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 cellular cushioning article strand in fan-folded configuration has embossed film bonded to backing film with entrapped air between the films. The embossed film has 15 to 40 percent land area and 85 to 60 percent embossed area. The embossments of a first ply are nested into the embossments of a second ply, with the first and second plies having a height under 0.05 psi load corresponding with a nesting level of at least 1 percent measured against two roll-stacked plies of the same cellular cushioning article under the same load. A strand of cellular cushioning fan-folded into at least 20 plies exhibits a post-0.05 psi temporary loading nesting level of at 1 percent relative to the post-0.05 psi temporary loading height of 20 plies of the same cellular cushioning article in roll-stacked arrangement.

Abstract: A heat-seal device generally includes a heat source, a thermal conductor, which encapsulates at least a portion of the heat source and is capable of transferring heat from the heat source, and a thermal insulator, which substantially surrounds the thermal conductor but leaves a portion thereof exposed, the exposed portion of the thermal conductor providing a heat-seal contact surface, which is adapted to be brought into sliding contact with a material to be sealed.

Abstract: An improved slicer having a reciprocating blade is disclosed. The use of a reciprocating blade allows the configuration and functionality of the slicer to be modified to address many of the deficiencies of current rotary slicers. The slicer operates without manual intervention, and includes the capability to automatically stack the sliced products. In other words, the food product to be sliced is placed on the slicer, and the slicer automatically slices the food product and stacks the sliced product, in a configuration that is presentable to the customer. In some embodiments, the machine is designed to have certain zones that can be cleaned or replaced, while the rest of the machine is never contaminated. In addition, the reciprocating blade is inexpensive and easily replaceable, thereby eliminating the need to sharpen the blade.

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.