Tear-assist blade
AssigneePregis Innovative Packaging LLC
InventorsThomas D. Wetsch, Vitoldas Karalinkas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A material dispenser having a dispensing member configured to dispense a line of the material along a path in a downstream direction, and a cutting member having a cutting edge extending generally downstream with respect to the path. The cutting member having a convex shape across the path, such that the cutting edge engages and sequentially initiates cuts through the line of material when the line of material is pulled against the cutting member, thereby minimize cutting forces.
Claims23
A material dispenser, comprising:
- a dispensing member configured to dispense a line of the material along a path in a downstream direction;
- and
- a cutting member having a cutting edge extending generally downstream with respect to the path and having a convex shape across the path, such that the cutting edge engages and sequentially initiates cuts through the line of material when the line of material is pulled against the cutting member, thereby reducing cutting forces.
A dunnage apparatus, comprising:
- a converting station that converts a line of material into dunnage and dispenses the dunnage along a path in a downstream direction;
- and
- a tear-assist apparatus comprising a cutting member having cutting elements extending generally downstream with respect to the path and arranged with respect to each other along a convex shape across the path, such that the cutting edge engages and sequentially initiates cuts through the line of material when the line of material is pulled against the cutting member, thereby reducing cutting forces, the tear-assist apparatus configured to operably pull the line of material upstream against the cutting members to initiate the cuts.
The dunnage apparatus of claim 23, wherein the tear-assist unit and converting station comprise a drum that is operable for dispensing a line of material, converting a line of material into low-density dunnage, and pulling the line of material upstream with respect to the path against the cutting member to initiate the cuts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.