Machine for manufacturing inflated cushioning products

A machine for providing cushioning products of varying lengths from a supply of a web material having sequential transverse rows of inflated protrusions, the machine comprising:

• a pair of opposing counter-rotating feed members forming a feed nip therebetween for moving the web through the feed nip from the supply and along a path of travel;
• a forming plow upstream of the pair of feed members and along the path of travel configured to fold the web longitudinally to juxtapose a top panel of the web over a bottom panel of the web;
• at least one sensor adapted to detect location information for the sequential rows of inflated protrusions as the web travels along the path of travel;
• a device moveable between (i) an engaged position to engage the web to perform one or more of separating the web transversely across the web or perforating the web transversely across the web and (ii) a disengaged position not engaging the web to separate or perforate the web;
• a sealing device along the path of travel of the web, the sealing device comprising:
• at least one sealing element and at least one backing element opposing the at least one sealing element wherein:
• the opposing sealing and backing elements are on opposing sides of the path of travel and are selectively moveable relative each other between (i) an engaged position of the sealing device, in which the sealing and backing elements compress the top and bottom panels of the web between the opposing sealing and backing elements to heat seal the panels together, and (ii) a disengaged position of the sealing device, in which the opposing sealing and backing elements are not in the engaged position;
• and
• a controller programmed (i) to receive the location information from the at least one sensor and (ii) to operatively control the severing and sealing devices so that at least one of the severing and sealing devices is in its engaged position when a selected row is in a determined position relative the respective severing and sealing devices.