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 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 cutting mechanism is provided for a dunnage conversion machine 10 that selectively cuts dunnage sheet stock drawable through the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism includes a frame and a pair of opposed cutting blades through which the sheet stock is drawable. The cutting blades include a driven blade and a biased blade, each supported relative to the frame for movement into and out of contact with one another. The driven blade is movable towards the biased blade to cut the sheet stock. The biased blade is biased against movement away from the driven blade to allow for self-adjustability to counter wear of one or both of the opposed blades. Contact of the opposed blades with one another causes the biased blade to be deflected away from the driven blade.