Abstract:
A novel dunnage-creating machine and methodology characterized by various features including, inter alia, a modular construction, easier access to interior components, and a low cost cutting assembly. The machine comprises front and rear units having separate housings. The housing of the rear unit includes an outer shell having a converging chute surrounding a shaping member over which sheet-like stock material is drawn to form the stock material into a three-dimensional shape. The front unit includes in the housing thereof a feed mechanism for drawing the stock material over the shaping member and stitching the shaped material to form a strip of dunnage product. The front unit also includes a manual cutting mechanism for cutting the strip to form cut pieces, which manual cutting mechanism includes a readily replaceable blade assembly.

Description:
The invention herein described relates generally to a dunnage-creating machine such as a cushioning conversion machine for producing a dunnage product from sheet-like stock material supplied, for example, in roll form and, more particularly, to an improved modular construction of such machine which enables, among other things, the provision of a low cost machine for low volume users. 
     BACKGROUND AND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the process of shipping an item from one location to another, a protective packaging material is typically placed in the shipping case, or box, to fill any voids and/or to cushion the item during the shipping process. Some conventional protective packaging materials are plastic foam peanuts and plastic bubble pack. While these conventional plastic materials seem to perform adequately as cushioning products, they are not without disadvantages. Perhaps the most serious drawback of plastic bubble wrap and/or plastic foam peanuts is their effect on our environment. Quite simply, these plastic packaging materials are not biodegradable and thus they cannot avoid further multiplying our planet&#39;s already critical waste disposal problems. The non-biodegradability of these packaging materials has become increasingly important in light of many industries adopting more progressive policies in terms of environmental responsibility. 
     The foregoing and other disadvantages of conventional plastic packaging materials have made paper protective packaging material a very popular alternative. Paper is biodegradable, recyclable and renewable, making it an environmentally responsible choice for conscientious industries. Furthermore, paper protective dunnage material is particularly advantageous for use with particle-sensitive merchandise, as its clean dust-free surface is resistant to static cling. 
     While paper in sheet form could possibly be used as a protective packaging material, it is usually preferable to convert the sheets of paper into a pad-like or other relatively low density dunnage product. This conversion may be accomplished by a cushioning conversion machine, such as those disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,291 and 5,123,889. The therein disclosed cushioning conversion machines convert sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into a pad-like dunnage product having longitudinally extending pillow-like portions that are connected together along a stitched central portion of the product. The stock material preferably consists of three superimposed webs or layers of biodegradable, recyclable and reusable thirty-pound Kraft paper rolled onto a hollow cylindrical tube. A thirty-inch wide roll of this paper, which is approximately 450 feet long, will weigh about 35 pounds and will provide cushioning equal to approximately four fifteen cubic foot bags of plastic foam peanuts while at the same time requiring less than one-thirtieth the storage space. 
     Specifically, these machines convert the stock material into a continuous unconnected strip having lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band. This strip is connected or coined along the central band to form a coined strip which is cut into sections of a desired length. The cut sections each include lateral pillow-like portions separated by a thin central band and provide an excellent relatively low density pad-like product which may be used in place of conventional plastic protective packaging material. 
     The several embodiments of machines shown in the aforesaid patents and other commonly assigned patents and applications have achieved considerable commercial success. Nevertheless, environmental and other concerns generally create a continuing need for further improvements in such machines. Also, there appears to be a specific need for similar machines which can be economically used to produce the same pad as such earlier machines in low volume situations, e.g., a machine that is cost competitive with prior art low volume dunnage practices such as loose fill dispensed from an overhead bag or manually crumpled paper from a roll or newsprint. Additionally or alternatively, a specific need exists for more lighter and portable machines, as well as improvements more generally providing for improved performance, lower cost, easier maintenance and repair, etc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel dunnage-creating machine and related methodology characterized by various features including, inter alia, a modular construction for flexible usage, easier access to interior components, and a low cost cutting assembly including a unitized blade assembly. The features of the invention may be individually or collectively used in dunnage-creating machines of various types, although they lend themselves particularly to the provision of relatively lightweight and portable machines which can be economically used to produce the same pad as the above mentioned earlier machines in low volume situations, including in particular a machine that is cost competitive with prior art low volume dunnage practices such as loose fill dispensed from an overhead bag or manually crumpled paper from a roll or newsprint. Various aspects of the invention are hereinafter summarized and more fully described below. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like material into a relatively low density cushioning dunnage product comprises first and second units having separate housings. The first unit includes in the housing thereof a shaping member over which the sheet-like stock material is drawn to form the stock material into a three-dimensional shape. The second unit includes in the housing thereof a feed mechanism for drawing the stock material over the shaping member of the first unit. The housings of the first and second units respectively have an outlet opening and an inlet opening relatively positionable with respect to one another to provide a pathway for transfer of the sheet-like material from the first unit to the second unit. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first and second units may be arranged in plural relative positional relationships, and the housings thereof may be detachably interconnected. The housings of the first and second units may have respective coplanar bottom supports for resting atop a support surface, or in an alternative arrangement one of the first and second units may be supported by wheels for movement towards and away from the other unit. In the latter case, cooperative guide members on the housings of the first and second units may be provided for relatively positioning the first and second units when brought together. In either case, the first and second units may be oriented vertically, horizontally or otherwise. The second unit may include a frame and an outer shell enclosing the frame, the latter including an exit chute for guided and constrained passage of the dunnage product out of the second unit. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like material into a relatively low density cushioning dunnage product comprises a shaping member over which the sheet-like stock material is drawn to form the stock material into a three-dimensional shape, a feed mechanism for drawing the stock material over the shaping member, and an outer shell forming interiorly thereof a converging chute cooperative with the shaping member to roll the edges of the stock material to form lateral pillow-like portions. The shell includes a base portion and a removable cover portion, and preferably, the shaping member is carried by the removable cover. 
     In a preferred embodiment, adapted for use with stock material having multiple plies, the base portion of the outer shell has laterally spaced apart side walls, and a plurality of separator members are mounted to and extend between the side walls for use in separating the plies of the multi-ply stock material. The cover may be hingedly connected to the base portion for swinging movement between open and closed positions. The base portion of the shell preferably has planar bottom supports for resting atop a support surface and as is preferred, the base portion and cover are plastic moldings. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, a cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like material into a relatively low density cushioning dunnage product comprises a shaping member over which the sheet-like stock material is drawn to form the stock material into a three-dimensional shape, a feed mechanism for drawing the stock material over the shaping member, and a cutting assembly for cutting the cushioning dunnage product into cut sections. The cutting assembly includes a blade assembly and an operator assembly for operating the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a guide frame and a pair of relatively movable blades mounted on the guide frame for relative movement towards and away from one another, and the guide frame is removably mounted to the machine independently of the operator assembly whereby the blade assembly can be removed without having to remove the operator assembly. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the operator assembly includes a handle member movable in a first direction to move the blades together and in a second direction to move the blades apart. The operator assembly further includes at least one slotted crank connected to the handle for rotation in opposite directions in response to movement of the handle in the first and second directions, respectively, The blades include at least one moving blade mounted on the guide frame for movement towards and away from the other blade, and a pin is connected to the moving blade and engaged in a slot in the slotted crank for movement of the moving blade in response to rotation of the slotted crank. The slot in the slotted crank is open ended to permit removal of the pin in a direction parallel to the slot when the blade assembly is removed from the machine. The slotted crank is connected to a crank shaft and the handle is connectable to the crank shaft at any one of plural mounting positions. 
     As is preferred, the handle is movable in said second direction to a feed position at which said blades are relatively moved apart sufficiently to permit passage of the dunnage product therebetween and in said first direction to a cut complete position sufficient to cut the dunnage product to form a cut piece. The feed mechanism includes at least one rotatable member for engaging and advancing the stock material, a drive motor for driving the rotatable member, and a control member operatively connected to the drive motor for controlling energization and de-energization of the drive motor. The control member is functionally related to the handle such that movement of the handle in the second direction to the feed position effects energization of the drive motor and movement of the handle in the first direction effects de-energization of the drive motor. 
     The invention also provides a blade assembly for use in a cushioning conversion machine to cut a continuous strip of dunnage into separate pieces. The blade assembly comprises a guide frame and a pair of blades mounted for relative movement on the guide frame. The guide frame includes a moving blade carriage and a guide for guiding transverse movement of the moving blade carriage, and the moving blade carriage includes, preferably at each end thereof, a cam pin engageable in a slot of a slotted crank and cooperative therewith to effect movement of the moving blade carriage in response to movement of the slotted crank. 
     The invention also provides a stitching assembly adapted for use in a cushioning conversion machine which converts sheet-like material into a relatively low density cushioning dunnage product. The stitching assembly Comprises a frame, a pair of shafts mounted to the frame with at least one of the shafts being movable transversely towards and away from the other shaft, a pair of rotatable, toothed-wheel gear members carried for rotation of the shafts and adapted to be disposed in meshed condition for coining the sheet-like material as the latter passes between the members, and at least one spring biasing means operative on the one shaft for urging the shaft and the gear member carried thereon towards the other shaft and gear member resiliently to hold the gear members in meshed relationship with the sheet-like material therebetween. The spring biasing means includes a tie member extending transversely with respect to the one shaft and being anchored at one end to a fixed support on the frame, an adjustable stop on the tie member and adjustable along the length thereof towards and away from the one shaft, and a spring member interposed between the one shaft and adjustable stop for resiliently biasing the one shaft towards the other shaft. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the one shaft has an aperture through which the tie member extends, and the spring member includes a coil spring supported on the tie member. Preferably, a pair of spring biasing means are provided at opposite ends of the one shaft, the frame includes laterally spaced apart side members between which the shafts extend, and the tie members of the pair of spring biasing means are anchored to the frame by laterally spaced apart brackets affixed to the side members, respectively. 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cushioning conversion machine according to the present invention showing front and rear units thereof assembled with respect to one another and supported on a table. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view through the front unit of the machine, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and with an outer shell of the front unit removed. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the machine taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2, showing the position of internal components of the front unit with the operating handle thereof in a feed position. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the position of the internal components with the operating handle in a cutting position. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating removal of a modular cutting assembly as an integral unit. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with parts removed to illustrate an alternative mode of attachment for the spring biasing elements of the gear feed/coining assembly. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing an alternative way that the operating handle may be mounted in the front unit, with the internal components of the front unit and the operating handle disposed in their feed position. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing the position of the internal components with the operating handle in a cutting position. 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view taken from the line 12--12 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the rear unit of the machine. 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the outer shell and exit chute of front unit of the machine. 
     FIG. 15 is an elevational view showing the conversion machine in a vertical orientation with the front unit supported by a stand and the rear unit supported on a cart for movement toward and away from the front unit. 
     FIG. 15A is another elevational view of the conversion machine of FIG. 15, looking from the line 15A--15A of FIG. 15. 
     FIG. 16 is an elevational view showing the conversion machine in a vertical orientation with the front unit mounted to a wall and the rear unit supported on a cart for movement toward and away from the front unit. 
     FIG. 17 is an elevational view showing the conversion machine in a vertical orientation with the front unit and rear unit supported on a cart. 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of cushioning conversion machine wherein the rear unit is included in a cart for movement towards and away from the front unit supported on a table. 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of cushioning conversion machine wherein a modified front unit is assembled in an inverted position with respect to the front unit. 
     FIG. 20 is an elevational view showing the conversion machine in a vertical orientation with the front unit and rear units supported by a stand. 
     FIG. 20A is another elevational view of the conversion machine of FIG. 20, looking from the line 20A--20A of FIG. 20. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, a cushioning conversion machine according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 20. The machine 20 is shown positioned in a horizontal manner and loaded with a roll 21 of sheet-like stock material M. The stock material M preferably consists of three superimposed plies or layers of biodegradable, recyclable and reusable thirty-pound Kraft paper rolled onto a hollow cylindrical tube. The machine 20 converts the stock material into a continuous unconnected strip of relatively low density cushioning dunnage product 22 having lateral pillow-like portions 23 separated by a thin central band 24. This strip 22 is cut into sections, or pads, of a desired length for use as a protective packaging material. As shown, the machine 20 is of compact size and may be supported on a table 27 or other platform for convenient dispensing of cut sections of the dunnage product 22. 
     The machine 20 is of a modular construction including a front or downstream module, section or unit 30 and a rear or upstream module, section or unit 31. The references to forward and rear are arbitrary, but are used to facilitate a description of the relative relationship of the components of the machine. The rear unit 30 and front unit 31 also are herein referred to as the shaping unit and the feed/cutting unit, respectively, in view of the hereinafter described functions associated therewith. The references to downstream and upstream are made in relation to the movement direction of the stock material M through the machine. It will also be appreciated that references to top and bottom, upper and lower, etc. are made in relation to an illustrated orientation of the machine to describe positional relationships between components of the machine and not by way of limitation, unless so indicated. The present invention also embodies the various combinations of any one feature of the invention with one or more other features of the invention, even though shown in separate embodiments. 
     The rear unit 31 has a housing in the form of an outer or external shell 35. The shell 35 has a base 36 and a cover 37 hinged to the base by hinge. 33. The cover may be opened and closed to gain access to the interior of the shell which, in FIG. 1, blocks from view interior components of the rear unit. Depending from the base 36 are laterally spaced apart mounts in the form of brackets 38 for supporting the stock roll. The brackets 38 have at their lower ends slots 39 for nested receipt of the ends of a stock roll holder 40 (such as a bar or a holder as described in copending application Ser. No. 08/267,960 filed Jun. 29, 1994) on which the stock roll is centrally supported for rotation so that the stock material may be payed off of the stock roll for passage through the machine. 
     The front unit 30 has a housing 43 including an outer or external shell 44 and a frame which is hidden from view in FIG. 1 by the shell 44 along with other internal components of the front unit. The external shell has a base 45 and a cover 46 which preferably are molded from a suitable, for example ABS, plastic. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an operator lever or handle member 47 which is used to control operation of the machine, i.e., feeding of stock material through the machine and cutting off sections of the dunnage product. 
     In FIGS. 2 and 3, interior components of the rear and front units 30 and 31 are shown. As will become apparent from the following description, all of the active or mechanized components of the machine are housed in the front unit. As a result of this, the rear unit is relatively light although overall the entire machine is relatively light when compared to present day commercial embodiments of the conversion machines described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,291 and 5,123,889. More particularly, such commercial machines weigh more than 400 pounds whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention does not weigh more than 100 pounds and preferably about 80 to 50 pounds and more preferably about 60 pounds. The illustrated preferred embodiment adapted to use a 27 inch wide stock material has an overall length (with stock roll loaded) of about 48 inches as compared to the approximately 60 inches length of the commercial version of the machine shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,889 (the width and height of this machine are about 34 inches and 12 inches, respectively, for a 30 inch wide stock material) or the 67 inches length of the commercial version of the machine shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,291 (the width and height of this machine are about 36 inches and 42 inches, respectively, for a 30 inch wide stock material). Also, the housing of the rear unit has a width of about 28 inches and a height of about 9 inches, whereas the housing of the front unit has a length of about 11 inches, a width of about 15 inches and a height of about 11 inches. Yet, this compact, lightweight and portable machine of the invention is operable to produce approximately the same size pad-like dunnage product of about 7 to 9 inches in width and about 1 1/2 to 3 inches in thickness that is produced by the heavier machines, details of such product and its formation being described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,613, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Also, the preferred dunnage product has a density of about 0.6 to 0.7 pounds per cubic foot. 
     As seen at the right in FIG. 3, the rear unit 31 includes an entry guide preferably in the form of an entry roller 50 that provides a non-varying point of entry for the sheet-like stock material M from the stock roll 21. The stock material passes from the stock roll through an inlet opening 51 in the bottom wall 52 of the shell base 45. From the roller 50, the stock material passes over separating members, preferably rollers 53-55, which separate the multiple plies P 1  -P 3  from one another prior to passing over a forming frame 56 and into a converging chute 57. The stock material preferably consists of three superimposed webs or layers of biodegradable, recyclable and reusable thirty-pound Kraft paper rolled onto a hollow cylindrical tube and having a preferred width of 27 inches, although other widths including the standard 30 inch width may be used. A 27 inch wide roll of three-ply 30 pound Kraft paper having a length of 450 feet will weigh about 32 pounds and will provide cushioning equal to approximately 3 1/2 fifteen cubic foot bags of plastic foam peanuts. 
     The forming frame 56 (as a preferred form of shaping member) and the converging chute 57 cooperatively function substantially as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,889. However, in accordance with the present invention, the converging chute preferably is formed by a portion of the external shell 35 where the shell walls converge towards one another. As best illustrated in FIG. 13, the base has a rear wall 60 and laterally spaced apart side walls 61. The side walls have parallel rear portions 62, converging intermediate portions 63 and converging front portions 64, the latter defining an angle less the angle defined by the intermediate portions 59. The cover 37 is correspondingly configured and provided with a rear edge portion 66 and side edge portions 67 that are turned downwardly to engage the top edges of the rear and side walls of the base. As shown, the depending rear and side edge portions of the cover may be offset outwardly at their lower edges to form a peripheral lip 68 that overlaps the upper edge portions of the rear and side walls of the base. It is here noted that while the rear and side walls of the shell are predominantly formed by the base as opposed to the cover, more or less of the rear and side walls of the shell may be formed by the base, as may be desired. That is, the parting line between the base and cover may be otherwise located, such as along a mid-plane through the shell, although preferably the parting line is disposed above the mid-plane. 
     Before leaving FIG. 13, it is noted that the forming frame 56 is secured to and thus carried by the cover 37. This feature of the invention facilitates initial feeding of stock material M through the machine. Conventional practice is to fold triangular portions of the leading end portion of the stock material towards one another to form an arrow shape that is fed under the forming frame prior to passage to a feed mechanism. With the forming frame carried by the cover, it is moved out of the way when the cover is opened. This provides convenient access to the interior of the shell for folding the leading end portion of the stock material to a an arrow shape and advancing the stock material forwardly for engagement by the feed mechanism. As shown, the forming frame has secured to the centers of transverse members thereof upright posts 71 and 72 that are attached at their upper ends to the cover. For further details of the forming frame and its function, reference may be had to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,717,613 and 4,750,896, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Further in accordance with the present invention, the forming frame may be formed integrally with the chute, i.e., as part of a single plastic molding and preferably the cover. 
     FIG. 13 also shows how the entry roller 50 and separating rollers 53-55 are supported by and extend between the rear portions 62 of the side walls 61 of the base 36 or more generally the shell 31, whereupon the shell further functions as an external frame for the separating rollers. The rollers may be of any suitable type and suitably journalled for rotation. For example, the rollers may include outer roller sleeves which rotate on shafts extending therethrough, with the ends of the shafts secured to the side walls of the shell. The lowermost roller preferably is of greater diameter than the upper two rollers. 
     It also can be seen in FIG. 13 that the front ends of the base and cover have outwardly extending lips 73 and 74, respectively, that are coplanar and together form a flange that surrounds an exit opening 75 through which the stock material M passes from the rear unit to the front unit. 
     Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 and additionally to FIGS. 11 and 12, the front unit 30 includes a frame 79 to which are mounted a feed/stitching mechanism 80 and a cutting mechanism 81. The feed/stitching mechanism 80 comprises rotatable, generally loosely meshed gear-like members 83 and 84 which are adapted to coin the stock material along the central band 24 (FIG. 1) to stitch the stock material together thereby to maintain the three-dimensional shape illustrated in FIG. 1. The rotating gear-like members engage and move the product through the machine, pulling the stock material over the forming frame and discharging the product out through an exit opening 86. An electric motor 87 and speed reducer 88 are utilized to drive the gear-like member 83 which, because of the generally meshed relation between the gear-like members, drives the other gear-like member 84. The gear-like members preferably are of the type described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,291, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, which gear-like members or gears operate to perforate the central band. 
     The gear-like member 83 is fixed to a drive shaft 90 that is rotatably mounted by bearings 89 secured to respective frame members 91 and 92 of the frame 79, which members are in the form of plates that are joined together in laterally spaced apart relationship by a laterally extending cross frame member or plate 94. A sprocket 93 is secured to an end of the drive shaft laterally outwardly of the relatively adjacent frame member 92. The sprocket 93 is connected by an endless chain 95 (or belt or other suitable means) to a drive sprocket 96 secured to the output shaft of the speed reducer 88 that is driven by the electric motor 87. The speed reducer and electric motor are mounted to and interiorly of the relatively adjacent frame member 92. Although this arrangement is desirable, other suitable means may be employed to rotatably drive the gear-like member 83 and such other means form a part of this description of the invention. 
     The gear-like member 84 is supported for rotation on a shaft 98 arranged with the ends thereof guided in slots 99 in the frame members 91 and 92. The ends of the shaft 98 are spring loaded by spring biasing assemblies 102 that are operative to urge the shaft 98 and the gear-like member 84 carried thereon towards the other shaft 90 and gear-like member 83 member resiliently to hold the gear-like members in meshed relationship with the stock material therebetween. As best shown in FIG. 4, each spring biasing assembly 102 includes a tie member in the form of a bolt 103 that extends transversely with respect to the axis of the shaft 98 and, more particularly, diametrically through an aperture 104 in the tie member 103. The tie member has at one end thereof an enlarged head 105 whereby it is anchored to a fixed support 107. The support 107 is mounted to the cross frame member 94. Threaded on the end of the tie member opposite the support 107 is an adjustable stop 110, and supported on the tie member between the support 107 and adjustable stop 110 is a coil spring 111. 
     Accordingly, the shaft 98 is free to float, i.e., move towards and away from the shaft 90, to accommodate different thicknesses of stock material between the gear-like members while the springs 111 of the biasing assemblies 102 provide squeeze pressure to obtain a desired stitching or coining action. The squeeze pressure may be varied by adjusting the position of the stop 110 along the length of the tie member. This may be easily accomplished by rotating the tie member 103 thereby advancing or retracting the stop 110, it being noted that rotation of the stop is precluded by interference with the cross frame member 94. Also, the head of the tie member may be slotted or otherwise configured to facilitate turning thereof by use of a screwdriver, wrench or other suitable tool. As may be desired, the stop may be adjusted to pre-load the shaft 98. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, the top of the cross frame member 94 has various cut-outs to accommodate other components of the front unit while providing a mount for the supports 107. In an alternative arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cross frame member 94 may be replaced by more simpler rectangular plate 94&#39; and the laterally spaced apart supports 107 (which in the illustrated embodiment are in the form of L-shape brackets or ears) may be mounted to the side frame members 91 and 92. This results in less cost and weight. 
     The feed/stitching mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 2 performs dual functions in the operation of the machine 20. One function is a &#34;pulling&#34; function in which the stock material is drawn through the nip of the two cooperating and opposed gear-like members. Thus, the feed/stitching mechanism is the mechanism that pulls the stock material from the stock roll 21, through the assembly ply separating rollers, and through the forming assembly comprised of the forming frame and converging chute 57. The forming assembly 52 causes inward rolling of the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material 22 to form the lateral pillow-like portions of the continuous strip. 
     The second function performed by the feed/stitching mechanism is a &#34;stitching&#34; or &#34;coining&#34; function connects the folded over edge portions of the stock material to one another and/or to the unfolded central region of the stock material. Specifically, the strip is connected by the two opposing gears coining (and preferably also perforating) its central band passing therethrough to form the coined strip 22 (FIG. 1). As the coined strip 22 travels downstream from the meshing gears, the strip is guided through and laterally constrained by a tubular guide or guide chute 114. As shown in FIGS. 2-4 the guide chute is rectangular in cross section and the top and bottom walls 115 and 116 thereof have outwardly flared edge portions 117 and 118 at the entry end of the chute. The chute forms a part of the cutting mechanism 81 that cuts the strip into sections. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the cutting mechanism 81 includes a blade assembly 119 including a pair of relatively movable blades 120 and 121 that are mounted on a guide frame 122 to which the guide chute 114 preferably is attached by a bracket 123. The guide frame 122 includes an upper and lower frame members 125 and 126 that are interconnected by a pair of laterally spaced apart guide rods or posts 127 which extend between the upper and lower frame members. The upper and lower frame members are adapted to be secured at the ends thereof to the side frame members 91 and 92 by suitable means such as removable bolts received in threaded holes 129 in the ends of the upper and lower frame members. When thus assembled to the side frame members, the upper and lower frame members serve to strengthen or reinforce the main frame 79 of the front unit 30, while being easily removable therefrom for the reasons discussed below. 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the blade 120 is a stationary blade fixed to the bottom frame member 122 atop a spacer 131. The other blade 121 is a moving blade mounted to a carriage 133 which may be of the illustrated split wedge type for permitting fine adjustment of the moving blade relative to the stationary blade. The blade carriage 133 has at opposite ends thereof guide bushings 135 which slide on the guide posts 127 for movement perpendicular to the axis of the guide chute 114. Accordingly, the blades when brought together coact in a guillotine fashion to cut the coined strip 22 (FIG. 1) into the cut sections. 
     The stationary blade 120 is mounted at the lower side of the guide chute 114 whereas the moving blade 121 is movable between a feed position shown in FIG. 4 and a cutting position shown in FIG. 5. In the feed position the moving blade is located above and clear of the exit opening of the guide chute 114. From the feed position, the moving blade travels downwardly to the cutting position, traversing the exit opening of the guide chute and coacting with the stationary blade to cut the coined strip located between the blades. Preferably the stationary blade is positioned close to the bottom side of the exit opening of the guide chute 114 and thus extends mostly beneath the chute except for its cutting edge which projects slightly beyond the bottom edge of the chute. 
     The moving blade 121 is operated by an operator assembly 140. The operator assembly includes a U-shape handle member 141 that has mounting blocks 142 at the ends of the legs thereof secured to the outer ends of respective crank shafts 143. The crank shafts pass through and are rotatably supported by side frame members 91 and 92, respectively. The inner end of each crank shaft has secured thereto a slotted crank 144. As discussed further below, the handle may be connected to the crank shafts in any one of plural angular relationships to the crank shafts. 
     Each slotted crank 144 has a slot 145 extending radially with respect to the rotation axis of the crank shaft. The slot 145 is adapted to receive therein a cam pin 146 provided at the corresponding end of the moving blade carriage 133 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In well known manner, the slotted crank cooperates with the cam pin to transfer rotary motion of the crank to linear motion of the blade carriage. Movement of the handle member 141 between its positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will effect corresponding movement of the moving blade between its feed and cutting positions. 
     It is noted that the crank shafts reside in a plane that is perpendicular to the cutting plane of the blades and which intersects the cutting plane intermediate the stroke of the moving blade. More particularly, the plane of the crank shafts is located in the middle of the guide chute. Consequently, during the end portion (preferably approximately the last half) of the cutting stroke of the moving blade, the trailing side of the slots in the cranks will not only exert a downward force on the cam pins (and thus the moving blade) in FIGS. 4 and 5, but also a horizontal force that urges the moving blade against the stationary blade to ensure a clean cut. Preferably, the moving blade has passed overcenter by the time the dunnage product has been compressed between the blades to start a cut so that during cutting the moving blade will be held tightly against the stationary blade as it passes thereby. Moreover, this holding force will progressively increase as the moving blade completes it cutting stroke since the angle between the movement plane of the moving blade and the trailing side of the crank slots progressively increases during the end portion of the cutting stroke. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slot 145 is open-ended. This is important to one of the advantages afforded by the present invention. More particularly, the open-ended slot allows the cam pin to be disengaged from the slotted crank without having to disassemble either element from its supporting structure. As illustrated in FIG. 6, this facilitates easy removal of the blade assembly 119 as an integral unit from the main frame of the front unit upon removal of the fastening bolts that secure the upper and lower guide frame members to the side frame members of the main frame. Easy removal of the blade assembly is desirable in that it allows for quick replacement of the blade assembly with another assembly, as for repair or sharpening of the blade assembly. This is particularly beneficial when field servicing the machine. 
     With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a switch 150 is mounted to the side frame member 91 with the trip lever thereof located in the path of the relatively adjacent slotted crank 144. The switch is actuated by travel of the slotted crank to its feed position corresponding to the feed position of the handle. When the switch is actuated, the feed motor 87 is energized to rotate the gear-like members for feeding of stock material through the machine with dunnage product being advanced through the guide chute 114. Accordingly, the handle may be moved clockwise to its position illustrated in FIG. 4 to actuate the switch and energize the feed motor to advance a length of dunnage product through the guide chute until a desired length of product has been run-off. The handle may then be moved in the opposite direction, counter-clockwise in FIGS. 3 and 4, to its cutting position shown in FIG. 4 for cutting a piece of the dunnage product of the desired length. The handle may be left in the position shown in FIG. 4 until a next piece of dunnage product is needed, at which time the handle may be moved to its feed position to run-off a desired length of dunnage product. 
     The product that is fed through the guide chute 114 passes into an exit chute 156 shown in FIG. 3. The exit chute 156 is axially aligned with the guide chute 114 downstream of the cutting plane defined by the movement path of the moving blade 114. AS shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, the exit chute has an outwardly flared funnel shape inlet portion 158 that tapers into a downstream rectangular portion 159. The inlet portion has a mouth greater is size than the cross-sectional area of the guide chute whereas the downstream portion has essentially the same cross-sectional shape as the guide. The flared mouth functions to receive and guide into the exit chute the newly cut leading end of the strip after a piece has been cut, which new leading end may have been pushed off axis by the cutting operation and remains off axis. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom edge of the mouth is beneath the plane of the bottom frame member 126, the latter preventing the strip from being displaced downwardly such that it will not be captured by the mouth of the exit chute. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, the exit chute 156 in disposed between the cover 46 and base 45 of the external shell or case 44 which encloses the interior components of the front unit. The operating handle is disposed externally of the shell 44 for manipulation by an operator in the above described manner. The crank shafts to which the handle ends are mounted extend through apertures 162 formed by recesses provided at the parting line of the cover and base of the shell. The cover may have an offset peripheral lip that overlaps the upper edge portion of the base in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the cover 37 and base 36. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, the shell is generally rectangular in shape with one side having a triangular guard portion 164 thereof displaced outwardly to accommodate the drive chain and sprockets. Preferably, the cover and base are molded from a suitable, for example ABS, plastic, as is the exit chute which may be trapped between the shell parts or secured to either one of the shell parts. The shell parts in turn are secured by suitable fastening means to the frame of the front unit. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the handle 141 is shown secured to the crank shafts 144 at a different angular relationship, as is desirable for providing flexibility of use of the machine in different arrangements as will become more apparent from the following discussion of FIGS. 15-19. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the handle is secured in a position rotated 90° from that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This positions the handle for manipulation from the base or bottom side of the first unit as opposed to the cover or top side of the base unit. Any suitable means may be provided to mount the handle blocks to the crank shafts at one of plural different relatively rotated positions. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15-19, various alternative arrangements or methods of using the conversion machine 20 are illustrated. These figures illustrate the flexibility of use afforded by the provision of modular front and rear units that may be interrelated in various ways, such as in vertical or horizontal relation or one inverted relative to the other. Arrangements other than those illustrated may also be used. For example, the rear and front units may have the axes thereof oriented other than horizontally or vertically, or the rear and front units may be arranged in other than coplanar relationship as at an angle, for example 90 degrees, while the exit opening of the rear unit and inlet opening of the front unit cooperate to provide a pathway for the stock material one to the other. In the case of such angular positioning, preferably a guideway, such as a rounded elbow, is provided between the exit and inlet openings. 
     In FIGS. 15 and 15A, the rear and front units are vertically oriented with the front unit 30 supported on a stand 167 and the rear unit 31 supported on a cart 168 having a frame 169 and wheels 170 such as casters for rolling on a floor. The stand 167 includes at each side of the front unit an identical assembly of a base 172 and an upright 173. The front unit is secured to and between the upper ends of the uprights by brackets 174 or other suitable attachment hardware with the bottom thereof disposed at an elevation slightly above the top of the rear unit. The uprights have lower end portions thereof bowed outwardly to accommodate therebetween (straddle) the rear unit 31 which may be rolled beneath the front unit to align the exit opening of the rear unit with the inlet opening of the front unit for upward passage of stock material from the rear unit to the front unit. As shown, the handle 47 is mounted in its position illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
     The rear unit 31 may be mounted at its rear end to the cart frame 169 with the roll support mounts 33 inverted from their position shown in FIG. 1 to receive a roll of stock material from above. Of course, the roll support mounts are positioned above the cart frame a sufficient distance to prevent interference between the stock roll and the frame. If desired, the top unit may have attached to the sides thereof depending guide elements 176 which may engage and guide the flange 177 of the rear unit into proper positional relationship with the front unit and then further assist in maintaining the rear unit is such position during use of the machine. 
     The ability to move the cart into and out of operational relationship with the front unit as depicted by arrows 178 has various advantages such as providing for remote loading of a stock roll onto the rear unit which may then be moved into position. If desired, more than one rear unit and cart assembly may be provided so that one may be used while the other is being loaded with a new stock roll. 
     In FIG. 16, the front unit 30 is shown mounted to a wall 180 or other vertical surface. The front unit is attached to the wall by mounting brackets 181 or other suitable attachment hardware at a height locating the bottom of the front unit slightly above the rear unit 31 which is supported on a cart 168 as in the same manner described above in connection with FIG. 15. Likewise, the rear unit may be moved beneath the top unit in similar manner. 
     In FIG. 17, the rear and front units are both supported in a vertical orientation by securement to an upright support 185 which in turn is supported on a cart 186 for transportability of the machine as from one use location to another or between use and storage positions. The upright support may be in the form of a frame having vertical posts 187 interconnected at their upper ends by a cross frame member and braced at their lower ends by gussets on the cart. The cart is supported by wheels 189 Such as castors for rolling on a floor. 
     In FIG. 18, the rear and front units are horizontally oriented with the front unit 30 supported on a table top 191 and the rear unit 31 supported on a cart 192 having a frame 193 and wheels 194 such as casters for rolling on a floor. The exit opening of the rear unit and inlet opening of the front unit are at the same elevation whereby the rear unit may be moved into the position shown aligning the exit and inlet openings. Use of this arrangement is substantially the same as that described above with respect to FIGS. 15 and 16 except for the orientation of the machine. 
     In FIG. 19, the rear and front units are assembled together in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 1, except that the rear member 31&#39; is in an inverted position. For use in this arrangement, the rear unit has in the base thereof a hinged door 196 which functions like the cover of the FIG. 1 embodiment for permitting access to the interior of the rear unit to facilitate initial threading of stock material therethrough. Also, a modified form of stock roll mount 38&#39; is provided for supporting the stock roll above the rear unit. As shown, the rear unit is supported on spacers to raise the exit opening thereof to the same elevation as the inlet opening of the front unit. 
     In FIGS. 20 and 20A, the front and rear units 30 and 31 are both supported in a vertical orientation by securement to an upright support 200 in the form of a bent tubular frame that may be formed, as illustrated, by bending a single length of tubing, or the like. As shown, the upper portion of the support generally has an inverted U-shape having a pair of legs 201 and a connecting bight portion 202. The legs 201 are generally coplanar and diverge from one another going from top to bottom. Each leg terminates at a foot 203 which extends out of the plane of the legs 201 in a first direction and then back on itself in the opposite direction through and beyond the plane of the legs to provide, along with the lateral separation of the feet, a broad base support for the upright support or standard 200. The elevated portion of the foot that terminates at the lower end of the respective leg may be equipped with a suitable cradle for receiving and supporting the ends of a roll holder 205 that supports the stock roll 21. Looked at another way, the feet are generally J-shape with the stem oriented to rest on a floor and the hook of the J joined at its distal end to the bottom end of the corresponding leg. If desired, the standard may be equipped with wheels such as castors for rolling on a floor. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to several preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. Therefore, the present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.