EP0889779B1 - Cushioning conversion method and machine - Google Patents

Cushioning conversion method and machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0889779B1
EP0889779B1 EP97907960A EP97907960A EP0889779B1 EP 0889779 B1 EP0889779 B1 EP 0889779B1 EP 97907960 A EP97907960 A EP 97907960A EP 97907960 A EP97907960 A EP 97907960A EP 0889779 B1 EP0889779 B1 EP 0889779B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cushioning
pad
exit
machine
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97907960A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0889779A2 (en
Inventor
James A. Simmons, Jr.
Joseph James Harding
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ranpak Corp
Original Assignee
Ranpak Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Priority claimed from US08/672,856 external-priority patent/US6217501B1/en
Application filed by Ranpak Corp filed Critical Ranpak Corp
Publication of EP0889779A2 publication Critical patent/EP0889779A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0889779B1 publication Critical patent/EP0889779B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31D—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C
    • B31D5/00—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles ; Making three-dimensional articles
    • B31D5/0039—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles ; Making three-dimensional articles for making dunnage or cushion pads
    • B31D5/0043—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles ; Making three-dimensional articles for making dunnage or cushion pads including crumpling flat material
    • B31D5/0047—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles ; Making three-dimensional articles for making dunnage or cushion pads including crumpling flat material involving toothed wheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31D—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C
    • B31D2205/00—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles
    • B31D2205/0005—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles for making dunnage or cushion pads
    • B31D2205/0076—Multiple-step processes for making three-dimensional articles for making dunnage or cushion pads involving particular machinery details
    • B31D2205/0088—Control means

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a cushioning conversion system and, more particularly, to a transfer device and method for transferring a pad from a cushioning conversion machine along a path for ease of retrieval by an operator.
  • a protective packaging material is typically placed in the shipping case, or box, to fill any voids and/or to cushion the item during the shipping process.
  • Some conventional protective packaging materials are plastic foam peanuts and plastic bubble pack. While these conventional plastic materials seem to perform adequately as cushioning products, they are not without disadvantages. Perhaps the most serious drawback of plastic bubble wrap and/or plastic foam peanuts is their effect on our environment. Quite simply, these plastic packaging materials are not biodegradable and thus they cannot avoid further multiplying our planet's already critical waste disposal problems. The non-biodegradability of these packaging materials has become increasingly important in light of many industries adopting more progressive policies in terms of environmental responsibility.
  • these machines convert the stock material into a continuous strip having lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band.
  • This strip is connected or coined along the central band to form a coined strip which is severed or cut into sections of a desired length.
  • the cut sections each include lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band and provide an excellent relatively low density pad-like product which may be used in place of conventional plastic protective packaging material.
  • WO-A-97/03817 (prior art in sense of Article 54/3 EPC) describes a cushioning conversion system, comprising a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into a cushioning pad which emerges through a machine exit including a drive element adapted to convey the cushioning product along a path from the machine exit to a user accessible location.
  • a method of transferring a cushioning product from a cushioning conversion machine includes the steps of engaging a portion of the cushioning product at the machine exit and transferring the cushioning product along a path to an exit location, sensing the cushioning product reaching an exit location and in dependance on such sensing ceasing the movement of the cushioning product, and providing a signal to the cushioning conversion machine to produce a further cushioning product after the cushioning product at the exit location has been removed.
  • a cushioning conversion machine 10 for producing low density cushioning product with a curved output drive system 12 for transferring pads upwardly from the exit 14 of the machine to a work platform 16 of a dispensing table 18.
  • the machine frame 20 is supported on a cart 46 including a plurality of vertical support members or legs 48, each ending in a caster 50 to permit the machine 10 to be moved with relative ease.
  • the support members 48 include a fixed upper portion 52 and a telescoping lower portion 54 which moves in and out of the interior of the fixed portion to permit vertical adjustment of the machine 10 and output drive system 12 under the dispensing table 18 and accurate alignment between the exit 56 of the output drive system and the passage 58 through the work platform 16 of the dispensing table 18.
  • the legs 60 of the dispensing table 18 are also adjustable to facilitate alignment with and more preferably a connection between the curved output drive system 12 and the dispensing table.
  • the output drive system 12 forms the connection between the cushioning conversion machine 10 and the dispensing table 18 and includes a series of upper and lower rotating drive rollers 66, 67, respectively, spaced in an arc along a curved guide path 68 for engaging and transferring a pad from the machine exit 14 along the guide path and upwardly and through the passage 58 in the work platform 16 to present the formed and cut pad at or on the work platform.
  • the upper and lower series of drive rollers 66, 67 are powered through a connection to a motor 70 and an assembly of gears 72.
  • the stock supply assembly 22 supplies the stock material to the forming assembly 36.
  • the wire former 38 and converging conical chute 40 of the forming assembly 36 cause inward rolling of the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material to form a continuous strip having lateral pillow-like portions.
  • the gears 44 of the feed assembly 42 pull the stock material downstream through the machine and also coin the central band of the continuous strip to form the coined strip.
  • the coined strip travels downstream from the feed assembly 42 it passes through the cutting assembly 28 to the output drive system 12 where it is frictionally engaged on its opposed upper and lower surfaces by the rotating upper and lower series of drive rollers 66, 67 which transfer the pad along the guide in the direction of the work platform 16.
  • the series of drive rollers 66, 67 will continue to transfer the cut pad upwardly through the passage 58 in the work platform to deposit the formed and cut pad on the work platform for use as needed by the operator.
  • the shaft 94 of the first drive roller 96 in the lower series of drive rollers 67 extends through the side wall 82 to a clutch mechanism 98 for selectively coupling the first drive roller 96 with the motor 70.
  • Rotational motion is transferred from the motor 70 mounted to the bottom wall 86 to the first drive roller 96 through a drive pulley 102 connected to the motor shaft 104 and a belt 106 extending between the drive pulley and a pulley 100 connected to the clutch mechanism 98. Consequently, when engaged the clutch mechanism 98 transfers rotational movement from the motor 70 to the first drive roller 96 through the shaft 94. When disengaged, the clutch mechanism conversely prevents the transfer of rotational movement from the motor 70 to the first drive roller 96.
  • Rotational motion is transferred to the upper series of drive rollers 66 by an enmeshed connection between the gear 108 associated with the first drive roller 96 of the lower series of drive rollers 67 and a gear 124 adapted to drive the first drive roller 132 of the upper series of rollers 66 through the shaft 94.
  • Rotational motion is transferred to the second drive roller 138 though a transfer gear 126 rotatably mounted on a shaft 128 extending from the side wall 84 and enmeshed with the gear 125 of the drive roller 132 and gear 134 connected to drive roller 138 through an associated shaft 94.
  • the drive roller 138 causes rotation of the drive roller 140 through the transfer gear 142 in the same manner.
  • the gear 108 transfers rotation from the first drive roller 96 of the lower series of drive rollers 67 to the drive roller 136 of the upper series of drive rollers 66 directly through the gear 124 connected to the drive roller 136, the direction of rotation of the upper series of drive rollers 66 is opposite that of the lower series of drive rollers 67 (see directional arrows in Figure 5). Therefore, the upper and lower series of drive rollers 66, 67 will act cooperatively in urging a pad compressed therebetween in the same direction through the guide path 68, namely a direction away from the cushioning conversion machine to the dispensing table 18.
  • Each of the sensors 146 and 148 may be conventional sensors for detecting the presence or absence of a pad adjacent the sensor.
  • An example of a suitable sensor would be an optical sensor with a corresponding retro-reflector positioned at an opposite side of the path 68 from the optical sensor.
  • the sensor 146 is positioned near the exit portion 56 of the system 12 and senses the presence or absence of a pad at the exit portion 56.
  • the output of the sensor 146 controls the clutch mechanism 98, preferably in combination with a timer or delay circuit (hereinafter the timer and sensor 146 are collectively referenced by the reference numeral 146), so that once a pad is sensed at the exit portion 56 by the sensor 146, transfer of the pad will continue for a short period of time, as controlled by the timer, sufficient to permit an adequate amount of pad to emerge from the passage 58 in the work platform 16 that an operator can easily access and remove the pad.
  • a timer or delay circuit hereinafter the timer and sensor 146 are collectively referenced by the reference numeral 146
  • the clutch mechanism 98 is disengaged, thereby discontinuing movement of the upper and lower series of drive rollers 66 and 67 and ceasing movement of the pad.
  • the clutch mechanism 98 will remain disengaged until an operator removes the pad from the output drive system 12, and such removal is detected by the sensor 146.
  • the output of the sensor 146 may also be provided to the machine 10 which can use the information to control production of pads such that when a pad is removed from the output drive system 12, as detected by the sensor 146, the machine will automatically produce another pad.
  • the cushioning conversion machine 170 is configured with similar components to affect the production of a pad as described above relative to the cushioning conversion machine 10, for example, a conversion assembly and a severing assembly (not shown).
  • the linear output drive system 174 is preferably at least as long as the pad 175 to be produced or longer, but may be of any length wherein the pad can be pulled from the machine exit, severed and remain in the output drive system for retrieval by an operator.
  • the linear output drive system 174 preferably includes a bottom tray portion 178 and an opposed top portion 180 housing a conveyor 182, such as a continuous belt, although a series of drive rollers may also be employed.
  • the conveyor 182 is spaced from the bottom tray 178 creating a channel 184 through which the pad 175 can be conveyed.
  • the distance between the conveyor 182 and the bottom tray 178 is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the pad 175 so that the pad is gently compressed between the bottom plate and the conveyor and the conveyor frictionally engages the pad to urge it away from the machine exit 172 and toward the exit 176 of the output drive system.
  • a conveyor belt is employed having a coefficient of friction compatible with the application to permit the conveyor belt to frictionally engage the pad 175 while allowing for slippage between the pad and the conveyor without damage to the pad during the pad formation process prior to the pad being severed.
  • the conveyor 182 may be upturned confronting the cushioning conversion machine exit 172 to create a divergent portion to facilitate entry of the pad 175 into the channel 184 or the channel and output drive system can be sized and oriented to accept the pad through other means.
  • the conveyor 182 is driven by a motor 186 and a series of rollers 188.
  • the motor 186 may operate on demand as controlled by the controller 192 with a direct connection to the conveyor 182, or a clutch assembly may be employed wherein the motor would operate continuously with the movement of the conveyor controlled through selective activation of the clutch assembly.
  • the controller 192 In operation, when there is no pad 175 at the user accessible exit 176, the controller 192 will be informed of the absence of the pad by a signal received from the pad sensor 190. Based on other predefined or operator selected inputs, the controller 192 will operate the cushioning conversion assemblies therein to produce a pad 175 of the desired length and will simultaneously instruct the motor 186 of the output drive system 174 to begin movement of the conveyor 182. As a pad 175 is formed and emerges from the cushioning conversion machine 170 at the machine exit 172 it enters the channel 184 formed between the bottom tray 178 and the conveyor 182 of the output drive system 174 and is engaged by the conveyor 182 to be urged towards the exit 176 of the output drive system.
  • the controller 192 will cause the conveyor 182 to stop, such as by stopping the motor 186 or by disengaging a clutch mechanism between the motor and the conveyor.
  • the controller 192 controls the cushioning conversion assemblies of the cushioning conversion machine 170 to produce a single pad and then stops the cushioning conversion assembly after the pad 175 has been severed by the cutting assembly.
  • the sensor 190 will indicate the removal and thus absence of the pad from the channel 184 and communicate the absence of the pad to the controller 192 which can than automatically cause the conveyor 182 to begin moving and the cushioning conversion assemblies of the cushioning conversion machine 172 to produce another pad and to present that pad at the exit 176 of the output drive system 174 to await removal by the operator.
  • single pads may be automatically produced and presented at the user accessible exit 176 of the output drive system 174 each time an operator removes a pad 175 from the exit 176, thereby presenting a continuous supply of pads on demand by the operator.
  • controller 192 which can be a controller such as disclosed in copending Ranpak Application Serial Nos. 08/279,149 and 08/482,015, the functioning of the controller 192 may be accomplished through dedicated circuits and logic arrays in a similar manner.

Landscapes

  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
EP97907960A 1996-02-28 1997-02-28 Cushioning conversion method and machine Expired - Lifetime EP0889779B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US1247096P 1996-02-28 1996-02-28
US12470P 1996-02-28
US1247P 1996-02-28
US08/672,856 US6217501B1 (en) 1996-06-28 1996-06-28 Cushioning conversion machine
US672856 1996-06-28
US2437396P 1996-08-01 1996-08-01
US24373P 1996-08-01
PCT/US1997/003218 WO1997031773A2 (en) 1996-02-28 1997-02-28 Cushioning conversion machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0889779A2 EP0889779A2 (en) 1999-01-13
EP0889779B1 true EP0889779B1 (en) 2002-07-17

Family

ID=27359643

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97907960A Expired - Lifetime EP0889779B1 (en) 1996-02-28 1997-02-28 Cushioning conversion method and machine

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0889779B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2000506076A (ja)
KR (1) KR19990087388A (ja)
CN (1) CN1216952A (ja)
AU (1) AU1982597A (ja)
CA (1) CA2247371A1 (ja)
DE (1) DE69714026T2 (ja)
MX (1) MX9807042A (ja)
WO (1) WO1997031773A2 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102017116837A1 (de) 2017-07-25 2019-01-31 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke

Families Citing this family (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2798920B1 (fr) * 1999-09-27 2001-12-28 Naturembal Sa Dispositif de guidage dispose en sortie d'une machine de fabrication de materiau de rembourrage en materiau de type papier
ES2767321T3 (es) 2011-11-10 2020-06-17 Packsize Llc Máquina de conversión
EP2802448B1 (en) * 2012-01-09 2016-10-26 Packsize LLC Converting machine with an upward outfeed guide
DE102012218680A1 (de) * 2012-10-12 2014-04-17 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Polsterungsprodukts aus Papier
DE102014016874A1 (de) * 2014-11-14 2016-05-19 Sprick Gmbh Bielefelder Papier- Und Wellpappenwerke & Co. Vorrichtung zum maschinellen Fertigen eines Füllmaterialerzeugnisses
US10093438B2 (en) 2014-12-29 2018-10-09 Packsize Llc Converting machine
US10850469B2 (en) 2016-06-16 2020-12-01 Packsize Llc Box forming machine
JP7043426B2 (ja) 2016-06-16 2022-03-29 パックサイズ・リミテッド・ライアビリティ・カンパニー 箱テンプレート製造システムおよび方法
US11242214B2 (en) 2017-01-18 2022-02-08 Packsize Llc Converting machine with fold sensing mechanism
SE541921C2 (en) 2017-03-06 2020-01-07 Packsize Llc A box erecting method and system
SE1750727A1 (sv) 2017-06-08 2018-10-09 Packsize Llc Tool head positioning mechanism for a converting machine, and method for positioning a plurality of tool heads in a converting machine
US11173685B2 (en) 2017-12-18 2021-11-16 Packsize Llc Method for erecting boxes
US11305903B2 (en) 2018-04-05 2022-04-19 Avercon BVBA Box template folding process and mechanisms
US11247427B2 (en) 2018-04-05 2022-02-15 Avercon BVBA Packaging machine infeed, separation, and creasing mechanisms
US11634244B2 (en) 2018-06-21 2023-04-25 Packsize Llc Packaging machine and systems
SE543046C2 (en) 2018-09-05 2020-09-29 Packsize Llc A box erecting method and system
US11524474B2 (en) 2018-11-30 2022-12-13 Packsize Llc Adjustable cutting and creasing heads for creating angled cuts and creases
DE102018009733A1 (de) * 2018-12-11 2020-06-18 Sprick Gmbh Bielefelder Papier- Und Wellpappenwerke & Co. Vorrichtung mit Elektromotor zum Bereitstellen von Verpackungsmaterial und Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Verpackungsmaterialbereitstellungsvorrichtung
DE102018009679A1 (de) * 2018-12-11 2020-06-18 Sprick GmbH Papier- und Wellpappenwerke & Co. Vorrichtung mit mehreren Antrieben zum Fertigen eines Verpackungsmaterialerzeugnisses aus einem Faserausgangsmaterial, Verfahren zum Fertigen eines Verpackungsmaterialerzeugnisses und Verfahren zum Beseitigen von Verpackungsmaterialverstopfungen
DE102018009678A1 (de) * 2018-12-11 2020-06-18 Sprick Gmbh Bielefelder Papier- Und Wellpappenwerke & Co. Vorrichtung mit Guillotine-Ablängvorrichtung zum Fertigen eines Verpackungsmaterialerzeugnisses aus einem Faserausgangsmaterial und Verfahren zum Fertigen eines Verpackungsmaterialerzeugnisses
DE112020000348T5 (de) 2019-01-07 2021-09-16 Packsize Llc Kartonaufrichtungsmaschine
US11701854B2 (en) 2019-03-14 2023-07-18 Packsize Llc Packaging machine and systems
DE102021125147A1 (de) 2021-09-28 2023-03-30 Sprick Gmbh Bielefelder Papier- Und Wellpappenwerke & Co. Abförderband

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997003817A1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1997-02-06 Ranpak Corp. Cushioning conversion system

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US4844438A (en) * 1987-12-22 1989-07-04 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Tag stacker and stacking method
US4968291A (en) * 1989-05-03 1990-11-06 Ranpak Corp. Stitching gear assembly having perforating projections thereon, for use in converter adapted to produce pad-like cushioning material, and method
US5123889A (en) * 1990-10-05 1992-06-23 Ranpak Corporation Downsized cushioning dunnage conversion machine and cutting assemblies for use on such a machine
US5203761A (en) * 1991-06-17 1993-04-20 Sealed Air Corporation Apparatus for fabricating dunnage material from continuous web material
US5487717A (en) * 1993-05-21 1996-01-30 Ranpak Corp. Dispensing table for a cushioning conversion machine
WO1995013914A1 (en) * 1993-11-19 1995-05-26 Ranpak Corp. A packaging program
NL9400606A (nl) * 1994-04-15 1995-11-01 Ranpak B V Inrichting voor het vervaardigen van lintvormig verpakkingsmateriaal van gelaagd papier of dergelijke.

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997003817A1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1997-02-06 Ranpak Corp. Cushioning conversion system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102017116837A1 (de) 2017-07-25 2019-01-31 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke
WO2019020633A1 (de) 2017-07-25 2019-01-31 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh Vorrichtung zur bereitstellung eines polstermittels für verpackungszwecke
US11951706B2 (en) 2017-07-25 2024-04-09 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh Device for dispensing a padding material for packaging purposes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69714026T2 (de) 2003-02-27
CN1216952A (zh) 1999-05-19
DE69714026D1 (de) 2002-08-22
JP2000506076A (ja) 2000-05-23
CA2247371A1 (en) 1997-09-04
KR19990087388A (ko) 1999-12-27
MX9807042A (es) 1998-12-31
WO1997031773A3 (en) 1998-01-08
WO1997031773A2 (en) 1997-09-04
AU1982597A (en) 1997-09-16
EP0889779A2 (en) 1999-01-13

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