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(11) | EP 1 066 955 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Cushioning conversion machine with combination dancer roller and splicing plate device |
| (57) A cushioning conversion machine and a method of converting multi-ply stock material
are characterized by a conversion assembly which converts multi-ply stock material
into a three-dimensional cushioning product and a dancer device (67) operative for
helping maintain a greater uniformity of tension on the stock material being fed through
the conversion assembly. A portion of the dancer device may form a splicing plate
for providing a surface on which a succeeding roll of stock material may be spliced
to a preceding nearly fully spent roll of stock material. The dancer device may be
rotatably biased about a pivot axis that is coaxial with an axis passing through the
center of gravity of the dancer device. The dancer device may include first and second
substantially parallel and spaced apart dancer members transverse to the path of stock
material and over which the stock material passes, wherein the members are pivotable
about a pivot axis in response to changes in tension of the stock material. |