Cushioning conversion system with stop gate
AssigneeRanpak Corp.
InventorJames A. Simmons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushioning conversion system includes a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into a plurality of cut pads, and a conveyor system positioned to receive pads produced by the cushioning conversion machine and including a conveyor which conveys the pads away from the machine and at least one moveable gate having an open position allowing a pad to pass, therethrough and a closed position for stopping progress of a pad along the conveyor when there is insufficient space on the conveyor downstream of the gate to permit a pad to progress substantially through the gate.
Claims12
A cushioning conversion system comprising a cushioning conversion machine, a conveyor, and a controller;
- the cushioning conversion machine including a conversion assembly which sequentially converts a sheet-like stock material into a plurality of cushioning pads;
- the conveyor including a conveying surface which is positioned to receive in a sequential order the plurality of cushioning pads from the cushioning conversion machine and a drive which moves the conveying surface in a first direction away from the machine;
- the conveyor including a gate defining an upstream end of a conveyor zone which is sized to fit a plurality of cushioning pads;
- the gate being movable between an open position whereat cushioning pads on the conveying surface upstream of the gate may be conveyed into the conveyor zone and a closed position whereat cushioning pads upstream of the first gate are blocked from entering the conveyor zone;
- the controller including a zone-full sensor sensing when there is insufficient space in the conveyor zone to fit another cushioning pad;
- and
- the controller moving the gate to the closed position when the zone-full sensor senses that there is insufficient space in the conveyor zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.