Patent · US Active

Low cost manual expanding-dunnage conversion apparatus

US11504937B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
23References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 16, 2016
Grant dateNov 22, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2701/1944
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A manually-operated dunnage conversion apparatus includes a housing with an outlet opening, a supply of slit sheet stock material supported within the housing for dispensing from the outlet opening, and a pair of opposed expansion members rotatably coupled to the housing for rotation about respective, parallel expansion axes between the supply and the outlet opening. The expansion members are biased towards each other via a biasing member to provide a gripping force on sheet stock material fed therebetween to apply friction to the sheet stock material that causes the sheet stock material to expand in length and thickness as an operator pulls the sheet stock material from the outlet opening in the housing. With the possible exception of the biasing member, the apparatus may be made of paper-based products, making the apparatus recyclable, reusable, and composed of a renewable resource, as well as inexpensive to manufacture.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.