An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes first and second film plies sealed together via a plurality of generally transverse seals to define a first and second inflatable chambers and an inflation region. The chambers are inflatable with a fluid and operable to contain the fluid. The sealed plies have a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially transversely across the web between the first and second inflatable chambers and is configured to facilitate separation thereof. The separation region includes a tear propagation line extending transversely across at least a portion of the web with an end of the tear propagation line terminating proximal to the first longitudinal edge of the web. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature including edges spaced apart from one another longitudinally to form a permanent opening in the web.

The present disclosure relates generally to an inflation and sealing machine and in particular to a method for modifying one or more parameters of the machine. The method includes identifying a configuration of a supply material to be used with the inflation and sealing machine, such as by receiving a user input, automatically detecting characteristics of the material, and/or receiving data such as from a sensor regarding the characteristics of the material. Once the configuration of the supply material is identified, the method includes receiving a selection of a prestored recipe according to a configuration of the supply material, where the recipe determines or sets the value for one or more operating parameters of the machine.

An inflatable packaging structure, including at least one inflatable panel made of a plurality of layers of thermoplastic material, the at least one inflatable panel includes a plurality of fluid chambers, whereas a one-way check valve is incorporated into at least one of the plurality of fluid chambers, an air supply line, configured to commonly communicate with each of the one-way check valves to supply fluid into the fluid chambers; and at least two heat sealed edges formed on the at least one inflatable panel, each of which is configured to attach a portion of the at least one inflatable panel to another portion thereof; and wherein the at least two heat sealed edges extend generally in parallel with respect to each other and configured to form the inflatable packaging structure with at least partially rectangular cross-section, having at least four faces.

The invention is directed to a water-soluble, environmentally-friendly, packaging wrap for the packaging of goods and parcels. The packaging wrap is formed by sealing together at least two sheets of water-soluble polymeric film to form unsealed areas within the wrap. After the goods or parcels are wrapped with the packaging material, air is then injected into the unsealed areas of the wrap to form air chambers to cushion the goods during transport.

A transfer and dispensing apparatus is disclosed for the conveying and separation of packaging material, cushions or pillows when needed by the operator. When a packer working over a conveyor receives a box that requires void fill, an operating switch such as a foot pedal is depressed to dispense pillows from the apparatus and into the box in a connected strip. When the operating switch is released, the apparatus stops dispensing pillows, separates the continuous strip of pillows along a transverse perforation in the strip, and ejects the end of the separated segment. The packer can then complete packing the box by placing the severed end of the pillows into the box, advance to the next box, and repeat the process. The transfer and dispensing apparatus may be positioned in any convenient location including adjacent to, above or attached to the inflation device.

An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes a first and second film ply sealed together. The transverse seals define first and second inflatable chambers. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially between the first and second inflatable chambers in a substantially transverse direction across the web and configured to facilitate separation of the first and second inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature that facilitates tearing of the web to separate the inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear propagation line including a first plurality of perforations perforation is separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a first transverse length. A tear initiation feature includes a second plurality of perforations, each perforation separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a second transverse length, where the first transverse length is longer than the second transverse length.

A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly that can comprise a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path and a nozzle configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure. At least a portion of the nozzle is flexible and is operable to adjust to the direction and angle that the flexible structure approaches from. The flexible portion may align with a tip of the nozzle in one axis and the opposite end of the nozzle in a second axis thereby allowing for misalignment of the flexible structure as it engages the nozzle and is directed to a pinch area.

An inflation method for an air cushion body which includes one or more air storing units formed by at least two air cell films, an inflation valve formed by at least two valve films, and an inflation unit integrally connected with the air storing units and formed by two inflation end portions overlapping with each other to define an inflation channel, includes the following steps: sealing off two ends of the inflation channel to form an inflatable cavity, filling air into the inflatable cavity where the air that enters the inflatable cavity enters the corresponding air storing units through the air inlet channel, and releasing the two ends of the inflation channel upon completion of inflation to acquire the air cushion body that is inflated.

A system includes a manifold block, a nozzle, and a blade carrier. The manifold block includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas outlet is in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The nozzle is configured to be coupled to the gas outlet of the manifold block, the nozzle including a conduit and a slot in the conduit. The blade carrier includes a body, a guard coupled to the body, and a blade coupled to the guard. The blade carrier is couplable to the manifold block so that so that a gap exists between the conduit and the guard. The wherein the blade is coupled to the blade carrier such that, when the blade carrier is couple to the manifold block, the blade is located in the gap between the conduit and the guard and a portion of the blade is located in the slot.

An automated packaging station is configured to inflate and seal a web material. The automated packaging station includes a rail, a nozzle, and a sealing system. The web material includes a channel that is closed so that the channel can be slid over the rail. The nozzle inserts gas into the channel of the web material, which is in fluid communication with chambers to inflate the chambers. The sealing system seals closed ends the chambers proximate the channel after inflation of the chambers. A shape of the rail causes the channel and an opposite longitudinal side of the web material to diverge either before or during inflation of the chambers by the nozzle.