Abstract: 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 sta

Abstract: A packaging machine of the type that is used to hand-wrap a package with a stretchable film that is heat-fused/sealed. The machine includes a supply of film for wrapping a package and a hot plate mechanism for heat fusing the film after the package is wrapped. The hot plate mechanism includes a fever arm that moves a sealing platform from a raised position to a lowered, heat sealing position when the package is placed on the platform. A control circuit energizes a heating element forming part of the sealing platform and causes it to reach a desired heating temperature in 2 to 4 seconds, whereby fusing of the sealing film is achieved. An interval timer is used to control a signaling device such as a light to Indicate the machine is in a heating cycle. A separate timer, in conjunction with a temperature sensing thermistor, controls a length of time the heating element is energized and terminates power to the heating element prior to the end of a sealing Interval if a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: 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 sta

Abstract: A packaging machine including a supply of film for wrapping a package and a hot plate for heat fusing the film of a wrapped package. Power to the heating element is only delivered to the element during a heating cycle, thus conserving electrical power. A photo eye senses the package and a control circuit energizes the heating element the element reaches a desired heating temperature in 2 to 4 seconds. The frame of the machine includes a lower base member to which an upper base plate, preferably formed from a continuous sheet, is rigidly attached. The upper plate includes a support surface for the hot plate, a vertical wall to which the photo eye is attached that is interconnected with the support surface by a curved transition surface. The upper base plate also includes a lateral, rearwardly extending plate portion which defines at least a portion of a hardware enclosure.

Abstract: A packaging machine of the type that is used to hand-wrap a package with a stretchable film that is heat-fused/sealed. The machine includes a supply of film for wrapping a package and a hot plate mechanism for heat fusing the film after the package is wrapped. The hot plate mechanism includes a fever arm that moves a sealing platform from a raised position to a lowered, heat sealing position when the package is placed on the platform. A control circuit energizes a heating element forming part of the sealing platform and causes it to reach a desired heating temperature in 2 to 4 seconds, whereby fusing of the sealing film is achieved. An interval timer is used to control a signaling device such as a light to Indicate the machine is in a heating cycle. A separate timer, in conjunction with a temperature sensing thermistor, controls a length of time the heating element is energized and terminates power to the heating element prior to the end of a sealing Interval if a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine is characterized by a forming assembly which causes lateral edge portions of a substantially continuous sheet stock material to crumple and to fold upon themselves, leaving an unfolded central portion between the laterally spaced apart folded portions. The layers of sheet stock material in the folded portions are fixed by a feeding/fixing assembly having two pairs of laterally spaced feed assemblies to form a dunnage product which does not come apart as it is manipulated. A severing assembly severs discrete dunnage products from the continuous strip of dunnage.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine is characterized by a forming assembly which causes lateral edge portions of a substantially continuous sheet stock material to crumple and to fold upon themselves, leaving an unfolded central portion between the laterally spaced apart folded portions. The layers of sheet stock material in the folded portions are fixed by a feeding/fixing assembly having two pairs of laterally spaced feed assemblies to form a dunnage product which does not come apart as it is manipulated. A severing assembly severs discrete dunnage products from the continuous strip of dunnage.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion system (20; 120; 320) and method for making a coil of cushioning product, including a cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322) and a coiler (24; 124; 224; 324). As a strip of cushioning product (S) is emitted from the cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322), the coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) rolls the strip of cushioning product (S) into a coiled configuration to form a coil of cushioning product (C). The coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) is adapted to allow the coil of cushioning product (C) to be removed in its coiled configuration. The cushioning conversion system may also include a guide device (26; 326), which guides the strip of cushioning product from the cushioning conversion machine's outlet (34) to the coiler (24; 124; 324), and/or a controller (28; 328), which controls the coiler (24; 124; 224; 324) based on the production of the cushioning conversion machine (22; 122; 322).

Abstract: A pad production (supply) and packaging system, and method, for automatically producing dunnage pads and inserting one or more of the produced dunnage pads into a container for packaging of an article in the container. The invention is characterized by a pad discharge assembly and/or pad insertion assembly to provide an automatic pad production and packaging system, and method, that afford advantages over existing pad production and packaging arrangements. The discharge assembly, which provides for controlled discharge of dunnage pads produced by a pad producing machine, includes a gating device for effecting passage of the pad out of the holding zone in a direction transverse to the pad length. A controller causes the discharge assembly to release a pad held in the holding zone for passage onto a working surface and preferably a conveyor in synchronous relation to movement of the conveyor for controlled deposition of pads onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion system including a cushioning conversion machine having conversion assemblies for converting a sheet stock material into a relatively lower density cushioning dunnage product, a stand for supporting the cushioning conversion machine at a convenient height and/or angular orientation, and a stock supply cart including a dancer roller for helping to maintain a greater uniformity of tension on the sheet material being fed through the conversion assemblies from changes in loads acting on the sheet material upstream of the dancer roller regardless of the angular orientation of the cushioning conversion machine.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion system comprising a cushioning conversion machine, a packaging surface, and a dispenser. The cushioning conversion machine includes a conversion assembly which converts a sheet-like stock material into cushioning pads. The dispenser includes a receptacle in which the pads are placed in a vertical stack as they are produced by the cushioning conversion machine. The receptacle is positioned above the packaging surface when the pads are selectively withdrawn therefrom to package items on the packaging surface. The cushioning conversion system allows the accumulation of a plurality of cushioning pads for selective withdrawal without the packaging person having to bend over, without sacrificing valuable packaging surface space, and/or without substantially increasing the system's footprint.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine located below a work table includes a stock supply assembly, a conversion assembly for converting the stock material into a cushioning product and providing it through a machine exit, and a pad transferring system including an upper series of rollers arranged in a path, a lower series of rollers arranged in a path and a motor for powering the rotation of the drive elements, the upper and the lower series of rollers defining a path therebetween leading from the machine exit to a passage in the work table.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (20) including conversion assemblies (24) which convert a sheet stock material into a relatively low density cushioning product. The conversion assemblies (24) include a feed/cut assembly (26) having a feed device (100), a cut device (200), and a drive device (300). The drive device (300) is operable in two opposite directions and alternately drives the feed device (100) and the cut device (200). Clutch (134) and/or clutch (234) are provided which allow reverse operation of the feed device (100) and/or the cut device (200). A brake (238) prevents inadvertent movement of the moving components (220, 222) of the cut device (200). The power transmission from the drive device (300) to the feed device (100) and the cut device (200) includes a gear train (136, 236, 306) . These and other features of the feed/cut assembly (26) improve operating efficiency and/or simplify assembly procedures.

Abstract: A cushioning product having plural layers of a sheet-like stock material folded upon themselves to form a pillow-like portion. The lateral edges of the outer layer of the stock material are overlapped and connected together to maintain the geometry of the pillow-like portion. The lateral edges of the outer layers are connected together (for example, they are mechanically interlocked) separate from the central portion of the outer layer. The overlapped edges of the outer layer may form a tab portion projecting from the pillow-like portion. Alternatively, the overlapped lateral edges of the outer layer may be generally coplanar with adjacent unoverlapped portions of the outer layer. Preferably, the stock material comprises layers of paper, more preferably biodegradable, recyclable and reusable paper, and even more preferably Kraft paper.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion system (10) and method wherein a stock roll storage rack (14) is used to support at least one and preferably a plurality of stock rolls (21) at the same level as the stock roll holder (19) of a cushioning conversion machine (12). The stock roll storage rack (14), which stores the stock rolls (21) in a substantially horizontal array, enables an operator to easily load the machine (12) without having to lift a stock roll (21) to the height of the stock roll holder (19). Also, plural stock roll storage racks (14) can be used interchangeably, whereby one can be loaded with stock rolls (21) by an attendant while the other is used to load stock rolls (21) onto the cushioning conversion machine (12). The stock roll storage rack (14) includes a stand (70) and a stock roll storage shelf (72) vertically adjustable on the stand (70) to match the height of the storage shelf (72) to the height of a stock roll holder (19) on the conversion machine (12).

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for making optical fiber couplers is disclosed. The apparatus includes various processing stations under the control of a programmable controller. A fiber feeding system receives a set of optical fibers from a reel and guides them to the various processing stations. The fibers are guided into a fiber insertion fixture. The insertion fixture moves the fibers to the aperture of a glass capillary tube. The fibers are then stripped of a portion of their coating. The feeding system feeds the stripped fibers through the insertion fixture and into the glass tube. The fibers are severed and terminated. Subsequently, a burner heats the glass tube, causing it to collapse around the fibers to form a fiber coupler.