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US 2008/0173385 A1Published application
Package heat seal quality indicator
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorDetlev D. Ansinn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of verifying seal quality of a packaging material includes providing packaging material, and applying a thermochromic ink to at least one portion of the packaging material. The method also includes applying heat to the at least one portion of packaging material to form a seal, and inspecting the packaging material to determine the quality of the seal.
Claims32
A method of verifying seal quality of a packaging material, the method comprising:
- providing packaging material;
- applying a thermochromic ink to at least one portion of the packaging material;
- thereafter applying heat to the at least one portion of packaging material to form a seal;
- and
- thereafter inspecting the ink to determine the quality of the seal.
2 more elements
An apparatus operable for the verification of seal quality in a packaging material, the apparatus comprising:
- a printing stage operable to apply thermochromic ink to at least one portion of the packaging material;
- a sealing stage operable to apply heat to the at least one portion of the packaging material to form a seal;
- and
- a quality inspection stage operable to determine the quality of the seal by inspecting the ink.
1 more element
A method of sealing a package, the method comprising:
- providing packaging material including at least one film of heat sensitive material;
- applying a first thermochromic ink to at least one portion of packaging material;
- manipulating the packaging material with a form, fill and seal machine to substantially contact the at least one portion of packaging material with a second portion of packaging material;
- using the form, fill and seal machine to form a heat seal with the at least one portion of packaging material and the second portion of packaging material, the heat seal having a coloration due to the thermochromic ink;
- and
- determining whether the coloration of the heat seal is indicative of an expected temperature reached by the packaging material during the forming a heat seal process.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.