Abstract: A cushion package can be formed around an object. The object can be removed from and reinserted into the cushion package. The cushion package includes a cushion material (104) having a longitudinal length and two longitudinal edges (110). The two longitudinal edges (110) of the cushion material are folded into an overlapping position to form a tube of the cushion material. The cushion package includes first and second transverse seals (148,150) in the tube of the cushion material. The first and second transverse seals (148,150) respectively form first and second ends of the cushion package. Each of the first transverse seal and the second transverse seal (148,150) seals the cushion material with the two longitudinal edges (110) in the overlapping position. The two longitudinal edges (110) of the cushion material are uncoupled between the first transverse seal and the second transverse seal (148,150).

Abstract: A cushioned envelope is formed from a laminated material that includes a cushioning web and a shell web. The outer side of the cushioning web is laminated to the inner side of the shell web. A crimping adhesive is applied to first and second transverse seams of the inner side of the cushioning web. The laminated web material is crimped so that each of the first and second transverse seams on the inner side of the cushioning web is folded in on itself. The folded laminated web material is crimped at the first transverse seam and at the second transverse seam. The crimped laminated web material is cut at a location in the first transverse seam and at a location in the second transverse seam.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses configured to detect the presence of foam forming composition in various regions within a foam dispensing apparatus. In various embodiments, the foam dispensing apparatus comprises a dispensing nozzle positioned between at least two container-forming layers and configured to dispense foam forming composition into a container interior formed by the container-forming layers. The sensing apparatus may be positioned external to the container interior, on an opposite side of a container-forming layer relative to the nozzle, and the sensing apparatus may be configured to detect whether foam forming composition is present within a field of view of the sensing apparatus, which encompasses a portion of the container interior. The sensing apparatus may comprise a contactless temperature sensor configured to detect the presence of foam forming composition based on the detected temperature of a surface within the field of view of the sensor apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for providing cushioning products of varying lengths from a supply of a web material having sequential transverse rows of inflated protrusions. A pair of opposing feed members form a feed nip for moving the web along a path of travel. At least one sensor detects location information for the sequential rows of inflated protrusions as the web travels along the path of travel. A severing device is moveable between (i) an engaged position to separate the web transversely or perforate the web transversely and (ii) a disengaged position. A controller is programmed (i) to receive the location information and (ii) to operatively control the severing device to move it to the engaged position when a selected row is in a determined position relative the severing device.

Abstract: A retention packaging assembly includes a frame and two sheet assemblies. The frame includes a central panel, end panels, and two sets of wing panels. Each set of wing panels includes wing panels that are foldably coupled to the central panel and to one of the two end panels. The sheet assemblies include a sheet that is attached at its ends to slot panels. The slot panels of each of the sheet assemblies are selectively couplable to one of the set of wing panels. After an object is placed on a front of the central panel, the sheets of the sheet assemblies are located over the sides of the object. The sets of wing panels can then be folded to a back of the frame to cause the sheets to retain the sides of the object to the central panel.

Abstract: A shaft decoupling system (200) includes an inner shaft (202) couplable to an actuator (102), an outer shaft (204) aligned coaxially with the inner shaft, and a bearing release collar (206). The bearing release collar is biased toward a first position by a biasing mechanism and configured to be moved to a second position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism (222, 322) in response to the bearing release collar contacting a collar strike plate (118) as the actuator moves the shaft decoupling system. When the bearing release collar is in the first position, a bearing (220, 320) is held by the bearing release collar to prevent respective movement of the inner shaft and the outer shaft. When the bearing release collar is in the second position, the bearing release collar permits the bearing to retract such that the inner shaft is permitted to move coaxially with respect to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: An inflatable web (10) includes a top film (30) heat sealed to a bottom film (32) to define sealed regions (40) and non-sealed regions (214). The non-sealed regions include inflatable regions (216) that are inflatable through one or more inflation ports. The top film (30) may have a color that differs from the color of the bottom film (32) to create a visual contrast between the sealed regions (40) and the adjacent non-sealed regions (214) when the web is viewed from the top film side. The ratio of the surface area of the inflatable regions (216) to the total surface area of the inflatable web is at least 50% and at most 95%.

Abstract: An object can be heat-shrinkable packaged by placing an object inside of heat-shrinkable film, sealing the heat-shrinkable film around the object to form a heat-shrinkable package, coupling a first portion of a label to the heat-shrinkable package, and causing the heat-shrinkable film to shrink into heat-shrunk film and the heat-shrinkable package to form into a heat-shrunk package. The label includes an identifier on a second portion of the label. The label remains coupled to the heat-shrunk film after the heat-shrinkable film is caused to shrink into heat-shrunk film. The second portion of the label remains substantially undeformed after the heat-shrinkable film is caused to shrink into heat-shrunk film.

Abstract: A supply of inflatable pouches includes an inflatable web defining a series of inflatable chambers, a longitudinal fold in the web such that the web is configured in the form of two juxtaposed inflatable panels joined together at the longitudinal fold, and a series of transverse seals that bond the panels together to form a series of inflatable pouches between pairs of the transverse seals.

Abstract: A system of facilitating printing of shipping labels includes a computing device and a label printer. The computing device receive shipment database data from a remote computing device, store the shipment database data in a shipment database, receive scan data associated with an object from a scanning device, determine whether shipment data for the object is in the shipping database, determine shipping information for the object based on whether shipment data for the object is in the shipping database, and send shipping information to the label printer. The shipping information for the object is based on whether shipment data for the object is in the shipping database. The label printer prints a shipping label for the object based on the shipping information.

Abstract: A retention packaging system includes a frame (102), a sheet (108), and an attachment zone (170). The frame includes a first panel (106), a second panel (112), and a sheet panel (108). The frame is foldable to a first folded state where the frame forms a space having an opening with the sheet panel (108) foldably connected to the first panel (106). The sheet is attached to the frame across a portion of the sheet panel. The frame is foldable to a second folded state where an attachment end (158) of the sheet panel (108) is attached to the attachment zone (170) with the sheet spanning across of the opening. In the second folded state, one side of the attachment end (158) is attached to a portion of the attachment zone (170) on the second panel (112) and the other side of the attachment end (158) is attached to another portion of the attachment zone (170) on an attachment flap (142, 146) foldably connected to the second panel (112).

Abstract: A reloading supply system includes a loading cart (100) and a machine (200). The loading cart has a first material tray (120) that includes a first combed surface (122) configured to retain a supply material in the first material tray. The machine has a second material tray (220) that includes a second combed surface (222) configured to retain the supply material in the second material tray after the supply material is transferred from the first material tray of the loading cart to the second material tray of the machine. Teeth (124) of the first combed surface are configured to pass by teeth (224) of the second combed surface. The first combed surface and the second combed surface are configured such that the supply material in the first material tray is transferred to the second material tray as the teeth of the first combed surface pass by the teeth of the second combed surface.

Abstract: A system for supplying a liquid. A reservoir tank has a low level and a high level of the liquid. A pump is submerged in the liquid within the reservoir tank. The pump has an inlet to receive the liquid from a source outside of the reservoir tank and an outlet to deliver the liquid to a destination outside of the reservoir tank. A bleed path places the pump outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir tank. The bleed path has a bleed valve controlling the flow of liquid through the bleed path to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir tank above the low level. A recirculation path places the pump inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir tank. The recirculation path has a recirculation valve controlling the flow of liquid through the recirculation path to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir tank below the high level.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a liquid includes a source (24) of a liquid that crystallizes upon exposure to water moisture in air (e.g., an isocyanate). A dispenser (58) includes an inlet conduit (62) for receiving the liquid from the source, an outlet conduit (72) for dispensing the liquid out of an outlet opening exposed to air, and a valve (66) between the inlet (62) and outlet conduits (72). In the closed position of the valve (i) an upstream portion of the liquid is retained in the inlet conduit (62) on the upstream side of the valve (66) and (ii) a downstream portion of the liquid extending from the downstream side of the valve to the outlet opening is retained in the outlet conduit (72) on the downstream side of the valve (66). The size of the outlet opening of the outlet conduit (72) is sufficiently small to retain the downstream portion of the liquid in the outlet conduit when the valve (66) is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method of making a foam uses the following steps. A mixture is created having a polymerizable condensation polymer and a blowing agent. The polymerizable condensation polymer has hydroxy acid units and unsaturated di-functional units. The unsaturated di-functional units are unsaturated dicarboxylic acid units or unsaturated di-alcohol units. The mixture is expanded to create a froth. The polymerizable condensation polymer in the froth is reacted to create the foam.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming flexible containers from a film web, dispensing fluid into the containers, and enclosing the fluid within the containers. The film web comprises a pair of juxtaposed film plies, a closed longitudinal edge at which the plies are joined, and an open longitudinal edge at which the plies are not joined.

Abstract: A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable web, the web including opposing longitudinal edges and a pair of sheets sealed together by transverse seals that form a series of inflatable containers. The machine generally includes a support structure, a spool for supporting a roll of the inflatable web, a web conveyance system, an inflation system to inflate the containers, and a sealing device for sealing closed the openings of the containers.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products for providing a packaging solution and a corresponding predetermined sequence of packing materials. In one embodiment, a method for controlling one or more packing material making machines is provided. The method comprises storing one or more predetermined packing recipes, wherein a packing recipe comprises (a) machine instructions for making a sequence of one or more packing materials and (b) a packaging solution for positioning the one or more packing materials in a container with an item. One of the one or more predetermined packing recipes is selected based on received input. The method further comprises causing at least one of the packing material making machines is to make the predetermined sequence of one or more packing materials in accordance with the machine instructions of the selected packing recipe and providing the packaging solution to a user through a user interface.