Packaging machine
AssigneeHeat Seal LLC
InventorsJohn McGreevey, Thomas Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaging machine including a hot plate assembly adapted to fuse a length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around a package. A controller is adapted to calculate a time period the heating element is energized to fuse the length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around the package based on an initial temperature of the heating element. A hot plate status indicator is adapted to indicate at least to different statuses of operation of the packaging machine.
Claims20
A packaging machine for wrapping a package with heat-sensitive film, the packaging machine comprising:
- a frame defining a wrapping surface;
- a film supply receptacle adapted to receive a supply of heat-sensitive film;
- a cutting element adapted to sever a length of heat-sensitive film from the supply used to wrap the package during use;
- a hot plate assembly adapted to fuse the length of the heat-sensitive film wrapped around the package, the hot plate assembly including a heating element;
- a controller adapted to calculate and provide a ramp rate to said heating element that is energized at the ramp rate to heat said hot plate to fuse the length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around the package, the controller adapted to calculate said ramp rate comprising:
- a first input in said controller that receives a first output from a feedback device comprising an initial temperature of the heating element;
- and
- a second input in said controller that receives a second output from said feedback device comprising a post-heat temperature of the heating element.
A method of operating a packaging machine to fuse heat-sensitive film a package comprising the steps:
- providing a sensor for detecting the presence of a package during use on a hot plate assembly of the packaging machine;
- providing a controller for measuring a temperature of a heating element;
- calculating a ramp rate with said controller for energizing said heating element for a calculated change over a period of time at a calculated change in energy level forming said ramp rate, the ramp rate being calculated by:
- providing a first input in said controller that receives a first output from a feedback device comprising an initial temperature of the heating element;
- and
- providing a second input in said controller that receives a second output from said feedback device comprising a post-heat temperature of the heating element.
A packaging machine for wrapping a package with heat-sensitive film, the packaging machine comprising:
- a frame defining a wrapping surface;
- a film supply receptacle adapted to receive a supply of heat-sensitive film;
- a heated rod adapted to sever a length of heat-sensitive film from the supply used to wrap the package;
- a hot plate assembly adapted to fuse the length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around the package, the hot plate assembly including a mica heater heating element having a heating ramp rate provided by a controller;
- the controller adapted to calculate said ramp rate comprising:
- a first input in said controller that receives a first output from a feedback device comprising an initial temperature of the heating element;
- a second input in said controller that receives a second output from said feedback device comprising a post-heat temperature of the heating element;
- a package sensor, the heating element being energized in response to the package sensor detecting the package on the hot plate assembly;
- a ground-fault current interrupter adapted to interrupt energization of the heating element in response to a temperature of the heating element exceeding a temperature design value;
- and
- a light emitting diode adapted to display at least two different colors to indicate at least two different operating statuses of the packaging machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.