Appeal No. 2002-1053 Page 6
Application No. 09/702,981
80 and 82 draw the sheet material through the nip between the gears, simultaneously
advancing the material through the forming assembly 14.
The infeed unit 12 is powered to provide sheet material without excessive
tension acting on the sheet material and more preferably without any significant
variations in tension, as may be caused by the stopping and starting of the
feeding/connecting assembly 84 and/or inadvertent hindrance of the sheet material
feeding. This reduces the amount of tearing and further promotes optimal formation of
a dunnage product, e.g., cushioning pads.
The infeed unit 12 is supported by a frame 100 which is connected to the
upstream end of the housing. The frame 100 includes the holder 40 which is
composed of a pair of arms 102 (only one shown) that support opposite ends of an axle
104 on which the roll 18 of sheet material turns. The frame 100 also supports side
panels 106 and 108. The side panels 106 and 108 each lie in a plane that is defined by
one of the side plates 54 of the housing 50. The frame 100 also includes brackets 110
that rotatably support the opposite ends of the rollers 32, 34, and 36.
The infeed unit 12 is powered by a motor 112 that is mounted to side panel 106.
The motor 112 drives a shaft 116 which carries two power rollers 118 and 120. The
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Last modified: November 3, 2007