CA1301632C - Electric cutter mechanism for dunnage converter - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A converter mechanism for producing generally low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product in continuous strip form from flexible sheet-like stock material such as, for instance, paper, with an electrically energizable cutter mounted on the converter mechanism, for cutting the produced dunnage product into selected lengths. The cutter includes a pivotably movable blade member adapted for engaging the produced strip of dunnage product and severing it to selected length, together with an electrically energizable motor unit coupled to the cutter blade member for actuating the latter pursuant to control of the mechanism operator.

Description

13(~632 ELECTRIC CVTTER MECMANISM
FOR DUNNAGE CONVERTER
';PEC I FICATION
_ This invention relates in yeneral to a 5 coaverter mechanism for producing low denqity pad-like cushioning dunnage product in strip form from flexible sheet-like stock material, and more particularly to a converter mechanism having thereon a cutter means incLudin~ a movable cutter blade member adapted for 10 severing the produced dunnage product into selected len~ths, with the cutter means being electrically powered.
BACI~GROU~D OF T~E INVENq'ION
Dunnage producing mechanism for producing 15 a resilient pad-like cushioning dunnage product having lateral pillow-like resilient portions connected together by a lengthwise extending central portion, such a~ for instance a coined section, are known in the art.
U.S. patent 4,026,198 to Ottaviano dated May 31, 1977 and entitled Cushioning Dunnage Mechanism, Transfer Cart Therefor and Method, dis~loses a cushioning dunnage producing mechanism of the general type shown as used in connection with the present 25 invention, and which includes a cutter mechanism therewith selectively actuatable by a workman, for cutting the produced strip of pad-like dunnage product into selected lengths.
Such prior art cutter mechanism conventionally 30 comprises an air actuated motor unit which move~ a ~b 13~163Z

cutter blade mounted on rollers mounted in guiding tracks, relative to the produced dunnage product, to causc trallsverse severing of the resilient pad-like product into ~elected lengths.
The prior art converter mechani~m per se are generally actuated or powered by an electric drive motor connected to a speed reducer which in turn i9 operatively connected to one of a pair of coacting gear-like members of the connecting ~ection of the 10 mechanism, for causing rotation of the gear-like members of the connecting section, to perform a coining or connecting operation on the laterally oriented pillow-like portion~ of the formed ~tock material, by rotation of the gear-like members as 15 the rolled edge stoc~ material is pulled through the connecting section of the converter mechani~m by such electrically powered rotating connecting gear-like members.
Energization of the electric drive motor 20 of the converter mechanism thus not only actuates the connecting mechanism thereof, but also provides for movement of the sheet-like ~tock material through the machine for formation of the pad-like dwlnage product and movement of the latter out the 25 exit end of the converter mechanism, in the production of the pad-like dunnage product by the converter mechanism.
In the pa~t, the cutter mechanism which must be able to ~hear rapidly and thoroughly through 30 the produced, relatively resilient pad-like i3~163Z

cushioning dunnage product in order to expeditiously cut the produced product into the desired lengths, in the process of utilizing the product as packing, has conventionally been actuated or energized by means S of a reciprocal type pneum~tic motor, with such motor being energized by means of wor~man operated finger switches on the converter mechanism, to cause operation of an associated solenoid valve, ~ermitting pressurized air to enter the reciprocal 10 air powered motor unit and thus actuate the latter and initiate the severing operation on the produced dunnage product. This need for a source or pressurized air to operate the cutter of the prior art converter mechanism~ has sometimes limited the 15 use of the prior art converters in that some commercial and/or manufacturing installation~ do not possess a source of pre~urized air, and thus power cutting of the produced strip of cushioning dunnage pad-like product was not possible, and either 20 the machine could not be used at suc~ locations, or manual severing of the pad-lilce product emitted from the machine had to be resorted to. Manual severing is not satisfactory because among other factors it is extremely time consuming, and generally 25 disrupts the structure of the formed pad-like product.
SUMMARY OF 1~ INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel electrically powered cutter mechanism for use with an electrically driven dunnage producing machine, 30 enabling the generally resilient pad-like dunnage ~3~16;~2 product being emitted from the machine to be effectively alld rapidly scvered into selected lengths, while standardizi~ the power needed to operate the machine, or in other words, enabling the machine to 5 be used where only electrical power is available.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to pro~ide a novel machine for producing strip form cushioning dunnage for use as packing material and one ~herein the cutting mechanism on the machine for 10 selectivel~ cutting the produced strip of pad-like cushioninq dunnage product into desired lenght~ is electrically powered, the same as the other operating components of the machine.
Another object of the invention is to lS provide a machine of the aforementioned type wherein the cutter means includes a movable blade member adapted for pivoting in a generally vertical plane for accomplishing shearing of the produced pad-like dunnage product into selected lengths, and wherein the 20 power unit for the cutting mechanism comprises an electric solenoid.
A still further object of the invention i8 to provide a machine of the latter described type including adjustable stop means providing for 25 selective adjustment of the range of movement of the cuttcr blade of the cutter mechanism.
A still further object of the invention i~
to provide a machine of the aforementioned type wherein the cutter mechanism include~ an inverted generally 30 U-shaped bracket disposed in partially encompassing 13~63;~:

relationship to the product exit opening of the machine, with a generally linear cutter blade mounted on the inverted bracket and adapted for cutting coaction with an arcuate pivotally mounted cutter blade, coupled to the aforementioned solenoid and wherein the solenoid can be actuated by means of machine mounted finger switches under the control of the machine operator.
Specifically, the invention is used in a converter mechanism for producing generally low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product in strip form from flexible sheet-like stock material, such as for instance, paper, and emitting it through an exit opening in the mechanism, and which includes a cutter means for cutting the pad-like dunnage product into selected lengths. The cutter means comprises a movable blade member for engaging the produced dunnage product and cutting it into selected lengths, and power means for actuating the cutter means, the power means comprising an electrically energizable motor unit consisting of a solenoid including a reciprocal plunger portion, and means including a rotatable shaft to which is attached the plunger portion and the blade member coupling the motor unit to the blade member for causing movement of the latter, the blade member being mounted for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane and from a lower gravity induced inactive position in the mechanism to an upwardly swung operative cutting position with respect to associated dunnage product produced and emitted by the mechanism, and upon energization of the motor unit, the mechanism also including an electric drive motor for actuating the mechanism to produce the dunnage product from the stock material and emitting the product through the exit opening, and motor control means including a switch operatively wired to the drive motor and so positioned in the mechanism so as to be engaged and actuated by the cutter means in the gravity induced inactive position of the blade member so as to permit energization of the drive motor only when the blade member is in the gravity induced inactive position, and upon upward pivotal movement of the blade member from B the gravity induced inactive position toward the operative rn/

~3~1632 5a cutting position and away from engaged relation with the switch, the switch automatically opening and thus automatically deactivating the drive motor, so that cutting of the produced dunnage product by the cutter means can occur only when the dunnage product is stationary relative to the mechanism.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a cutter unit adapted for mounting on a frame of a dunnage producing mechanism which is adapted to produce a relatively low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as, for instance, paper, and which mechanism includes an electric drive motor for actuating the mechanism to produce the dunnage product from the stock material and emit the product from the mechanism through a product exit opening in the mechanism. The cutter unit comprising a pivotal elongated mounting bar and a cutter blade secured to the bar, and means including a rotatable shaft to which is attached the mounting bar and blade, for pivoting the mounting bar and blade adjacent one end thereof to the frame of an associated dunnage producing mechanism, for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane of the bar and blade from a lower gravity induced inactive position upwardly to an operative cutting position, and an electrically powered linearly reciprocal motor unit consisting of a solenoid including a reciprocal plunger portion which is coupled to the rotatable shaft and thus to the bar and blade, adapted for mounting on the mechanism for pivotal actuation of the bar and blade relative to the mechanism frame for causing severing of the produced dunnage product into selected length upon the upward movement of the bar and blade to the cutting position, and means for controlling the actuation of the solenoid and the associated mechanism drive motor, the last mentioned means including a switch adapted to be operatively wired to the mechanism drive motor and being engageable and actuated by the bar and blade in the gravity induced inactive position of the latter for activation of the switch so as to permit energization of the mechanism drive motor only when the bar and blade are in B the gravity induced inactive position, and upon upward rn/

i3C1163Z
5b pivotal movement of the bar and blade from the gravity induced inactive position toward the cutting position, the switch automatically opening and being deactivated thus being operable to automatically deactivate the mechanism drive motor so that cutting of the produced dunnage product by the cutter unit can occur only when the dunnage product is stationary relative to the mechanism frame.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a converter mechanism embodying an electrically powered cutter mechanism embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the FIGURE 1 mechanism;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective, rear end view of the converter mechanism of FIGURES 1 and 2;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the cutter mechanism of the invention showing the mounting of the electrically powered solenoid and its connection to the rotatable shaft of the swinging blade portion of the cutter mechanism; the cover for the cutter mechanism has been deleted for the FIGURE 4 showing;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the cutter mechanism including the pivotal blade thereof and the inverted U-shaped extender bracket B

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13(~632 mounted at the product e~it opening of the converter machine, for mountir.g the linearly extending blade of the cutter mechanism, and which is adapted to coact in shearing relationship with the pivotal 5 cutter bla~le, for cutting or shearing the produced pad-like dunnage product into selected lengths;
FI(,URE 6 is a fragmentary, generally p~rspecti~e illustration of the interior of the converter mechanism showing the mounting of the 10 ~.olel-oi3 power Ullit in the interior of the maehine on the rear wall thereof, and which solenoid is adapted to actuate the cutter mechanism:
FI~URE 7 is a bottom plan view of the inverted U-shaped extender bracket used for mounting 15 the linear cutter ~lade thereon, the latter being sho~n in phantom lines;
FIGURE B i~ an elevational view of the bracket of ~IGURE 7:
FIGURE 9 is a top plan of the linear 20 cutter blade for use with the bracket of FIGU~ S
7 and 8, FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view of ~he FIG~TRE 9 blade taken generally along the plane of line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 looking in the direction ~S of the arrows, FIGURE 11 is an elevational view of the blade mounting bar member of the cutter mechanism, and which is adapted for receiving in connected relation the rotatable actuating shaft of the 30 cutter, ~301632 FIGURE 12 is an end view of the mounting bar of FIGU~E 11 ta~en generally along the plane of lir,e 12-12 of FIGURE 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;
S ~IGURE 13 is an elevational view of the ~rcuate cutter blade adapted for bein~ mounted on the mounting bar of FIGURES 11 and 12;
FIGURE 14 is an end view of the cutter '"la~e of FIGU~E 13 taken generally along the plane of 10 line 14-14 of FIGURE 13 looking in the direction of the arrows, alld FI~URE 15 is a schematic of the electric circuit for controlling operation of the all electrically powered converter.
15 L)ESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reerring now again to the drawing.q, there is illustrated a dunnage producing machine 10 which utilizes a multi-ply stock roll 12 of sheet-like stock material such as, for instance, 30 pound 20 kraft paper sheet. In the embodiment of stock roll illustrated in, for instance, FIGURES 1 and 2, the plies of the stock roll are preferably of equal width and in the embodiment illustrated comprise three plies disposed in roll form, for expeditious 25 and compact installation on the dunnage producing ; machine.
Stock roll 12 in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a hollow core 14 of generally cylindrical configuration on which the three super-30 imposed webs or sheets of stock material are wound.

13~1632 The stoc~ roll is adapted to be mounted on a~upportin~ rod 16 extending relativ~ly loosely thxough the core 14, for rotation of the stock roll 12 relatlve to the ~upporting frame structure 18 as 5 the ~tock is drawn from the roll into the dunnage machine 10.
~ eference may be had to aforementioned U.S. patent -~,026,198, ior a more detailed explanation of the 10 mounting of the stock xoll on the converter. It will also be understood that the stock roll may be mounted on a separate stand or cart and the plies therein fed into the converter in a manner known in the art.
Machine 10 in the embodiment illustrated, comprises al- enclosed or sheathed support framework 20 including leg portions 20a, which may include mean~ (now shown) associated therewith for leveling the support framework with respect to the supporting 20 surface S.
Framework 20 supports a longitudinally converging chute-like member 22 (FIGURES 1 and 2) which chute form~ a guide and support for the webs or plie~ of stock material as they are drawn off the 25 stock roll 12 and are passed to longitudinally elongated crumpler section 24 of the dunnage producing machine. In the em;bodiment il}ustrated, the chute 22 and crumpler section 24 may be provided as an integral unit which can be conveniently 30 formed, for instance, of plastic or other suitable moldable material.

13C~163~

A pusher or stock forming mechanism 26 which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a tubular body portion of generally triangular shape in plan, is supported in the chute in relatively closely spaced relation to the bottom interior surface thereof, and against which the webs or sheet-like stock material are adapted to move or slide during movement from the stock roll to the crumpler section 24, and thence exiting from the product exit opening 28 of the machine in the form of the resilient pad-like dunnage product P shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Reference may be had to applicant's copending Canadian patent application Serial No. 479,811 filed April 23, 1985 (now Canadian Patent No. 1,243,900) in the name of Gary W. Ottaviano, and entitled Mechanism and Method for Producing cushioning Dunnage for a detailed disclosure of a converter mechanism, including pusher or forming mechanism of the general type shown in FIGURES 1 and

2, and the operation thereof.
As the sheet-like stock material is passed from the stock roll through the chute 22, the side edges of the stock webs are rolled inwardly into generally spiral form and are urged inwardly toward one another so that the inwardly rolled edges form resilient pillow-like portions 30 (FIGURES 2 and

3) of stock material disposed in generally abutting relationship as they emerqe from the exit end of the chute member and pass into the crumpler section 24 where they are adapted to be joined together by connecting mechanism 32.

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13C~1632 Conllectiny mechanism 32 in the embodiment illustrated, comprises generally loosely meshed, vertically oriented gears 32a, 32b ~FIGURE 6) which are rotatably mounted as by means of a respective 5 shaft, with the shaft of the upper gear 32a preferably being so arranged that each end of the shaft is mounted in a respective slotted bracket 34 and with such shaft ends being spring loaded as at 36, for urging the shaft of upper gear 32a downwardly toward lO the underlying gear member 32b. It will be seen therefore that the upper gear 32a of the connecting section of the converter, which is rotatable relative to its spring loaded supporting shaft, generally floats due to the ~upporting slotted bracket 15 structure 34, with the gear 32a being movable vertically relative to the underlying gear and thus providing for automatic varying of the space between the gear teeth in the event o~ different thickness or amounts of the sheet-like stock material passing 20 therebetween. Such an arrangement aids in preventing tearing of the stock material due to too hard meshing between the connecting gearing mechanism of the con-verter.
The underlying connector gear 32b is 25 keyed or otherwise secured to its shaft, with the latter in the embodiment illustrated, being rotatably mounted at its ends in bearing structure, and which may include a sprocket secured at one end of the lower gear shaft and which sprocket is 30 connected as shown~ by an endless chain or belt to a 13()~632 gear speed reducer 40, the latter being driven by a preferably reversible electric motor 42 mounted on the mac~ine frame 20.
~.ounted on the converter framework just 5 downstream from the stock roll is a separating means

4~ (~IGUA~ES 1 and 2). In the embodiment illustrated, the sepa-ating means 44 comprises a plurality of ver~:ically spaced bar-like elements 44a, 44b and 44c abou~- which is adapted to pass the individual webs or 10 plies of stock material from the stock roll and maintain the webs in separated condition prior to t!~eir being urged back into generally juxtaposed condition at the pusher or former mechanism 26, the latter being disposed downstream from the separator 15 section 44.
The lateral edge~ of the webs coming off the stock roll after they pass the transversely extending separating rods 44a, 44b and 44c commence to be turned inwardly by the curved walls of the 20 chute, and when the rolled edges of the webs reach the crumpler section, they have been rolled inwardly into generally abutting confronting relation with one another, and then the web stock material is crumpled generally radially inwardly by the crumpler 25 section and i9 coined or joined together along the central portion thereof lengthwise of the produced pad-like stock product by the aforementioned meshed gear section 32.
After passing through the exit opening 28 30 of the converter, the continuously formed pad-like 13~1632 product P i9 adapted to be severed by cutter mechanism 46 mounted on the converter machine adjacent the exit opening 28, to cut the strip of produced dunnage product into the desired lengths.
Cutter mechanism 46 comprises a pivotal cutter blade 48 (FIGURE 5) attached to a mounting bar member 48a ~FIGURE 11) which is pivoted to a U-shape (in end elevation - FIGURE 4) bracket S0 mounted exteriorly of the exit opening 28 of the 10 machine and on contilevered platform 52 of the machine. Bracket 50 preferably includes bearings 50a in the upstanding arms 53 thereof, which mount a rotatable shaft 54 thereon, with the shaft 54 extending through the back panel 56 of the machine 15 and into the interior thereof, as best shown in FIGURE 6.
Electric solenoid 58 may be mounted on inverted L-bracket 60 secured to the interior side of panel 56, preferably in pivotal relation to 20 bracket 60, utilizing clevis connection 62. Solenoid 58 i~ preferably a single acting spring loaded solenoid, with the plunger 58a thereof being movably coupled as at 64 to the distal end a lever 66 (FIGURE 6) which in turn is fixed to the afore-25 mentioned shaft 54 so that upon inward or retractingmovement of the plunger 58a of solenoid 58, the shaft 54 is caused to rotate on its bearing structure 50a and with respect to its support bracket 50.
Since the cutter blade 48 is fixed to the rotatable 30 shaft 54, upon inward movement of the plunger of the 13~1632 solenoid, the cutter blade 48 and associated mounting bar 4~a are caused to pivot upwardly, thereby moving the cutting edge 68 (FIGURE 14) thereof upwardly into coacting cutting relationship with linear

5 cutting blade 70 which i~ removably secured to inverted U-shaped bracket 72 which generally encom-passes product exit opening 28 in the converter.
Mounting bar 48a as can be best seen from FIGURES 11 and 1~, preferably has the axis 75 of the opening 75a 10 therethrough slightly ~ilted (at an angle of about 3~ with respect to the horizontal transverse plane 75b passing through the center point X of opening 75a in mounting bar 48a, to give a slight inward tilt to the mounting bar 48a and associated 15 cutting blade 48 with re~pect to ~tationary blade 70, when mounting bar 48a is mounted on shaft 54.
Threaded openings 75c are adapted to receive set screw~ (not shown) to removably attach mounting bar 48a to shaft 54.
As can be best seen from FIGUR~ 7, the upper bridging leg 72a of bracket 72 has elongated openings 74 therein for providing for adjusting the position of the removable cutter blade 70 with respect to the bracket support, so that optimum 25 cutting engagement can occur between the pivotal cutter blade 48 on support bar 48a and the stationary cutter blade 70 supported by bracket 72.
Suitable threaded fasteners can be used extending through elongated openings 74 into threaded coaction 30 with threaded openings 70a in blade 70 to secure the latter to bracket 72.

Secured to the exterior side of rear end panel 56 of the machine adjacent bracket 72 i9 a bumper bracket 76 (FIGURE 5) which is adapted to support or position a bumper stop 78 thereon. As 5 shown, for instance, in FIGURE 5, the bumper stop 78 comprises a resilient, such as rubber, end and an elon~ated threaded stem 78a coacting in threaded relation with a threaded nut 79 secured to bracket 76, thus making the bumper stop adjustable with 10 respect to the bracket 76. Bumper stop 78 i~
adapted to limit the upward pivotal movement of the swingable cutter blade and associated mounting bar 48a with respect to the stationary cutter blade 70.
The bumper stop provides for the pa~sage of the 15 cutter blade 48 completely through the emitted strip of pad-like product, but adjustably limits its further movement.
In this connection, there is provided a spring loaded switch 80 FIGURES 4, 5 and 15) 20 dispo~ed in coacting relationship with the mounted end of the pivotal cutter blade 48 and mounting bar 48a, and adapted for opening or breaking the converter drive motor circuit upon upward pivotal swinging of the blade 48 and mounting bar 48a with 25 respect to its supporting bracket 50 so that the power to the electric actuating motor 42 for actuating the convexter mechanism in the pulling of the stock material through the machine, is terminated immediately upon application of power to the electric 30 solenoid 58 ~or initiating the cutting operation. In -1153~1~32 other words, the strip of pad-like stock material being emitted from the machine i3 caused to be maintained stationary while the cutting operation i9 takin~ place, and upon deactuation of the electric 5 cutter the solenoid 58 is deactuated and the spring-loaded plunger 58a thereof i.5 caused to return to extended position and ~imultaneously gravity causes the mounting bar 48a and attached cutting blade 48 to return to th~ full line position shown in FIGURE
10 5, thus causing reclosing of switch 80, to rein~tate the circuit to converter drive motor 42.
Referring now in particular to FIGURE 15, the solenoid unit 58 in the embodiment illustrated, is ad~pted to be controlled by the machine operator, 15 in its energization, so as to cause pivotal movement of the cutter blade 48, by means of a pair of control button switches 82, 82a and ~4. Switches 82, 82a are preferably mounted on opposite sides of the table surface 86, while control button switch 20 84 may be mounted above the exit opening or the product, as shown in FIG~RE 3.
The machine i9 adapted ~or being plugged into a conventional 115 volt A.C. ~ource of electrical power, and include~ manual on-off overload 25 switch 87 and also preferably rear cover interlock switch 88 which ensures that the converter mechanism 10 i~ operable only if top access cover 90 (FIGURES
1-3) is in its "down" position, as ill~ trated.
The left and right manually actuated spring 30 loaded switches 82, 82a provided on table surface 86 13C~163Z

of the mechclni~m, together with common spring loaded button switch ~4 located generally centrally of the framework 2~ at the product exit end of the convertcr mechanism, provide for convenient manual 5 actuation of the cutter device 46 by the operator.
It will be seen t}-at in order to actuate the solenoi~ 5~ controlling the cutter blade 48, both the common cut button switch 84 and one or the other of the cut button switches 82, 82a must be 10 actuated, which supplies current to the solenoid 58 to cause etraction of the plunger 58a thereof, and thus actuation of the cutter blade device 46, thereby accomplishing generally transverse severing of the prod~ced dunnage product from the continuous 15 strip thereof emitted from the machine. Having a cut button switch (e.g. 82, 82a) on both sides of the machine facilitates operation of the converter by a workman from either side of the converter mechanism.
Actuation of any of the cut button switches 82, 82a or 84 disconnects the reversible electric drive motor 42 which drives the connecting means 32 of the converter mechanism, thus further ensuring that the produced product will be 25 stationar~ relative to the converter mechanism during the aforementioned severing operation.
In the embodiment illustrated, spring biased foot s~itch 92 is provided for furnishing a manual operator control for actuation of electric 30 drive motor 42, and thus actuation of the converter 13S:1163Z

mechanism. Actuation of the manual foot switch 92 by the machine operator cau~e~ energization of the drivc motor 42, to cause the produced dunnage product to be emitted from the exit end of the 5 converter mechanism. Release of the foot switch automatically disconnects the drive motor 42 from power, and causes the converter mechanism to stop emitting dunnage product if it is under manual control.
1~ Motor 42 is preferably a reversible A.C.
motor and includes manual reversing switch 94 (FIGURES 3, 5 and 15) for providing for reverse actuation of the electric motor 42, whereby the strip of prc>duced dunnage product can be reversed 15 in its direction of movement, and moved in the direction of the supp}y roll 12. Such an arrangement i5 convenient in the event of a need to remove a "jam" in the converter mechanism in the production o~ the pad-like dunnage product.
~eferring now particularly to FIGURE 15, anti-tie down and anti-repeat module 96 is provided in the control circuit for preventing immediate reenergization of the cutter mechanism 46 after completion of a cutting operation, and also pre-25 venting energization of the cutter mechanism if a machine operator attempts to by-pass the plural cutter button switch required by having some device mechanically hold one of the cutter button switches (e.g. common cutter switch ~4) in its 20 activated conc'ition. ~or instance, if an ~3~J1632 operator would ~orce a nail or wood splinter into any of the cutter button switches to hold it in activated condition, module 96 prevents energization of the cutter solenoid 58 and thus prevents ener-5 gi7,ation oF the cutter mechanism 46. The main or com-mon cutter button switch 84 and one or other of the aux-iliary cutter button switches 82, 82a thus have to be actuat:ed within a couple of seconds of one another or else the solenoid 58 is inoperable. Likewise, both ac-1~ t~late~ cu~ter button switches have to be released beforethe solenoid can be actuated to initiate a subsequent cutting operation. Anti-tie down - anti-repeat module 96 is a commercially available item obtainable from Nolatron, Inc. ~f ~arrisburg, Pennsylvania, and a suitable one has 15 been found to be a module identified as No. 3370.
The cutter mechanism 46, a~ can be hest seen in FIGU~E 3, is preferably enclosed by a upper rectangular ~haped removable or openable housing section 98 into which the cutter blade moves during its 20 upward pivotal movement to sever the pad-like product being emitted from the machine. This helps to ensure that the workman will not inadvertently have his hand in an area where he could be injured by the pivotal blade upon energization of the cuttor 25 unit. As can be be-~t seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5, the pivotal cutter blade 48 and cutter bar 48a in their reposed position extend downwardly through a slot 100 in table portion 52 and are movable through such slot into housing section 98.

13t)1632 From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a converter mechanism for pro-ducing generally low density pad-like cushioning 5 dunnage product in strip form from flexible sheet-liXe stock material, and embodying a novel cutter mechanism for cutting the dunnage product into selccted lengths, with the cutter mechanism comprising an electrically energizable motor unit.
The invention also provides a cutter unit for use in connection with a machine producing pad-like cushioning dunnage product in strip form from sheet-like stock material such a~, for inAtance, paper, with the cutter unit comprising a 15 pivotal cutter blade together with means for pivotably mounting the blade to the machine, and with an electrically powered motor unit coupled to the blade for actuation of the cutter unit.
The terms and expressions which have been 20 used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the feature~ shown or described, or portions thereof and it is recognized that various modifications 25 are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Claims (13)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a converter mechanism for producing generally low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product in strip form from flexible sheet-like stock material, such as for instance, paper, and emitting it through an exit opening in said mechanism, and which includes a cutter means for cutting the pad-like dunnage product into selected lengths, said cutter means comprising a movable blade member for engaging the produced dunnage product and cutting it into selected lengths, and power means for actuating said cutter means, said power means comprising an electrically energizable motor unit consisting of a solenoid including a reciprocal plunger portion, and means including a rotatable shaft to which is attached said plunger portion and said blade member coupling said motor unit to said blade member for causing movement of the latter, said blade member being mounted for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane and from a lower gravity induced inactive position in said mechanism to an upwardly swung operative cutting position with respect to associated dunnage product produced and emitted by said mechanism, and upon energization of said motor unit, said mechanism also including an electric drive motor for actuating said mechanism to produce the dunnage product from the stock material and emitting the product through said exit opening, and motor control means including a switch operatively wired to said drive motor and so positioned in said mechanism so as to be engaged and actuated by said cutter means in said gravity induced inactive position of said blade member so as to permit energization of said drive motor only when said blade member is in said gravity induced inactive position, and upon upward pivotal movement of said blade member from said gravity induced inactive position toward said operative cutting position and away from engaged relation with said switch, said switch automatically opening and thus automatically deactivating said drive motor, so that cutting of the produced dunnage product by said cutter means can occur only when the dunnage product is stationary relative to said mechanism.

2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said blade member comprises a generally arcuate shaped in elevation blade member mounted adjacent one end thereof for said pivotal movement from said lower inactive position to said operative cutting position in said generally vertical plane.

3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cutter means includes an arcuate shaped, in elevation, mounting bar for said blade member, the latter being removably secured to said bar, and having a cutting edge extending laterally of a complementary edge of said bar, said bar being secured to said shaft adjacent one end of said bar and thus pivotally mounting said blade member in said mechanism, and bumper means normally mounted in spaced relation to said mounting bar and adapted for engagement therewith to limit the upward pivotal movement of said bar and attached blade in said plane, and means for adjusting the position of said bumper means relative to said mounting bar and attached blade whereby the range of upward swinging movement of said bar and attached blade in said plane can be varied.

4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein cutter means is mounted on said mechanism adjacent said exit opening through which the produced pad-like product is adapted to be emitted, and wherein said arcuate blade has its convex edge as its leading edge during its upward swinging movement from said inactive position and wherein in the latter position it is disposed generally below the lowermost defining surface of said exit opening, and when moved to said cutting position it is disposed generally above said exit opening, said cutter means also including a generally linear cutter blade member mounted on said mechanism above said exit opening, and adapted for coaction with said pivotal blade member upon said pivotal movement of said pivotal blade member for causing said cutting of the dunnage product into selected lengths responsive to energization of said solenoid.

5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein the mechanism comprises a supporting frame, and including means for mounting said cutter blade member on said mechanism frame, said mounting means comprising bracket means supported on said mechanism frame and rotatably mounting said shaft thereon, said shaft generally adjacent one end thereof being coupled to the reciprocal plunger portion of said solenoid whereby actuation of said plunger portion in one direction causes said rotation of said shaft and thus said upward pivotal movement of said blade member.

6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cutter means also includes an inverted generally U-shaped bracket disposed in partially encompassing relationship to said exit opening, and a generally linear cutter blade mounted on said inverted bracket and adapted for coaction with said pivotal cutter blade member for causing severing of the dunnage product into selected lengths upon actuation of said solenoid.

7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 6, including a bumper bracket mounted adjacent said inverted U-shaped bracket, said bumper bracket mounting adjustable bumper means thereon in generally depending relationship with respect thereto, said cutter means including a relatively heavy mounting bar for said blade member, the latter being removably secured to said bar and having a cutting edge extending laterally of a complementary edge of said bar, said bar and attached blade member being pivoted in said mechanism by said shaft for upward pivotal swinging movement of said bar and attached cutting blade upon said energization of said solenoid, said bumper means being adapted for limiting said upward pivotal movement of said cutter means by engagement with said bar of said cutter means.

8. A mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein said bumper bracket includes a top wall which is obliquely oriented with respect to the horizontal, said bumper means being mounted on said obliquely oriented wall whereby it depends from said obliquely oriented wall in obliquely depending position with respect to the vertical.

g. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 adapted to produce the pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material in multi-ply roll form said mechanism further comprising a supporting frame, and stitching means on said frame adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect lateral edge portions of the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said drive motor being coupled to said stitching means for actuating the latter, a longitudinally converging means mounted on said frame upstream from said stitching means and including a widened entrance mouth portion and operable for causing inward rolling of the lateral edge portions of the sheet-like stock material into generally spiral-like form prior to entry of the sheet-like stock material into said stitching means, said stitching means being operable to pull the sheet-like stock material from the stock roll through said converging means and to connect the formed rolled lateral edge portions together and emit the finished pad-like dunnage product through said exit opening in said mechanism, said cutter means being disposed adjacent said exit opening downstream from said stitching means and operable for severing the continuous produced strip of pad-like dunnage material into selected lengths upon said energization of said solenoid thereof.

10. A cutter unit adapted for mounting on a frame of a dunnage producing mechanism which is adapted to produce a relatively low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as, for instance, paper, and which mechanism includes an electric drive motor for actuating the mechanism to produce the dunnage product from the stock material and emit the product from the mechanism through a product exit opening in the mechanism, said cutter unit comprising a pivotal elongated mounting bar and a cutter blade secured to said bar, and means including a rotatable shaft to which is attached said mounting bar and blade, for pivoting said mounting bar and blade adjacent one end thereof to the frame of an associated dunnage producing mechanism, for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane of said bar and blade from a lower gravity induced inactive position upwardly to an operative cutting position, and an electrically powered linearly reciprocal motor unit consisting of a solenoid including a reciprocal plunger portion which is coupled to said rotatable shaft and thus to said bar and blade, adapted for mounting on the mechanism for pivotal actuation of the bar and blade relative to the mechanism frame for causing severing of the produced dunnage product into selected length upon said upward movement of said bar and blade to said cutting position, and means for controlling the actuation of said solenoid and the associated mechanism drive motor, the last mentioned means including a switch adapted to be operatively wired to the mechanism drive motor and being engageable and actuated by said bar and blade in said gravity induced inactive position of the latter for activation of said switch so as to permit energization of the mechanism drive motor only when said bar and blade are in said gravity induced inactive position, and upon upward pivotal movement of said bar and blade from said gravity induced inactive position toward said cutting position, said switch automatically opening and being deactivated thus being operable to automatically deactivate the mechanism drive motor so that cutting of the produced dunnage product by said cutter unit can occur only when the dunnage product is stationary relative to the mechanism frame.

11. A cutter unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said bar and blade are both of generally arcuate configuration in elevation, with the leading edge of said cutter blade in said upward movement thereof being convex, and means for removably securing said bar and blade to said shaft.

12. A cutter unit in accordance with claim 11 wherein said shaft includes a lever secured thereto and projecting laterally thereof, and means movably coupling the distal end of said lever to the reciprocal plunger portion of said solenoid for rotating said shaft responsive to predetermined reciprocal movement of said solenoid.

13. A cutter unit in accordance with claim 11 wherein said cutter unit also includes a generally linear stationary cutter blade mounted on a bracket adapted to partially encompass the product exit opening of an associated dunnage producing mechanism and adapted to mount said stationary cutter blade above the exit opening therein, said stationary cutter blade and said pivotal cutter blade adapted to coact with one another during upward pivotal movement of said pivotal bar and blade and relative to said stationary cutter blade to accomplish severing of the dunnage product to selected length.