Flexible nozzle for inflation and sealing device

1. A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly, comprising:

a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path; and

a nozzle including:

an elongated portion having a longitudinal axis aimed generally longitudinally and configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure, and

a fluid conduit including an outlet that directs an inflation fluid from the conduit into the flexible structure via the elongated portion;

wherein at least a portion of the nozzle is resiliently flexible to allow the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion to bend resiliently in a transverse, vertical, or combined direction to accommodate variable positions of the flexible structure being fed onto the nozzle.

2. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated portion includes:

a base having an inlet to receive the inflation fluid from a fluid source; and

a flexible portion extending from the base and being resiliently flexible to adapt to variation in a feed angle and a feed direction of the flexible structure.

3. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a spring that flexes resiliently to adapt the flexible portion to the variation in feed angle and feed direction.

4. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spring is a coil spring.

5. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flexible portion further comprises an elastomeric material.

6. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flexible portion comprises an elastomeric material that flexes resiliently to adapt the flexible portion to the variation in feed angle and feed direction.

7. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flexible portion includes a polymer sheath.

8. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the elongated portion includes a tip region, wherein the flexible portion connects the base to the tip region and is resiliently flexible to allow a longitudinal axis in the tip region to move relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the base such that the longitudinal axis in the tip region and the longitudinal axis in the base can move from an aligned orientation to an unaligned orientation.

9. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the elongated portion extends to the upstream end of the nozzle terminating at the tip region.

10. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tip region is a nozzle tip, with the nozzle tip and the nozzle base being discrete structures positioned at separate ends of the flexible portion.

11. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle base includes a substantially rigid tube.

12. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein:

the driver is configured for engaging the flexible structure by pinching the flexible structure at a pinch area to prevent the inflation fluid from escaping the flexible structure;

the flexible portion is disposed proximal to or upstream of the pinch area; and

the flexible structure is fed along the elongated portion to the pinch area.

13. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 12 , wherein the base extends in an upstream direction of the pinch area.

14. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a sealing mechanism located downstream of the pinch area configured for sealing opposing web layers of the flexible structure to seal the inflation fluid therein.

15. The flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly of claim 14 , wherein the fluid conduit extends through the rigid base.

16. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outlet includes a side outlet extending through a wall of the base.

17. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 16 , wherein an upstream end of the base is closed in a longitudinal direction such that the inflation fluid exits the nozzle before reaching the flexible portion.

18. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outlet includes a side outlet extending through the flexible portion.

19. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible portion is sufficiently rigid to maintain an orientation of the elongated portion approximately in a direction from which the flexible structure approaches.

20. The inflation and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated portion resiliently returns to an initial shape and direction after disengagement from the flexible structure.

21. A flexible structure inflation and sealing assembly, comprising:

a driver configured for engaging the flexible structure to drive the structure in a downstream direction longitudinally along a material path; and

a nozzle including:

an elongated portion having a longitudinal axis aimed generally longitudinally and configured for reception in an inflation channel that extends through the flexible structure, the elongated portion including:

a rigid base having an inlet to receive an inflation fluid from a fluid source, and

a flexible portion including a spring extending from the base and being flexible to adapt to variation in a feed angle and a feed direction of the flexible structure; and

a fluid conduit including an outlet that directs a fluid from the conduit into the flexible structure.