Patent ID: 6626812
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B31D,Y10S

Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine comprising a conversion assembly which converts sheet stock material into a thee-dimensional strip of cushioning;the conversion assembly including a forming assembly that forms the stock material into a strip of cushioning and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that feeds the stock material through the forming assembly; the feeding assembly including at least one rotating feed member that engages the stock material for feeding the stock material through the forming assembly; the forming assembly including an external forming device and an internal forming device; the external forming device having an inlet, an outlet and surfaces therebetween that define a turning space; the internal forming device being positioned relative to the external forming device so that the stock material passes through the turning space and around the internal forming device as it travels through the forming assembly; the internal forming device including a pair of mandrel portions symmetrically positioned relative to the turning space to internally expand the strip of cushioning thereby to vary a density characteristic of the strip; and the mandrel portions progressing from a smaller width section to a greatest width section downstream of the smaller width section and upstream of the at least one rotating feed member.