1. A dunnage converter that converts sheet stock material into discrete dunnage products, comprising:
a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a crumpled strip of dunnage, the conversion assembly including a feeding assembly for engaging the strip at a feeding location and moving the stock material through the converter;
a restraining device that allows the stock material to pass in a forward direction and restricts significant movement of the stock material in a reverse direction at a holding location spaced downstream of the feeding assembly; and
a controller that controls the feeding assembly to move the stock material therethrough in a forward direction for conversion into the strip of dunnage and in a reverse direction to separate a dunnage product from the strip at a location at or between the holding location and the feeding assembly.
2. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller directs the feeding assembly to operate in a reverse direction by a preset amount to effect separation of the dunnage product from the strip.
3. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the downstream restraining device includes at least one restraining member moveable between a closed position in the path of the stock material to engage the stock material at the holding location and hold it against any significant reverse movement at the holding location and an open position that allows the stock material to move forward in a downstream direction.
4. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the restraining member is resiliently biased to the closed position.
5. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 4, wherein each restraining member has a camming portion that extends toward the path of the strip and causes the restraining member to be moved outwardly against the biasing force.
6. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 4, wherein the restraining member is biased to the closed position by a spring.
7. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 3, further comprising an actuator for moving the restraining member between the open and closed positions.
8. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the restraining member has an edge that bites into the strip at the holding location.
9. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the downstream restraining device includes opposed restraining members.
10. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 8, wherein the restraining members have teeth that bite the strip at the holding location.
11. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an upstream restraining device that allows the stock material to pass in a forward direction and inhibits significant reverse movement of the stock material at a location upstream of the feeding location such that the feeding assembly will engage the stock material upon feeding in the forward direction once again.
12. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 11, wherein the upstream restraining device includes a stop member movable between a first position permitting passage of the dunnage strip in a forward direction and a second position inhibits significant reverse movement of the stock material at a location upstream of the feeding location such that the feeding assembly will engage the stock material upon feeding in the forward direction once again.
13. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 12, wherein the stop member is moved to its first position by the stock material passing thereby during forward feeding of the stock material by the feeding assembly, and the stop member is moved to its second position by a binding engagement with the stock material when the stock material is moved in a reverse direction by the feeding assembly.
14-18. (canceled)
19. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 18, wherein the gathering chute has an oval inlet and a funnel shape.
20. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 13, wherein the downstream restraining device includes at least one restraining member moveable between a closed position in the path of the stock material to engage the stock material at the holding location and hold it against any significant reverse movement at the holding location, and an open position that allows the stock material to move forward in a downstream direction.
21. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 20, wherein the restraining member has an edge that bites into the strip at the holding location.
22. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 20, further comprising an actuator for moving the restraining member between the open and closed positions.
23. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 20, wherein the downstream restraining device includes opposed restraining members.
24. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 23, wherein an exit guide chute is provided to constrain the stock material as it passes from the feeding assembly, and the restraining member is located at an outlet end of the exit guide chute.
25. (canceled)
26. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the feeding assembly includes at least one rotatable feed member.
27. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the feeding assembly includes a pair of opposed feed members.
28. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 27, wherein the opposed feed members each include grippers that cooperate to grip and feed the stock material therebetween.
29. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 1, in combination with a stock material having longitudinally spaced-apart weakened areas that extend across the width of the stock material.
30. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 29, wherein the weakened areas are formed by perforations.
31 and 32 (canceled)
33. In combination with a dunnage converter, a stand having an upper part to which the converter is adjustably mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and a base to which the upper part is adjustably mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis.
34. A combination as set forth in claim 33, wherein the upper part includes a stock supply shelf that supports a supply of stock material for rotation with the converter.
35. A combination as set forth in claim 33, wherein the upper part and the base respectively include telescoping tubes that are extendable and retractable along the substantially vertical axis of rotation.
36. (canceled)
37. A combination as set forth in claim 33, wherein the base includes a free standing U-shape foot that allows the stand to be supported on a table top.
38. A converter as set forth in claim 33, wherein the base includes a clamp mountable at an edge of a table.
39. A converter as set forth in claim 38, wherein the clamp supports a stock supply magazine that can hold one or more units of stock material.
40. A converter as set forth in claim 33, wherein the base includes a mounting plate for attaching to a table top.
41. A method of converting sheet stock material into discrete dunnage products, comprising the steps of:
forming the sheet stock material into a crumpled strip and feeding the strip in a forward direction through a feeding assembly;
engaging and holding the strip at a holding location downstream of the feeding assembly; and
pulling the strip in a direction away from the holding location to separate a discrete dunnage product from the strip of dunnage.
42. A method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the step of pulling includes reversing the feeding assembly to pull the strip in a direction away from the holding location.
43. A method as set forth in claim 42, wherein the feeding assembly is reversed a preset amount.
44. A method as set forth in claim 42, further comprising the step of inhibiting the strip from moving in a reverse direction upstream of the feeding assembly so that the feeding assembly can engage the stock material when driven to move the stock material in the forward direction.
45. A method as set forth in claim 41, further comprising the step of supplying a stock material that has longitudinally spaced weakened areas extending across the width of the stock material where the stock material is relatively weaker than other areas of the stock material.
46. A method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the forming step includes passing the sheet stock material through a chute that has converging guide surfaces that gather and crumple the stock material inwardly.
47. A packaging system comprising a dunnage converter rotatably mounted on a fixed stand, a stock supply support mounted for rotation with the dunnage converter, and a plurality of packaging stations circumferentially spaced about the stand, such that the dunnage converter can be rotated between the packaging stations for dispensing dunnage at the packaging stations.
48. A dunnage converter that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product, comprising:
a forming assembly that inwardly gathers and crumples the sheet stock material; and
a feeding assembly that moves the sheet stock material through the forming assembly, the feeding assembly including at least one member that rotates about an axis and a motor that drives the rotating member, the axis of the motor extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the rotating member.
49. A dunnage converter that converts sheet stock material into dunnage product, comprising:
a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a crumpled strip of dunnage that includes a feeding assembly for moving the stock material through the converter; and
a constant-entry guide for guiding the stock material from a supply thereof to the conversion assembly, the constant-entry guide being movable between an operating position in the path of the stock material during operation and a loading position clear of the path of the stock material to facilitate loading a new supply of stock material into the converter.
50. A dunnage converter that converts sheet stock material into a dunnage product, comprising:
a conversion assembly for converting sheet stock material into a crumpled strip of dunnage, the conversion assembly including a feeding assembly for engaging the strip at a feeding location and moving the stock material through the conversion assembly, the feeding assembly including at least two grippers, at least one of which is movable for feeding the stock material through a gap formed between the opposed grippers and at least one guide member extending through the gap to guide the stock material as it is fed by the feeding assembly.
51. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 50, wherein the guide member has an elongated shape and an upstream end of the guide member is mounted in a fixed position.
52. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 50, wherein the guide member has a width that is substantially less than the height of the gap.
53. The dunnage conversion machine of claim 51, wherein the aperture tapers in width going from an outer to an inner end of the gripper.
54. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 50, wherein the downstream end of the guide member is free and extends into the path of the stock material.
55. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 50, wherein the guide member has sufficient flexibility to move out of the way as the stock material passes thereby.
56. (canceled)
57. A dunnage converter as set forth in claim 50, wherein the feeding assembly includes opposed feed members and at least two guide members extending along respective sides of the path of the stock material from a position upstream of the feed members to a position downstream of the feed members, the guide members extending between the rotatable feed members.
58. A dunnage conversion machine for converting sheet material into a dunnage product, comprises:
a forming assembly for shaping the sheet material into a continuous strip of dunnage including a three-dimensional shape; and
a pulling assembly positioned downstream from the forming assembly for advancing the sheet material through the forming assembly;
the pulling assembly including at least two grippers movable together through a transfer region in opposition to one another and cooperative to grip therebetween the dunnage strip for advancing the dunnage strip through the transfer region, and at least one of the grippers including an aperture operative to gather and laterally capture therein the dunnage strip as the grippers move through the transfer region; and
a flared output chute downstream of the pulling assembly that has a cross-sectional area at a downstream end that is greater than a cross-sectional area at an upstream end.
59. A combination as set forth in claim 58, wherein the flared output chute has a pair of opposing flared extensions at the downstream end thereof, the opposing extensions extending further away from each other toward the downstream end of the output chute.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by the following structural formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the compound is present in an amount effective to treat bacterial infections in a range from about 0.5 milligrams to about 500 milligrams.
2. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a powder, pill, tablet or capsule.
3. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes at least one member of the group consisting of a granulating agent, a lubricant, a glidant, a binder, a disintegrating agent, an inert pharmaceutical excipient and a tableting ingredient.
4. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes a binder.
5. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, wherein the binder includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a starch, a gelatin, a natural sugar, a corn sweetener, a natural gum and a synthetic gum.
6. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes a tableting ingredient.
7. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 6, wherein the tableting ingredient includes at least one member of the group consisting of corn starch, lactose, sucrose, sorbitol, talc, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate and a gum.
8. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein pharmaceutical carrier includes a disintegrating agent.
9. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 8, wherein the disintegrating agent includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of starch, methyl cellulose, agar and bentonite.
10. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a tablet.
11. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the composition includes a disintegrating agent.
12. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the composition includes a glidant.
13. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 12, wherein the composition includes a lubricant.
14. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 13, wherein the composition includes a binder.
15. The solid pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the compound is in the form of a powder.