Integrated process for making inflatable article
AssigneeSealed Air Corporation (US)
InventorsCharles Kannankeril, Mike Metta, Bob O'Dowd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated process for making an inflatable laminated article comprises extruding a first film and a second film, followed by cooling the first film and the second film so that the films will not fuse to one another upon contact with each other. The films are then brought into contact with one another, and selected portions of one or both films are heated so that the films are heat sealed to one another in a selected area having a desired pattern. The unsealed area between the film provides inflatable chambers between the first film and the second film. An alternative process utilizes a film tubing in lay-flat configuration to produce a laminated inflatable article.
Claims28
An integrated process for making an inflatable laminated article, comprising the steps of:
- (A) extruding a first flat film and a second flat film;
- (B) cooling the first flat film and the second flat film so that the first and second flat films will not fuse to one another upon contact with each other;
- (C) contacting the first flat film with the second flat film;
- (D) heating selected portions of at least one of the first and second flat films to a temperature above a fusion temperature, so that the first and second flat films are heat sealed to one another at a selected area, with the selected area providing a heat seal pattern which provides inflatable chambers between the first flat film and the second flat film, the heating being carried out by passing the first and second flat films together in a partial wrap around a heated roller having a raised surface;
- and
- (E) winding up or transporting the first and second flat films after they are heat sealed to one another, with the inflatable chambers uninflated.
An integrated process for making an inflatable laminated article, comprising the steps of:
- (A) extruding a first flat film and a second flat film;
- (B) cooling the first flat film and the second flat film so that the first and second flat films will not fuse to one another upon contact with each other;
- (C) contacting the first flat film with the second flat film;
- (D) heating selected portions of at least one of the first and second flat films to a temperature above a fusion temperature, so that the first and second flat films are heat sealed to one another at a selected area, with the selected area providing a heat seal pattern which provides inflatable chambers between the first flat film and the second flat film, the heating being carried out by passing the first and second flat films together in a partial wrap around a heated roller having a raised surface, with the second flat film being between the first flat film and the raised surface of the heated roller, the second flat film being in direct contact with the raised surface of the heated roller, and the second flat film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate;
- and
- (E) winding up or transporting the first and second flat films after they are heat sealed to one another, with the inflatable chambers uninflated.
An integrated process for making an inflatable laminated article, comprising the steps of:
- (A) extruding a first flat film and a second flat film;
- (B) cooling the first flat film and the second flat film so that the flat films will not fuse to one another upon contact with each other;
- (C) contacting the first flat film with the second fiat film while the first flat film and the second flat film are being forwarded at a speed of at least 120 feet per minute;
- (D) heating selected portions of at least one of the first and second flat films by passing the first and second flat films together in a partial wrap around a heated roller having a raised surface having a release coating thereon, with the raised surface having a surface roughness of from 50 to 500 rms, and the raised surface having edges rounded off to a radius of from {fraction (1/256)} inch to ⅜ inch, with the selected portions of the first and second flat films being heated to a temperature above a fusion temperature, so that the first and second flat films are heat sealed to one another at a selected area, with the selected area providing a heat seal pattern which provides inflatable chambers between the first flat film and the second flat film;
- and
- (E) cooling the first and second flat films after heating the selected portions of the fiat films, the cooling being carried out by passing the first and second flat films together in a partial wrap around a cooling roller having a release coating thereon, the release coating on the cooling roller having a Shore A hardness of from 40 to 100 the cooling roller being in nip relationship with the heated roller having the raised surface;
- and
- (E) winding up or transporting the first and second flat films after they are heat sealed to one another, with the inflatable chambers uninflated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.