| 摘要 |
A cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a relatively low density cushioning dunnage product. The machine has at least one conversion assembly for forming the stock material into a three-dimensional shape and a power infeed mechanism which supplies sheet material at a tension that does not exceed a predetermined level. A preferred embodiment of the infeed mechanism includes a powered roller that is driven at a surface speed that is faster than the speed at which a conversion assembly draws the sheet material over the former. A pressure roller presses the sheet material against the powered roller so that the sheet material is supplied to the conversion assembly. The force of the pressure roller is controlled so that the sheet material is supplied to the former at the same rate the former draws in the material, as by means of a dancer that bears against a loop of material between the pressure roller and the conversion assembly. When the conversion assembly draws in sheet material, the loop decreases in size and this shifts the dancer which in turn causes the pressure roller to press the sheet against the power roller to feed additional sheet material into the loop. Thus, the sheet material is kept at or below a selected tension as it is supplied to the conversion assembly.
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