# US 10,118,329 B2 · Automated gusset inflation system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,329 B2 - Document ID: US10118329B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/538,492 - Filed: 2012-06-29 - Published: 2013-05-30 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-01 - Assignees: Hilex Poly Co., LLC - Applicants: Harry B. Wilfong, Jr. - Inventors: Harry B. Wilfong, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118329B2 ## CPC - B29C 49/28: Blow-moulding apparatus - B31B 50/00: Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons - B31B 70/266: {involving gusset-forming} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve is a solenoid valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one photoelectric sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the photoelectric sensor detects the position of the film based upon print located on the film and sends input signals to the processor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information sensed by the encoder comprises the number of revolutions of a film roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one encoder is an optical encoder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one gusseting mechanism which gussets the roll of tubular film. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is a programmable logic controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one human machine interface which receives input signals from and sends output signals to the processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure utilized with the nozzle is from about 50 psi to about 150 psi. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure utilized with the nozzle is from about 75 psi to about 125 psi. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure utilized with the nozzle is from about 80 psi to about 100 psi. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure utilized with the nozzle is about 90 psi. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the injection of pressurized air from the nozzle is from about 1 to about 50 milliseconds in duration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the injection of pressurized air from the nozzle is from about 5 to about 20 milliseconds in duration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the injection of pressurized air from the nozzle is about 10 milliseconds in duration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nozzle is stationary. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the method is used to make a t-shirt type plastic grocery bag. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the method is used in a gusseting operation.