Abstract: The invention relates to a honeycomb material. The material is comprised of sections of a thermofusible textile material and the sections are welded together in such a manner as to define cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting and heat sealing separator materials enveloping individually shaped electrode is described. The electrodes can be cathodes, anodes or other active components for incorporation into batteries, capacitors, and other implantable medical devices.

Abstract: Two circuit bearing substrates, such as a rigid electronic circuit board and a flexible circuit film, each having large arrays or multiple arrays of surface contact pads or traces, are mechanically and electrically joined without relocating the substrates during the bonding process by using a bonding apparatus with multiple working tools or bond shoes. The bonding apparatus includes a fixture for holding the circuit bearing substrates with a joining layer between them, and two or more independently operated heated bond shoes that compress different portions of the circuit bearing substrates with the joining layer, such as a layer of anisotropic conductive film.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable lateral heat press machine and long sleeve lower platen that allows an operator to quickly and economically transfer graphic characters or images using an ink transfer paper process or a sublimation process, or vinyl onto the sleeves of a garment. The device includes a vertical aligned sliding arm assembly perpendicularly aligned to a horizontally aligned chassis assembly. Attached to the chassis assembly is at least one workstation assembly and a console. The workstation assembly includes a pedestal with an exchangeable, horizontally aligned long sleeve lower platen that includes at center support and at least one one cantilevered, parallel side support spaced apart from said center support that allows easy loading and unloading of a pair of sleeves.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus wherein webless zipper is provided with concave seal bridges. These concave seal bridges are complementary in shape to convex sealing bars. This captures or positions the seal bridges of the zipper profiles resulting in improved alignment of the profiles and improved performance of the manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: A portable laminator designed primarily for home use where the laminator includes a handle for carrying which may also act as a guide for articles being fed into the laminator. In alternate embodiments, the laminator includes a cover which may first position acts as a guide for material being fed into the laminator and in a second position acts as a cover for the laminators feed slot. In additional embodiments, the laminator includes a double walled housing to provide insulation from the heating elements.

Abstract: A device forms a radial flange on a bottom opening of a conate member having a longitudinal axis. The device has a die for receiving the conate member with the bottom opening extending from an open end of the die, a seal-forming cone having at least two radially-extendable sections and being removably located in the open end of the die, inside the conate member, and a handle, axially movable in the cone to extend the movable sections.

Abstract: A joining press for joining the ends particularly of a conveyor belt, comprising lower and upper heating plates which can be engaged by pusher pads in order to apply the necessary pressure, the plates being supported by reaction beams to contain a load applied by the pusher pads, the reaction beams having seats for detachably accommodating reinforcement elements.

Abstract: This specification discloses an improved structure of the thermal conductive case in a laminator. It includes two side frames, upper and lower thermal conductive plates integrally formed on the frames, a pressing roller set fixed on the frames and between the upper and lower thermal conductive plates, and heating elements installed between the upper and lower thermal conductive plates. The two sidewalls of the upper thermal conductive plate is formed with several thermally convective through holes and several cavities bent inward for inserting one of the heating elements, positioning it on the inner side of the upper thermal conductive plate. The bottom of the two sidewalls of the lower thermal conductive plate is also shrunk to form a cavity for inserting the other heating element, positioning it on the inner side of the lower thermal conductive plate.

Abstract: A covering apparatus (10) includes a cutter (12), an applicator (14) and a continuous length of removable cover material (16). The cutter (12) is adapted to cut off a discrete section (50) of cover material, and the applicator (14) applies the discrete section (50) to a printed media/ticket substrate (52). The covering apparatus (10) may be mounted adjacent to a printer (108) and creates a complete, covered ticket in response to a ticket substrate (52) being ejected from the printer (108) into the covering apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) and methods for segmenting a blood-filled tube (42) into multiple, blood-containing, sealed segment are disclosed. The apparatus (20) includes a tubing locating surface (22) for mounting the tubing and sealing means (24) cooperatively associated with the tubing locating surface (22).

Abstract: A welding machine for joining overlapping webs of sealing material, with a powered chassis supported by rolls, with a heating system for local heating of the webs of sealing material that is mounted laterally to the chassis (4) and can be placed between the webs of sealing material in edge regions, with at least a first pressure roll installed on the chassis for pressing together the webs of sealing material to be joined by means of heat, where a second pressure roll serving as a replacement pressure roll is placed in the chassis, whose weight rests on the drive shaft and which can be exchanged without tools for the first pressure roll that is coupled to the drive shaft of the welding machine and presses together the bitumen webs to be joined. In addition, the pressure roll (3) may have at least one contact surface made of hard metallic material; and a stripper element is provided whose free end contacts the contact surface or is in close proximity to the same.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for welding two container walls of plastic film (1, 2) to a plastic tube (3) having a substantially circular cross section, wherein the plastic tube (3) is arranged between two parallelly arranged plastic films (1, 2). The two plastic films (1, 2) are made to extend along the outer surface of the plastic tube (3) and to abut each other along a joint face (7) between two welding jaws (5, 6) in an area (8) adjoining the plastic tube (3). The plastic films (1, 2) are welded by means of welding jaws (5, 6) to the outer face of the plastic tube (3) and welded together in the area (8) adjoining the plastic tube (3). The plastic tube (3) is deformed during welding by means of a compressive force applied by the welding jaws (5, (5) to provide the outer surface of the plastic tube (3) with a substantially plane portion (9) extending on both sides of the joint face (7) and substantially perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: The dehumidifying device contains a dehumidifying space, a duct member within the dehumidifying space, and a number of second hot places beneath the duct member with appropriate gaps therebetween. When a paperboard passes through the dehumidifying space between the duct member and the second hot plates, air is introduced to the duct member and, because of the provision of the gaps, turbulence within the duct member is prevented and uniform air pressure is developed within the dehumidifying space, thereby pressing the paperboard against the second hot plates for continuous heating. In the mean time, the steam absorbed during previous stage of beating can be expelled along with the air flow.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus heating an object to be laminated and pressing the object to be laminated in a sandwiched state includes: a first space whose internal pressure is adjustable; a second space which is separated from the first space by a diaphragm and whose internal pressure is adjustable; a heater panel provided inside the second space; one hole or more provided inside the heater panel; and one heater or more inserted in the hole. The hole is hermetically sealed and the total length of the one heater or more is shorter than a length of the hole.

Abstract: A sealing jaw assembly is comprised of a passive jaw pad and an active ceramic jaw adapted to conduct a heating current for generating a sealing temperature in a profiled sealing head to form a seal in a polyolefin film material compressed between the jaws. The sealing head of the passive jaw has a triangular profile defining opposed inclined side walls and a joint. The side walls provide variable pressure and the joint defines a cutting edge. The inclined side walls are disposed at selected angles to form an angled seal profile to enhance the quality of the seal formed in the polyolefin film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which include a pair of opposed seal bars for the manufacture of reclosable packages. The method and apparatus are particularly adaptable to form fill seal manufacture of reclosable packages. At least one of the opposed seal bars includes a rubberized or otherwise deformable sealing surface. This allows a hermetic seal to be formed across an abrupt transition of thickness of material between the opposed seal bars, such as when a zipper ends adjacent to a side seal in a reclosable bag.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing a filtering screen, a frame of plastics coated metal or reinforced plastics material is located in a jig and at least two sheets of wire cloths are placed over the frame and their edges gripped by pneumatically operated clamps carried by the jig. The clamps are pneumatically driven outwardly of the frame to tension each cloth in orthogonal directions. The tensioned cloths are pressed against the frame and heated in order to bond the cloths to the frame. The heated material is allowed to cool, and after completion of the bonding step the clamps are released, allowing the frame to be removed from the jig. Where necessary the cloths are trimmed back to the edges of the frame. A separate set of pneumatically operated clamps may be provided for gripping all four edges of each wire cloth layer to allow each layer to be individually tensioned.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a support arrangement for objects to be decorated, a valve device fixed to said support arrangement and provided with a shutter element actuatable for opening and/or closing a circuit traversable by a fluid from and/or to an enclosure arranged around said objects, wherein said shutter element is such as to be actuatable only when said support arrangement is in a preset configuration. An apparatus comprises a frame, arranged to support objects to be decorated and associated with a carriage, wherein said frame and said carriage are configured as distinct units provided with a cooperating arrangement such as to enable said units to mutually couple and/or uncouple. A method for measuring the temperature of objects to be decorated wrapped by an enclosure inside an oven comprises using a remote temperature gauge device. A method for measuring the temperature of objects to be decorated wrapped by an enclosure inside an oven comprises using a laser thermometer device.

Abstract: A sealing tool for a sealing machine has a heat-conductive and normally heated support plate having an inner face and a heat-conductive seal plate having an outer face bearing in surface contact on the support-plate inner face. A central attachment extends between the plates across the faces at a point location and substantially prevents relative movement of the plates parallel to the faces at this point location. Outer attachments spaced outward from the central attachment press the faces together with a limited force such that the faces can slide parallel to each other at the outer attachments.

Abstract: The device to join a sheet of smooth cardboard (N4) to a sheet of corrugated cardboard (N1; N2; N3), comprises a series of heated plates (3) aligned according to a longitudinal direction of feed (F) of the cardboard and, above said heated plates, pressure elements (53) to press the cardboard against said heated plates, which are fastened by elastic elements to a supporting structure (41). The supporting structure comprises a plurality of frames (41) aligned according to the longitudinal direction (F) and the inclination of the frames is adjustable to modify the pressure profile applied by said pressure elements to the cardboard (C).

Abstract: The reinforcement combining apparatus includes: a stage having a pressing surface; and a tool having a pressing surface opposite to the pressing surface of the stage, wherein the stage and the tool sandwich and press a flexible wiring substrate and a reinforcement, thereby combining the reinforcement with the flexible wiring substrate. A heat conduction rubber having elasticity which allows the heat conduction rubber to transform at an arbitrary area is provided as a part of the pressing surface of the tool, and the tool exerts pressure to the flexible wiring substrate via the heat conduction rubber. Thus, it is possible to bond the reinforcement to the flexible wiring with them uniformly appressed to each other.

Abstract: In a pressure stamp device for the sealing of films with a slidable stamp element with a stamping surface for applying pressure to a first foil to bond it to a supported second foil, a substantially homogeneous internal temperature distribution is reached by contributing the stamping element with multiple layers so that it includes basically three layers with a heated central layer of a first material with a thermal conductivity and two peripheral layers of a second material flanking it, the surface being formed by one of the peripheral layers to constitute the stamping surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying thermal energy to a sealing member. Electrical current is applied to a heating assembly to generate thermal energy, and a heat conductor transfers the generated thermal energy to a seal member adjacent a housing. The heating assembly is configured to substantially prevent a magnetic field generated by the applied electrical current from extending to the housing.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus is composed of a thermo compression bonding section, a first bobbin holder and a second bobbin holder. The thermo compression bonding section pulls a laminating film having a member for forming a protective film out from a roll of the laminating film, which is wrapped around a core bobbin in a cylindrical shape, and overlaps the protective film on one surface of a card and thermally compresses the protective film against the one surface of the card so as to be bonded.

Abstract: The article (10) comprises a central region (12) with a recessed rim (32) comprising a peripheral flat portion (14) onto which the film (40) is heat-sealed. The film used is a cold-drawable plastic film, and the process comprises in particular a step of peripheral holding and axial displacement of the film relative to the part, beyond the central region, by drawing the film in the region of the rim without any substantial external application of heat. The film is thus cold-formed to give it a concave shape with zones (42-48) associated with the central region (12) and the rim (32) of the article. The film is then held in contact with the flat portion, the whole being heated simultaneously to effect the heat-sealing.

Abstract: Presses with heaters, such as mug presses, comprise a thermal sensor which is separated from a heater element by at least one layer of insulation. The thermal sensor is advantageously in electrical communication with the heating element to shut off the heating element when a predetermined temperature is reached. By spacing the thermal sensor from the actual heater, the sensor is insulated from the heater so that the temperature at the sensor will be less than the certain pre-determined temperature at the heater during heating. Accurate control of the heating of the mugs and substrate is achieved in a manner which eliminates the need for separately controlling and/or monitoring the time which the heat is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming bag edges in a layered plastic film. The apparatus includes a heated seal bar and a seal bar anvil. The seal bar anvil has a resilient tube configured to deform as the seal bar is driven into the tube to seal and sever a bag edge therebetween. According to one construction, the resilient tube is pressurized pneumatically from the inside so as to impart a specific, desired resilience to the tube as the tube and seal bar co-act on either side of the layered plastic film.

Abstract: Continuous installation (10) for the production of plastic laminates including multi-layer laminates (110, 120, 130), comprising a cold press (11) having a lower fixed plate (12) on which is laid a band of aluminium for carrying and drawing inside the press strips of copper (50, 90) and bands of pre-preg (70, 71, 80, 81) partially sliding on the surface of a structure (60) upstream of the press, to allow multi-layer laminates (130) to be placed on said bands (70, 71), said aluminium band (20) remaining in continuous contact with a pair of electrodes (30, 31), placed respectively at the entry to and at the exit from the press, and connected to the electric circuit of a generator (40) of electric current so that, on closure of the press and of said electric circuit, the fraction of metal band (20) comprised between the two electrodes (30, 31) functions as an electric resistance generating the heat needed for pressing.

Abstract: Photosensitive material includes a support, and a photosensitive layer overlaid thereon and containing resin. A photosensitive layer laminator transfers the photosensitive layer from the photosensitive material to a glass substrate. In the photosensitive layer laminator, heat/pressure rollers apply the photosensitive layer to a transfer region on the substrate with heat and pressure. A photosensitive material feeder transports first and second photosensitive materials to the substrate set at the heat/pressure rollers. The first and second photosensitive materials have a width smaller than a width of the transfer region, and are disposed to extend along one another. Furthermore, a tension adjuster adjusts tension applied to the first and second photosensitive materials in an upstream direction from the heat/pressure rollers.

Abstract: A foam-in-bag assembly with a film feed mechanism which feeds film with a film driver and a bag forming assembly which includes an edge sealer that contacts film being fed by the film driver and which is supported on a moving member of the film feed mechanism and retains a fixed position relative to the moving member while in sealing engagement with the film being fed by the film driver. The edge seal assembly is preferably for use with a nip roller set and has a bearing through which a driving shaft of the nip roller extends and an edge wire is received on an edge wire support of the edge sealer. The support for the edge wire retains a fixed edge seal position while the driving member rotates within the sleeve.

Abstract: An end sealer shifting assembly, comprising a transmission, a push rod assembly which is driven by the transmission, and end seal compression jaw in driving engagement with the push rod assembly, and a compliance assembly for jaw compliance with a contact member (e.g., a heater wire cutter cross cut jaw) when the jaw is driven into a compression relationship with the contact member. The compliance device preferably includes springs and the transmission assembly preferably includes a cam device with a second spring working to retain a contact relationship and work together with the compliance spring. A method of assembling such a device and operating such a device is also featured.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a welding tip for welding polymeric materials such as containers. The welding tip includes a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body defines a central bore and includes a perimeter around the bore. The perimeter includes one or more knurls. The knurls provide the welding tip with varying temperatures and pressure points to create a more desirable weld.

Abstract: A heat sealer having a heated platen, a cylinder for reciprocating the platen, a die positioned to be engaged by the platen and a shuttle supporting the die to move the die from a platen-engaging position to a non-engaging position, and a control for controlling the temperature of the platen and the force applied to the platen against the die by the cylinder. The invention also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the surface temperature of the platen and a load sensor for sensing the force applied by the platen to the die. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor that reads the surface temperature of the platen and the load sensor is a load cell positioned beneath the die and supporting the die so that the load sensors can measure the direct force applied by the platen against the die. Also, in one embodiment, the infrared sensor is positioned beneath the die so that it can read the platen temperature when the die is displaced to the non-engaging position.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable lateral heat press machine that allows an operator to quickly and economically transfer graphic characters or images using an ink transfer paper process or a sublimation process, or vinyl onto the surface of a garment or an object. The device includes a vertical aligned sliding arm assembly perpendicularly aligned to a horizontally aligned chassis assembly. Attached to the chassis assembly is at least one workstation assembly and a console. The workstation assembly includes a pedestal with an exchangeable, horizontally aligned lower platen that may be selectively rotated and locked in portrait or landscape orientation and a height and pressure adjustment feature. The sliding arm assembly extends upward and forward and includes a heated, upper platen attached to a manually operated plunger. The console contains the controls for operating the heating element inside the upper platen and a timer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the welding of a trailing sheet tail on a roll of sheet material to an underlying layer of the sheet material on the roll to form a finished roll product ready for packaging. A device for effecting the welding comprises a thermally conductive, heat sealing disk mounted for rotation about an axis, and a heating element for heating an inner portion of the disk so as to cause thermal conduction through an outer portion of the disk towards an outer peripheral surface thereof. The heat sealing disk is mounted for engagement with the outer surface of the trailing sheet tail to weld this tail to the underlying layer of sheet material on the roll.

Abstract: By applying heat and pressure to a backing film with an adhesive layer while mounting it to a polish head used for chemical mechanical polishing, inhomogeneities inside the adhesive layer, e.g. thickness and compressibility variations or air bubbles can easily be removed. A corresponding configuration includes a device for exerting a uniform pressure force, which can be a roller made of silicone or rubber, or a plate. The configuration also includes a device for heating and a control unit for controlling the heat and the pressure force. After the backing film is installed using this configuration and method, the polish head can be used to uniformly remove material from a semiconductor wafer surface and therefore the wafer yield is advantageously increased.

Abstract: A die attachment includes a placement head, a platen, and a vibration mechanism to vibrate at least a selected one of the placement head and platen while a die and a substrate mounted on the placement head and the platen, respectively, are in contact.

Abstract: A plate for hot pressing capable of keeping the degree of vacuum of its inside in the form of being separated from a deaeration apparatus, a hot press apparatus having press sections the alteration of the arrangement layout of which is easy, and a card manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing various kinds of cards by itself are provided. A plate for hot pressing (101) is provided with a check valve device (101h) for keeping a vacuum state inside a base material accommodating section (101c) formed between a pair of plate members (101a) and (101b), and respective press sections (103A)-(103C), (104A) and (104B) constituting lamination sections (103) and (104) are arranged in series respectively. Conveyance rails (108A) and (108B) for conveying the plate for hot pressing (101) are disposed doubly on an upper side and a lower side, and conveyance means (118A), (118B), (151A) and (151B) conveying the plate for hot pressing (101) cyclically are provided.

Abstract: A device 1 for feeding foil 2 for the manufacture of foil bags with at least one supply roll holder 3 that can be driven with a drive, at least one piece of conveyor equipment 4 for conveying a foil 2 from a supply roll 5 that is held in the supply roll holder 3, at least one foil sensor mechanism 6, which is arranged between the supply roll holder 3 and the conveyor equipment 4, which includes at least one stationary deflection roll 7 and a first and second dancer roll 8, 9, supported in movable supports 10, 11 for turning the foil 2 around, whereby the foil sensor mechanism 6 for regulating the drive of the supply roll holder 3 is formed depending on the distance from the first and/or second dancer roll 8, 9 to the deflection roll 7. The supports 10, 11 of the first and second dancer rolls 8, 9 are hung into at least one hanger 12 that is guided over a deflection wheel 13, 14 and in this way so coupled together that the weight of the first and second dancer rolls 8, 9 is at least partially offset.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for moving frameworks such as window frames or sashes from a plastic frame welding machine to a work station for further processing of the frameworks are disclosed. Two tracks are mounted at an elevated position so they extend horizontally from the welding machine to the workstation and an arm assembly is mounted for movement along each track. Preferably each arm assembly has gripping devices arranged one above the other each capable of releasably engaging and gripping one of the frameworks. An actuator is provided to move each arm assembly along its track from a position where the arm assembly can engage the frameworks when they are in the welding machine and then move them to a position where the grippers can grip the frameworks at the workstation.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for use in a vibratory separator, the method, in certain aspects, including producing a heated first screen assembly; cooling the first screen assembly while a second heated screen assembly is being made; and cooling the second screen assembly while a third heated screen assembly is being made—with heating apparatus adjacent cooling apparatuses.

Abstract: A method for producing information carriers in the form of cards, in particular credit cards, passes, identification cards, admittance cards etc., the laminating process including placing at least one card template which is to be sized, preferably a laminate consisting of a plurality of sized card layers, into a hollow mold and subjecting it to a simultaneous action of pressure and heat for a predetermined time. The material placed into the hollow mold is heated over at least one large area, as known per se by the use of heating plates, and in the peripheral, narrow, outer boundary region of the inserted material quantities of heat flowing off per se there are retained, blocked in, reflected and concentrated back onto the laminate template.

Abstract: A machine includes a lower and an upper molds to support and to move two pad members toward and away from each other. A heating device includes two heating members for heating the pad members, and a sending device may send the heating members toward and away from the pad members to locate the heating members between the pad members and to allow the pad members to be heated by the heating members, and to disengage the heating members away from the pad members after the pad members have been heated by the heating members. Each of the pad members includes one or more hollow chambers for cushioning purposes.

Abstract: A heat sealing wheel assembly of a shrink wrap machine reduces thermoplastic film waste during the side cutting and sealing process. The relative diameters of the heat wheel and heating hub of the heat sealing wheel assembly are configured to create an annular region towards the outer circumference of the heat wheel. This creates a space to permit closer engagement of the gripping mechanism for grasping and guiding the edge of thermoplastic film next to the point of contact of the opposing heat wheel edges, and avoids the obstruction normally caused by the heating hub. The closer gripping engagement reduces the amount of film that must extend out from the point of sealing contact of the heat wheels, resulting in less waste during the side sealing process.

Abstract: Process for the production of variously decorated artefacts, comprising the steps of: preliminary preparation of the surfaces of the artefact, possible application of preliminary painting cycles or other surface treatments; covering or tight-wrapping up of the artefact with a transfer support bearing the decorations desired, realized from gas-tight thermoformable plastic material such as polyvinyl alcohol; creation of a vacuum between said transfer support and the artefact covered by the same, so that the support adheres to the shape of the artefact; and heating for the transfer of the decoration and the polymerization of the colors.

Abstract: This machine comprises a frame, spacing means arranged in the interior (3) of the tubular film (1) to separate the walls, traction means (8) to draw the tubular film and an inflating and welding device (5, 6, 7, 12). The inflating and welding means is provided with at least one hollow needle (5) for inflation, means (2, 2a, and 2b) to prevent the air escaping toward said reel, that is to say, upstream. Said means (2) to prevent the escape of air are placed between the means (3) provided within the said film and the reel. The inflating and welding device (5, 6, 7, 12) is located after the means (3) provided within said film and before the traction means (8) for drawing said tubular film (1) through the inflating and welding device.

Abstract: A modular reciprocating heat seal jaw assembly is disclosed for sealing reclosable fastener strips to a web of thermoplastic film and for sealing the web of thermoplastic film into a series of reclosable bags. The jaw assembly includes first and second sealing jaws and means for slidably mounting the first and second sealing jaws on a first pair of parallel shafts near the lateral ends of the first and second sealing jaws in a horizontal configuration. A mechanical system is providing for selectively effecting reciprocal movement of the first and second sealing jaws together and apart as required. A modular frame is provided for supporting the first and second sealing jaws and the first and second pairs of parallel shafts and for maintaining the lateral and vertical position of the first and second sealing jaws as they are moved toward or away from each other. The modular frame and heat seal jaw assembly may be inserted into existing form-fill-seal machine to make them more efficient and accurate.

Abstract: A blister packaging machine for packaging product includes a frame, a heater that is supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame, a hydraulic clamp connected to the heater, an insulator is provided to adequately thermally insulate the hydraulic clamp from the heater, and a heat sealing member for contacting a heat sealable item during use. The heat sealing member is adapted to be connected to the heater by way of the hydraulic clamp. The heater and the heat sealing member are adapted to move so that the heat sealing member contacts the heat sealable item.

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.