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US 7,845,146 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for making dunnage
AssigneesRalph Eibert, M L Distributing, LLC
InventorRalph Eibert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage including a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine, a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows, a plurality of ceramic elements in opposing positions such that the web of material can pass between the plurality of ceramic elements. A heating element is routed through each of the plurality of ceramic elements such that heat will radiate through openings in the top surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the opposing ceramic elements. The apparatus may be equipped to manufacture multiple pieces of dunnage simultaneously.
Claims15
A method for making dunnage, comprising:
- providing a web of material with a plurality of layers and predefined lateral and transverse edges forming pouches;
- passing the material over a nozzle, so that the nozzle is positioned between at least two of the layers;
- inflating the pouches with a gaseous or liquid material flowing through the nozzle;
- passing the material between a plurality of ceramic elements through which one or more heating elements are routed;
- the heating elements generating heat that radiates through at least one opening on each of the plurality of ceramic elements such that when the material passes between the plurality of ceramic elements, the material melts creating a seam and the pouches are sealed, thereby creating sealed dunnage pouches.
2 more elements
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage comprising:
- a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine;
- a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows;
- a plurality of ceramic elements mounted in opposing positions on the machine such that the web of material can pass between the ceramic elements;
- the plurality of ceramic elements each having at least one opening on their opposing outer surfaces;
- a heating element passing through each of the plurality of ceramic elements for generating heat that will radiate through the at least one opening on the opposing outer surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the plurality of ceramic elements thereby creating a seam;
- and
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of rollers has a knurled surface on its circumference, so that the roller will imprint the melted portion of material with the pattern of the knurled surface.
4 more elements
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage comprising:
- a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine;
- a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows;
- a plurality of ceramic elements mounted in opposing positions on the machine such that the web of material can pass between the ceramic elements;
- the plurality of ceramic elements each having at least one opening on their opposing outer surfaces;
- a heating element passing through each of the plurality of ceramic elements for generating heat that will radiate through the at least one opening on the opposing outer surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the plurality of ceramic elements thereby creating a seam;
- and
- wherein the engagement between the plurality of ceramic elements is adjustable to accommodate varying thicknesses of web materials.
4 more elements
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage comprising:
- a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine;
- a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows;
- a plurality of ceramic elements mounted in opposing positions on the machine such that the web of material can pass between the ceramic elements;
- the plurality of ceramic elements each having at least one opening on their opposing outer surfaces;
- a heating element passing through each of the plurality of ceramic elements for generating heat that will radiate through the at least one opening on the opposing outer surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the plurality of ceramic elements thereby creating a seam;
- and
- a plurality of rollers that engage the web of material wherein at least one of the rollers includes a knurled surface along its circumference that impresses its knurled pattern on the welded seam.
4 more elements
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage comprising:
- a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine;
- a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows;
- a plurality of ceramic elements mounted in opposing positions on the machine such that the web of material can pass between the ceramic elements;
- the plurality of ceramic elements being made of a boron-nitride ceramic material, and each having at least one opening on their opposing outer surfaces;
- and
- a heating element passing through each of the plurality of ceramic elements for generating heat that will radiate through the at least one opening on the opposing outer surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the plurality of ceramic elements thereby creating a seam.
3 more elements
An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage comprising:
- a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine;
- a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows;
- a plurality of ceramic elements mounted in opposing positions on the machine such that the web of material can pass between the ceramic elements;
- the plurality of ceramic elements each having at least one opening on their opposing outer surfaces;
- a heating element made of nickel chromium wire passing through each of the plurality of ceramic elements for generating heat that will radiate through the at least one opening on the opposing outer surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the plurality of ceramic elements thereby creating a seam.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.