Claims
- 1. In a system for manufacturing pneumatically filled packing cushions from elongated superposed layers of plastic film material which are joined together along first and second longitudinal edges:
means at a first location for forming longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of perforations across the material and for sealing the two layers together along pairs of seal lines between the perforations, with the seal lines extending transversely from the first edge of the material and terminating a short distance from the second edge of the material to form chambers with open mouths facing the second edge; and means at a second location for injecting gas into the chambers through the open mouths and thereafter sealing the two layers together along a longitudinally extending line which intersects the pairs of seal lines near the second edge to close the chambers and retain the gas in the chambers.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for injecting the gas comprises an elongated tube which passes between the ends of the seals and the second edge of the material, with openings in the tube through which the gas is injected into the chambers.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the elongated tube is curved so as to impart an arcuate curvature to the film material as it passes between the ends of the seals and the second edge of the material.
- 4. In a method of manufacturing pneumatically filled packing cushions from elongated superposed layers of plastic film material which are joined together along first and second longitudinal edges, the steps of:
forming longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of perforations across the material at a first location; sealing the two layers together at the first location along pairs of seal lines between the perforations, with the seal lines extending transversely from the first edge of the material and terminating a short distance from the second edge of the material to form chambers with open mouths facing the second edge; transporting the material to a second location; injecting gas into the chambers through the open mouths at the second location; and sealing the two layers together at the second location along a longitudinally extending line which intersects the pairs of seal lines near the second edge to close the chambers and retain the gas in the chambers.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the gas is injected into the chambers by passing an elongated tube between the ends of the seals and the second edge of the material, and injecting the gas through openings in the tube.
- 6. In a machine for manufacturing pneumatically filled packing cushions from a prefabricated plastic film material having two elongated superposed layers which are joined together along first and second longitudinal edges, rows of perforations extending transversely across the film material, and seal lines which extend from the first edge of the film material in a direction generally parallel to the rows of perforations and terminate a short distance from the second edge of the film material to form chambers with open mouths facing the second edge between the rows of perforations: means for feeding the film material along a path; an inflation tube which passes between the second edge of the film material and the ends of the seal lines as the film material travels along the path, with openings in a side wall of the tube through which gas is injected into the open mouths of the chambers; and means for sealing the two layers together across the mouths of the chambers.
- 7. The machine of claim 6 wherein the means for sealing the two layers together includes means for sealing along a longitudinally extending line spaced inwardly from the second edge as the film material travels along the path.
- 8. The machine of claim 6 wherein the means for sealing the two layers together includes a pair of sealing blocks disposed on opposite sides of the path, and a pair of belts which engage the film material and carry it past the sealing blocks, with heat being transferred to the film material from the sealing blocks through the belts.
- 9. The machine of claim 6 including means for slitting the film material along the second edge after the mouths of the chambers are sealed to permit the inflation tube to exit from the material.
- 10. A material for use in the manufacture of pneumatically filled packing cushions, comprising: two elongated superposed layers of plastic film material which are joined together along first and second longitudinal edges, longitudinally spaced rows of perforations extending transversely across the material between edges, and seals bonding the two layers together along pairs of seal lines which extend from the first edge of the material in a direction generally parallel to the rows of perforations and terminate a short distance from the second edge of the material to form chambers with open mouths between facing the second edge between the rows of perforations.
- 11. The material of claim 10 wherein the film material is a flattened tube.
- 12. The material of claim 10 wherein the film material with the perforations and seals is formed into a roll for storage and shipment.
- 13. The material of claim 10 wherein the film material with the perforations and seals is fan-folded for storage and shipment.
- 14. In a machine for manufacturing pneumatically filled packing cushions from a prefabricated plastic film material having two elongated superposed layers which are joined together along first and second longitudinal edges, rows of perforations extending transversely across the film material, and seal lines which extend from the first edge of the film material in a direction generally parallel to the rows of perforations and terminate a short distance from the second edge of the film material to form chambers with open mouths facing the second edge between the rows of perforations: a pair of drive belts positioned on opposite sides of a path for engaging the film material and feeding it along the path; an inflation tube which passes between the second edge of the film material and the ends of the seal lines as the film material travels along the path, with openings in a side wall of the tube through which gas is injected into the open mouths of the chambers; and heating blocks adjacent to the drive belts for heating the film material through the belts to seal the two layers together across the mouths of the chambers.
- 15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the inflation tube is curved, and the film material is fed along an arcuate path.
- 16. The machine of claim 14 including a knife blade disposed along the path near the heating blocks for slitting the film material along the second edge to permit the inflation tube to exit from the material.
- 17. The machine of claim 14 wherein the machine is constructed in the form of a plurality of modules which can be individually removed and replaced.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/488,622, filed Jan. 20, 2000.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10323479 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Child |
10843904 |
May 2004 |
US |
Parent |
09765064 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Child |
10323479 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09488622 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
10323479 |
Dec 2002 |
US |