A cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a cushioning dunnage product and wherein the tension in the stock material is controlled to avoid problems associated with improper tension. A conversion assembly draws the stock material from a stock supply and converts the stock material into a strip of cushioning, and a controller controls the operation of the conversion assembly. The conversion assembly is powered by a motor and the controller controls the operation of the motor in response to a sensed parameter related to the tension in the paper. In another embodiment, a torque control is interposed between the feed motor and feed components that engage the stock material.
In a booklet maker or sheet folder wherein one or more sheets are pushed through a nip formed by a pair of crease rolls, and wherein the crease rolls are driven by gears, a slip clutch is operatively disposed between one of the crease rolls and the gear driving the crease roll. The slip clutch compensates for the abrupt change in frictional coefficient experienced by the crease rolls when one or more sheets enter the nip.
