Sealing head and related method
AssigneeNorthern Lights Research Inc.
InventorsSahil Gupta, Anand Prafulchandra Kantesaria, Sirinkumar Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing head for use in manufacturing a single-use pod, the sealing head comprising: a sealing assembly for securing a lid to a body of the pod, the sealing assembly having a sealing surface for pressing against the lid; and a ram assembly for separating the pod from the sealing assembly, the ram being at least partially movable relative to the sealing surface between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position a pressing face of the ram assembly is aligned with or recessed from the sealing surface, and in the extended position the pressing face extends beyond the sealing surface to contact the pod and separate the pod from the sealing assembly.
Claims17
A sealing head for use in manufacturing a single-use pod, the sealing head comprising:
- a sealing assembly for securing a lid to a body of the pod, the sealing assembly having a sealing surface for pressing against the lid;
- and
- a ram assembly for separating the pod from the sealing assembly, the ram assembly being at least partially movable relative to the sealing surface between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position a pressing face of the ram assembly is aligned with or recessed from the sealing surface, and in the extended position the pressing face extends beyond the sealing surface to contact the pod and separate the pod from the sealing assembly, and
- wherein the sealing assembly comprises:
- a sealing element that includes the sealing surface;
- a slide rod that is coupled to and extends from the sealing element, opposite the sealing surface;
- a mounting collar that is movably retained on the slide rod and is configured to secure the sealing head to a pod manufacturing machine, the slide rod being slidable within the mounting collar to move the slide rod and the sealing element relative to the mounting collar;
- and
- a damping spring secured between the mounting collar and the sealing element, the damping spring biasing the mounting collar away from the sealing element.
A sealing head for use in manufacturing a single-use pod, the sealing head comprising:
- a sealing assembly for securing a lid to a body of the pod, the sealing assembly having a sealing surface for pressing against the lid;
- and
- a ram assembly for separating the pod from the sealing assembly, the ram assembly being at least partially movable relative to the sealing surface between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position a pressing face of the ram assembly is aligned with or recessed from the sealing surface, and in the extended position the pressing face extends beyond the sealing surface to contact the pod and separate the pod from the sealing assembly,
- wherein the ram assembly comprises a movable portion and a mounting portion,
- wherein the movable portion includes the pressing face and is movable relative to the sealing surface between the retracted position and the extended position,
- wherein the mounting portion couples the movable portion to the sealing assembly,
- wherein the mounting portion comprises an actuator that is coupled to the movable portion,
- wherein the actuator is selectively engageable to move the movable portion from the retracted position to the extended position, and
- wherein the actuator is pneumatically powered.
A sealing head for use in manufacturing a single-use pod, the sealing head comprising:
- a sealing assembly for securing a lid to a body of the pod, the sealing assembly having a sealing surface for pressing against the lid;
- and
- a ram assembly for separating the pod from the sealing assembly, the ram assembly being at least partially movable relative to the sealing surface between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the retracted position a pressing face of the ram assembly is aligned with or recessed from the sealing surface, and in the extended position the pressing face extends beyond the sealing surface to contact the pod and separate the pod from the sealing assembly,
- wherein the ram assembly comprises a movable portion and a mounting portion,
- wherein the movable portion includes the pressing face and is movable relative to the sealing surface between the retracted position and the extended position,
- wherein the mounting portion couples the movable portion to the sealing assembly,
- wherein the mounting portion comprises an actuator that is coupled to the movable portion,
- wherein the actuator is selectively engageable to move the movable portion from the retracted position to the extended position, and
- wherein the mounting portion comprises a mounting plate for securing the actuator to the sealing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.