System and method for use of loose fill packing materials

A method of packaging loose fill packing material in bags for use as cushions in shipping cartons, comprising the steps of:

• axially folding and gathering an elongated length of flexible plastic tubing to form a coil from which successive sections can be pulled;
• positioning the coil about the outlet of a packing material dispenser;
• pulling a first section of the tubing from the coil in an axial direction;
• closing the lower end of the first section to form a bag;
• dispensing packing material through the outlet and into the first section;
• pulling a second section of the tubing from the coil;
• drawing the tubing together between the first and second sections to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section;
• simultaneously securing the ends of the two sections in their closed condition;
• and
• severing the tubing between the two sections after the closed ends are secured.

A method of packing an article in a shipping carton with loose fill packing material, comprising the steps of:

• axially folding and gathering an elongated length of flexible plastic tubing to form a coil from which successive sections can be pulled;
• positioning the coil about the outlet of a packing material dispenser;
• pulling a first section of the tubing from the coil in an axial direction;
• closing the lower end of the first section to form a bag;
• dispensing packing material through the outlet and into the first section to form a cushion;
• pulling a second section of the tubing from the coil;
• drawing the tubing together between the first and second sections to simultaneously close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section;
• simultaneously securing the closed ends of the sections together;
• severing the tubing between the two sections to separate the cushion formed by the first section from the second section;
• placing the article in the carton;
• and
• placing the cushion in the carton with the article to protect the article.