Method And Apparatus For Inflating And Sealing Packing Cushions Employing Film Recognition Controller

• US 20070251190A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc. (Pregis Ultimate Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Daigle, Charles, Yampolsky, Vladimir, Van Uijen, Rob, Kaminski, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,695,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/403
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/222 comprising at least a single heated wire
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/305 involving the use of cartridge heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0042 of the joining tool and the parts to be joined B29C66/0046 takes precedence; joining tool characterized by its composition B29C66/8122; joining tool characterized by its microstructure B29C66/8124
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0342 Cooling, e.g. transporting through welding and cooling zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/244 said joint lines being non-straight, e.g. forming non-closed contours
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/439 Joining sheets for making inflated articles without using a mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7352 Thickness, e.g. very thin
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8122 characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81264 Mechanical properties, e.g. hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81457 comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8161 said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8167 Quick change joining tools or surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8181 characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83423 cooperating bands or belts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8416 of different thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91212 : involving measurement means being part of the welding jaws, e.g. integrated in the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91231 : of the joining tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9141 : by controlling or regulating the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91431 : the temperature being kept constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9161 : by controlling or regulating the heat or the thermal flux, i.e. the heat flux
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9241 : by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9261 : by controlling or regulating the displacement of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/94 : by measuring or controlling the time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/961 : involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9672 : involving special data inputs, e.g. involving barcodes, RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9674 : involving special data outputs, e.g. special data display means B29C66/8748 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0633 : LDPE, i.e. low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0641 : MDPE, i.e. medium density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/065 : HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/08 : Copolymers of ethylene B29K2023/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/08 : PVDC, i.e. polyvinylidene chloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2029/00 : Use of polyvinylalcohols, polyvinylethers, polyvinylaldehydes, polyvinylketones or polyvinylketals or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2029/04 : PVOH, i.e. polyvinyl alcohol B29K2031/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/08 : Polymers of acrylic acid esters, e.g. PMA, i.e. polymethylacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/12 : Polymers of methacrylic acid esters, e.g. PMMA, i.e. polymethylmethacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0085 : Copolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2807/00 : Use of natural rubber as mould material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2883/00 : Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as mould material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2905/12 : Iron
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/007 : Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/02 : Inflatable articles balls B29L2031/54 ; inner tyres B29L2023/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/721 : Vibration dampening equipment, e.g. shock absorbers bumpers B29L2031/3044, springs B29L2031/774
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2155/00 : Flexible containers made from webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2170/20 : having multi-layered walls, e.g. laminated or lined
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 2205/0088 : Control means
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 5/0073 : including pillow forming
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/06 : the nozzle being arranged for insertion into, and withdrawal from, the mouth of a filled container and operating in conjunction with means for sealing the container mouth
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/04 : and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases

Abstract

An apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions utilizes a controller adapted for acquiring information from preconfigured film material and automatically setting one or more operation parameters suitable for inflating and sealing the film. The controller can avoid or limit the need for user input, thus simplifying use of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions from prefabricated film material having a plurality of chambers, the apparatus comprising a feed mechanism for feeding the film material along a path, an inflation mechanism for injecting inflation gas into the chambers, and a sealing mechanism for sealing the chambers, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a sealing element and a backing surface, and wherein sealing pressure is controllable by adjusting the force between the sealing element and the backing surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a linear actuator for adjusting the force between the sealing element and the backing surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein sealing pressure is adjusted by manually adjusting the force between the sealing element and the backing surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing element comprises a heated rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing element comprises a heated roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backing surface comprises a wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backing surface is constructed from a resilient material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a pair of opposed belts for carrying the film past at least one heated block.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prefabricated film material has a longitudinally extending channel, the apparatus further comprising an elongate member adapted for insertion into the longitudinally extending channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongate member has at least one opening for injecting inflation gas into the longitudinally extending channel.

11. A method of inflating and sealing packing cushions from prefabricated film material having a plurality of chambers, wherein the film is fed into a machine having a feed mechanism for feeding the film material along a path, an inflation mechanism for injecting inflation gas into the chambers, a sealing mechanism for sealing the chambers, and an input device for receiving operation parameters, the method comprising:

inputting into the input device one or more operation parameters selected from the group consisting of sealing pressure, sealing temperature, air-fill level, and dwell time;

comparing the one or more operation parameters to an existing machine setting corresponding to the one or more operation parameters;

adjusting one or more existing machine settings, if necessary, to correspond to the one or more inputted operation parameters; and

initiating or resuming operation of the machine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the input device is adapted to receive manual user input of the one or more operation parameters.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the input device is adapted to automatically receive input of the one or more operation parameters from a data source associated with the film material.

14. An apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions from prefabricated film material having a plurality of chambers, the apparatus comprising a feed mechanism for feeding the film material along a path, an inflation mechanism for injecting inflation gas into the chambers, and a sealing mechanism for sealing the chambers, wherein the apparatus comprises a controller capable of determining at least one property of a film material that is positioned in proximity to the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller obtains information from the supply of film when the supply is placed in the operating position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller obtains information from the supply of film when the supply is positioned within a predetermined distance from the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a bar code reader in communication with the controller for obtaining information from the film supply.

18. A supply of preconfigured film material having a plurality of inflatable chambers, wherein the supply has a data source containing information relating to one or more properties of the film, or conditions appropriate for inflation and sealing the film material, or both.

19. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the data source comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

20. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the data source comprises a bar code.

21. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the data source comprises registration marks or other machine-readable source of information.

22. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the RFID tag is machine-writable.

23. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 22 wherein the RFID tag is programmed to prevent reuse of the tag after the supply of film material is exhausted.

24. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the data source is attached to a core onto which the preconfigured film material can be wound.

25. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18 wherein the data source is attached to the film material.

26. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18, wherein the plurality of chambers comprise rows of generally circular chambers, with a first chamber in each row having an opening near a longitudinal edge of the film material.

27. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 26, further comprising a longitudinally extending channel near said longitudinal edge of the film.

28. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 18, wherein the plurality of chambers comprise at least one row of generally rectangular chambers.

29. The supply of preconfigured film material of claim 28 further comprising a longitudinally extending channel near a longitudinal edge of the film.