Compression belt for inflation and sealing devices

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a compression belt for inflation and sealing devices. The device may include an inflation assembly, a heating assembly, and a drive mechanism. The inflation assembly may direct fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies. The heating assembly may be operable to heat the first and second plies of the web material to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the fluid in the inflated chambers. The drive mechanism may drive the web material in a downstream direction. The drive mechanism may tension the web material against the heating assembly. The drive mechanism may include a first belt including a high grip material on a surface that contacts the web material to grip the web material during heating by the heating assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective packaging formation device, comprising:
 an inflation assembly directing fluid between overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies;   a heating assembly operable to heat the plies of the web material to create a heat seal that seals the plies together to seal the fluid in the chambers; and   a drive mechanism driving the web material along a path in a downstream direction through the heating assembly such that the heat seal is continuously created as the web material is driven in the downstream direction, the drive mechanism including a textured drive component having a textured surface that grips the web material adjacent the heating assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface includes a ribbed surface. 
     
     
         3 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface is made of a rough material. 
     
     
         4 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface is made of a high tackiness material. 
     
     
         5 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive component includes a first layer having the textured surface and a second layer, the first layer being disposed on the second layer, wherein the first layer is a high tackiness coating. 
     
     
         6 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 6 , wherein the drive component includes a first layer having the textured surface and a second layer, the first layer being disposed on the second layer, wherein the first layer is made of an elastomeric material to define the textured surface. 
     
     
         7 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating assembly and the drive mechanism cooperatively define a first curve in the path therebetween that is curved in a first direction, such that the textured surface adjacent the heating assembly is curved in the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 7 , further comprising an isolation element disposed transversely between the heating element and the chambers to isolate the fluid in the chambers during the heat sealing, the isolation element defining a second curve in the path that is curved in the first direction, wherein the textured surface pinches the web material against the second curve, the second curve being different from the first curve. 
     
     
         9 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 8 , wherein the textured surface of the drive component that pinches the web material against the second curve of the isolation element is coaxial with the first curve of the heating assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 8 , wherein the textured surface of the drive component pinches the web material against an opposing surface, the opposing surface having a significantly lesser grip on the web material than the textured surface. 
     
     
         11 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 7 , wherein the textured surface is configured to create a compression force pinching at least a portion of the web material against the heating assembly along the first curve as the heat seal is created. 
     
     
         12 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a second component opposing the drive component element, the drive component and the second component are configured to pinch the web material therebetween during heating by the heating assembly, the second component including a second surface, the textured surface providing a significantly higher grip than the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 12 , wherein the drive component is a drive belt and the second component is a second belt, wherein the drive belt is wider than the second belt. 
     
     
         14 . A protective packaging formation device, comprising:
 an inflation assembly directing fluid between overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies;   a heating assembly operable to heat the plies of the web material to create a heat seal that seals the plies together to seal the fluid in the chambers; and   a drive mechanism driving the web material along a path in a downstream direction through the heating assembly such that the heat seal is continuously created as the web material is driven in the downstream direction, the drive mechanism including a first drive component having a first grip surface that grips the web material adjacent the heating assembly and a second drive component having a second surface, the first grip surface providing a significantly higher grip than the second surface.   
     
     
         15 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 14 , wherein the first grip surface includes a high grip material and the second surface includes a low friction material. 
     
     
         16 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 15 , wherein the low friction material is polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         17 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 14 , wherein the heating assembly and the drive mechanism cooperatively define a first curve in the path therebetween that is curved in a first direction, such that the first grip surface adjacent the heating assembly is curved in the first direction. 
     
     
         18 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 14 , wherein the drive component is a drive belt and the second component is a second belt. 
     
     
         19 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 18 , wherein the drive belt is wider than the second belt. 
     
     
         20 . A protective packaging formation device, comprising:
 an inflation assembly directing fluid between overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies;   a heating assembly operable to heat the plies of the web material to create a heat seal that seals the plies together to seal the fluid in the chambers; and   a drive mechanism driving the web material along a path in a downstream direction through the heating assembly such that the heat seal is continuously created as the web material is driven in the downstream direction, the drive mechanism including a drive component having a high grip surface that grips the web material adjacent the heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly and the drive mechanism cooperatively define a first curve in the path therebetween that is curved in a first direction, such that the high grip surface adjacent the heating assembly is curved in the first direction.   
     
     
         21 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 20 , wherein the heating assembly and the drive mechanism cooperatively define a first curve in the path therebetween that is curved in a first direction, such that the high grip surface adjacent the heating assembly is curved in the first direction. 
     
     
         22 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 21 , further comprising an isolation element disposed transversely between the heating element and the chambers to isolate the fluid in the chambers during the heat sealing, the isolation element defining a second curve in the path that is curved in the first direction, wherein the high grip surface pinches the web material against the second curve, the second curve being different from the first curve. 
     
     
         23 . The protective packaging formation device of  claim 22 , wherein the high grip surface of the drive component compresses the web material against an opposing surface, the opposing surface having a significantly lesser grip on the web material than the high grip surface.