Cushioning conversion machine with single feed/cut motor
AssigneeRanpak Corp.
InventorsRichard O. Ratzel, James A. Simmons, Jr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pair of clutches selectively transmit power to a coining mechanism and to a cut-off mechanism in a paper converting machine. As sheet-like material is advanced through the machine, it is formed into a three dimensional strip of padding by a forming mechanism. Next the strip is coined or otherwise secured to keep its three dimensional shape by a coining mechanism. Thereafter the strip is cut into sections of the desired length by a cut-off mechanism. Advantageously, both the coining mechanism and the cut-off mechanism are powered by a single motor, then are selectively connected to the motor by a pair of clutches. The clutches may be wrap spring clutches, and the clutch controlling power to the cut-off mechanism may be a single revolution clutch.
Claims19
A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like material into a dunnage product, said machine comprising
- a forming assembly with guides to form the sheet material into a continuous three dimensional strip of dunnage;
- and
- a feed and cut-off assembly including a drive motor,
- first and second clutches operatively connected to the drive motor,
- a feed mechanism to advance the sheet material through the forming assembly;
- and
- a cut-off mechanism to cut the strip of dunnage into cut strips of desired length;
- the first clutch selectively connecting the feed mechanism and the second clutch selectively connecting the cut-off mechanism to the drive motor;
- wherein the cut-off mechanism includes a blade mounting bar which carries a blade, a pair of connecting rods having distal ends connected to opposite ends of the mounting bar, and a pair of crank arms operably coupled to respective connecting rods and an output shaft of the second clutch to drive the connecting rods to move the blade mounting bar in a reciprocating motion.
A method of converting a sheet-like material into dunnage comprising the steps of advancing the sheet-like material through a former to form a continuous three dimensional strip of dunnage,
- selectively engaging a first clutch to connect a drive motor to a coining mechanism to coin the strip so as to maintain the three-dimensional shape into which it has been formed,
- selectively engaging a second clutch to connect a drive motor to a cut-off mechanism to cut strip of dunnage to a desired length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.