Method of manufacturing a cushioning package containing an article to be packaged and manufacturing apparatus thereof

An apparatus for manufacturing a cushioning package containing an article to be packaged comprising;

• a cushioning sheet forming unit to form a cushioning sheet by heat-sealing at least two flexible elongated resin sheets a width direction, the elongated sheets continuously fed in a longitudinal direction, the flexible elongated sheets having previously been placed one on another so as to overlap each other in a width direction of the sheets, the heat-sealing of the at least two flexible elongated sheets forming the sheets that include a plurality of small sacs in a uniform shape, each of the small sacs having a length extending from one end to another in the width direction and having an air-filling inlet portion formed on at least at one longitudinal end thereof;
• an article storage space forming unit, following said cushioning sheet forming unit, to form an article storage space enveloped by the small sacs by folding the cushioning sheet substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the cushioning sheet about a crease crossing said small sacs, then joining and adhering one side of the folded cushioning sheet in width direction, said folding allowing flow of air in the small sacs divided by the crease in the longitudinal direction, the article storage space being defined by sides of the cushioning sheet in the longitudinal direction and said adhered portion of the cushioning sheet in the width direction;
• an article disposing unit to dispose an article to be packaged in the article storage space through a portion where said article storage space forming unit leaves unbonded;
• an air filling unit is to fill air taken in from the air-filling inlet portion for inflating the small sacs by the flow of air in the small sacs divided by the crease in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a sheet adhering unit to adhere the cushioning sheet in order to prevent the air filled in the small sacs from leaking, thereby simultaneously achieving closure of said unbonded portion.