Center-fed dunnage system
View Patent ↗A dunnage system for processing material into dunnage is herein described. A converting station of the system can include a drum having a drum surface first and second axial sides and guides protruding adjacent the drum surface on the first and second axial sides associated with the drum to rotate with the drum surface. A supply gripping member can be provided to grip a supply roll, and can include a rotatable base. A pivotal blade can be used to cut the dunnage.
1. A dunnage system for converting sheet material, comprising:
a converting station configured for pulling and converting the sheet material to provide dunnage material; and
a supply station configured for positioning a supply roll of the sheet material with respect to the converting station such that the sheet material is fed to the converting station coiled from inside the roll, the supply station comprising a plurality of gripping members that flex to engage and grip a radially facing surface of the supply roll for retaining the supply roll as the sheet material becomes depleted.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripping members grip the radially facing surface of the supply roll by friction.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripping members have a high-friction surface to grip the radially facing surface of the supply roll.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripping members have a traction surface to grip the radially facing surface of the supply roll.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the supply roll in a naked state in the supply station, the plurality of gripping members gripping the radially facing surface of the supply roll.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the supply roll enclosed in an outer wrapping, the plurality of gripping members gripping the outer wrapping.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the outer wrapping is plastic.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the converting station includes:
a drum; and
a roller biased against the drum to grip the sheet material against the drum for pulling and converting the sheet material to provide the dunnage material.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the drum has a drum surface that has first and second axial sides; and
the converting station includes first and second guides protruding adjacent the drum surface on the axial sides and configured for guiding the sheet material onto the drum surface.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supply base is configured for allowing the supply roll to rotate axially as the sheet material is pulled therefrom.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the supply roll, wherein the plurality of gripping members grip the radially facing surface of the supply roll by gripping outermost layers on the supply roll.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of gripping members grip a plurality of the outermost layers of the supply roll.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the supply station includes a supply base configured for supporting a bottom of the supply roll; and
the plurality of gripping members are positioned to grip sides of the supply roll that are lateral with respect to the bottom.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the supply station includes a supply base configured to support the supply roll such that the sheet material is pulled from inside the roll in a pulling direction; and
the plurality of gripping members are positioned to grip sides of the supply roll that are lateral with respect to the pulling direction.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radially facing surface is an outside cylindrical surface of the supply roll and the plurality of gripping members are positioned around the cylindrical surface in order to engage the outside of the cylindrical surface.
16. The dunnage system for converting sheet material, comprising:
a converting station configured for pulling and converting the sheet material to provide dunnage material; and
a supply station configured for positioning a supply unit of the sheet material with respect to the converting station such that the sheet material is fed to the converting station coiled from inside the supply unit, the supply station comprising a gripping member configured for griping a cylindrical surface of the supply unit and retaining the supply unit as the sheet material becomes depleted;
wherein the gripping member is flexible for automatically engaging the supply unit as the supply unit is positioned in the supply station.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the gripping member is configured for engaging a layer of the supply unit.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the supply unit comprises a supply roll in a naked state, which supply roll includes the engaged layer.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the supply unit comprises a roll of supply material and an outer wrap enclosing at least a portion of the supply material.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the gripping member is configured to grip the cylindrical surface using friction.
21. A dunnage system for converting sheet material, comprising:
a converting station configured for pulling and converting the sheet material to provide dunnage material; and
a supply station configured for positioning a supply roll of the sheet material with respect to the converting station such that the sheet material is fed to the converting station coiled from inside the roll, the supply station comprising a gripping member configured for gripping a radially facing surface of the supply roll for retaining the supply roll as the sheet material becomes depleted, wherein the gripping member comprises a barb configured to grip the radially facing surface of the supply roll, such that the radially facing surface can be pulled away from the barb when the roll is empty.
22. A dunnage system for converting sheet material, comprising:
a converting station configured for pulling and converting the sheet material to provide dunnage material; and
a supply station configured for positioning a supply roll of the sheet material with respect to the converting station such that the sheet material is fed to the converting station coiled from inside the roll, the supply station comprising a gripping member configured for gripping a radially facing surface of the supply roll for retaining the supply roll as the sheet material becomes depleted, wherein the gripping member is flexible for automatically engaging the radially facing surface of the supply roll as the supply roll is positioned in the supply station.