Method for producing inflated dunnage

Abstract

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in rolled form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the fourth edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. At least one sealed inflated bag is separated from the roll and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. In an alternate embodiment, the stock material is provided in a continuous tubular form, and an air inflation needle is used to puncture a surface of the tube for inflation purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Method for producing dunnage, comprising the steps of: a) coextruding two polymers of differing tack to form a plastic sheet having opposite surfaces of differing tack;   b) sealing said plastic sheet to another said plastic sheet so as to form a plurality of plastic bags, each of said bags comprising said plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges thereof with one edge remaining open, said bags having inner and outer surfaces with said outer surfaces having greater tack than said inner surfaces, and said bags being releasably attached to each other along two opposed edges;   c) rolling up said plurality of plastic bags to form a plurality of bags in roll form;   d) providing said plurality of plastic bags in roll form at a site where said dunnage is to be produced;   e) unrolling said plurality of bags in roll form at said site, and blowing air towards each said open edge in sequence, causing each said bag to inflate;   f) sealing the fourth edge of each said inflated bag, said bag being empty except for air of inflation;   g) separating at least one said sealed bag from said plurality of bags in roll form; and   h) placing a plurality of said separated, sealed bags in a carton to serve as .Iadd.interlocked .Iaddend.dunnage.   
     
     
       2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the bags are releasably attached by segmenting the roll of bags longitudinally at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
       3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the roll of bags is segmented both longitudinally and laterally. 
     
     
       4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said bags are separated in groups of at least two bags to form dunnage units. 
     
     
       5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the fourth edge is sealed with heat. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  A method for producing dunnage comprising the steps of; a) forming a multi-layered elongated web of interconnected bags from plastic film having outer surfaces of greater tack than inner surfaces, the layers being interconnected such that each of the bas has a fill openings communicating with an otherwise perimetrically closed fill space;   b) transporting the web of interconnected bags to a site where dunnage is to be produced;   c) sequentially blowing air through the bag fill openings to fill the communicating fill spaces;   d) sealing each filled bag to close the fill opening of each such filled bag;   e) separating a selected number of filled bags from the web; and,   f) placing such separated bags as dunnage in interlocking relationships in a package being formed. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the bags are releasably attached by segmenting the web of bags laterally at predetermined intervals. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the web of bags is segmented both longitudinally and laterally. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. Method according to claim 6, wherein said bags are separated in groups of at least two bags to form dunnage units. .Iaddend.