Dunnage converter system

A dunnage conversion machine, comprising:

• converting sub-assemblies which convert sheet stock material into a dunnage product;
• and
• an infeed paper guide assembly upstream of the converting subassemblies;
• the infeed paper guide assembly being moveable between an open position whereat access is provided to a portion of a travel path of the sheet stock material and a closed position whereat the infeed paper guide assembly guides the sheet stock material along the travel path.

A dunnage conversion machine, comprising:

• a pulling assembly which pulls sheet stock material through the dunnage conversion machine thereby to convert the sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, the pulling assembly being powered by a pulling assembly motor having a pulling assembly motor axis;
• a severing assembly which severs the strip of dunnage into a dunnage product, the severing assembly being powered by a severing assembly motor having a severing assembly motor axis;
• a frame having an L-shape configuration;
• wherein the pulling assembly motor is mounted to the frame so that its axis is parallel to one leg of the L-shape configuration, and the severing assembly motor is mounted to the frame so that its axis is parallel to the other leg of the L-shape configuration.

A packaging system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine;
• and
• a packing surface;
• wherein the dunnage conversion machine is disposed above the packing surface.

A packaging system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine;
• a stock supply assembly which supplies sheet stock material to the dunnage conversion machine;
• and
• a gangway which provides access to the stock supply assembly.

A packaging system, comprising:

• an elevated support member;
• a dunnage conversion machine mounted to the elevated support member so that the dunnage conversion machine is suspended from the elevated support member;
• and
• a stock supply assembly which supplies sheet stock material to the dunnage conversion machine.

A packaging system, comprising:

• a stand;
• a dunnage conversion machine having an upstream and downstream end and being mounted to the stand for pivotal movement;
• converting sub-assemblies which convert sheet stock material into a dunnage product;
• and
• an infeed paper guide assembly upstream of the converting subassemblies;
• the infeed paper guide assembly being moveable between an open position whereat access is provided to a portion of a travel path of the sheet stock material and a closed position whereat the infeed paper guide assembly guides the sheet stock material along the travel path.

A dunnage conversion system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine;
• a stand for supporting the dunnage conversion machine and for supporting a stack of sheet stock material below the dunnage conversion machine from which the dunnage conversion machine draws sheet stock material and converts same into a strip of dunnage product;
• wherein the stand includes a pair of transversely spaced upright channel members having longitudinally extending transversely spaced apart left and right inner-facing walls and transversely extending longitudinally spaced front and rear guide walls extending inwardly from the inner-facing guide walls;
• wherein the width between right and left sides of the stack of sheet stock material is greater than the distance between the inner edges of the guide walls and less than the distance between the inner-facing walls of the stand, and the distance between the front and rear sides of the stack of sheet stock material is less than the distance between the front and rear guide walls of the stand;
• and
• wherein the stack of sheet stock material is supported between the upright channel members and the upright channel members guide the sheet stock material to the dunnage conversion machine as the dunnage conversion machine draws sheet stock material therefrom.

A method of loading a rectangular stack of sheet stock material into a stand for a dunnage conversion machine, wherein the stand has a pair of transversely spaced upright channel members having longitudinally extending transversely spaced apart left and right inner-facing walls and transversely extending longitudinally spaced front and rear guide walls extending inwardly from the inner-facing guide walls, and wherein the width between right and left sides of the stack is greater than the distance between the inner edges of the guide walls and less than the distance between the inner-facing walls of the stand, and the distance between the front and rear sides of the stack is less than the distance between the front and rear guide walls of the stand, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the right or left side of the stack between the guide members;
• tilting the stack such that first and second diagonally opposite corners thereof are between the inner-facing walls of the stand;
• moving the right or left side of the stack towards the respective right or left inner-facing wall of the stand;
• tilting the stack such that the right and left sides of the stack are disposed inwardly of the respective right and left walls of the stand;
• shifting the stack laterally towards the left or right inner-facing walls to substantially center the stack between the inner-facing walls.

A dunnage conversion system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product, the dunnage conversion machine including a pulling assembly for pulling sheet stock material into the dunnage conversion machine and an outlet through which the dunnage product is discharged;
• and
• a stand;
• wherein the dunnage conversion machine is pivotably mounted to the stand for movement between an operating position whereat the outlet of the dunnage conversion machine faces the front of the system, and one or more servicing/loading positions whereat a feeding end of the pulling assembly faces the front of the system for operator access thereto.

A dunnage conversion system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product, the dunnage conversion machine including a severing assembly for severing the strip of dunnage to a desired length and a cover for covering the severing assembly;
• and
• a stand including a pair of upright guide members, the width of the upright guide members being greater than the width of the cover;
• wherein the dunnage conversion machine is pivotably mounted to the stand for movement between an operating position whereat the dunnage conversion machine discharges the strip of dunnage in front of the system, and one or more servicing/loading positions whereat the cover of the severing assembly is disposed between the upright guide members.

A dunnage conversion system, comprising:

• a dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product;
• and
• a stand;
• wherein the dunnage conversion machine is pivotably mounted to the stand for movement between an operating position whereat the dunnage conversion machine is in an upright position and one or more servicing/loading positions whereat the dunnage conversion machine is at least partially inverted.

A baled stack of sheet stock material for use with a dunnage conversion machine, comprising:

• a stack of fan-folded sheet stock material;
• a jacket for at least partially surrounding the stack;
• and
• at least one bale tie for securing the jacket to the stack of sheet stock material.

A stack of sheet stock material for use with a dunnage conversion machine, comprising:

• a stack of fan-folded sheet stock material having a top and a bottom;
• an adhesive layer at least on the top or on the bottom of the stack;
• and
• a release liner covering the adhesive layer.

A method of loading a stack of sheet stock material onto a second stack of sheet stock material, comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second stacks of sheet stock material with an adhesive layer applied to the top of the first stack or the bottom of the second stack and a release liner covering the adhesive layer;
• setting the second stack on top of the first stack;
• and
• pulling the release liner from between the stacked stacks of sheet stock material to expose the adhesive layer, whereby the adhesive bonds the top page of the first stack to the bottom page of the second stack.

A baled stack of sheet stock material for use with a dunnage conversion machine, comprising:

• a stack of fan-folded sheet stock material;
• a jacket having at least two flaps forming an L-shape cross section, a corner of the stack being disposed adjacent the corner of the L-shaped jacket;
• and
• at least one bale tie for securing the jacket to the stack of sheet stock material.

A dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product, comprising:

• first and second pulling assemblies, each pulling assembly including at least two grippers movable together through a dunnage transfer region in opposition to one another and cooperative to grip therebetween the sheet stock material for advancing the same through the transfer region, and at least one of the grippers including an aperture operative to gather and laterally capture therein the sheet stock material as the grippers move through the transfer region;
• wherein the first pulling assembly is downstream from the forming assembly and the second pulling assembly is downstream from the first pulling assembly;
• and
• wherein the first pulling assembly operates at a different speed than the second pulling assembly to longitudinally crumple the strip of dunnage passing through the dunnage transfer region.

A dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet material into a dunnage product, comprising:

• a pulling assembly for advancing the sheet material through the machine;
• the pulling assembly including at least two grippers movable together through a transfer region in opposition to one another and cooperative to grip therebetween the dunnage strip for advancing the dunnage strip through the transfer region, and at least one of the grippers including an aperture operative to gather and laterally capture therein the dunnage strip as the grippers move through the transfer region;
• and
• a software controller for controlling the speed of the pulling assembly.

A method of converting sheet material into a dunnage product, comprising the steps of:

• using a pulling assembly for advancing the sheet material through the machine;
• wherein the step of advancing the sheet material includes moving grippers together through a transfer region in opposition to one another to cooperatively grip therebetween the sheet material and advance the sheet material through the transfer region, while an aperture in at least one of the grippers gathers and laterally captures therein the sheet material as the grippers are moved through the transfer region;
• further including operating the pulling assembly at a first speed;
• and
• operating the pulling assembly at a second speed.