Output chute for cushioning conversion machine
AssigneeRanpak Corp.
InventorsRichard O. Ratzel, Joseph J. Harding, Dirk Johannes Siekmann, Edward W. Lintala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety output chute for a cushioning conversion machine includes a chute having an input end and an output end, the input end including an opening for receiving a flexible cushioning product from an outlet of the cushioning conversion machine; and a plurality of rollers situated inside the chute, the rollers being oriented such that the flexible cushioning product must follow a non-linear path from the input end of the chute to the output end of the chute. Other embodiments of a safety output chute are also disclosed.
Claims13
A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a relatively less dense cushioning product, comprising:
- a conversion assembly which converts the sheet stock material into the cushioning product and dispenses the cushioning product through an outlet;
- an output chute having an input end including an opening for receiving the cushioning product from the outlet;
- a shield disposed within the chute having an open position and a closed position;
- an actuating mechanism connected to the shield for moving the shield between the open and closed positions;
- and
- a detector mechanism for detecting whether the shield is in an improper position indicative of the presence of an object in the chute in addition to the cushioning product.
A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a relatively less dense cushioning product, comprising:
- a conversion assembly which converts the sheet stock material into the cushioning product and dispenses the cushioning product through an outlet;
- an output chute having an input end including an opening for receiving the cushioning product from the outlet, the chute including an openable cover;
- and
- a sliding door which blocks the opening when the cover is open and that permits passage through the opening when the cover is closed.
A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a relatively less dense cushioning product, comprising:
- a conversion assembly which converts the sheet stock material into the cushioning product and dispenses the cushioning product through an outlet;
- an output chute having an input end and an output end, the input end including an opening for receiving the cushioning product from the outlet;
- and
- a plurality of rows of axially spaced hinged elements substantially preventing ingress though the chute from the output end towards the input end, the hinged elements in each row being axially offset and overlapping the hinged elements in at least one other row.
A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into a relatively less dense cushioning product, comprising:
- a conversion assembly which converts the sheet stock material into the cushioning product and dispenses the cushioning product through an outlet;
- an output chute having an input end and an output end, the input end including an opening for receiving the cushioning product from the outlet;
- and
- a shield partially within the chute having an open position and a closed position, the shield extending outside the chute to contact and to deflect the cushioning product outside of the chute when the shield is in the closed position;
- and
- an actuating mechanism for moving the shield between the open and closed positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.