Machine and method for inflating and sealing air-filled packing cushions

A machine for making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having two layers which are sealed together to form a longitudinally extending inflation channel near one edge of the material, a plurality of chambers to one side of the channel, and inlet passageways extending laterally between the inflation channel and the chambers, comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers on which the roll of film material rests;
• an inflation tube which is connected to a source of air and extends into the inflation channel for introducing air into the chambers to inflate the cushions;
• a sealing unit for forming a longitudinally extending seal across the inlet passageways after the cushions are inflated;
• and
• means for feeding the film material from the roll past the inflation tube and the sealing unit.

In a method of making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having two layers which are sealed together to form a longitudinally extending inflation channel near one edge of the material, a plurality of chambers to one side of the channel, and inlet passageways extending laterally between the inflation channel and the chambers, the steps of:

• resting the roll of film material on a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers;
• feeding the film material from the roll to an inflation tube which extends into the inflation channel;
• introducing air into the chambers through the inflation tube to inflate the cushions;
• and
• forming a longitudinally extending seal across the inlet passageways after the cushions are inflated.

In a machine for making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having a longitudinally extending inflation channel and a plurality of chambers which communicate with the inflation channel:

• a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers on which the roll of film material rests, with the inflation channel being pinched closed by one of the rollers;
• means for withdrawing the film material from the roll;
• and
• means for injecting air into the inflation channel in a portion of the material which has been withdrawn from the roll, with the air in the inflation channel flowing around the roll only to the point where the channel is pinched closed by the roller.

In a method of making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having a longitudinally extending inflation channel and a plurality of chambers which communicate with the inflation channel, the steps of:

• resting the roll of film material on a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers, with the inflation channel being pinched closed by one of the rollers;
• withdrawing the film material from the roll;
• and
• injecting air into the inflation channel in a portion of the material which has been withdrawn from the roll, with the air in the inflation channel flowing around the roll only to the point where the channel is pinched closed by the roller.

In a machine for making air-filled packing cushions from a prefabricated film material having two layers which are sealed together to form a longitudinally extending inflation channel near one edge of the material, a plurality of chambers to one side of the channel, and inlet passageways extending between the inflation channel and the chambers:

• an inflation tube which is connected to a source of air and extends into the inflation channel for introducing air into the chambers to inflate the cushions;
• a sealing unit for forming a longitudinally extending seal across the inlet passageways after the cushions are inflated;
• and
• dual feed rollers positioned on opposite sides of the inflation tube for engagement with the film material on opposite sides of the inflation channel to feed the film material from the roll past the inflation tube and the sealing unit.

A table-top machine for making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having a longitudinally extending inflation channel and a plurality of chambers which communicate with the inflation channel through laterally extending inlet passageways:

• a cabinet which is adapted to rest on a relatively small horizontal supporting surface;
• a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers on the upper side of the cabinet for receiving the roll of film material in such manner that the roll rests on the rollers;
• a feed mechanism positioned toward the front of the cabinet for withdrawing the film material from the roll;
• an inflation tube extending in an upward direction from the feed mechanism and adapted to be received in the inflation channel of the film material that is withdrawn from the roll;
• a source of air within the cabinet connected to the inflation tube for introducing air into the chambers to inflate the cushions;
• and
• a sealing unit for forming a longitudinally extending seal in the film material between the inflation channel and the cushions to close the inlet passageways after the cushions have been inflated.