Cushioning conversion machine and method
AssigneeRanpak Corp.
InventorRichard O. Ratzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product. The machine includes a manual cutting assembly having a blade and a handle which moves the blade between a first position whereat a strip of dunnage may advance through a cutting zone and a second position whereat the strip of dunnage will be cut in the cutting zone. The cutting zone is defined by a housing which encloses the blade of the cutting assembly. The handle of the cutting assembly is positioned outside of the housing for manual manipulation.
Claims22
A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product;
- said machine comprising:
- a forming assembly which forms the sheet-like stock material into a three-dimensional strip;
- a housing defining a cutting zone through which the strip advances;
- a feed assembly, positioned downstream of the forming assembly and at least partially enclosed within the housing, which advances the sheet-like stock material through the forming assembly and through the cutting zone;
- and
- a manual cutting assembly, positioned downstream of the feed assembly, which cuts the strip into sections of a desired length;
- wherein the cutting assembly includes a blade and a handle which moves the blade between a first position whereat the strip may advance through the cutting zone and a second position whereat the strip will be cut in the cutting zone;
- wherein the housing encloses the blade of the cutting assembly and wherein the handle of the cutting assembly is positioned outside of the housing for manual manipulation;
- and
- wherein the handle is mechanically coupled to the blade whereby movement of the handle from a first position to a second position translates into movement of the blade from its first position to its second position.
A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product;
- said machine comprising:
- a forming assembly which forms the sheet-like stock material into a three-dimensional strip;
- a housing defining a cutting zone through which the strip advances;
- a feed assembly, positioned downstream of the forming assembly and at least partially enclosed within the housing, which advances the sheet-like stock material through the forming assembly and through the cutting zone;
- and
- a manual cutting assembly, positioned downstream of the feed assembly, which cuts the strip into sections of a desired length;
- wherein the cutting assembly includes a blade and a handle which moves the blade between a first position whereat the strip may advance through the cutting zone and a second position whereat the strip will be cut in the cutting zone;
- wherein the housing encloses the blade of the cutting assembly and wherein the handle of the cutting assembly is positioned outside of the housing for manual manipulation;
- and,
- wherein the cutting assembly further comprises coupling structure operably coupled to the handle and to the blade and wherein the coupling structure allows the handle to be coupled thereto in a plurality of arrangements allowing the handle to be manipulated in a plurality of paths depending on the coupling arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.