to a discharged position and discontinuing the squeezing of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and a method of making slotted tubular dunnage. The method of the present invention includes providing a tube having a pair of flanges at opposite sides extending along the length of the tube, and holding the tube by gripping the flanges at opposite sides of the tube and squeezing sides of the tube together. The method further includes moving the tube into a slotting position between a steel rule die and a kissing plate while holding the tube with the sides squeezed together. The method further includes shifting the die against and through the sides of the tube forming a slot therein surrounding a cutout slug of the tube. The method further includes withdrawing the die from the tube while retaining the slug within the slot. Furthermore, the method includes moving the tube to a discharged position and discontinuing the squeezing of the tube.

Abstract: A storage or shipping carton for automotive parts or the like has disposed therewithin layers of resilient tubular dunnage having part configured cut outs in the side walls. The dunnage extends transversely of the carton between two of the side walls while the parts extend transversely of the dunnage between the other two side walls. The tubular dunnage is preferably formed of low density polyethylene and the notches in the dunnage are formed by flattening the dunnage and severing the side walls thereof while in the flattened condition and then reopening the dunnage to its normal configuration.

Abstract: A storage or shipping carton for automotive parts or the like has disposed therewithin layers of resilient tubular dunnage having part configured cut outs in the side walls. The dunnage extends transversely of the carton between two of the side walls while the parts extend transversely of the dunnage between the other two side walls. The tubular dunnage is preferably formed of low density polyethylene and the notches in the dunnage are formed by flattening the dunnage and severing the side walls thereof while in the flattened condition and then reopening the dunnage to its normal configuration.

Abstract: Dunnage for automotive trim moldings comprises identical elongated, vacuum-formed strips each having upstanding, spaced apart posts and trim molding supporting bunks intermediate the posts with the bunks shaped to fit within trim moldings and support the Class A surfaces thereof spaced from the strip, and when corresponding ends of the strips are superimposed, the strips nest together in a compact space, and when the strips are reversed end-for-end, the posts support superjacent strips spaced vertically apart whereby the trim moldings are spaced from the superjacent strips.