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US 6,598,373 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for forming inflated containers
AssigneeSealed Air Corporation (US)
InventorsCharles R. Sperry, Suzanne Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for forming inflated containers generally includes a mechanism that conveys a web of film along a path of travel, the film web including one or more pre-formed flexible containers; an inflation assembly positioned adjacent the travel path to direct gas into the containers, thereby forming inflated containers; and a device for sealing closed each inflated container. Various features for improving the reliability and consistency of inflation of the containers are also disclosed.
Claims19
An apparatus for forming inflated containers, comprising:
- a. a mechanism that conveys a web of film along a path of travel, said film web comprising a film having a pair of longitudinal side edges and a longitudinal fold to form a longitudinally-folded film web having two juxtaposed film plies with said side edges being positioned adjacent to one another, said folded film web defining
- 1) a closed longitudinal edge formed by said longitudinal fold,
- 2) an open longitudinal edge positioned opposite and substantially parallel to said closed longitudinal edge, said open longitudinal edge formed from said adjacently-positioned longitudinal side edges, and
- 3) one or more pre-formed flexible containers, each of said containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having
- (a) an open edge for receiving such gas, said open edge being formed by said open longitudinal edge, and
- (b) an opposing closed edge formed by said closed longitudinal edge;
- b. an inflation assembly positioned adjacent said travel path and capable of
- 1) urging said open longitudinal edge towards said closed longitudinal edge such that a crease forms at the closed edge of each of said pre-formed containers, thereby forming creased, pre-formed containers, and
- 2) directing a stream of gas into the open edge of each creased, pre-formed container, thereby forming inflated containers;
- and
- c. a device for sealing closed the open edge of each inflated container.
8 more elements
The apparatus of 11, wherein
- a. said film web supply comprises a supply roll of said film web wrapped about a spool and mounted on said support structure, said supply roll rotating on or with said support structure when said film web is withdrawn from said supply roll;
- b. said supply roll has a diameter, said diameter being determined by the amount of film web contained in said supply roll and, as said film web is withdrawn from said supply roll, said diameter decreases such that the travel path of said film web changes;
- and
- c. said inflation port is shaped such that said film web continuously extends across at least a portion of said inflation port as the travel path of said film web changes.
1 more element
A method for forming gas-filled cushions, comprising:
- a. conveying a web of film along a path of travel, said film web comprising a film having a pair of longitudinal side edges and a longitudinal fold to form a longitudinally-folded film web having two juxtaposed film plies with said side edges being positioned adjacent to one another, said folded film web defining
- 1) a closed longitudinal edge formed by said longitudinal fold,
- 2) an open longitudinal edge positioned opposite and substantially parallel to said closed longitudinal edge, said open longitudinal edge formed from said adjacently-positioned longitudinal side edges, and
- 3) one or more pre-formed flexible containers, each of said containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having
- (a) an open edge for receiving such gas, said open edge being formed by said open longitudinal edge, and
- (b) an opposing closed edge formed by said closed longitudinal edge;
- b. urging said open longitudinal edge towards said closed longitudinal edge such that a crease forms at the closed edge of each of said pre-formed containers, thereby forming creased, pre-formed containers;
- c. directing a stream of gas into the open edge of each creased, pre-formed container, thereby forming inflated containers;
- and
- d. sealing closed the open end of each inflated container.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.