A METHOD OF PACKAGING AN AIRBAG

摘要

There is provided a method of packaging an airbag (1) for a motor vehicle safety device. The method comprises the steps of: providing an inflatable airbag (1) formed of flexible sheet material (2,3); rolling and/or folding the airbag (1) into an intermediate package (9) having an initial cross-sectional thickness (T); simultaneously heating and pressing the intermediate package (9) to form a compressed package (13) having a reduced cross-sectional thickness (t) relative to the intermediate package; subsequently placing the compressed package (13) in a transportable cavity (14) having a shape and size comparable to the shape and size of the compressed package (13); and cooling the compressed package (13) to ambient temperature whilst it is in said transportable cavity(14).Preferably, the transportable cavity (14) is provided within a transport unit (16) having a plurality of said cavities (14) for the receipt of a plurality of airbags packaged in respective compressed packages. The or each airbag can be transported as a compressed package to a vehicle assembly plant, and allowed to cool to ambient temperature during transit.