A dunnage handler for controlling the outfeed of dunnage from a dunnage machine is disclosed and can include a dunnage accumulator with first and second holding portions configured and associated with each other to define a dunnage accumulation space therebetween and for receiving and removably retaining the dunnage in the accumulation space from a dunnage machine and an articulation associating the first and second holding portions such that the holding portions are movable with respect to each other to vary the accumulation space to accommodate a varying amount of dunnage held therein, where a sensor and controller can be included to stop dunnage production when the accumulator is full.

A dunnage crumpling apparatus is provided having first and second entry-side crumpling members and first and second exit-side crumpling members. The first and second entry-side crumpling members define an entry therebetween. The first and second exit-side crumpling members define an exit therebetween that is disposed along the longitudinal path downstream of the entry. A crumpling zone being defined between the entry and exit. The first entry-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an first rate and is associated with the second entry-side crumpling member for moving sheet material through the entry in a first direction along a longitudinal path at an entry rate. The first exit-side crumpling member is configured for moving at an second rate and is associated with the second exit-side crumpling member for moving the sheet material through the exit in the first direction along the path at a exit rate that is slower than the entry rate to crumple the sheet material for producing dunnage. The entry and exit-side crumpling members are displaced laterally along the path with respect to each other to cause shearing of the sheet within the crumpling zone.

A heat-seal apparatus of an air-bubble machine and the method thereof, comprising: an air-bubble machine main-body; at least one electromagnetic heating assembly for producing a magnetic force; at least one magnetically conductive heat-seal assembly to heat-seal at least one air-bubble film; at least one support-portion to make an interval space between the electromagnetic heating assembly and the magnetically conductive heat-seal assembly; and at least one transmission shaft-body. The magnetic force generated by the electromagnetic heating assembly passes through the interval space to mutually interact with the magnetically conductive heat-seal assembly by electromagnetic induction, and the magnetically conductive heat-seal assembly is heated in a non-contact manner to make the heating be very rapid and uniform. The magnetically conductive heat-seal assembly is driven by the transmission shaft-body to move the air-bubble film which is simultaneously heat-sealed when being moved, thereby improving the use efficiency of energy.

A system for active alignment of an inflatable web with respect to an inflation nozzle as the web is dispensed from a roll for serial inflation by the inflation nozzle, the inflatable web including top and bottom sheets sealed together by transverse seals to define a series of inflatable chambers having an opening between the terminal ends of the transverse seals and proximate a longitudinal edge of the web for receiving inflation fluid from the nozzle, the system comprising: a spool adapted to support the roll so that the roll rotates about the spool as the inflatable web is withdrawn from the roll; an actuator arranged to adjust the position of the roll along the length of the spool; an inflation nozzle adapted to provide inflation fluid into the openings of the inflatable chambers as the web travels along a path of travel past the inflation nozzle; a tracking sensor comprising: a sensor arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point at a given location relative the inflation nozzle, the sensor arm having a contact portion, the sensor arm adapted to pivot on the pivot point as the terminal ends of the transverse seals of the web contact the contact portion of the sensor arm; and an analogue sensor adapted to detect the movement of the sensor arm and to generate an analogue signal varying in relation to the movement of the sensor arm; and a controller operative to receive the analogue signal and based on the analogue signal to send output to the actuator to adjust the position of the roll on the spool to maintain the transverse position of the web within a predetermined range.

A control device, comprising a processor and a memory that contains computer readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the computer readable instructions cause the processor to receive a first user input corresponding to first parameters for forming a first unit of packaging material, add first instructions corresponding to the first unit to a queue for a packaging device, receive a second user input corresponding to second parameters for forming a second unit of packaging material, add second instructions corresponding to the second unit to the queue, and transmit the queue to the packaging device to cause the packaging device to create the first and second units of packaging material according to the first and second parameters.

The present invention provides void fill dispenser systems and methods that highly effectively enable the easy and usable creation of void fill with expanded slit sheet paper in a manner unattainable in the existing art. According to some illustrative embodiments, a void fill dispenser is provided that advantageously dispenses unique void fill in a manner not previously possible. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser is made with a recyclable material, such as, e.g., a corrugated box made from paper. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser is made with metal and/or other rigid and/or non-recyclable materials. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser can comprise an automated metal dispensing system that dispenses expanded slit sheet paper particularly for void fill in an automated manner.

An exemplary air cushion inflation machine includes: a first terminal connected to a direct current input; a second terminal; a reference resistor powered by the direct current input; an op-amp; and a transistor. The first terminal of the op-amp is connected to a variable voltage source and the second terminal of the op-amp is connected to the reference resistor. The transistor has a base connected to an output of the op-amp, an emitter connected to the reference resistor, and a collector connected to a first terminal of a sealing band apparatus having first and second terminals. A meltable material placed between the first and second terminals is melted by resistance of current flowing between the first and second terminals. The variable voltage source changes voltage based on a voltage drop measured across the first and second terminals by a voltage measurement device and the constant current.

A machine for providing cushioning products of varying lengths from a supply of a web material having sequential transverse rows of inflated protrusions. A pair of opposing feed members form a feed nip for moving the web along a path of travel. At least one sensor detects location information for the sequential rows of inflated protrusions as the web travels along the path of travel. A severing device is moveable between (i) an engaged position to separate the web transversely or perforate the web transversely and (ii) a disengaged position. A controller is programmed (i) to receive the location information and (ii) to operatively control the severing device to move it to the engaged position when a selected row is in a determined position relative the severing device.

A packaging material web stock is provided. The packaging material web stock can include first and second plies overlaid and sealed to each other at a plurality of seals that include a plurality of transverse seals extending transversely across the plies, wherein a plurality of interior cavities are defined between the plies and the transverse seals, the first and second plies arranged in a web that includes a plurality of packaging units arranged longitudinally in a series along the web, wherein the first and second plies form walls of the packaging units, and at least some of the packaging units include at least one of the interior cavities, and an expansion material disposed in the interior cavities in an unexpanded configuration, wherein the expansion material is arranged within the inner cavities such that, when expanded to the expanded configuration, the expansion material is configured to provide cushioning in the walls.

A dunnage producing system is disclosed. The system comprises a material feed section configured to feed a sheet stock material into the system to convert it into a dunnage product. The system further comprises a drive belt having a plurality of lugs fixed on the drive belt configured to engage one or more die-cut openings in the sheet stock or roll stock material. The system further comprises one or more folding mandrels and a glue feed section. The folding mandrels capture the engaged sheet stock or roll stock material between the drive belt and folding mandrels. the glue feed section comprises a tank loaded with pre-melted adhesive material, a hose to transfer the post melted adhesive materials, and a dispensing nozzle to pump the melted adhesive material to the sheet stock material. A controller then receives measurement information and control the functions of the system to produce dunnage product.