# US 2024/0199261 A1 · Systems for dispensing pillows for product packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0199261 A1 - Document ID: US20240199261A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/391,631 - Filed: 2023-12-20 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC - Applicants: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC - Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch; Ken Chess; Charles Anthony Daigle; David Schuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240199261A1 ## CPC - B31D 5/0073: {including pillow forming} - B65B 55/20: Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material - B65B 41/14: by grippers - B65B 61/06: by cutting - B31D 2205/0058: Cutting; Individualising the final products - B31D 2205/007: Delivering - B31D 2205/0088: Control means - B31D: MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C (manufacture by dry processes of articles made from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material B27N; making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B; making articles from cellulosic fibrous suspensions, e.g. wood pulp, D21J) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Devices are provided for dispensing pillows for use in packaging arranged in web and having relative a relatively thick portion bordered by relatively thin portions that adjoins the individual pillows within the web. The systems can include a transfer unit having a pushing member. The pushing member is configured to engage the web of pillows as the pushing member moves so that the pushing member draws the web into the transfer unit, and moves the web through the transfer unit and toward an exit opening of the transfer unit. The devices further can include a separation unit having a cutting device, and a movable cover that at least partially encloses the cutting device to prevent unintentional contact with the cutting device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for dispensing pillows for product packaging, each of the cushioning pillows comprising a first portion, and second portions each having a thickness less than a thickness of the first portion, the second portions of adjacent pillows adjoining each other to form a continuous web of the pillows, the web defining peaks coinciding with locations of maximum thickness of the first portions, and valleys located between the peaks, the device comprising: a transfer unit comprising at least one pushing member; wherein: the pushing member is configured to engage the web of pillows so that the pushing member draws the web of pillows into the transfer unit, and moves the web of pillows through the transfer unit toward of an exit opening of the transfer unit; and the pushing member is angled away from a direction of rotation of the pushing members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the pushing member comprises a vane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pushing members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the transfer unit further comprises a hub; the pushing member is mounted on the hub; and the pushing member extends in a direction substantially tangential to an outer surface of the hub. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer unit further comprises a guide configured to guide the web of pillows along a path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein: a forward side of the pushing member is configured to contact and advance the pillows; the forward side of the pushing member is angled in relation to an adjacent portion of the guide by a first angle; a rearward side of the pushing member is angled in relation to the adjacent portion of the guide by a second angle supplemental to the first angle; and the first angle is less than the second angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guide comprises: a curvilinear portion configured to guide the web of pillows along a curvilinear path; and a vertical portion adjoining the curvilinear portion and configured to guide the web of pillows to the exit opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guide interferes with the pushing member as the pushing member moves past the guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the pushing member is configured to flex in response to the interference between the pushing member and guide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the pushing member and the guide are configured so that the second portions of the pillows are entrained between a tip of the pushing member and the guide as the pushing member moves past the guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein a spacing between tips of adjacent pushing members is about equal to a length of the pillows. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein: the guide is a second guide; the dispensing unit further comprises a first guide; the first and second guides are configured to guide the web of pillows toward the pushing member; the first and second guides are spaced apart from each other by a spacing that ensures proper engagement of the web of pillows within the transfer unit; and the second guide is configured as a ramp that lifts the web of pillows as the second guide guides the web of pillows along the path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the pushing member is configured to advance the web of pillows in a first direction; and the dispensing unit further comprises an anti-reverse feature configured to inhibit movement of the web of pillows in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the anti-reverse feature comprises a brush. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit further comprises a wiper configured to contact the pillows and separate the pillows from the pushing member as the pushing member and the pillows rotate past the wiper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the wiper comprises a brush. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a holding bin, wherein the pushing member is configured to engage the web of pillows as the pushing member rotates so that the pushing member draws the web of pillows into the transfer unit from the holding bin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the transfer unit is configured to be mounted on, and removed from the holding bin as a modular unit. ### Claim 19 A device for dispensing pillows for product packaging, each of the cushioning pillows comprising a first portion, and second portions each having a thickness less than a thickness of the first portion, the second portions of adjacent pillows adjoining each other to form a continuous web of the pillows, the web defining peaks coinciding with locations of maximum thickness of the first portions, and valleys located between the peaks, the device comprising: a separation unit configured to receive the web of packaging items, wherein the separation unit comprises: an anvil, a cover mounted on the anvil and configured to move in relation to the anvil between a first position and second position of the cover, a press movable between a first position and a second position of the press; and a cutting device mounted on the anvil and configured to sever the second portions of the pillows upon contact with the second portions, wherein: the cover at least partially encloses the cutting device when the cover is in the first position of the cover; the press is configured to move the cover from the first to the second position of the cover, and to push the webbing into the cutting device, when the press moves from the first to the second position of the press; and the press is configured to at least partially enclose the cutting device when the cover is in the second position of the cover. ### Claim 20 A device for dispensing pillows for product packaging, each of the cushioning pillows comprising a first portion, and second portions each having a thickness less than a thickness of the first portion, the second portions of adjacent pillows adjoining each other to form a continuous web of the pillows, the web defining peaks coinciding with locations of maximum thickness of the first portions, and valleys located between the peaks, the device comprising: a holding bin defining an internal volume configured to receive the web of pillows; a duct defining a channel configured to receive the web of pillows and guide the web of pillows to the internal volume of the holding bin in a first direction; an air circulating device in fluid communication with the channel and configured to, during operation, direct air into the channel at a pressure and flow-rate sufficient to move the web of packaging items through the channel in the first direction; and an anti-reverse feature mounted within the channel and configured to inhibit movement of the web of pillows in a second direction opposite the first direction.