US 6,569,283 B1Granted

Inflator/sealer device for inflatable packaging cushion

AssigneeSealed Air Corporation (US)

InventorsCharles R. Sperry, Suzanne M. Scott, James M. Corliss

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Abstract

An inflator/sealer machine useful for inflating and sealing an inflatable cushion having a resistance wire that extends across the inlet of the inflatable cushion. The machine includes an inflation tube, a seal bar, and an anvil. The inflation tube is connected to a source of inflation fluid and has an outlet that is larger than the inflation aperture of the inflatable cushion. The inflation tube and anvil are adjustable between a tube/anvil engaged position and a tube/anvil disengaged position. In the tube/anvil engaged position, the inflation tube outlet opposes the anvil and can engage the inflation aperture of the inflatable cushion between the inflation tube and the anvil to inflate the cushion. The seal bar and the anvil are adjustable between a bar/anvil engaged position and a bar/anvil disengaged position. In the bar/anvil engaged position, the anvil opposes the seal bar to compress the inlet heat seal zone of the inflatable cushion between the anvil and the seal bar. Left and right contacts are positioned on opposing sides of the seal bar during the bar/anvil engaged position. The contacts are connected to an electrical power source. The contacts touch the resistance wire that extends across the inlet of the inflatable cushion to complete an electrical circuit during the bar/anvil engaged position and form a heat seal across the inlet of the inflatable cushion.

A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable cushion having an inflatable body, an inflation portion defining an inflation aperture, an inflation inlet placing the inflatable body and the inflation portion in fluid communication, and a resistance wire extending at least across the internal width of the inflation inlet to define an inlet heat seal zone of the inflation inlet, the machine comprising:

a base;
an inflation tube supported by the base, the inflation tube having an inlet portion connected to a source of inflation fluid and an outlet portion larger than the inflation aperture of the inflatable cushion;
a seal bar supported by the base;
an anvil supported by the base;
wherein the inflation tube and anvil are adjustable between:
a tube/anvil engaged position in which the inflation tube outlet portion opposes the anvil, wherein the inflation tube and the anvil are capable of engaging the inflation portion of the inflatable cushion between the inflation tube outlet portion and the anvil so that the inflation tube outlet portion surrounds the inflation aperture to place the inflatable body in fluid communication with the source of inflation fluid;
and
a tube/anvil disengaged position in which the inflation tube and anvil are spaced apart, whereby the inflation portion of the inflatable cushion may be inserted or withdrawn from between the inflation tube and the anvil;
wherein the seal bar and anvil are adjustable between:
a bar/anvil engaged position in which the anvil opposes the seal bar, wherein the anvil and the seal bar are capable of compressing the inlet heat seal zone of the inflatable cushion between the anvil and seal bar;
and
a bar/anvil disengaged position in which the anvil and seal bar are spaced apart, whereby the inlet heat seal zone of the inflatable cushion may be inserted or withdrawn from between the anvil and the seal bar;
and
left and right contacts positioned on opposing sides of the seal bar at least during the bar/anvil engaged position, wherein the contacts are connected to an electrical power source and capable of touching the resistance wire of the inflatable cushion to complete an electrical circuit while the machine is in the bar/anvil engaged position.

11 more elements

Facts

Application

09/526,498Filed 15 Mar 2000

Granted

27 May 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

B29C 65/342
Characterised by the type of heated elements which remain in the joint: comprising at least a single wire, e.g. in the form of a winding
B29C 65/3468
Using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement": characterised by the means for supplying heat to said heated…
B29C 65/3476
Characterised by the composition of the heated elements which remain in the joint: being metallic
B29C 65/38
By heating, with or without pressure: impulse heating

Abstract

Claims13