US 11,780,617 B2
Flexible package conveyance
Thomas Orsini, Sterling, MA (US); Mark Garceau, Bethlehem, CT (US); David Cenedella, Shirley, MA (US); Robert Simonelli, Worcester, MA (US); Michael Kalinowski, Nashua, NH (US); Kyle Brown, Frisco, TX (US); and John Gilbert, Lowell, MA (US)
Assigned to Sealed Air Corporation (US), Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Sealed Air Corporation (US), Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,121.
Application 17/851,121 is a division of application No. 16/465,604, granted, now 11,401,061, previously published as PCT/US2017/061432, filed on Nov. 14, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/429,129, filed on Dec. 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0324597 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 9/067 (2012.01); B65B 31/04 (2006.01); B65B 51/10 (2006.01); B65D 75/38 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 9/067 (2013.01) [B65B 31/04 (2013.01); B65B 51/10 (2013.01); B65D 75/38 (2013.01); B65D 2205/02 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a packaging system configured to place an object in a flexible package;
an inflation system configured to insert a gas into the flexible package from a source of pressurized gas, wherein the packaging system is further configured to seal an edge of the flexible package in an inflated state with the object and the inserted gas inside the flexible package; and
a conveying system configured to convey the flexible package while the flexible package is substantially in the inflated state;
wherein the flexible package is configured to permit gas to escape the flexible package at a controlled flow rate such that the flexible package remains substantially in the inflated state while being conveyed by the conveying system and such that the flexible package transitions to being substantially in a deflated state after being conveyed by the conveying system; and
wherein the flexible package includes one or more vent holes configured to permit the gas to escape the flexible package.