Tamper evident packaging and methods of manufacturing the same utilizing a non-contact sealing device

A method, comprising:

• feeding a plurality of intermittently spaced bags along a transport path with a conveyor;
• sealing opposing sides of a bag together proximate a neck of the bag with a laser of a non-contact sealing device arranged along the transport path, the sealing including:
• detecting a presence of one bag of the plurality of intermittently spaced bags proximate an inlet of the non-contact sealing device with a sensor electrically and physically coupled to the non-contact sealing device, including signaling to the laser when the one bag is present for sealing;
• holding opposing sides of the bag in proximity to each other with a first pair of belts and a second pair of belts spaced from the first pair of belts, an outlet of the laser positioned in a space between the first and second pairs of belts;
• holding opposing sides of the bag in proximity to each other with moving air directed from an outlet positioned in the space between the first and second pair of belts;
• and
• activating the laser in response to the signaling that the one bag is present for sealing with the sensor, including creating a series of separate spot welds spaced apart from each other and extending across the bag opening, including repeatedly emitting intermittent laser light pulses at an outlet of the laser centered with respect to upper ones of the first and second pairs of feed belts to fuse the two opposing sides of the bag together at the spot welds with the opposing sides of the bag uncoupled from each other in the spaces between the spot welds.

A system, comprising:

• a manufacturing conveyor configured to convey a plurality of intermittently spaced bags along a transport path;
• a housing arranged along the transport path, the housing including an opening through a portion of the housing;
• a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a presence of one bag of the plurality of intermittently spaced bags proximate the opening;
• an outer pair of feed belts coupled to the housing, including a first upper feed belt vertically spaced from a first lower feed belt across the opening of the housing;
• an inner pair of feed belts coupled to the housing, including a second upper feed belt vertically spaced from a second lower feed belt across the opening of the housing, the inner pair of feed belts being laterally spaced from the outer pair of feed belts relative to the housing across a first portion of the opening, wherein when the system is in the operational configuration, the manufacturing conveyor feeds the one bag of the intermittently spaced bags into the outer and inner feed belts and the outer pair of feed belts and inner pair of feed belts hold two opposing sides of the one bag in proximity to each other and draw the one bag across the outlet of the laser;
• a motor coupled to the housing, wherein when the system is in the operational configuration, the motor drives rotation of the outer and inner pairs of feed belts;
• a laser coupled to the housing and in electrical communication with the sensor, the laser having an outlet positioned in the opening between the outer and inner pairs of feed belts and centered with respect to the first upper feed belt and the second upper feed belt, wherein when the system is in the operational configuration, the laser intermittently emits laser light pulses to fuse the two opposing sides of the bag together with a series of separate spot welds spaced apart from each other across an opening of the bag in response to a signal from the sensor that the one bag is present for sealing;
• and
• a centrifugal blower having an outlet located in the opening between the outer and inner pairs of feed belts proximate the outlet of the laser, air generated by the centrifugal blower exiting the outlet of the centrifugal blower to force an upper one of the opposing sides towards a lower one of the opposing sides of the bag prior to the laser emitting the light pulse,
• wherein the manufacturing conveyer is spaced from the outer and inner pairs of feed belts, and
• wherein a second portion of the opening inward of the outer and inner pairs of feed belts is configured to receive an upper portion of the one bag as the outer and inner pairs of feed belts draw the one bag across the outlet of the laser.