Mixing machine for producing foam within a bag
AssigneeSealed Air Corporation (US)
InventorsWilliam M. Gray, Mark Garceau, John J. Corrigan, Laurence B. Sperry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine produces foam-in-bag from foam precursors mixed within the bag. The machine comprises a base and a shell. The base and shell are moveable relative each other between a base/shell disengaged position and a base/shell engaged position. In the base/shell engaged position, the base and shell divide the bag so that a mixing chamber is isolated from the remainder portion of the bag. First and second nozzles inject foam precursors into the mixing chamber. A mixer engages the mixing chamber to provide mixing energy to facilitate the foam reaction.
Claims21
A machine useful for mixing first and second foam precursors to produce foam within a bag, the machine comprising:
- a base and a shell moveable relative each other between:
- (i) a base/shell disengaged position, in which the base and shell are spaced apart to permit insertion of the bag between the base and shell, and
- (ii) a base/shell engaged position in which the shell and base press together to hold the bag between the base and shell and to divide the bag into (1) a mixing chamber and (2) a remainder portion under the mixing chamber so that the mixing chamber is isolated from the remainder portion of the bag;
- a first nozzle adapted to inject the first foam precursor into the mixing chamber within the bag;
- a second nozzle adapted to inject the second foam precursor into the mixing chamber within the bag;
- and
- a mixer adapted to engage the mixing chamber of the bag to provide mixing energy to the first and second foam precursors within the mixing chamber of the bag when the base and shell are in the base/shell engaged position, thereby facilitating the foam reaction between the first and second foam precursors.
A system for producing a bag, the system comprising:
- a web in a folded-over or bottom sealed configuration to define an interior space between front and rear sheets and an unsealed top providing outside access to the interior space;
- a conveyor configured to insert a first packet comprising a first foam precursor and a second packet comprising a second form precursor into the interior space;
- one or more mixers adapted to engage the web and one or more of the first and second packets to burst the packets in the interior space and release the first and second foam precursors to initiate a foaming reaction;
- a longitudinal sealer configured to heat seal the front and rear sheets together and longitudinally seal closed the top;
- and
- a transverse seal bar configured to provide one or more transverse seals to enclose within a resulting bag the first and second foam precursors or the foam reaction product resulting from the mixture of first and second foam precursors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.