# US 10,370,130 B2 · Apparatus for forming flexible containers, dispensing fluid into the containers, and enclosing the fluid within the containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,130 B2 - Document ID: US10370130B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/715,025 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2013-04-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-30 - Assignees: Sealed Air Corporation (US) - Applicants: Sealed Air Corporation (US) - Inventors: Mark H. Salerno; James M. Corliss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370130B2 ## CPC - B65B 9/02: Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs - B29C 44/182: {Filling flexible bags not having a particular shape} - B31D 5/0078: {and filling with a material other than air or gas} - B31D 2205/0023: as web from a roll - B31D 2205/0052: Perforating; Forming lines of weakness - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - 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) - B31D: MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C (manufacture by dry processes of articles made from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material B27N; making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B; making articles from cellulosic fibrous suspensions, e.g. wood pulp, D21J) ## Abstract An apparatus for forming flexible containers from a film web, dispensing fluid into the containers, and enclosing the fluid within the containers. The film web comprises a pair of juxtaposed film plies, a closed longitudinal edge at which the plies are joined, and an open longitudinal edge at which the plies are not joined. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for forming flexible containers from a film web, dispensing fluid into said containers, and enclosing the fluid within the containers, said film web comprising a pair of juxtaposed film plies, a closed longitudinal edge at which said plies are joined, and an open longitudinal edge at which said plies are not joined, said apparatus comprising: a. a drive mechanism that conveys said film web along a path of travel at a predetermined speed; b. a first seal mechanism for producing pairs of transverse seals in said film web, said pairs of transverse seals bonding said juxtaposed film plies together and forming said containers therebetween, said first seal mechanism including a seal bar, which forms said transverse seals by contacting said film web at a frequency that is independent of said speed at which said film web is conveyed by said drive mechanism; c. a perforation mechanism for forming a line of weakness between any two of said containers, said perforation mechanism including a perforation blade, which forms said line of weakness by contacting said film web between transverse seals of adjacent containers at intervals that are independent of said frequency at which said seal bar contacts said film web; d. a dispensing mechanism for supplying the fluid to said containers, said dispensing mechanism including a dispenser with a discharge nozzle through which fluid exits said dispenser, said dispenser being structured and arranged to position said nozzle within said film web at said open longitudinal edge as the web is conveyed along said path of travel, to thereby dispense the fluid into said containers; and e. a second seal mechanism for forming a longitudinal seal between said film plies adjacent said open longitudinal edge such that the fluid is enclosed within said containers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensed by said dispensing mechanism is selected from polyols, isocyanates, and mixtures of polyols and isocyanates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one or more containers are disposed between pairs of said lines of weakness; and said one or more containers are separable from said film web along said lines of weakness to form a packaging cushion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further including a vent mechanism for producing openings in said film web adjacent said closed longitudinal edge, thereby forming one or more vents in one or more of said containers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frequency at which said seal bar contacts said film web is selectively controllable to produce a desired distance between said pairs of transverse seals, thereby forming containers having a desired width dimension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seal bar is rotatable and rotates independently of the speed at which said film web is conveyed, except when in contact with said film web. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said containers are tube-shaped, with a length:width ratio of at least 2:1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said speed at which said film web is conveyed by said drive mechanism is selectively controllable in conjunction with said selective control of said seal bar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dispenser dispenses fluid into said containers as a continuous, non-intermittent flow between two or more containers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first seal mechanism forms a bridge seal between transverse seals of adjacent containers to prevent fluid from being dispensed between said containers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first seal mechanism forms said transverse seals with a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is located at said closed longitudinal edge and said second end terminates a predetermined distance from said open longitudinal edge, thereby forming an open skirt, as provided by non-sealed edge regions of said juxtaposed film plies, within which said nozzle is positioned as said film web is conveyed along said path of travel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second seal mechanism positions said longitudinal seal between said open longitudinal edge and said second end of said transverse seals to partially enclose fluid within said containers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second seal mechanism forms a pair of longitudinal seals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dispenser is positioned to dispense fluid into said containers in a downward direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including a vent mechanism for producing openings in said film web adjacent said closed longitudinal edge.