Patent ID: 7185474

Claim:
A machine for inflating and sealing a preconfigured cushioning material which is wound in a roll on a hollow cylindrical core and has superposed layers of plastic film sealed together to form rows of interconnected, inflatable cells, a longitudinally extending channel near one edge of the material and inlet passageways interconnecting the channel and the rows of cells, comprising: a rotatively mounted roll supported shaft having a fixed end and a free end, a hub mounted on the shaft near the fixed end for engagement with the core at the end of the roll near the channel, a circumferentially expandable roll gripper at the free end of the shaft for locking engagement with the inner wall of the cylindrical core, a feed mechanism for drawing the material from the roll and feeding it along a predetermined path, an inflator having one or more outlet openings for injecting air into the cells as the material travels along the path, a nip roller, a pressing mechanism for pressing the nip roller against the roll of film material to limit the flow of air into the material on the roll and to provide rolling resistance to rotation of the roll, and a sealing mechanism for sealing the inlet passageways to retain the air in the cells.