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US 9,352,526 B2Granted
Elevated converting machine with outfeed guide
AssigneePacksize LLC
InventorNiklas Pettersson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system that converts fanfold material into packaging templates includes a converting assembly that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the fanfold material as the fanfold material moves through the converting machine in a first direction. The converting assembly may be mounted on a frame such that the converting assembly is elevated above a support surface. An outfeed guide may change the direction of movement of the fanfold material from the first direction to a second, generally vertical direction after the converting assembly has performed the conversion functions on the fanfold material.
Claims32
A converting machine used to convert generally rigid fanfold material into packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging, the converting machine comprising:
- an infeed that directs said fanfold material into said converting machine;
- one or more feed rollers that move said fanfold material through said converting machine in a first direction from a first side of the converting machine to a second side of the converting machine opposite to the first side;
- a converting assembly configured to perform one or more conversion functions on said fanfold material as said fanfold material moves through said converting machine, the one or more conversion functions being selected from the group consisting of creasing, bending, folding, perforating, cutting, and scoring, to create said packaging template, the converting assembly comprising:
- one or more cutting wheels that create cuts in said fanfold material that are perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- one or more creasing wheels that create longitudinal creases in said fanfold material, the longitudinal creases being parallel to the first direction, at least one of the one or more creasing wheels being adapted to be repositioned along a width of said fanfold material in order to make longitudinal creases at different positions along the width of said fanfold material;
- an outfeed guide that changes the direction of movement of said fanfold material from the first direction to a second direction after the converting assembly has performed the one or more conversion functions on said fanfold material, the second direction being angled relative to the first direction such that a first end of said fanfold material is positioned closer to a support surface than a second send of said fanfold material when said fanfold material is moving in the second direction;
- and
- a frame that elevates the converting assembly above the support surface, the frame comprising a base and upright supports, wherein the frame spaces the converting assembly apart from the support surface while still allowing an operator to load said fanfold material into the infeed without the aid of a step-stool or ladder.
6 more elements
A converting machine used to convert fanfold material into packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging, the converting machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a converting assembly cartridge selectively mounted on the frame, the converting assembly cartridge comprising:
- at least one longitudinal converting tool that performs one or more conversion functions on said fanfold material in a first, longitudinal direction;
- at least one transverse converting tool that performs one or more conversion functions on said fanfold material in a second, transverse direction that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal direction;
- and
- one or more feed rollers that move said fanfold material through said converting machine in the first, longitudinal direction,
- wherein the converting assembly cartridge, including the longitudinal and transverse converting tools and the one or more feed rollers, is selectively removable as a single unit from the frame;
- and
- an infeed guide mounted on the frame, wherein the infeed guide directs said fanfold material into said converting assembly cartridge.
6 more elements
A system for forming packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging, the system comprising:
- a stack of fanfold material;
- a converting machine used to convert the fanfold material into said packaging templates, the converting machine being positioned adjacent to the stack of fanfold material, the converting machine comprising:
- a frame that rests upon a support surface;
- a converting assembly mounted on the frame such that the converting assembly is positioned at a height above the support surface that is equal to or greater than a height of a user, the converting assembly comprising:
- one or more feed rollers that move the fanfold material through the converting assembly in a first direction;
- one or more converting tools configured to perform one or more conversion functions on the fanfold material as the fanfold material moves through the converting assembly in order to form said packaging templates, the one or more conversion functions being selected from the group consisting of creasing, bending, folding, perforating, cutting, and scoring;
- and
- an outfeed guide that changes the direction of movement of the fanfold material from the first direction to a second, vertical direction after the converting assembly has performed the one or more conversion functions on the fanfold material, wherein the outfeed guide contains said packaging templates within the footprint of the system regardless of the size of said packaging templates and until a user removes said packaging templates from the converting assembly,
- a waste container for collecting waste fanfold material;
- wherein the system, including the stack of fanfold material and the converting machine, has a footprint size in the range of between about 24 square feet and about 48 square feet;
- and
- wherein the waste container is positioned at least partially below the converting assembly and fits within the system footprint size of between about 24 square feet and about 48 square feet.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.