Cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product

A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product, the machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a forming assembly, mounted to the frame, which inwardly crumples the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material to form a dunnage strip;
• a stock supply assembly, positioned upstream of the forming assembly, which supplies the stock material to the forming assembly;
• a feed assembly, positioned downstream of the stock supply assembly, which feeds the stock material to the forming assembly;
• and
• an embossing device, which embosses the sheet-like stock material;
• wherein the stock supply assembly includes a separating device to separate multiple plies of stock material into inner and outer layers and wherein said separating device is positioned upstream of the embossing device and wherein said embossing device is positioned to emboss only the inner plies.

A method of converting a sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a continuous web of the stock material;
• withdrawing a section of the stock material from the continuous web;
• embossing the withdrawn stock material with an embossing pattern;
• and
• forming the embossed stock material into a pillow-like portion by inwardly crumpling the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material;
• wherein the embossing step is performed in such a manner that the embossing pattern includes grooved sections and ungrooved sections;
• wherein each of the grooved sections includes a plurality of grooves and wherein the span of each of the ungrooved portions is equivalent to the span between at least two grooves.

A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into a cushioning product, the machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a forming assembly, mounted to the frame including a unit having sidewalls which converge in downstream direction, which randomly inwardly crumples the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material to form a dunnage strip having a pillow-like portion;
• a stock supply assembly, positioned upstream of the forming assembly, which supplies the stock material to the forming assembly;
• the stock supply assembly is adapted to inner and outer layer of stock material;
• a feed assembly, positioned downstream of the stock supply assembly, which feeds the stock material to the forming assembly;
• and
• an embossing device, which embosses the sheet-like stock material;
• the embossing device is positioned to emboss only the inner layer of material;
• wherein the stock-supply assembly includes a separating device to separate multiple plies of the stock material and wherein the separating device is positioned downstream of the embossing device.