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US 10,118,329 B2Granted
Automated gusset inflation system and method
AssigneeHilex Poly Co., LLC
InventorHarry B. Wilfong, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for maintaining the inflation level of a bubble formed by nips in a moving roll of tubular film, to form a gusset in a final product produced from the film.
Claims23
An apparatus for maintaining the inflation level of a bubble formed by nips in a moving roll of tubular film, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a processor which receives input signals and transmits output signals;
- b. at least one inflation sensor which senses the inflation level of the bubble and sends a signal to the processor;
- c. at least one valve which receives a signal from the processor and opens, releasing pressurized air to a nozzle;
- d. at least one encoder configured to sense information indicative of the velocity of the film and send the information to the processor, wherein the processor calculates a predetermined position in the film based on the information;
- and
- e. at least one nozzle which is positioned and configured to release a burst of pressurized air such that the pressurized air pierces the film at the predetermined position in the film that will become a discarded handle cutout and injects air into the bubble to maintain or restore its inflation.
3 more elements
An apparatus for maintaining the inflation level of a bubble formed by nips in a moving roll of tubular film, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a processor which receives input signals and transmits output signals;
- b. at least one inflation sensor which senses the inflation level of the bubble and sends a signal to the processor;
- c. at least one valve which receives a signal from the processor and opens, releasing pressurized air to a nozzle;
- d. at least one encoder configured to sense information indicative of the velocity of the film and send the information to the processor, wherein the processor calculates a predetermined position in the film based on the information;
- e. at least one nozzle which is positioned and configured to release a burst of pressurized air such that the pressurized air pierces the film at the predetermined position in the film that will become a discarded handle cutout and injects air into the bubble to maintain or restore its inflation;
- and
- f. at least one photoelectric sensor which detects the position of the film based upon print located on the film and sends input signals to the processor.
4 more elements
An apparatus for maintaining the inflation level of a bubble formed by nips in a moving roll of tubular film, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a processor which receives input signals and transmits output signals;
- b. at least one inflation sensor which senses the inflation level of the bubble and sends a signal to the processor;
- c. at least one valve which receives a signal from the processor and opens, releasing pressurized air to a nozzle;
- d. at least one nozzle which is positioned and configured to release a burst of pressurized air such that the pressurized air pierces the film at a predetermined position in the film that will become a discarded handle cutout and injects air into the bubble to maintain or restore its inflation;
- e. at least one photoelectric sensor which detects the position of the film based upon print located on the film and sends input signals to the processor;
- and
- f. at least one encoder which senses the number of revolutions of a film roller and transmits information to the processor, wherein the processor calculates the predetermined position in the film based on the information.
4 more elements
A method for maintaining the inflation level of a bubble formed by nips in a moving roll of tubular film without damaging a bag made from the film, the method comprising:
- a. sensing the inflation level of the bubble;
- b. sensing the position of the film relative to a pressurized air nozzle;
- c. upon an indication of a low inflation level, injecting a burst of pressurized air into the film bubble, by activating the nozzle, such that the pressurized air pierces the film at a position in the film that will become a discarded handle cutout, thereby injecting air into the bubble, wherein a photoelectric sensor and the encoder operate to release the pressurized air to contact the tubular film at a predetermined location after the nozzle is activated, wherein the predetermined location is a portion of the film that will be discarded from an end product prepared from the film;
- and
- d. repeating the injection step until the inflation level of the bubble is sensed at an appropriate level.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.