Back to results
US 6,804,933 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 improvements for more reliably and consistently inflating the containers are also disclosed.
Claims20
A method for forming inflated containers, comprising:
- a. conveying a web of film along a path of travel, said film web comprising a series of pre-formed flexible containers, each of said pre-formed containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having an opening for receiving such gas, said conveying step including the steps of:
- 1) withdrawing said film web from a rotatable supply roll of said film web with a pair of adjacent, counter-rotatable cylinders spaced from said film web supply, said pair of cylinders engaging and moving said film web along said travel path when a portion of said film web passes between said pair of cylinders and said cylinders rotate against said film web, whereby, a moving section of said film web is continuously conveyed from said supply roll and through said pair of cylinders, said moving section of film web being under tension, and
- 2) controlling the tension in said moving section of film web by
- (a) applying to said supply roll a frictional force that opposes the rotation of said supply roll, and
- (b) varying the frictional force applied to said supply roll in response to changes in the tension in said moving section of film web being conveyed from said supply roll and through said pair of cylinders;
- b. directing a stream of gas into the opening of each pre-formed container in said moving section of film web between said supply roll and said pair of cylinders, thereby forming inflated containers:
- and
- c. sealing closed the opening of each inflated container.
5 more elements
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 series of pre-formed flexible containers, each of said pre-formed containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having an opening for receiving such gas, said conveying mechanism comprising:
- 1) a film web supply, comprising a supply roll of said film web wrapped about a spool and mounted on a support structure, said supply roll rotating on or with said support structure when said film web is withdrawn from said supply roll,
- 2) a pair of adjacent, counter-rotatable cylinders spaced from said film web supply and capable of withdrawing said film web from said film web supply by engaging and moving said film web along said travel path when a portion of said film web passes between said pair of cylinders and said cylinders rotate against said film web, whereby, a moving section of said film web is continuously conveyed from said film web supply and through said pair of cylinders, said moving section of film web being under tension, and
- 3) a device for controlling the tension in said moving section of film web, said tension-controlling device comprising
- (a) a frictional member that is capable of applying a frictional force that opposes the rotation of said supply roll, and
- (b) means for varying the frictional force applied by said frictional member in response to changes in the tension in said moving section of film web;
- b. an inflation assembly positioned adjacent said moving section of film web and between said film web supply and said pair of cylinders, said inflation assembly capable of directing a stream of gas into the opening of each pre-formed container, thereby forming inflated containers;
- and
- c. a device for sealing closed the opening of each inflated container.
6 more elements
The apparatus of 13, wherein
- a. said film web 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
- b. 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.
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 series of pre-formed flexible containers, each of said pre-formed containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having an opening for receiving such gas, said conveying mechanism comprising:
- 1) a film web supply, comprising a supply roll of said film web wrapped about a spool and mounted on a support structure, said supply roll rotating on or with said support structure when said film web is withdrawn from said supply roll,
- 2) a pair of adjacent, counter-rotatable cylinders spaced from said film web supply and capable of withdrawing said film web from said film web supply by engaging and moving said film web along said travel path when a portion of said film web passes between said pair of cylinders and said cylinders rotate against said film web, whereby, a moving section of said film web is continuously conveyed from said film web supply and through said pair of cylinders, said moving section of film web being under tension, and
- 3) a device for controlling the tension in said moving section of film web, said tension-controlling device comprising
- (a) a frictional member that is capable of applying a frictional force that opposes the rotation of said supply roll, and
- (b) means for varying the frictional force applied by said frictional member in response to changes in the tension in said moving section of film web, said means comprising a movable base upon which said pair of cylinders are mounted, said movable base being movable towards said supply roll and attachable to said friction member such that movement of said movable base towards said supply roll causes a decrease in the frictional force applied by said frictional member;
- b. an inflation assembly positioned adjacent said moving section of film web and capable of directing a stream of gas into the opening of each pre-formed container, thereby forming inflated containers;
- and
- c. a device for sealing closed the opening of each inflated container.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.