Abstract: A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container includes a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location. The packaging system also includes a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location. A dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location.

Abstract: A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion system for making a coil of dunnage from a sheet stock includes a coiler, a movable dancer upstream of the coiler and interposed in a path of the sheet stock, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the coiler and the movable dancer. The coiler is configured to wind the sheet stock, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the coiler based on the position of the movable dancer to control tension of the sheet stock upstream of the coiler. The sheet stock drawn about the movable dancer may be a slit-sheet stock having a plurality of slits configured to expand under tension applied in a feed direction. The controller may be configured to control expansion of the slit-sheet stock upstream of the coiler allowing conversion of the sheet stock into a coil of relatively less dense dunnage prior to or during winding.

Abstract: A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion system for making a coil of dunnage from a sheet stock includes a coiler, a movable dancer upstream of the coiler and interposed in a path of the sheet stock, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the coiler and the movable dancer. The coiler is configured to wind the sheet stock, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the coiler based on the position of the movable dancer to control tension of the sheet stock upstream of the coiler. The sheet stock drawn about the movable dancer may be a slit-sheet stock having a plurality of slits configured to expand under tension applied in a feed direction. The controller may be configured to control expansion of the slit-sheet stock upstream of the coiler allowing conversion of the sheet stock into a coil of relatively less dense dunnage prior to or during winding.

Abstract: A packaging system for transferring a dunnage product to a packaging container includes a dunnage sensor configured to detect the dunnage product registered at an alignment reference plane in a staging location. The packaging system also includes a package sensor configured to detect the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in a loading location. A dunnage placement apparatus is configured to transfer the dunnage product from the staging location to the packaging container in the loading location after both the dunnage sensor detects the dunnage product registered at the alignment reference plane in the staging location and the package sensor detects the packaging container registered at the alignment reference plane in the loading location.

Abstract: A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion system for making a coil of dunnage from a sheet stock includes a coiler, a movable dancer upstream of the coiler and interposed in a path of the sheet stock, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the coiler and the movable dancer. The coiler is configured to wind the sheet stock, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the coiler based on the position of the movable dancer to control tension of the sheet stock upstream of the coiler. The sheet stock drawn about the movable dancer may be a slit-sheet stock having a plurality of slits configured to expand under tension applied in a feed direction. The controller may be configured to control expansion of the slit-sheet stock upstream of the coiler allowing conversion of the sheet stock into a coil of relatively less dense dunnage prior to or during winding.

Abstract: A support for one or more rolls of sheet stock material includes a sloped support surface for supporting at least one roll, an operating stop toward a lower end of the support surface that defines an operating position at which a stock roll is held for paying out sheet stock material from the roll, and a holding stop. The holding stop extends above the support surface. The holding stop holds one or more rolls at a location spaced from the operating position, and is movable to allow a stock roll to move down the support surface, past the holding stop to the operating position.

Abstract: A support for one or more rolls of sheet stock material includes a sloped support surface for supporting at least one roll, an operating stop toward a lower end of the support surface that defines an operating position at which a stock roll is held for paying out sheet stock material from the roll, and a holding stop. The holding stop extends above the support surface. The holding stop holds one or more rolls at a location spaced from the operating position, and is movable to allow a stock roll to move down the support surface, past the holding stop to the operating position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a dunnage conversion machine (30) for converting a stock material into a dunnage product, a stock material support (22) for a supply of stock material to be fed to the dunnage conversion machine, and a drop-and-slide mechanism (34) configured to allow the stock material support to be moved between an operating position and a loading position, which is spaced both horizontally and vertically from the operating position. The drop-and-slide mechanism includes a guide member (40) and a slide (42) to which the stock material support is mounted. The slide is supported by the guide member for horizontal movement relative to the guide member. A packer can pull the slide horizontally away from the operating position, causing the stock support to fall to the loading position, and the packer can push the slide away from the loading position, causing the stock support to rise to the operating position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a dunnage conversion machine (30) for converting a stock material into a dunnage product, a stock material support (22) for a supply of stock material to be fed to the dunnage conversion machine, and a drop-and-slide mechanism (34) configured to allow the stock material support to be moved between an operating position and a loading position, which is spaced both horizontally and vertically from the operating position. The drop-and-slide mechanism includes a guide member (40) and a slide (42) to which the stock material support is mounted. The slide is supported by the guide member for horizontal movement relative to the guide member. A packer can pull the slide horizontally away from the operating position, causing the stock support to fall to the loading position, and the packer can push the slide away from the loading position, causing the stock support to rise to the operating position.