US 12,157,591 B2 · Packaging apparatus, heat sealer and heat sealer module

Abstract

A heat sealer module for a heat-sealing station of a packaging apparatus has a sealing belt for contacting a terminal portion of semi-sealed packages and for guiding the terminal portion of the semi-sealed packages along a main movement direction; the heat sealer module also has a first driving belt and a second driving belt to assist in accompanying the packages in proper position for sealing. A heat sealer having opposed heat sealer modules. A packaging apparatus for heat sealing packages having a vacuum chamber with an elongated opening and a conveyor for receiving semi-sealed packages and for moving the semi-sealed packages relative to the vacuum chamber is disclosed. The packaging apparatus includes evacuation means for evacuating gas present in the semi-sealed packages and forming evacuated semi-sealed packages. The packaging apparatus includes the heat sealer for heat sealing the terminal portion of each evacuated semi-sealed package thereby forming heat sealed packages.

A heat sealer module (16, 17) for a heat sealing station (14) of a packaging apparatus, the heat sealing module (16, 17) comprising:

a sealing belt (18) configured for contacting a terminal portion (TP) of semi-sealed packages (P) and for guiding the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P) along a main movement direction (M);
a first pulley (20) and a second pulley (21) configured to be arranged opposite each other with respect to the heat sealing station (14), wherein:
the first pulley (20) and the second pulley (21) are mounted on a respective shaft and configured for rotating around a respective rotation axis, with the rotation axis of the first pulley and the rotation axis of the second pulley being parallel, and with first pulley (20) destined to be arranged upstream the heat sealing station (14) with respect to the main movement direction (M) for directing the sealing belt (18) towards the heat sealing station (14) while the second pulley (21) is configured for circulating back, downstream the heat sealing station (14), the sealing belt (18) towards the first pulley (20),
each of the first pulley (20) and the second pulley (21) comprises a first annular groove and a second annular groove which are spaced from each other parallel the rotation axis of the pulley (20, 21);
the annular grooves of the first pulley (20) and of the second pulley (21) define two pairs of facing annular grooves, wherein a first pair of annular grooves is formed by the first annular groove of the first pulley (20) and by the corresponding first annular groove of the second pulley (21), while a second pair of annular grooves is formed by the second annular groove of the first pulley (20) and by the corresponding second annular groove of the second pulley (21);
a first driving belt (22) received by the first pair of facing annular grooves and a second driving belt (23) received by the second pair of facing annular grooves, wherein the first driving belt (22) and the second driving belt (23) are configured to be synchronized and assist in accompanying the terminal portions (TP) of the packages (P) in proper position for sealing,
a bracket (24) arranged between the first pulley (20) and the second pulley (21), wherein the bracket (24) longitudinally extends between the pulleys (20, 21), wherein the bracket (24) is connected to a pressure element (27) of the heat sealer module (16, 17), optionally the connection between the bracket (24) and the pressure element (27) being made by elastic elements;
and
wherein the pressure element (27) is configured for applying pressure to the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P) and for tensioning at least one driving belt (22, 23), optionally both driving belts (22, 23),
wherein:
the pressure element (27) comprises a first flank (27a) and a second flank (27b), each configured to act on a respective of said two driving belts (22, 23);
the first flank (27a) and the second flank (27b) are opposite one another, spaced from each other along a direction which is transversal to the main movement direction (M),
between the first flank (27a) and the second flank (27b) at least a passage opening (27c) is defined,
the first flank (27a) and the second flank (27b) are configured to act as pressure bars on respective bands of the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P).

11 more elements

Packaging apparatus, heat sealer and heat sealer module

Life of this patent

Packaging apparatus, heat sealer and heat sealer module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10