Devices and methods for manufacturing packaging materials
View Patent ↗Devices and methods for inflating and sealing packaging pillows from a material web are shown for consistently producing high-quality packaging pillows. A web of material is advanced past an inflation nozzle, inflated with gas, and sealed closed by a sealing element. The temperature of the sealing element is monitored using a thermocouple connection and automatically adjusted using a closed-loop system. A sealing clamp parallel to the sealing element maintains two sheets of the web in contact through the sealing step. The inflation nozzle is provided with two inflation outlets: a first outlet inserting gas longitudinally into the web of material, and a second outlet inserting gas laterally into the material. Gas input is controlled with the use of relief valves to maintain pillow quality at all stages of production.
1. A method of inflating and sealing pillows from a two-layered material web having a plurality of generally transverse seals comprising:
inserting an inflation nozzle into said two-layered material web;
advancing said material web past said inflation nozzle;
ejecting inflation gas through said inflation nozzle between first and second layers of said material web;
forming a generally longitudinal seal using a sealing member, said seal being approximately perpendicular to said generally transverse seals to hold said inflation gas within said material web;
clamping said material web adjacent said sealing member between a sealing clamp and a self-aligning support platen to maintain said first and second layers of said material web in contact; and
ejecting inflated pillows.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing an inflation gas pressure within said inflation nozzle during a beginning and an ending of said method.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising electronically monitoring a temperature of said sealing member and electronically adjusting said temperature in response to said monitoring of said temperature to maintain a set temperature.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inflation nozzle is provided with a side inflation port and an end inflation port for inserting said inflation gas into said web at two positions of said web.