Patent ID: 6019715
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: B31D,Y10S

Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine for making a cushioning product by converting an essentially two-dimensional web of sheet-like stock material of at least one ply into a three-dimensional cushioning product, comprising:a housing through which the stock material passes along a path; anda feeding/connecting assembly which advances the stock material from a source thereof along said path, crumples the stock material, and connects the crumpled stock material to produce a strip of cushioning, said feeding/connecting assembly including:upstream and downstream components disposed along said path of the stock material through said housing, at least the upstream component being driven to advance the stock material toward the downstream component at a rate faster than the sheet-like stock material can pass from the downstream component to effect crumpling of the stock material therebetween to form a strip of cushioning, anda stretching component downstream of said downstream component operative to advance the strip of cushioning at a rate faster than the rate at which the stock material passes from the downstream component to effect longitudinal stretching of the strip of cushioning.