A method of forming a fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear is provided and includes positioning a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material in a pressure chamber, increasing a fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a first value, and coupling the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material within the pressure chamber to define a fluid-filled chamber defined by the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material and having a fluid pressure equal to the first value. The method also includes decreasing the fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a second value.

An internal tensioning structure for use in an inflatable product fulfills the basic function of maintaining two adjacent inflatable surfaces in a desired geometric arrangement when the inflatable product is pressurized. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strips sheets via spaced-apart strands, such as strings or wires. When pulled taut, the strands provide a high tensile strength between the two opposed plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic strips facilitate a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product.

A protective packaging formation device is disclosed herein. The device includes an inflation assembly that directs fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a web material. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes an arcuate web-support surface. The web-support surface includes a heater that defines a heating zone that is operable to heat the plies to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the first and second plies together as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction. The web-support surface also includes a cooling zone disposed downstream of the heating zone operable to allow the heated plies to cool at the longitudinal heat seal as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction, such that the cooled longitudinal heat seal retains the fluid between the plies.

A method of forming a fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear is provided and includes positioning a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material in a pressure chamber, increasing a fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a first value, and coupling the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material within the pressure chamber to define a fluid-filled chamber defined by the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material and having a fluid pressure equal to the first value. The method also includes decreasing the fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a second value.

An ultrasonic sealing method and device for a bag, in which pressurized gas spray outlets (47, 52) are provided at distal ends of a horn (31) and an anvil (32) so as to be used as gas blowing nozzles, the distal ends of the horn and the anvil are placed against a cutout (19) formed in a gas compartment (16) of the bag, a gas is blown into the gas compartment to inflate it, and then the horn and the anvil clamp films surrounding the cutout while the gas blowing is in progress, so that ultrasonic sealing is carried out by the horn to the films to trap the gas inside the gas compartment. A contact member (71) is provided directly under the horn. The contact member is pressed against inflated film (18) of the gas compartment, and in this state ultrasonic vibration energy is supplied to the horn.

There is provided a sealing apparatus for forming void-fill packaging which includes a longitudinal guide path along which an edge of a part-sealed plastics film material can pass, a drive means for moving the film material along the guide path, and an air blowing or injecting means for inflating the film material. There is also provided a heating element and a rigid thermally conductive member which is thermally coupled to the heating element, the thermally conductive member having an film-contacting surface for applying thermal energy to seal the film material on the longitudinal guide path.

A methods of executing start, run, and stop sequences on a machine for converting a web of preformed pouches into inflated dunnage units. The pouches are defined by transverse seals extending from a remote edge to within a predetermined distance from an inflation edge.

A packaging apparatus with an improved pinch roller apparatus, fluid supply apparatus, and/or a sealing apparatus. The pinch roller apparatus (e.g., comprising one or more guide and/or pinch rollers) is used to deliver film material to the fluid supply apparatus (e.g., nozzle and blower apparatus, or the like) that fills one or more chambers of the film material with fluid (e.g., air, gas, or other like fluid), and the film material is then sealed by a sealing apparatus (e.g., using one or more heating elements with an improved temperature sensor configuration) that seals the fluid within the one or more chambers in order to form the inflated article (e.g., inflated packaging material). In particular, the sealing apparatus provides improved sealing through the improved accuracy of the temperature reading in the heating zone, in part, by locating a sensor between a heating element and a protective member that covers the sensor.

An ultrasonic sealing unit is equipped with a converter, a horn, a fixing member, and a retaining member. The converter generates ultrasonic waves from an electrical signal. The horn vibrates because of the ultrasonic waves generated by the converter. The fixing member is a member for fixing the ultrasonic sealing unit. The retaining member is a member for retaining the ultrasonic sealing unit in a position different from the position where the ultrasonic sealing unit is fixed by the fixing member. The ultrasonic sealing unit may reduce vibration transmitted to the surroundings.

A protective packaging formation device is disclosed herein. The device includes an inflation assembly that directs fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a web material. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes an arcuate web-support surface. The web-support surface includes a heater that defines a heating zone that is operable to heat the plies to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the first and second plies together as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction. The web-support surface also includes a cooling zone disposed downstream of the heating zone operable to allow the heated plies to cool at the longitudinal heat seal as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction, such that the cooled longitudinal heat seal retains the fluid between the plies.