Patent ID: 7335151
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: B31D,B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of making a cushioning product comprising: supporting a roll of material at the periphery of the roll within a cradle configuration formed by at least one roll support member of an automatic roll tensioner which permits the roll to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll in response to pulling material from the roll while applying frictional resistance to rotation of the roll with the at least one roll support member to tension the material; pulling material from the roll of material within the cradle configuration of the automatic roll tensioned with a material feeding arrangement spaced from the automatic roll tensioner to rotate the roll and tension the material unwound from the roll; shaping the tensioned material unwound from the roll for converting the material into a cushioning product; wherein the material being pulled from the roll and shaped is tensioned by the automatic roll tensioner by applying frictional resistance to rotation of the roll as a function of the weight of the roll at the periphery of the material on the roll to prevent material backlash when the pulling is stopped; and wherein the cradle configuration formed by the at least one roll support member has a lower narrow end and a wider, open upper end, said method including introducing the roll of material into the cradle configuration of the automatic roll tensioner through said wider, open upper end.