System for producing rolls of air-filled cushioning material

A system for producing a roll of inflated cushioning material, comprising:

• a spindle, a motor for rotating the spindle to wind an elongated length of inflated cushioning material into a roll on the spindle, a first sensor for monitoring the rate at which the material is wound onto the roll, a second sensor for monitoring the rate at which the spindle rotates, means responsive to signals from the sensors for determining the diameter of the roll, and means for applying more power to the motor as the diameter of the roll increases.

A system for producing a roll of inflated cushioning material, comprising:

• a machine for inflating and sealing a preconfigured film material to form a continuous sheet of air-filled cushioning material, a winder having a spindle for receiving the inflated cushioning material from the machine, a drive motor for rotating the spindle to wind the inflated cushioning material into a roll on the spindle, an arm about which the inflated cushioning material is trained in passing from the machine to the spindle, a sensing wheel rotatively mounted on the arm for engagement with the cushioning material as it passes about the arm, a first sensor responsive to rotation of the sensing wheel for monitoring the rate at which the material is wound onto the roll, a second sensor for monitoring the rate at which the spindle rotates, means responsive to signals from the sensors for determining the diameter of the roll, and means for controlling the motor in accordance with the diameter of the roll to maintain substantially uniform tension in the material as the material is wound into the roll.