Film material for air-filled packing cushions

Abstract

A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

1 . A preconfigured plastic film for use in air-filled packing cushions, the film comprising: 
 a relatively narrow channel extending the length of the film;    a plurality of generally rectangular inflatable chambers each having an unsealed opening into the relatively narrow channel; and    a plurality of laterally extending perforations separating each chamber or a plurality of chambers, wherein the laterally extending perforations extend through the relatively narrow channel and extend at least partway across the width of the film.    
     
     
         2 . The preconfigured film of  claim 1  wherein the generally rectangular inflatable chambers have three sides closed and a fourth side with the unsealed opening into the relatively narrow channel.  
     
     
         3 . The preconfigured film of  claim 1  wherein the laterally extending perforations extend the entire width of the film.  
     
     
         4 . The preconfigured film of  claim 1  wherein the relatively narrow channel extends along a longitudinal center portion of the film.  
     
     
         5 . The preconfigured film of  claim 1  wherein the preconfigured film comprises upper and lower sheets of plastic film having heat seals therebetween forming a periphery of the inflatable chambers and the relatively narrow channel.  
     
     
         6 . The preconfigured film of  claim 5  further comprising secondary heat seals within the periphery of the inflatable chambers.  
     
     
         7 . A preconfigured plastic film for use in air-filled packing cushions, the film comprising: 
 a relatively narrow channel extending the length of the film;    a plurality of inflatable chambers each having an unsealed opening into the relatively narrow channel, wherein the inflatable chambers have heat seals forming a periphery of the chambers and secondary heat seals within the periphery; and    a plurality of laterally extending perforations separating each chamber or a plurality of chambers, wherein the laterally extending perforations extend at least partway across the width of the film.    
     
     
         8 . The preconfigured film of  claim 7  wherein the inflatable chambers are generally rectangular having three sides closed and a fourth side with the unsealed opening into the relatively narrow channel.  
     
     
         9 . The preconfigured film of  claim 7  wherein the laterally extending perforations extend the entire width of the film.  
     
     
         10 . The preconfigured film of  claim 7  wherein the relatively narrow channel extends along a longitudinal center portion of the film.  
     
     
         11 . The preconfigured film of  claim 7  wherein the preconfigured film comprises upper and lower sheets of plastic film having heat seals therebetween forming a periphery of the inflatable chambers and the relatively narrow channel.  
     
     
         12 . A plurality of inflated packing cushions formed on a plastic film which has a relatively narrow channel extending the length of the film; 
 wherein the inflated packing cushions are generally rectangular;    wherein the relatively narrow channel has been longitudinally slit; and    wherein a plurality of laterally extending perforations extend at least partway across the width of the film and separate each chamber or a plurality of chambers.    
     
     
         13 . The inflated packing cushions of  claim 12  wherein the laterally extending perforations extend the entire width of the film.  
     
     
         14 . The inflated packing cushions of  claim 12  wherein the plastic film comprises upper and lower sheets of plastic film having heat seals therebetween forming a periphery of the inflatable chambers and the relatively narrow channel.  
     
     
         15 . A plurality of inflated packing cushions formed on a plastic film which has a relatively narrow channel extending the length of the film; 
 wherein the cushions comprise peripheral heat seals and secondary heat seals within the peripheral heat seals;    wherein the relatively narrow channel has been longitudinally slit; and    wherein a plurality of laterally extending perforations extend at least partway across the width of the film and separate each chamber or a plurality of chambers.    
     
     
         16 . The inflated packing cushions of  claim 15  wherein the laterally extending perforations extend the entire width of the film.  
     
     
         17 . A plurality of generally rectangular inflated packing cushions formed on a plastic film which has a relatively narrow channel extending the length of the film; wherein a plurality of laterally extending perforations extend at least partway across the width of the film and separate each chamber or a plurality of chambers.  
     
     
         18 . The inflated packing cushions of  claim 17  wherein the laterally extending perforations extend the entire width of the film.