Abstract: A chainable dunnage supply material, such as a roll of paper, for creating an extended or continuous supply of material, by chaining multiple units together. The dunnage supply arrangement comprises a first supply unit of an elongated web of material in a high-density arrangement, where the material may be converted into a low-density dunnage. The material has first and second longitudinal ends, and a connecting member is disposed adjacent to the first longitudinal end. The connecting member may include an adhesive surface for adhering to a longitudinal second end of a second supply unit of material with sufficient adhesion for pulling the material of the second supply unit into the dunnage mechanism (e.g. daisy chaining the two supply units together). The arrangement may include a release layer on the adhesive surface of the connecting member and releasable therefrom for allowing the connecting member to adhere to a second supply unit.

Abstract: A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly that can comprise a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path and a nozzle configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure. At least a portion of the nozzle is flexible and is operable to adjust to the direction and angle that the flexible structure approaches from. The flexible portion may align with a tip of the nozzle in one axis and the opposite end of the nozzle in a second axis thereby allowing for misalignment of the flexible structure as it engages the nozzle and is directed to a pinch area.

Abstract: A system for processing a line of material along a path and a tear-assist apparatus. The tear-assist comprising a driving portion that drives the line of material along the path, a sensing unit that detects pulling of the line of material in a first direction along the path away from the driving portion, and a cutting member for cutting the line of material. The driving portion can also be configured to drive the line of material in the first direction along the path to dispense the material.

Abstract: A rolled sheet-material supply handling-system that comprises a drawing device that can be configured to draw sheet material from a supply station and a stabilizer at the supply station. The stabilizer can define a generally tubular roll-receiving space in which a roll of the sheet material can be received and can have a support surface that can define an axial opening leading from the roll-receiving space to receive the sheet material drawn therefrom by the drawing device. The support surface can be sufficiently extensive to stabilize the outer layer of a roll against collapsing when the remainder of the roll has been extracted from the axial opening.

Abstract: A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly that can comprise a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path and a nozzle configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure. At least a portion of the nozzle is flexible and is operable to adjust to the direction and angle that the flexible structure approaches from. The flexible portion may align with a tip of the nozzle in one axis and the opposite end of the nozzle in a second axis thereby allowing for misalignment of the flexible structure as it engages the nozzle and is directed to a pinch area.

Abstract: A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly that can comprise a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path and a nozzle configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure. At least a portion of the nozzle is flexible and is operable to adjust to the direction and angle that the flexible structure approaches from. The flexible portion may align with a tip of the nozzle in one axis and the opposite end of the nozzle in a second axis thereby allowing for misalignment of the flexible structure as it engages the nozzle and is directed to a pinch area.

Abstract: A system for processing a line of material along a path and a tear-assist apparatus. The tear-assist comprising a driving portion that drives the line of material along the path, a sensing unit that detects pulling of the line of material in a first direction along the path away from the driving portion, and a cutting member for cutting the line of material. The sensing unit can be associated with the driving portion such that upon detecting movement of the line in the first direction, the sensing unit causes the driving portion to drive the line of material in a second direction along the path for drawing the line of material against the cutting member to cut the line of material. In another configuration, when the sensing unit detects the movement in the first direction, the sensing unit can cause the driving portion to drive the line of material in the second direction sufficiently for severing the portion of the line of material.

Abstract: A system for processing a line of material along a path and a tear-assist apparatus. The tear-assist comprising a driving portion that drives the line of material along the path, a sensing unit that detects pulling of the line of material in a first direction along the path away from the driving portion, and a cutting member for cutting the line of material. The sensing unit can be associated with the driving portion such that upon detecting movement of the line in the first direction, the sensing unit causes the driving portion to drive the line of material in a second direction along the path for drawing the line of material against the cutting member to cut the line of material. In another configuration, when the sensing unit detects the movement in the first direction, the sensing unit can cause the driving portion to, drive the line of material in the second direction sufficiently for severing the portion of the line of material.

Abstract: A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly that can comprise a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path and a nozzle configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure. At least a portion of the nozzle is flexible and is operable to adjust to the direction and angle that the flexible structure approaches from. The flexible portion may align with a tip of the nozzle in one axis and the opposite end of the nozzle in a second axis thereby allowing for misalignment of the flexible structure as it engages the nozzle and is directed to a pinch area.

Abstract: A rolled sheet-material supply handling-system that comprises a drawing device that can be configured to draw sheet material from a supply station and a stabilizer at the supply station. The stabilizer can define a generally tubular roll-receiving space in which a roll of the sheet material can be received and can have a support surface that can define an axial opening leading from the roll-receiving space to receive the sheet material drawn therefrom by the drawing device. The support surface can be sufficiently extensive to stabilize the outer layer of a roll against collapsing when the remainder of the roll has been extracted from the axial opening.