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US 2004/0016205 A1Published application
Packaging machine for producing reclosable packages
AssigneePro-Pac Services., Inc.
InventorBrian Douglas
Life of this patent
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AssigneePro-Pac Services., Inc.
InventorBrian Douglas
Estimating the term…
A form-fill-and-seal (FFS) packaging machine is described wherein a zipper is attached to the package simultaneously with the sealing operation at the sealing and evacuation station. The attached zipper is thereafter welded in place at the zipper welding and cutting station. A zipper blank feeder and a channel-forming die with an impulse sealer are integrated into the sealing die of a packaging machine forming a combination work station. The zipper is installed at an existing work station and shares the existing lifting device. This enables the retrofitting of an FFS packaging machine to include a zipper attachment function without changing the footprint thereof. The combination work station forms a channel for the zipper blank between the thermoformed web and the lidstock. While the sealing die is providing a seal about the lid, the impulse sealer in the channel-forming die attaches the zipper to an initial attachment portion of the packaging film. Upon completion of the package, this initial attachment portion, if retained, becomes the tamper-indication portion of the package. Both the sealing and evacuation station and the zipper welding stations of this invention are of jacketed construction enabling the temperature control of the zipper blank throughout the installation procedures.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine to include the attachment of a zipper to a package formed thereby, in which said packaging machine includes:
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 19, wherein said sealing and channel-forming die assembly further comprises spring means in cooperative functional relationship with said second lift station raising said lower web of packaging film at said impulse sealer above the level of said lower web of packaging film at said sealing die.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 20 wherein said packaging film at said impulse sealer is lifted 5 mm. above the level of said packaging film at said sealing die.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 19 wherein said channel-forming die further comprises:
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 22 wherein the zipper blank returns to ambient room temperature within one minute of impulse sealing.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 23 wherein the zipper blank returns to ambient room temperature within 20 seconds of impulse sealing.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 22 wherein said chiller further comprises a thermal medium maintained at a temperature of 65°±15° F.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 25 wherein said thermal medium is recirculating cooling water.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 19 wherein said packaging machine is a vacuum packaging machine having, during dwell time at said sealing station, an evacuation and sealing cycle concurrent with which the zipper blank is longitudinally sealed.
A conversion kit for retrofitting a horizontal FFS packaging machine as described in claim 19 wherein said packaging machine is a modified atmosphere packaging machine having an atmosphere modification cycle wherein the zipper blank installation is concurrent with the atmosphere modification cycle thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.