Slit-sheet-paper expansion systems and methods using friction brush(es) and/or other friction member(s)
According to some embodiments, an expansion system for expanding expandable slit sheet paper is provided that includes: a roll of expandable slit sheet paper, and a friction member for applying friction along a lateral side of said expandable slit sheet paper. In some examples, the friction member includes a brush including a plurality of elongated bristles or fibers. In some examples, the friction member imparts sufficient resistance to an expandable slit sheet paper that is pulled past said friction member such that said expandable slit sheet paper expands to form fully opened cells.
1 . An expansion system for expanding expandable slit sheet paper, comprising:
a roll of expandable slit sheet paper, said expandable slit sheet paper having an array of slits that expand into open cells upon pulling in a lengthwise direction;
a friction brush for applying friction along a lateral side of said expandable slit sheet paper;
said friction brush having a plurality of elongated bristles or fibers, said friction brush having a length configured to extend across a width of said roll of expandable slit sheet paper;
a planar surface opposing said friction brush such that distal ends of said elongated bristles or fibers contact a first side of the expandable slit sheet paper unrolled from said roll of expandable slit sheet paper and a second side of the expandable slit sheet paper opposite to said first side of the expandable slit sheet paper contacts and presses against said planar surface due to pressure applied by said friction brush; and
whereby when said expandable slit sheet paper unrolled from said roll of expandable slit sheet paper is pulled between said friction brush and said planar surface, said expandable slit sheet paper is expanded into open cells.
2 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said brush includes a plurality of elongated bristles or fibers.
3 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said brush imparts sufficient resistance to said expandable slit sheet paper that is pulled past said brush such that said expandable slit sheet paper expands to form fully opened cells.
4 . The expansion system of any of claim 1 , wherein said brush imparts sufficient resistance to said expandable slit sheet paper that is pulled past said brush such that said expandable slit sheet paper expands to form fully opened cells in a region downstream from the brush.
5 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said expansion system further includes a guide upstream of said brush.
6 . The expansion system of claim 5 , wherein said guide includes a conveyor roller guide.
7 . The expansion system of claim 5 , wherein said guide includes at least one rod, shaft or roller guide.
8 . The expansion system of claim 7 , wherein said guide includes a rod or shaft that is non-rotatable mounted on said expansion system.
9 . The expansion system of claim 8 , wherein said brush is located at a first side of said roll, and said guide includes a rod or shaft located at a second side of said roll.
10 . The expansion system of claim 1 , further including an adjuster for adjusting the position of the brush.
11 . The expansion system of claim 10 , wherein said adjuster is configured to adjust a distance of the brush from said opposing planar surface and/or the angular orientation of said brush.
12 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said expansion system is a manual expansion system for manually expanding expandable slit sheet paper.
13 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said expansion system is an automated system that automatedly expands expandable slit sheet paper.
14 . A method of using the expansion system of claim 1 , comprising:
expanding an expandable slit sheet paper with said brush applying a resistance against a lateral side of said expandable slit sheet paper.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further including said brush applying a sufficient resistance against the lateral side of said expandable slit sheet paper such that as said expandable slit sheet paper is pulled past said brush said expandable slit sheet paper expands to form fully opened cells.
16 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said expandable slit sheet paper is made with a paper that weighs between about 35 pounds per 3,000 square feet to 60 pounds per 3,000 square feet.
17 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said brush includes bristles having distal ends that extend to proximate said planar surface.
18 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said brush includes bristles having distal ends that contact said planar surface.
19 . The expansion system of claim 17 or 18 , wherein said bristles extend at an angle to said planar surface.
20 . The expansion system of claim 17 or 18 , wherein said bristles extend substantially perpendicular to said planar surface.
21 . The expansion system of claim 17 or 18 , wherein said bristles extend at an angle to said planar surface with distal ends of said bristles further downstream in the conveying direction of the expandable slit sheet paper.
22 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said planar surface is a support surface beneath the expansion system.
23 . The expansion system of claim 1 , wherein said planar surface is a surface of a support or frame of the expansion system.