An inflatable protective packaging unit and associated inflation systems are disclosed. The unit can include an inflatable component that includes overlaid flexible plies connected to each other to define a fluid chamber therebetween. The inflatable component can define an inflation region in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to allow fluid from the inflation region into the fluid chamber. The unit can further include a receiver separably attached to the inflatable component at the inflation region and configured to direct fluid into the inflation region. The inflation system can be configured to discretely engage the inflatable protective packaging unit and provide fluid for inflation. Once inflated, the system may eject the unit, and cause the inflatable component to separate from the receiver.

An apparatus for the manual or machine production of a tube-like packaging material from a paper supply unit, such as a paper strip wound up to a roll, includes a roll longitudinal axis and forming an inner hollow space, or a paper strip folded to a Leporello stack defining an upper side, from which the paper strip is drawable for forming the packaging material. A guiding chute has an opening for ejecting the packaging material from a paper supply unit arranged in an ejection position. The guiding chute has an inner contour narrowing in an ejection direction towards an opening. A receiving arrangement, such as a tube magazine, encompasses at least one paper supply unit at least partly circumferentiatingly with paper supply units arranged sequentially behind each other, wherein the apparatus having a movable transport, such as a slide, for displacing at least the at least one paper supply unit in the ejection direction.

A dunnage conversion machine includes a drive mechanism configured to deform a stock material into a continuous length of dunnage. The machine also includes a cutting device configured to sever a piece of the dunnage from the continuous length of dunnage. The cutting device includes a grip configured to move to a closed position at which the grip exerts a force on the piece of dunnage to retain the piece on the machine until the piece is pulled away from the machine, at which point the grip moves to an open position and the machine advances the continuous length of dunnage to commence another cutting cycle.

The invention relates to a device for providing a three-dimensional cushioning material for cushioning an void volume in a transport container, comprising a converting apparatus for converting a flat web-like starting material into the three-dimensional cushioning material and a receiving means for receiving at least regions of a stack of the web-like starting material folded in a zigzagging manner. The receiving means has a first lateral contact means for a first stack type, which has a first width (B1), and a second lateral contact means for a second stack type, which has a second width (B2), such that either a stack of the first stack type or a stack of the second stack type can be arranged in the receiving means in a centered manner relative to the same central axis

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 packaging station comprising a deformation device for converting a web of packaging material drawn from a supply of packaging material web, such as a leporello folded stacked web, into a dunnage material and a conveyor structure for receiving the drawn web of packaging material and for feeding the drawn web of packaging material into the deformation device, wherein the conveyor structure comprises a conveyor track extending from a reception of the conveyor structure to the deformation device and being dimensioned such that, after passing the reception, the web of packaging material is able to bear over its entire surface on the conveyor track in the conveying direction for at least the twofold of the width of the web.

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.

Methods and structures are provided for a dunnage system to facilitate efficient coupling together of supply units of pre-configured sheet stock material, such as, for example, separate units of fanfold stacks of pre-configured sheet stock material, in a manner of continuous supply with a continuous pocket extending longitudinally between the separate supply units, so that they can interact with an expander of the dunnage system without disruption as one supply unit is depleted and a next supply unit is fed through the dunnage system. Also, various methods, apparatus, and systems are provided to facilitate smooth operation of a dunnage machine of the dunnage system to reduce a tendency of the pre-configured sheet stock material to jam and to increase the tendency of dunnage product generated to reflect a desired shape and stability.

A packaging cushion includes a first liner and a second liner opposite one another and each defining an inner surface. A transverse liner axis extends normal to the inner surfaces. The packaging cushion includes a mesh bonded to and disposed between the first and second liners. The mesh has a top mesh surface and an opposed bottom mesh surface. The mesh defines a plurality of nodes and a plurality of legs interconnecting the plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes defines 1) a top node surface defined by the top mesh surface, 2) a bottom node surface defined by the bottom mesh surface, and 3) a transverse node axis extending substantially normal to the top and bottom node surfaces. The transverse node axes of at least some of the plurality of nodes are each oriented at an oblique angle relative to the transverse liner axis.

A reloading supply system includes a loading cart (100) and a machine (200). The loading cart has a first material tray (120) that includes a first combed surface (122) configured to retain a supply material in the first material tray. The machine has a second material tray (220) that includes a second combed surface (222) configured to retain the supply material in the second material tray after the supply material is transferred from the first material tray of the loading cart to the second material tray of the machine. Teeth (124) of the first combed surface are configured to pass by teeth (224) of the second combed surface. The first combed surface and the second combed surface are configured such that the supply material in the first material tray is transferred to the second material tray as the teeth of the first combed surface pass by the teeth of the second combed surface.