# US 6,416,451 B1 · Output chute for cushioning conversion machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,416,451 B1 - Document ID: US6416451B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/217,696 - Filed: 1998-12-21 - Granted: 2002-07-09 - Earliest claimed: 1996-06-28 - Assignees: Ranpak Corp. - Inventors: Richard O. Ratzel; Joseph J. Harding; Dirk Johannes Siekmann; Edward W. Lintala - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6416451B1 ## CPC - B31D 5/0047: {involving toothed wheels} - B31D 2205/0023: as web from a roll - B31D 2205/0047: Feeding, guiding or shaping the material - B31D 2205/007: Delivering - B31D 2205/0082: General layout of the machinery or relative arrangement of its subunits - B31D 2205/0094: Safety devices - Y10S 493/967: Dunnage, wadding, stuffing, or filling excelsior - 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) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 1, wherein the detector mechanism prevents a cutting operation of the cushioning conversion machine when the shield is in the open position. ### Claim 3 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. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 4, wherein the hinged elements are offset by one-half of the axial width of a hinged element. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, including 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the detector mechanism prevents a cutting operation of the cushioning conversion machine when the shield is in the open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the shield is biased in a closed position and the actuating mechanism upon being energized causes the shield to move toward an open position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the shield is biased in an open position and the actuating mechanism upon being energized causes the shield to move toward a closed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the actuating mechanism is oriented horizontally. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the actuating mechanism is oriented vertically. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The cushioning conversion machine of claim 6, wherein the cushioning product is deflected about a distal edge of the chute.