CUSHIONING CONVERSION MACHINE AND METHOD

摘要

A cushioning conversion machine (20) for converting sheet-like stock material (22) into a three-dimensional cushioning product (P) including a device (400; 400'; 500; 600; 600'; 700) which controls the width of the strip and which may be selectively adjusted to change the width of the strip. By selectively setting the device (400; 400'; 500; 600; 600'; 700), a cushioning product of a desired width may be produced. For more sophisticated packaging needs, the stock material may be converted into a first portion of a certain width, the device adjusted, and then the stock material may be converted into a second portion of a different width whereby the cushioning product will have continuous portions of different widths. The converting and adjusting steps may be performed sequentially and in such a manner that the cushioning product has discrete sections of different widths, or alternatively, the converting and adjusting steps may be performed substantially simultaneously and in such a manner that the cushioning product has a gradually tapering shape.