Method and apparatus for making dunnage

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage including a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine, a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows, a hammer mounted on an ultrasonic frequency converter, and an anvil mounted on the machine in a position such that the web of material can pass between the hammer and anvil while allowing the hammer to strike the anvil. The ultrasonic frequency converter is connected to a power source and generates vibrations at a frequency causing the hammer to vibrate at a frequency that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the hammer and anvil thereby creating a seam. The ultrasonic frequency converter can be mounted on an arm and cam follower to account for variations in the thickness of the web material. The apparatus may be equipped to manufacture multiple pieces of dunnage simultaneously.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.