Claims
- 1. A cushioning dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into cut sections of relatively low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said machine comprising:
- a frame including a frame base plate having an upstream end and a downstream end, a first upstream frame end plate extending generally perpendicularly from said upstream end of said frame base plate and a second downstream frame end plate extending in substantially the same direction as said first frame end plate from said downstream end of said frame base plate;
- a forming assembly, mounted on said base frame plate intermediate said upstream end and said downstream end, which causes inward rolling of the lateral edges of such sheet-like material into a generally spiral-like form whereby a continuous unconnected strip having two lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band is formed;
- a stock supply assembly, located upstream of said forming assembly and mounted on said first frame end plate, which supplies such stock material to said forming assembly;
- a pulling/connecting assembly, located downstream of said forming assembly and mounted on an upstream side of said second frame end plate, which pulls such stock material from said stock supply assembly and through said forming assembly to form such continuous unconnected strip and which connects such continuous unconnected strip along such central band whereby a coined strip of pad-like cushioning dunnage product is formed;
- a cutting assembly, mounted on an opposite downstream side of said second frame end plate and thereby being located downstream of said pulling/connecting assembly, which cuts such coined strip into cut sections of a desired length, wherein said cutting assembly includes:
- a first blade mounted on said second frame end plate;
- a second blade also mounted on said second frame end plate and positioned to coact with said first blade to cut such coined strip into cut sections;
- a motor for powering said cutting assembly;
- a cutter linkage connected to at least one of said blades;
- a drive linkage pivotally connected to said cutter linkage;
- a motion disk connected to said drive linkage; and
- a shaft connecting said motion disk to said motor.
- 2. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter linkage is connected to said first blade.
- 3. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first blade is pivotally attached to said second frame end plate.
- 4. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second frame end plate includes an offset open slot on one side and wherein said shaft is positioned within said slot.
- 5. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cutter linkage includes an upper cutter having an portion pivotally mounted to said end plate.
- 6. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first blade is mounted to a lower edge of a distal part of said cutter arm.
- 7. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:
- a motor, mounted on said frame base plate at substantially the same level as said forming assembly, for powering said cutting assembly; and
- a clutch assembly, mounted on said second down-stream frame end plate, for serving as an interface between said motor and said cutting assembly.
- 8. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said frame end plates are approximately 34 inches wide and approximately 12 inches tall.
- 9. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein an outer side of said frame base plate forms a smooth uninterrupted surface.
- 10. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a first motor for powering said pulling/connecting assembly and a second motor for powering said cutting assembly and wherein both of said motors are mounted on said frame base plate at substantially the same level as said forming assembly.
- 11. A conversion machine as set froth in claim 7 wherein said second downstream end plate is aluminum.
- 12. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 further comprising post-cutting constraining assembly, mounted on said frame downstream of said cutting assembly, for circumferentially and longitudinally constraining such cut sections and thereby improving their cushioning quality.
- 13. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said forming assembly includes a converging chute having a first portion attached to said frame end plate and a second portion pivotally attached to said first portion whereby said chute may be opened for initial manual threading of the machine and closed for normal automatic operation.
- 14. A conversion machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said frame is positioned in a substantially vertical manner whereby an imaginary line through said upstream end to said downstream end would be substantially vertical.
- 15. A cutting assembly for a cushioning dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into cut sections of relatively low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said machine comprising a frame including a frame base plate having an upstream end and a downstream end, a first upstream frame end plate extending generally perpendicularly from said upstream end of said frame base plate and a second downstream frame end plate extending in substantially the same direction as said first frame end plate from said downstream end of said frame base plate; a forming assembly, mounted on said base frame plate intermediate said upstream end and said downstream end, which causes inward rolling of the lateral edges of such sheet-like material into a generally spiral-like form whereby a continuous unconnected strip having two lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band is formed; a stock supply assembly, located upstream of said forming assembly and mounted on said first frame end plate, which supplies such stock material to said forming assembly; a pulling/connecting assembly, located downstream of said forming assembly and mounted on an upstream side of said second frame end plate, which pulls such stock material from said stock supply assembly and through said forming assembly to form such continuous unconnected strip and which connects such continuous unconnected strip along such central band whereby a coined strip of pad-like cushioning dunnage product is formed; said cutting assembly being mounted on an opposite downstream side of said second frame end plate and thereby being located downstream of said pulling/connecting assembly, for cutting such coined strip into cut sections of a desired length, said cutting assembly comprising:
- a first blade mounted on said second frame end plate;
- a second blade also mounted on said second frame end plate and positioned to coact with said first blade to cut such coined strip into cut sections;
- a motor for powering said cutting assembly;
- a cutter linkage connected to at least one of said blades;
- a drive linkage pivotally connected to said cutter linkage;
- a motion disk connected to said drive linkage; and
- a shaft connecting said motion disk to said motor.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending and co-owned application No. 07/592,572 to Armington et al. which was filed on Oct. 5, 1990 and which is entitled "Downsized Cushioning Dunnage Conversion Machine and Packaging Systems Employing the Same." The entire disclosure of this application is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (47)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
592572 |
Oct 1990 |
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