Patent ID: 6183591
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A63H,G09F,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for preparing inflating and sealing balloons, the apparatus comprising:a mandrel supporting a latex balloon neck;a supply of non-adhesive cleaning fluid that does not degrade latex:an everter, cooperating with the mandrel for exposing an inside surface of the balloon neck for refreshing and for supporting a cleaned balloon neck for drying;a refresher cooperating with the mandrel for applying the non-adhesive cleaning fluid which does not degrade latex to the exposed inside surface of the balloon neck while the balloon neck is supported by the mandrel for refreshing the surface and, after drying, leaving it suitable for sealing by bringing opposed areas of the refreshed surface together to form a latex--latex bondmeans for sorting a supply of such balloons into individual sorted balloons;means for inflating each balloon after sorting and refreshing; andmeans for sealing each balloon after inflation by bringing opposed areas of the refreshed latex balloon surface into direct contact with each other to form a latex--latex bond.