Method of producing an air cushion and an apparatus for the same

A method for forming an air cushion comprising the steps of:

• selectively bonding two plastic films together to form at least two longitudinally extending seals and a plurality of transverse seals that extend between the longitudinally extending seals, wherein the transverse seals are interrupted by intermittent openings;
• blowing air into the intermittent openings so as to cause the expansion of the plastic films extending between the longitudinally extending seals and the transverse seals;
• and
• closing the intermittent openings so that the expanded plastic film forms an independent bubble that extends between the longitudinally extending seals and the transverse seals.

An apparatus for producing an air cushion, comprising:

• film-feeding means for moving two plastic films in a forward direction;
• first heat-fusion means for receiving the plastic films from said film-feeding means for heat sealing the plastic films together to form at least two spaced apart longitudinally extending seals that extend in the direction in which the films are moved and a plurality of transverse seals that extend in a direction transverse to the direction in which the films are moved wherein the transverse seals are formed to define intermittent openings between the transverse seals;
• an air blowing nozzle for receiving air and directing the air into the intermittent openings to cause the expansion of sections film between the longitudinally extending seals and the transverse seals;
• and
• second heat-fusion means for heat fusing the intermittent openings closed so that the sections of expanded film form independent bubbles that extend between the longitudinally extending seals and the transverse seals.

An apparatus for producing an air cushion, comprising:

• film-feeding means for moving two plastic films in a forward direction;
• first heat-fusion means for receiving the plastic films from said film-feeding means for heat sealing the plastic films together to form a plurality of hollow bubble portions which extend transverse to the direction in which the plastic films are moved and a communicating tube that is in fluid communication with the hollow bubble portions, the communicating tube extending in the direction in which the plastic films are moved;
• an air blowing nozzle for receiving air and blowing air into the communicating tube so as to cause the hollow bubble portions to fill with air and expand;
• and
• second heat-fusion means for heat-fusing the communicating tube closed to isolate the expanded bubble portions from each other.