Patent ID: 7914239

Claim:
A conveyance system for conveying a web of packaging cushions comprising a string of air-filled packaging cushions comprising individual air-filled packaging cushions or comprising individual inflated rows, the web of packaging cushions having an average length in the machine direction of the individual air-filled packaging cushions or inflated rows that make up the web of packaging cushions, the system comprising: a production machine capable of manufacturing the web of packaging cushions; a duct downstream from the production machine, the duct having an entrance through which the web of packaging cushions can be drawn from the production machine; a blower to provide an air flow through the duct to apply a conveyance force to the web for conveying the web of packaging cushions through the duct; and a friction contact area having a length in the machine direction that is longer than the average length in the machine direction of the individual air-filled packaging cushions or inflated rows that make up the web of packaging cushions, wherein the friction contact area is downstream from the production machine and upstream from the duct entrance and arranged so that the web of packaging cushions passes beneath and contacts the friction contact area as the web of packaging cushions passes from the production machine to the duct entrance, wherein: the friction contact area comprises primarily a first material and the duct comprises primarily a second material; and the coefficient of friction between the first material and the web of packaging cushions is greater than the coefficient of friction between the second material and the web of packaging cushions, whereby the contact between the web of packaging cushions and the friction contact area creates a friction force opposing the conveyance force so that the conveyance force is not transmitted along the web of packaging cushions to the production machine.