Patent Publication Number: US-7722519-B2

Title: Dunnage conversion machine and method

Description:
The present invention hereby claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/603,223, filed Aug. 20, 2004, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/625,518, filed Nov. 5, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/667,977, filed Apr. 4, 2005, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a dunnage conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a dunnage product. More particularly, the present invention relates to a conversion machine with transversely extending members that engage the stock material upstream of a conversion assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. Since paper is biodegradable, recyclable and produced from a renewable resource, paper protective packaging material is increasingly popular. While paper or other sheet stock material could be used as a protective packaging material, it is usually preferable to convert the sheet material into a relatively lower density dunnage product. This conversion can be accomplished by a conversion machine, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,477. This patent is assigned to the assignee of the present application and its entire disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The conversion machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,477 includes a conversion assembly that converts multi-ply stock material into a lower density dunnage product, and a stock supply assembly that supplies the multi-ply stock material to the conversion assembly. The conversion assembly includes a forming assembly that inwardly turns the lateral regions of the stock material as it travels downstream therethrough. As a result of this inward turning, the lateral regions of the stock material are subject to edge tension that sometimes results in ripping or tearing of the stock material at the lateral edges. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a dunnage conversion machine and method characterized by a stock supply arrangement that helps to minimize or prevent excessive edge tension and/or the tearing associated therewith, especially for the conversion of single ply, lesser quality and/or short fiber paper, and/or otherwise improves or enhances the conversion process, while at the same time providing sufficient tension across the width of the stock material to ensure that the stock material maintains its alignment as it is formed into a strip of dunnage. 
     In particular, the present invention provides a dunnage conversion machine for converting a supply of sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product that includes a conversion assembly that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product, and a sequence or series of transversely extending members disposed upstream of the conversion assembly. The transversely extending members typically are aligned generally end-to-end, and define a path for the stock material from a supply thereof to the conversion assembly. 
     In addition, the present invention provides a conversion machine that includes one or more of the following features: 
     A. a forming assembly that shapes the sheet stock material and a feeding/fixing assembly that draws the stock material through the forming assembly and fixes the shaped stock material to form a dunnage product, 
     B. at least one transversely extending member in the form of a roller, 
     C. at least two transversely extending members in the sequence of transversely extending members, 
     D. the sequence of transversely extending members being arrayed along a straight line, 
     E. the sequence of transversely extending members being arrayed along a curved line, 
     F. at least one adjustment mechanism that provides for adjustment of the angle between adjacent transversely extending members, 
     G. at least one of the transversely extending members having a diameter that varies along its length, 
     H. at least one of the transversely extending members having at least one rounded end, and/or 
     I. a constant-entry roller upstream of the sequence of transversely extending members that provides a constant point in the path of the stock material from a supply thereof to the sequence of transversely extending members as stock material is drawn from the supply. The torturous path over the constant-entry roller and under the sequence of transversely extending members, in combination with the curvature of the transversely extending members across the width of the stock material, serves to maintain sufficient tension in the stock material to encourage proper alignment of the stock material widthwise as it tracks through the converter. 
     The transversely extending members typically are positioned in the path of the stock material from a supply thereof to the conversion assembly in a manner that allows a more gradual transition between the supply of the stock material to the conversion assembly and the inward turning of lateral regions of the stock material by the conversion assembly. Such a gradual transition is believed to reduce edge-tension in the stock material and/or otherwise enhance the conversion process. 
     The present invention also provides a method of making a dunnage product from a sheet stock material that includes the following steps: (a) drawing sheet stock material from a supply thereof over a sequence of transversely extending members that are generally aligned end-to-end, and (b) converting the sheet stock material into a relatively lower density dunnage product downstream of the transversely extending members. The method can additionally include the step of changing the angle between at least one pair of adjacent transversely extending members. Additionally or alternatively the converting step can further include the steps of (i) turning the lateral edges of the stock material inward, (ii) crumpling the stock material, and/or (iii) fixing the stock material in its crumpled state. 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention are shown in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and annexed drawings set forth in detail one or more illustrative embodiments of the invention; this being indicative, however, of but one or a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention might be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an exemplary dunnage conversion machine, specifically a cushioning conversion machine, in accordance with the invention with the top wall of the machine&#39;s housing nearest the viewer removed to reveal internal machine components. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the cushioning conversion machine of  FIG. 1 , with the side wall of the machine&#39;s housing nearest the viewer removed to reveal the internal machine components. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are top views of alternate embodiments of a sequence of transversely extending members provided by the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5-9  are top views of exemplary transversely extending members that can be used with other members of the same type or in combination with different types of transversely extending members in the sequence of transversely extending members in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another dunnage conversion machine according to the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a rear portion of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of a front portion of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10 , with the housing rendered transparent to illustrate internal components. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a front and upper portion of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10  with the housing removed. 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of a front and lower portion of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10  with the housing removed. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged side perspective view of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10  with the housing removed. 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged perspective view of the conversion machine of  FIG. 15  down from a position beside the conversion machine. 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged perspective view of the conversion machine as seen in  FIG. 11  with the housing removed. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10  with the housing removed. 
         FIGS. 19 and 20  are enlarged perspective views of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10 , specifically of the stand. 
         FIG. 21  is an enlarged perspective view of a tilt-locking mechanism portion of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIGS. 22 and 23  are perspective views of the conversion machine of  FIG. 10  at two different orientations relative to the stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , these figures show an exemplary embodiment of a dunnage conversion machine provided by the present invention for converting a supply of sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product. In particular, the illustrated dunnage conversion machine is a cushioning conversion machine  10  that includes a stock material supply assembly  15 , a conversion assembly  20  for converting sheet stock material into a relatively lower density strip of cushioning dunnage, and a severing assembly  25  for severing the strip to form discrete sections of a given length, commonly referred to as pads. The conversion machine  10  also includes a tension-adjusting assembly  26  that includes a sequence of transversely extending members  28 . The transversely extending members  28  are disposed upstream of the conversion assembly  20  and extend transversely across the path of, and help to define the path of, the stock material from the supply assembly  15  to the conversion assembly  20 . The transversely extending members  28  generally minimize or prevent excessive edge tension and/or the tearing associated therewith while maintaining sufficient tension to ensure proper tracking, especially for the conversion of single ply, lesser quality and/or short fiber paper, and/or otherwise improves or enhances the conversion process as the stock material moves through the conversion assembly  20 . 
     The conversion assembly  20  preferably includes a forming assembly  27  and a feed assembly  30 . The feed assembly  30  includes two opposed rotating members  60  and  61  which, according to a preferred embodiment, are meshed coining gears. One rotating member, such as the upper rotating member  60 , is driven while the other rotating member, in this case the lower rotating member  61 , is driven due to an interaction with the driven rotating member  60 . In this case the teeth of the rotating members  60  and  61  mesh with one another to transfer the driving force. 
     During the conversion process, sheet stock material is pulled from the stock supply assembly  15  and transferred to the conversion assembly  20 , which converts the sheet stock material into a continuous strip of cushioning dunnage. More specifically, as the feed assembly  30  pulls the stock material in a downstream direction from the stock supply assembly  15  through the forming assembly  27 , the forming assembly  27  crumples the stock material and causes the lateral edges of the stock material to turn, roll or fold inwardly to form a continuous strip having two lateral pillow portions with a central portion therebetween. The lateral edges typically overlap one another in the central portion. 
     The feed assembly  30  performs a “pulling” function by drawing the continuous strip through the nip of the two cooperating and opposed rotating members  60  and  61  of the feed assembly  30 , thereby drawing stock material through the forming assembly  27 . The rotating members  60  and  61  additionally perform a “coining” or a “connecting” function as the opposed rotating members  60  and  61  coin a central band (of the central portion) of the continuous strip as it passes therethrough to form a coined strip. 
     As the connected (coined) strip travels downstream from the feed assembly  30 , the strip passes through the severing assembly  25 . The severing assembly  25  severs discrete dunnage products of a desired length, in the form of sections or cushioning pads, from the strip of cushioning for use as a protective packaging material. 
     The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are characteristic of the direction of flow of the stock material through the machine  10 . In  FIG. 2  the machine is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation whereby an imaginary longitudinal line or axis from the upstream end near the stock supply assembly  15  to the downstream end near the severing assembly  25  would be substantially horizontal. 
     The illustrated stock material supply assembly  15  includes a pair of laterally spaced apart U-shape brackets  42  secured to the rear or upstream end of the machine&#39;s housing. The lower legs  44  of the brackets  42  have open slots  46  in their distal ends to cradle a supply rod  48 . The supply rod  48  is designed to extend relatively loosely through a hollow tube of a stock roll. As the stock material is pulled from the stock supply assembly  15 , the tube will freely rotate to dispense the stock material. A pin (not shown) can be provided through one or both ends of the supply rod  48  to limit or prevent rotation of the supply rod  48  itself. 
     The upper projecting legs  50  of the brackets  42  have journalled therebetween a cylindrical constant entry roller  52  that provides a substantially non-varying point of entry for the sheet stock material from a supply of stock material, whether in the form of a stock roll or fan-folded stack, e.g., as the stock material is withdrawn therefrom. For further details concerning an exemplary constant entry roller, please see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,750,896 and 6,033,353, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The upper legs  50  of the brackets  42  also support the tension-adjusting assembly  26  downstream of the constant entry roller  52 . Alternatively, the tension-adjusting assembly  26  can function as a constant entry device and the constant entry roller  52  can be omitted. The tension-adjusting assembly  26  generally includes the aforementioned sequence or series of transversely extending members  28  disposed to engage the stock material as it is pulled from the stock supply assembly  15 . This usually means that the transversely extending members  28  extend across most of the span between the brackets, preferably but not necessarily across the width of the stock material. 
     The transversely extending members  28  generally are positioned to distribute tension in the stock material widthwise across the stock material, thereby minimizing or preventing excessive edge tension and/or the tearing associated therewith to improve or enhance the conversion process. Yet the transversely extending members can also add tension to the stock material to ensure proper tracking of the stock material into and through the conversion assembly  20 . In cooperation with the constant entry roller  52 , the transversely extending members  28  provide tension to the stock material as it follows a torturous path over the constant entry roller  52  and under the widthwise curvature of the arc of transversely extending members  28 . The amount of tension in the stock material is preferably sufficient to encourage proper tracking of the stock material into the conversion assembly but insufficient to cause tearing of the stock material or interference with the conversion process. The amount of tension is dependent on the type of stock material that is used. The transversely extending members  28  also can be positioned without significantly affecting the tension distribution, but to still guide the stock material in a way that also would tend to improve or enhance the conversion process. 
     The tension-adjusting assembly  26  also includes a support rod  60  mounted to the legs  50  of the brackets  42 , and one or more supplemental brackets or yokes  62  supporting the transversely extending members  28  between the brackets  42 . In the illustrated tension-adjusting assembly  26 , the ends of the transversely extending members  28  at the opposite ends of the sequence are journalled to respective brackets  42 , and the other ends of the transversely extending members  28  are journalled to the yokes  62  mounted to the support rod  60 . The illustrated yokes  62  have a Y-shape, but their shape is only limited by their ability to support the ends of the transversely extending members  28  with respect to the support rod  60 . 
     The transversely extending members  28  generally are arrayed end-to-end along a line. The yokes  62  generally also provide the ability to adjust the orientation of the transversely extending members  28 . For example, the illustrated yokes  62  include a threaded bolt  64  that forms the end of the Y and passes through an opening in the support rod  60 . This bolt  64  is attached to the support rod  60  with a pair of nuts  66  secured on opposite sides of the rod  60 . Thus, by repositioning the nuts  66  to shift the position of the threaded bolt  64  relative to the rod  60 , the position of the respective transversely extending members  28  relative to the support rod  60  can be adjusted to support the transversely extending members  28  at different angular orientations relative to one another, and/or to support the transversely extending members  28  at different distances relative to the support rod  60 . Thus, the transversely extending members  28  can be arrayed in a straight line, as shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, or can be arrayed along a curved line, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The amount of curvature and the shape of the curvature can be adjusted by adjusting one or more yokes  62  that support the transversely extending members  28  relative to the support bar  60 . 
     When the transversely extending members  28  are arrayed along a straight line in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction of the flow of the stock material, the stock material traveling over the tension-adjusting assembly  26  is forced to follow a generally straight transverse path and is restricted in the ability of lateral portions of the stock material to turn inwardly in the same direction as the conversion assembly  20  urges those portions of the stock material. This can affect the conversion process by, for example, resulting in excessive tension in the lateral regions which sometimes leads to ripping or tearing of the paper. 
     By providing rounded ends  70  at lateral reaches of the sequence of transversely extending members  28 , the tension-adjusting assembly  26  allows a more gradual transition between the stock supply assembly  15  and the conversion assembly  20  and facilitates the inward turning of the lateral edges by the conversion assembly  20 . Such an arrangement is believed to reduce edge-tension in the stock material and/or otherwise enhance the conversion process. This process can be further enhanced by arranging the sequence of transversely extending members  28  along a curved line in a direction complementary to the inward turning action imparted by the conversion assembly  20 . Such a curved arrangement of the transversely extending members  28  is believed to enhance the transition between the stock supply assembly  15  and the conversion assembly  20 . 
     As is apparent from  FIGS. 3-9 , individual transversely extending members  28  can take a variety of forms, including cylindrical (the middle member  28   a  in  FIG. 4 ), cylindrical with one rounded end (left and right members  28   b  in  FIG. 4 ), cylindrical with a pair of rounded ends  28   c  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 ), and varying diameters  28   d ,  28   e ,  28   f  ( FIGS. 7-9 ). As described below with respect to specific examples, each transversely extending member  28  typically includes a central rod and one or more sleeves that are rotatably mounted around the rods. Each sleeve has a circular cross-sectional shape, but can have different diameters along the length of the rod. Different combinations of types of transversely extending members  28  with different sizes and shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     An exemplary transversely extending member  28   c / 376  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The transversely extending member  376  includes end portions  400  and a central portion  402  extending therebetween. The end portions  400  are inwardly tapered relative to the central portion  402  towards the respective ends of the member  376 . The inwardly tapered lateral end portions  400  of the member  376  can be positioned to engage an edge of the lateral portions of the stock material. In this manner, an edge of the stock material engaging that part of the transversely extending member  376  is not forced to follow a straight transverse path. Instead, the lateral portion of the stock material is inwardly urged in the same direction as the conversion assembly inwardly turns the lateral edge of the stock material. This allows a gradual transition between the tension-adjusting assembly  26  and the conversion assembly thereby reducing the chance of excessive edge-tension and/or otherwise enhancing the conversion process. 
     The illustrated transversely extending member  376  includes a rod  404 , a sleeve  406 , and a pair of end caps  408  connected to each end of the sleeve  406 . The rod  404  is non-rotatably mountable and the sleeve  406  and caps  408  are rotatably mounted about the rod  404 . The sleeve  406  forms the center portion  402  of the separating member  376  and is cylindrical with a constant circular radial cross-sectional shape along its axial dimension. 
     The caps  408  each include a head  410  and a plug  412  connected to the head  410 . The head  410  forms the inwardly tapering end portions  400  of the separating member  376 . The head  410  has a circular radial cross-section shape which decreases in size along its axial dimension and an axial cross-sectional shape resembling a top-truncated parabola. ( FIG. 6 .) The plugs  412  extend from the axially inner end of the respective head  410  and are sized for tight inserted receipt into the ends of the sleeve  406  whereby the sleeve  406  will not rotate relative to the end caps  408 . The end caps  408  are preferably made of suitable material, such as plastic, so that they form a bearing surface relative to the rod  404 . The transversely extending member  476  also includes a pair of springs  614  positioned around the rod  494  on opposite sides of the sleeve  496 , to provided biased transverse centering of the sleeve  496 . 
     Another transversely extending member  28   d / 476  is shown in  FIG. 7 , which includes inwardly tapered end portions  490  and a central portion  492  extending therebetween. The transversely extending member  476  includes a rod  494  and a sleeve  496  that is mounted for rotation around the rod  494 . The sleeve  496  forms the central portion  492  of the member and also the inwardly tapered lateral end portions  490  of the member. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve  496  is cylindrical and has a circular radial cross-sectional shape which changes size along its axial dimension. The radial cross-sectional size of the sleeve  496  preferably changes gradually along the central portion  492  of the transversely extending member and more dramatically along the lateral end portions  492  of the transversely extending member  476 . 
     Further alternatives are evident in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In  FIG. 8 , a transversely extending member  28   e  includes a central rod  500  and a plurality of spaced balls  502  mounted to the rod  500 . The balls  502  can be rotatably mounted to the rod  500  or affixed to the rod and the rod can be rotatably mounted to the brackets  42  ( FIG. 1 ) and/or the yokes  62  ( FIG. 1 ). In this configuration, the transversely extending member  28   e  will have reduced contact with the stock material, which could reduce friction with the transversely extending member  28   e , or if the stock material moves into the spaces between the balls  502  this could enhance the crumpling action of the conversion assembly  20  ( FIG. 1 ), which could be desirable in certain circumstances. 
     A similar effect could be produced by the transversely extending member  28   f  shown in  FIG. 9 . In this case, the transversely extending member  28   f  includes a plurality of spaced apart plates  510  mounted to a central rod  512 . Again, note that the plates  510  have different diameters along the length of the rod  512 , along with the spaces between the plates. 
     Each of the transversely extending members discussed herein might be more or less advantageous for different types of dunnage conversion machines, and the present invention is not limited to use in the illustrated cushioning conversion machine or the illustrated types of transversely extending members. These and other transversely extending members also can be used in other types of dunnage conversion machines. 
     When a cushioning conversion machine incorporating such a tension-adjusting assembly is used, the resulting method includes the following steps: (a) drawing sheet stock material from a supply thereof over a sequence of transversely extending members, and (b) converting the sheet stock material into a relatively lower density dunnage product downstream of the transversely extending members. The method can additionally include changing the angle between at least one pair of adjacent transversely extending members. Additionally or alternatively, the converting step can further include the steps of (i) turning the lateral edges of the stock material inward, (ii) crumpling the stock material, and (iii) fixing the stock material in its crumpled state. 
     Another conversion machine  600  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  18 . As in the previous embodiment, this conversion machine  600  includes a constant-entry roller  602 , a tension-adjusting assembly  604 , a conversion assembly  606  having both a forming assembly  608  and a feed assembly  610 , and a severing assembly  612 , each of which is substantially similar to respective assemblies and devices described above, unless otherwise noted. The conversion machine  600  also includes a housing  614  that substantially encloses the feed assembly  610 , the severing assembly  612 , and at least a portion of the forming assembly  608 . A lower portion of the housing  614  extends upstream from the forming assembly  608  to the tension-adjusting assembly  604  and creates a tray  616  across which the stock material is drawn into the forming assembly  608 . The tray  616  also provides a relatively flat surface between the tension-adjusting assembly  604  and the forming assembly  608  that facilitates splicing one or more plies of a new supply of sheet stock material to respective plies of the almost spent supply of stock material. 
     The conversion assembly  606  is mounted a frame  620 . A support shaft  624  extends from the frame  622  of the conversion machine  600  and is rotatably mounted to a stand  626 . The shaft  624  preferably passes through or near the center of gravity of the conversion machine  600  to facilitate rotating the conversion machine  600  about a generally horizontal axis. This minimizes the amount of weight that has to be rotated and makes it easier to rotate the machine  600  to dispense dunnage products at a desired location, to load a fresh supply of stock material, or to diagnose and repair problems with the conversion machine  600 . 
       FIGS. 12-14  illustrate the components of the conversion machine  600  at the downstream end. Starting at the downstream end of the conversion machine  600 , an output chute  630  includes an outlet valve  632  in the form of a flapper door  634  spring-biased to a closed position. The flapper door  634  is pivotally mounted for rotation about a hinge axis proximate a bottom portion of the output chute  630  and in the closed position extends downstream toward an upper portion of the output chute  630 . In operation, as a strip of dunnage enters the output chute  630  it pushes against the flapper door  634 , which rotates downward against the spring-biasing force toward the bottom portion of the output chute  630 . 
     The severing assembly  612  upstream of the output chute  630  can be controlled to prevent activation in the event that the flapper door  634  is opened beyond a predetermined acceptable rotational limit that would indicate that something else in addition to or in place of the strip of dunnage could pass the flapper door  634  and interfere with the severing operation. The severing assembly  612  includes a severing motor  636  that is mounted generally below the feed assembly  610  and is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conversion machine  600 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , the feed assembly  610 , upstream of the severing assembly  612 , includes rotating members  638  (one shown) driven by a feed motor  640 . The feed motor  640  is mounted above the severing motor  636  and is oriented generally transverse the longitudinal direction of the conversion machine  600  and transverse the severing motor  636 . 
     Moving upstream, the forming assembly  608  is mounted upstream of the feed assembly  610 , as in the conversion machine  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , and a power supply unit  642  is mounted near the feed motor  640  on the other side of the support shaft  624 . The power supply unit  642  distributes electrical power from a source to the feed motor  640  and the severing motor  636 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , a lower portion of the housing  614  extends upstream from the forming assembly  608  to the tension-adjusting assembly  604 . This portion of the housing  614  forms the tray  616  between the upstream end of the forming assembly  608  and the tension-adjusting assembly  604 . The tray  616  has a relatively flat surface that facilitates splicing one or more plies of a new supply of sheet stock material to a respective ply or plies of a nearly spent supply of stock material. 
     The illustrated tension-adjusting assembly  604  includes a pair of rotatable rollers  644  and  646  that are aligned end-to-end. The outer ends of the rollers  644  and  646  are rotatably mounted in a pair of spaced-apart arms  648  and  650  extending upstream from or forming a part of the frame  622  of the conversion machine  600 . Each roller  644  and  646  is generally cylindrical with rounded ends. The longitudinal axes of the rollers  644  and  646  are transverse each other, such that the rollers  644  and  646  are inclined relative to a straight line extending through either their inner or their outer ends. The joint between the rollers  644  and  646  is adjustable to change the relative angle of inclination between the rollers  644  and  646 . 
     The illustrated conversion machine  600  also includes an end-of-web detection sensor  652 , such as a photosensor, positioned to detect the absence of the sheet stock material. The end-of-web sensor  652  can be used to stop the conversion machine  600  to allow an operator to splice the leading end of a new supply of stock material to the trailing end of the almost-spent supply before the trailing end passes through the conversion assembly  606 . Typically this means that the end-of-web sensor  652  is connected to a controller (not shown) that controls the operation of the feed assembly  610 . The constant-entry roller  602  also is journalled between the spaced-apart arms  648  and  650  upstream of the tension-adjusting assembly  604  to provide a constant entry point for the stock material as the stock material is drawn from the supply. 
     A supply of sheet stock material, either in roll form or in the form of a fan-folded stack, can be mounted to the stand  626 . Referring now to  FIGS. 19-23 , the illustrated stand  626  includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart feet  660  and  662  having wheels  644  mounted thereto for moving the conversion machine  600 . A pair of upright legs  664  and  666  elevate the frame  622  of the conversion machine  600  above the feet  660  and  662  and the length of the upright legs  664  and  666  can be telescopically adjusted. The upright legs  664  and  666  also include a pair of cable guides  670  for storing a power cable (not shown) and a bracket  672  for supporting a foot pedal  674  or other control mechanism while the conversion machine  600  is being transported from one place to another. 
     The upright legs  664  and  666  of the stand  626  rotatably support the support shaft  624  extending from the frame  622  ( FIG. 18 ) of the conversion machine  600 . As shown in  FIGS. 21-23 , a block  676  at the upper end of the upright leg  664  has a circular opening  678  that receives the support shaft  624  therein. One side of the block  676  has an slot  680  extending to the circular opening  678  and a threaded pin (not shown) spanning the slot. The threaded pin protrudes from the block, and a nut with an integral handle  682  is mounted on the exposed end of the pin. By tightening the nut  682 , the block  676  can be tightened on the support shaft  624  to hold the conversion machine  600  at the desired angle. The longitudinal axis of the illustrated conversion machine  600  can be tilted up to about forty-five degrees from horizontal either clockwise or counterclockwise about the axis of the support shaft  624  for operation. The conversion machine  600  can be rotated further, including one hundred eighty degrees, for maintenance or loading a new supply of stock material. 
     The ability to rotate the conversion machine  600  about a generally horizontal axis and hold it in any position, as well as the ability to change the height of the conversion machine, facilitates positioning the conversion machine  600  in the position most advantageous for the operator for dispensing dunnage, for loading sheet stock material, including splicing, or for maintenance, such as replacing a motor or clearing a jam, for example. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described integers (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such integers are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any integer which performs the specified function of the described integer (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention might have been described above with respect to only one of several illustrated embodiments, such feature can be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as can be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.