초록 ▼

New and improved foam cushions for packaging purposes of the type including a cushion envelope partially filled with an expandable cushioning foam material are provided. The cushion envelope includes a foam-receiving cavity and is defined by a unitary web of material folded over itself to provide a

New and improved foam cushions for packaging purposes of the type including a cushion envelope partially filled with an expandable cushioning foam material are provided. The cushion envelope includes a foam-receiving cavity and is defined by a unitary web of material folded over itself to provide a folded side. An intermittent labyrinth side seam is provided along the side opposite the folded side and transverse top and bottom seams are provided to complete formation of the cushion envelope. A cushioning foam is disposed in the foam-receiving cavity. A method for making the foam cushions and an automated apparatus for making a continuous supply of the packaging cushions are also described.

대표청구항 ▼

In an automated apparatus for continuously making foam cushions for packaging purposes, said apparatus including: a cushion forming station whereat a cushion envelope is partially filled with an expandable cushion foam material as it is formed, means for advancing a continuous web of envelope-formin

In an automated apparatus for continuously making foam cushions for packaging purposes, said apparatus including: a cushion forming station whereat a cushion envelope is partially filled with an expandable cushion foam material as it is formed, means for advancing a continuous web of envelope-forming material through said cushion forming station, foam dispenser means adjacent the cushion forming station for dispensing predetermined amounts of an expandable custion foam material into a cushion envelope as it is being formed, sealing means at said cushion-forming station for forming first, second and side seams in the advancing web to define the cushion envelope, the improvement comprising: said advancing means includes means for advancing a folder-over web of envelope-forming material including a longitudinally extending folded side, an opposed open side and a pair of opposing web faces, said foam dispenser means extending into the open side of said web, and said sealing means includes means for continuously, successively forming a labyrinth from a plurality of side seams lying along the open side of said web, each said side seam including an elongate seal passsage defined by a pluality of spaced apart, heat sealed bands joining portions of the opposing web faces adjacent the open side, each of said passages having a length and a cross-sectional configuration defined such that gases are permitted to pass outwardly from the cushion envelope but said expanding and solidifying cushion foam material is prevented from passing fully through said passages and thereby leaking from the open side of the web.