Dunnage conversion machine and method

A dunnage conversion machine comprising:

• a conversion assembly that converts a sheet stock material into a strip of relatively lower density dunnage;
• the conversion assembly including a forming assembly that inwardly turns lateral regions of the stock material and randomly crumples the stock material as the stock material travels therethrough to form a crumpled strip;
• the forming assembly including an external forming device and an internal forming device;
• the external forming device having an inlet, an outlet relatively smaller than the inlet, and surfaces therebetween that define an internal space;
• the internal forming device being positioned relative to the external forming device within the internal space so that the stock material passes through the internal space and around the internal forming device as it travels through the external forming device;
• the internal forming device having portions with laterally outer edges which at least partially define a turning perimeter around which lateral regions of the sheet stock material inwardly turn;
• the internal forming device having a substantially continuous bottom surface and substantially continuous lateral side surfaces extending in a common direction from the side surface, the lateral side surfaces converging toward each other at a downstream ends;
• and
• the internal forming device having outwardly-expanding cones expanding outwardly from the downstream ends of each of the lateral side surfaces, and a downstream end of the bottom surface contacts the cones.