Inflated dunnage and method for its production

Abstract

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in web 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 open edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. A plurality of sealed inflated bags is separated from the web and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. The bags have a slip resistant outer surface which causes the bags to interlock in the carton and better protect object therein from shock.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a process for producing dunnage directly on the site of use, and the dunnage produced thereby.Materials with low density and high volume are commonly used as packing materials to insulate goods being shipped from shock. Among the materials used are polystyrene "peanuts", "cups" and "worms," pellets of foam rubber, foam plastics and expanded polyurethane foam. Air cushioning material is generally preferred over the above types of dunnage because it is lighter in weight, can be supplied and dispensed in a controlled manner, particularly in web or folded form, and applied to the product to be shipped in sheet form. The sheet form of material is also easier to dispose of than the individual pieces of plastic dunnage after the product is removed, and the sheet form of material can be rewound for further use or disposed of by deflation.However, air cushioning material also presents a variety of problems, as large volumes of the material ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Finally, it is possible to coat the outer surface to reduce slip or the inner surface to increase slip, typically with a spray or a roller. Most often, this involves coating an adhesive material on the outer surface of the bags; in fact it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,092 to coat the outer surface of plastic grocery bags with at least a pattern of adhesive in order to make them easier to hand open.

Among the other materials which can be used to form bags are nylon film and high density polyethylene. Nylon film will keep air trapped for a long period of time, while high density polyethylene is strong and also holds air for a long period of time. However, low density polyethylene tends to be inexpensive and will typically be used for the slip resistant outer surface. The thickness of the films can be adjusted to provide extra strength or light weight, depending on which properties are desired.

It is also possible to produce the plastic film with degradable additives in order to aid in disposal.

Problems solved by technology

Applicants have discovered that it is far more difficult to produce a web of plastic bags than it is to convert a web of plastic bags to inflated dunnage.

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