Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: A dunnage accumulator includes a first holding portion (502) and a second holding portion (504) configured and associated with the first holding portion to define a dunnage accumulation space therebetween and for receiving and removably retaining dunnage from a dunnage machine (17) in the accumulation space, wherein at least a portion of the second holding portion is flexible such that flexing thereof varies the accumulation space to accommodate a varying amount of dunnage held therein.

Abstract: A dunnage apparatus for converting sheet stock into dunnage includes a sheet stock supply member configured for holding the sheet stock, a sheet crumpling mechanism configured for crumpling the sheet stock to produce the dunnage, and an infeed mechanism disposed between the supply member and crumpling mechanism and associated therewith for feeding the sheet stock from the supply member to the crumpling mechanism, the infeed mechanism having an engagement portion at an entry of the infeed mechanism and configured for engaging and feeding the sheet stock in the supply member into the infeed mechanism, wherein the engagement mechanism is located above the supply member.

Abstract: A dunnage device is disclosed and can include a dunnage mechanism comprising first and second dunnage converting portions that have an engaged condition, in which the converting portions are associated and configured for converting stock material into dunnage and a disengaged condition in which the converting portions are disabled from converting the stock into dunnage and a dunnage handler configured for receiving the dunnage from the dunnage mechanism and including a first handler portion that has a handling position in which the dunnage handler is configured for controlling the dunnage and a release position, wherein the first handler portion is associated with the dunnage mechanism such that movement of the first handler portion from the handling position to the release position causes the dunnage mechanism to change from the engaged condition to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A dunnage system may include a converting station including a converter configured for pulling in a stream of sheet material and converting the material into dunnage, and an inlet guide having an inlet surface that is coiled such that first and second ends of the inlet surface are discontinuous with each other to define a gap therebetween, the inlet surface configured to channel the sheet material into the converter. A cutter for a dunnage system may include a blade with first and second phases of serrations that are coextensive over at least a portion of the blade, the first phase providing cutting serrations for cutting the dunnage, and the second phase comprising ledges for focusing the cutting and preventing or reducing bunching of the dunnage towards a side of the blade. A method of converting dunnage may also be provided.

Abstract: A dunnage system for processing material into dunnage is herein described. A converting station of the system can include a drum having a drum surface first and second axial sides and guides protruding adjacent the drum surface on the first and second axial sides associated with the drum to rotate with the drum surface. A supply gripping member can be provided to grip a supply roll, and can include a rotatable base. A pivotal blade can be used to cut the dunnage.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: A dunnage handler for controlling the outfeed of dunnage from a dunnage machine is disclosed and can include a dunnage accumulator with first and second holding portions configured and associated with each other to define a dunnage accumulation space therebetween and for receiving and removably retaining the dunnage in the accumulation space from a dunnage machine and an articulation associating the first and second holding portions such that the holding portions are movable with respect to each other to vary the accumulation space to accommodate a varying amount of dunnage held therein, where a sensor and controller can be included to stop dunnage production when the accumulator is full.

Abstract: A dunnage crumpling apparatus is provided having first and second entry-side crumpling members and first and second exit-side crumpling members. The first and second entry-side crumpling members define an entry therebetween. The first and second exit-side crumpling members define an exit therebetween that is disposed along the longitudinal path downstream of the entry. A crumpling zone being defined between the entry and exit. The first entry-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an first rate and is associated with the second entry-side crumpling member for moving sheet material through the entry in a first direction along a longitudinal path at an entry rate. The first exit-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an second rate and is associated with the second exit-side crumpling member for moving the sheet material through the exit in the first direction along the path at a exit rate that is slower than the entry rate to crumple the sheet material for producing dunnage.

Abstract: A dunnage device is disclosed and can include a dunnage mechanism comprising first and second dunnage converting portions that have an engaged condition, in which the converting portions are associated and configured for converting stock material into dunnage and a disengaged condition in which the converting portions are disabled from converting the stock into dunnage and a dunnage handler configured for receiving the dunnage from the dunnage mechanism and including a first handler portion that has a handling position in which the dunnage handler is configured for controlling the dunnage and a release position, wherein the first handler portion is associated with the dunnage mechanism such that movement of the first handler portion from the handling position to the release position causes the dunnage mechanism to change from the engaged condition to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A dunnage apparatus is provided for converting sheet stock into dunnage, that includes a sheet stock supply member configured for holding the sheet stock, a dunnage machine configured for converting the sheet stock into dunnage, and an infeed mechanism disposed between the supply member and dunnage machine and associated therewith for feeding the sheet stock from the supply member to the crumpling mechanism, wherein the supply member is configured for pivoting to retain the sheet stock associated with the infeed mechanism.

Abstract: A dunnage apparatus for converting sheet stock into dunnage includes a sheet stock supply member configured for holding the sheet stock, a sheet crumpling mechanism configured for crumpling the sheet stock to produce the dunnage, and an infeed mechanism disposed between the supply member and crumpling mechanism and associated therewith for feeding the sheet stock from the supply member to the crumpling mechanism, the infeed mechanism having an engagement portion at an entry of the infeed mechanism and configured for engaging and feeding the sheet stock in the supply member into the infeed mechanism, wherein the engagement mechanism is located above the supply member.

Abstract: A dunnage handler is disclosed for controlling the outfeed of dunnage from a dunnage mechanism including a first handler portion configured for association with the dunnage mechanism for receiving dunnage therefrom, the first handler portion being reversibly reconfigurable between an accumulator configuration, in which the first handler portion is configured to accumulate the dunnage received from the dunnage mechanism and a discharger configuration, in which the first handler portion is configured to discharge the dunnage received from the dunnage mechanism.

Abstract: A dunnage crumpling apparatus is provided having first and second entry-side crumpling members and first and second exit-side crumpling members. The first and second entry-side crumpling members define an entry therebetween. The first and second exit-side crumpling members define an exit therebetween that is disposed along the longitudinal path downstream of the entry. A crumpling zone being defined between the entry and exit. The first entry-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an first rate and is associated with the second entry-side crumpling member for moving sheet material through the entry in a first direction along a longitudinal path at an entry rate. The first exit-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an second rate and is associated with the second exit-side crumpling member for moving the sheet material through the exit in the first direction along the path at a exit rate that is slower than the entry rate to crumple the sheet material for producing dunnage.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to a system and a method for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system and method provide for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The system comprises, generally, a paper crumpling machine having a braking mechanism for preventing uncontrolled rolling of a paper roll, a rake for effectively guiding paper sheeting into the paper crumpling machine, and a disengagement mechanism for easily disengaging the paper sheeting from the apparatus if necessary, and an automatic tensioning device for providing even distribution of tension on the paper sheeting. In addition, the apparatus comprises a cutting mechanism and/or a clamping mechanism for allowing cutting and/or clamping of the crumpled paper substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for automated movement of an umbrella. An apparatus can be manually or automatically actuated to move the umbrella so as to provide more or less shade as desired by the user. For example, an apparatus is provided which can automatically move an umbrella to follow the movement of the sun. The apparatus can provide maximum or minimum shade (as desired) to the user throughout the day and/or can change the angle of the umbrella with little or no effort by the user. An adjustable umbrella apparatus comprising a ballast-shifting means is also provided.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of a dunnage apparatus includes a crumpling device configured for crumpling sheets of paper to produce low-density packaging dunnage. A paper feeder is provided to feed feeding sheets of paper into the crumpling device for crumpling.