The invention relates to a device for moving a cushioning means towards a transport container, comprising a cushioning means dispensing device for the cushioning means and a transport container supply device for supplying the transport container. According to the invention, the cushioning means dispensing device has an ejection device which ejects the cushioning means out of the cushioning means dispensing device such that the cushioning means moves towards the supplied transport container along a ballistic trajectory which has a horizontal component at least temporarily

A dunnage production system for producing coiled strips of dunnage includes a supply of strip-like dunnage, a coiler adjacent the supply and rotatable about a coiling axis for coiling a strip of the strip-like dunnage into a coil having a coiled configuration, and a tube aligned with the coiling axis. The tube has an internal diameter sized to receive the coil from the coiler in a discharge direction parallel to the coiling axis. The tube is capable of holding at least one coil in its coiled configuration until it is removed from the tube.

A transfer and dispensing apparatus is disclosed for the conveying and separation of packaging material, cushions or pillows when needed by the operator. When a packer working over a conveyor receives a box that requires void fill, an operating switch such as a foot pedal is depressed to dispense pillows from the apparatus and into the box in a connected strip. When the operating switch is released, the apparatus stops dispensing pillows, separates the continuous strip of pillows along a transverse perforation in the strip, and ejects the end of the separated segment. The packer can then complete packing the box by placing the severed end of the pillows into the box, advance to the next box, and repeat the process. The transfer and dispensing apparatus may be positioned in any convenient location including adjacent to, above or attached to the inflation device.

A method of producing air cushions with an air cushion machine for cushioning at least one item to be shipped in a box comprises the steps of determining a void volume defined by a difference between a volume of the box and a volume of the at least one item to be shipped in the box, and producing a quantity of air cushions with the air cushion machine having a total air cushion volume, the total air cushion volume being equal to the void volume.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to a combined shipping and expansion device for shipping a roll of unexpanded slit sheet material and for expanding the slit sheet material. In some examples, the device includes: a container made with recyclable paper or board; a roll of slit sheet material wound around a core member and positioned within the container; the roll of slit sheet material having a slit pattern that forms open cells upon expansion; the core member being made with recyclable paper or board and having a length greater than a width of the roll of slit sheet wound around the core member and having protrusions that extend beyond each side of the roll of slit sheet material; a plurality of yoke members within the container, including at least one yoke member that rotatably receives a first of the protrusions and at least one yoke member that rotatably receives a second of the protrusions; and the container having a dispensing opening through which the slit sheet material wound around the core member can be extended and pulled, causing the core member to rotate relative to the yoke members via rotation of the roll of slit sheet material. The combined shipping and expansion device is made from substantially entirely recyclable paper or board materials, whereby after complete dispensing of the slit sheet material from the shipping and expansion device, the combined shipping and expansion device can be recycled in a paper recycling facility.

A method of making a dunnage product includes the following steps: (a) converting a sheet stock material into a lower density strip of dunnage having a width and a height that is less than the width; and (b) cutting the strip of dunnage to form a discrete dunnage product of a desired length by cutting across less than the width of the strip of dunnage to maintain a connection between the strip of dunnage and the discrete dunnage product. The connection between respective dunnage products in a string of connected dunnage products keeps the dunnage products together, in the order in which they were produced, and helps to ensure that the dunnage products do not shingle and can assist in feeding the dunnage products to a packing station.

A device for manually or mechanically producing a tubular packaging material of a paper web is wound to form a roll, which forms an internal cavity, from which the paper web can be drawn to form packaging material. The device includes a receptacle for at least partially circumferentially encompassing the roll and an axial holder for holding an end face of the roll. The axial holder has a wall, in which a dispensing opening for dispensing the packaging material in an axial dispensing direction is formed. The wall has an inner guide contour, which tapers in a funnel-like manner in the axial dispensing direction from the receptacle to the dispensing opening. The wall is provided with at least one front axial recess at a front end of the axial holder in the axial dispensing direction.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to a combined shipping and expansion device for shipping a roll of unexpanded slit sheet material and for expanding the slit sheet material. In some examples, the device includes: a container made with recyclable paper or board; a roll of slit sheet material wound around a core member and positioned within the container; the roll of slit sheet material having a slit pattern that forms open cells upon expansion; the core member being made with recyclable paper or board and having a length greater than a width of the roll of slit sheet wound around the core member and having protrusions that extend beyond each side of the roll of slit sheet material; a plurality of yoke members within the container, including at least one yoke member that rotatably receives a first of the protrusions and at least one yoke member that rotatably receives a second of the protrusions; and the container having a dispensing opening through which the slit sheet material wound around the core member can be extended and pulled, causing the core member to rotate relative to the yoke members via rotation of the roll of slit sheet material. The combined shipping and expansion device is made from substantially entirely recyclable paper or board materials, whereby after complete dispensing of the slit sheet material from the shipping and expansion device, the combined shipping and expansion device can be recycled in a paper recycling facility.

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes, comprising a dispensing means which provides the cushion means, and a withdrawal region from which a user can take the dispensed cushion means. At least one sensor means is present, which detects an engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or the presence or absence of at least one region of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in a detection region adjacent to the withdrawal region. The providing device dispenses a cushion means depending on the detected engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region.

The invention relates to a device which is used to provide cushioning material for packaging purposes. The device comprises a container for storing the cushioning material and a dispensing device for dispensing the cushioning material out of the container. The dispensing device comprises a driven conveyor for conveying the cushioning material along a conveyor path, the conveyor being supported on a movable base which can be moved out of an operating position into a release position and back, said conveyor being moved out of the conveyor path in the release position.