An object having a plurality of negative curvatures comprising a plurality of planar sections adjoined together by locking segments.

An object having a plurality of negative curvatures comprising a plurality of planar sections adjoined together by locking segments.

In some illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a novel expandable slit paper expansion device design is provided that, among other things, avoid complications of prior systems and eliminates the crushing effect of the rollers. Among other things, the preferred embodiments provide a unique structure that provides a novel “S” shape path of the expandable slit sheet paper, such that the expandable slit sheet paper is tortuously weaved between at least two expansion rollers without being compressed there-between, in a manner that the expandable slit sheet paper follows along surfaces of the expansion rollers without pinching or compression that occurs in the background art.

A packing material, its use, method of manufacture, and method of production creates a curl or spiral having elastic, cushioning, form-fitting, and coherent packing properties. The curl is created from a dimension-controlled strip of cohesive paper having a cohesive side and a non-cohesive side, and formed with a leading end that is folded upon itself such that a cohesive side of the leading end contacts the cohesive side of the dimension controlled strip of cohesive paper, and a trailing end opposite the leading end that is folded upon itself such that a non-cohesive side of the trailing end contacts the non-cohesive side of the dimensioned strip of cohesive paper, wherein the dimensioned strip of cohesive paper is wound into a spiral with the cohesive side of the dimensioned strip of cohesive paper facing outward. A plurality of curls provides a clumped, cohesive mass around a packed item.

A machine for converting a sheet material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a forming assembly and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly. The forming assembly is configured to cause lateral edges of the sheet material to roll towards one another, forming a tubular shape. A deflector at a downstream end of the forming assembly is configured to engage the lateral edges of the sheet material and to urge the lateral edges into an interior of the tubular shape. This juxtaposes lateral edge portions of the sheet material adjacent the respective lateral edges. A forming channel at a downstream end of the forming assembly faces the deflector to receive the lateral edge portions and shape them into a tab. Finally, the feeding assembly includes rotating connecting members that engage and connect together the overlapping lateral edge portions of the sheet material forming the tab.

A packaging apparatus with an improved pinch roller apparatus, fluid supply apparatus, and/or a sealing apparatus. The pinch roller apparatus (e.g., comprising one or more guide and/or pinch rollers) is used to deliver film material to the fluid supply apparatus (e.g., nozzle and blower apparatus, or the like) that fills one or more chambers of the film material with fluid (e.g., air, gas, or other like fluid), and the film material is then sealed by a sealing apparatus (e.g., using one or more heating elements with an improved temperature sensor configuration) that seals the fluid within the one or more chambers in order to form the inflated article (e.g., inflated packaging material). In particular, the sealing apparatus provides improved sealing through the improved accuracy of the temperature reading in the heating zone, in part, by locating a sensor between a heating element and a protective member that covers the sensor.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a coated cellulosic laminar element for disposable food and/or drinks service packaging and containers, comprising the following steps: (a) performing a first application of an aqueous dispersion of an ethylene compound and an acrylic compound on a single side of the cellulosic laminar element; (b) drying the dispersion applied in a); (c) performing, after the drying, a second application of the ethylene compound and acrylic compound to the ethylene compound and acrylic compound applied in a) on the same side; (d) drying the dispersion applied in c). The present invention also relates to a cellulosic laminar element and to a disposable foods and/or drinks service packaging and containers obtained by means of the method of the present invention.

A protective packaging formation device is provided herein. The device includes an inflation assembly having a fluid conduit that directs fluid between overlapping plies of a polymeric web. The device also includes a driving mechanism that drives the film in a downstream direction. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes a thin film heater that heats the plies to create a longitudinal seal that seals the plies of film together. The driving mechanism drives the web such that the web slides across the heating assembly in a downstream direction to trap fluid between the plies.

An apparatus for the production a cushion product from a single- or multi-layer continuous paper strip includes a feed unit for drawing the paper strip into the apparatus, a cutting unit for cutting the cushion product from the paper strip, and control electronics for the activation of the cutting unit according to a predetermined motion profile. A sensor captures a rotation angle position of the feed unit. The control electronics are configured to activate the feed unit continuously and to start an activation of the cutting unit for a discontinuous cutting operation during capturing a predetermined actual rotation angle position of the feed unit.

The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.