Importance

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Abstract

An automatic roll tensioner for a material dispensing system enables a material, e.g., paper or plastic, to be unwound from a roll of the material by pulling the material from the roll while maintaining tension on the material when pulling suddenly stops. The roll of material is positioned in the roll tensioner such that it can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll. A mechanism actuated by the weight of the roll of material applies frictional resistance to the rotation of the roll at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of the roll. An apparatus for converting sheets of paper into cushioning dunnage advantageously employs the automatic roll tensioner.

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First Claim