Sealed Air Corporation
GUIDES FOR FOLDED PORTIONS OF INFLATABLE WEBS

Abstract:

A guide can be used to improve inflatability of web material. The guide can be in a system that also includes a supply of a web material and an inflation and sealing system. The web material includes chambers that are in fluid communication with a common channel. The web material in the supply is folded about a longitudinal fold such that lengths of the chambers are folded. The inflation and sealing system is configured to inflate and seal the chambers as the web material is fed from the supply. The guide has a guide mechanism configured to be located between portions of the web material as the web material is being fed from the supply. The guide mechanism is configured to at least partially unfold the longitudinal fold in the web material at a point in the system where the inflation and sealing system is configured to inflate the chambers.