Sealed Air Corporation

Abraham N Reichental

George T Bertram

Alex Shafir

Alexander Shafir

Charles R Sperry

Laurence B Sperry

James M Corliss

German Gavronsky

Brian K Farison

William R Armstrong

Michael J Seckler

Craig E Robert

Gerard Anthony Cahalan

Michael C Ruscitti

Kenneth P Chrisman

A packaging device is disclosed for forming packaging cushions of the type that include a plastic bag filled with a solid foam, and wherein the cushions are initially formed of a plastic bag filled with a foamable material that reacts and then hardens to form solid foam. The device comprises means for advancing a sheet of plastic film material that has been center-folded to form a doubled web with one closed edge defined by the center fold and one open edge defined by the adjacent edges of the sheet. Means are included for injecting a foamable composition into the center-folded web between the two folded portions of the sheet, as are means for forming a substantially linear seal along the open edge and substantially parallel to the open edge to thereby longitudinally seal the open edge of the web. The invention further includes means for periodically interrupting the linear seal to provide an unsealed portion along the otherwise sealed edge, and means for transversely sealing the web after foamable composition has been injected, and for concurrently separating a formed and filled bag from the advanced film material.

Compact packaging device for forming foam filled cushions for packaging

There is provided a device for filling an inflatable protective cushion to a predetermined air pressure. The inflating device has a handle having an inlet port for receiving compressed air and a valve for opening and closing the inlet port and an air outlet port. A housing having an air chamber is connected to the handle and receives the air from the handle outlet port through an air channel terminating in an orfice which creates a vacuum in the chamber. The venturi effect draws additional air through a muffler connected to the housing chamber during filling. The muffler serves to restrict air flow from and to the atmosphere during and after filling of the cushion. The housing also includes a nozzle connected to the air outlet for insertion into a self-sealing valve in the cushion for filling with air. Also provided is a fill indicator comprising an indicator mount secured in the housing, an indicator button extending through an opening in the mount and moveable upward and downward therein. A magnet is attached to the inner end of the indicator button and a means for attracting the magnet when the cushion is being filled with air is provided. The indicator button rises when the force of redirected air overcomes the magnetic force after the cushion reaches the desired air pressure.

Hand held inflating device

An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for making a polymer foam cushioning element. The method comprises advancing a pair of sheets of plastic film material in parallel face-to-face relationship; injecting foam precursors between the advancing plastic sheets; sealing the sheets together to form a plastic bag containing the foam precursors; forming the bag into the shape of a panel; and thereafter maintaining the bag in the panel shape until the foam precursors have substantially finished expanding into foam to thereby form a foam cushion panel.

Foam cushioning panels for packaging purposes

An apparatus is disclosed for automatically molding defined three-dimensional foam cushions. The apparatus comprises means for preparing a bag from plastic film material and for enclosing a foamable composition in the plastic bag, means for concurrently aligning a mold with the plastic bag and the bag preparing means, means for placing the bag containing the foamable composition into the aligned mold as the foamable composition begins to form foam, and means for maintaining the bag in the mold until the foamable composition has substantially finished forming foam in a shape conforming to the mold.

On-demand production of foam cushions with defined three-dimensional

A method and apparatus for preparing a defined foam cushion for packaging purposes comprises placing a foamable composition into a plastic bag, maintaining the bag in an orientation that provides the bag with a defined solid geometry while the foamable composition expands into foam, and embossing at least one surface of the defined geometry bag after the foam has substantially finished expanding but has not completely hardened.

Embossed foam in bag cushions

An apparatus and method for producing protective packaging. The apparatus includes an article delivery means for delivering an article between a pair of continuous webs to a pouch forming section. A pouch forming section having guide means for forming a parallelogram shaped pouch around the article to be packaged and means to heat seal the lateral edges. The device further includes means to seal the ends of the pouch and separate the sealed packages.

Apparatus and method for forming protective packages

An apparatus and method for cutting continuous webs having varying thicknesses, widths, and compositions into sheets. The apparatus includes a pair of oppositely rotating web feed assemblies employing a unique floating nip and clamping mechanism which engages the web and advances it a specified length past a poised cutting blade assembly and onto a simultaneously driven exit assembly. After the desired length of web has been fed, the drive mechanisms stop, and the cutting blade assembly cycles to clamp the web on the upstream side and cut. During the cutting stroke the web is held taut on the downstream side by the web feed assemblies. Upon completion of the clamping and cutting stroke, the cutting blade assembly returns and stops at its poised position.

Growing community of inventors

Southbury, CT, United States of America

Abraham N Reichental