# US 2016/0355282 A1 · Thermo-sealing apparatus for filling and sealing liquid containers

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- Number: US 2016/0355282 A1
- Document ID: US20160355282A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/106,779
- Filed: 2014-12-20
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20
- Assignees: Rivac S.R.L.
- Applicants: Rivac S.R.L.
- Inventors: Riccardo VALLI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355282A1

## CPC

- B65B 7/162: {by feeding web material to securing means}
- B65B 3/26: Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
- B65B 7/164: {Securing by heat-sealing}
- B65B 31/028: {closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container}
- B65B 39/00: Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
- B65B 41/12: Feeding webs from rolls
- B65B 59/003: {Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material}
- B65B 65/02: Driving gear
- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 65/7451: {the severing tool and the welding tool being movable with respect to one-another}
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/131: {Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area}
- B29C 66/24221: {being circular (B29C66/51 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/53461: {joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies}
- B29C 66/8161: {said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material}
- B29C 66/8167: {Quick change joining tools or surfaces}
- B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 66/8414: {of different diameter}
- B29C 66/849: {Packaging machines}
- B65B 2220/14: Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, comprising a bearing structure on which a bell member is mounted, at a higher position than that of support means for supporting at least a container to be filled and sealed, said bell member comprising a metering device, die-cutting means and sealing means, for die-cutting and sealing a film slidable between said bell member and the container to be filled, said machine being provided with an anti-polluting and operator safety system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, characterized in that said machine comprises a bearing structure on which a bell member is mounted, at a higher position than that of support means for supporting at least a container to be filled and sealed, said bell member comprising a metering device, die-cutting means and sealing means, for die-cutting and sealing a film slidable between said bell member and the container to be filled.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said film is supplied by a film bobbin or coil and is entrained by entraining or driving means comprising an electric motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said container supporting means comprise a drawer member, including a counter-biasing recess and adapted to support a said container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that said machine comprises a lifting or raising device for vertically displacing said drawer member, to displace in turn said container from a sealing and filling position to a lowered position for allowing said film to slide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said support means comprise a second drawer member adapted to support a large size container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that between said drawer member and a machine cover a bellow is arranged, providing tightness between an inner part of the machine and an outer environment, while allowing said drawer member to be cross-wise displaced.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said metering device comprises an injection nozzle, driven by a metering pump and coupled to a supply tube in turn coupled to a liquid tank.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said die-cutting means of said bell member comprise a first cylindric die-cutting member and a second cylindric die-cutting member having a larger diameter than that of the first die-cutting member and coaxial therewith; said first die-cutting member being mounted on a first sealing ring element forming, with a second sealing ring element, said sealing means; said second die-cutting member being mounted on said second sealing ring element, said cylindric die-cutting members being arranged outside of the respective sealing ring elements, each die-cutting member-ring element pair being vertically movable in an independent manner from one another, so as to be driven from a raised position to a lowered position where a die-cutting member die-cuts the film and the respective ring element seals said film on a container edge.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said film is sealed by a cold sealing operation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine further comprises a suction system for sucking possible vapors generated during the liquid injection step.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that a container, containing a sample, is engaged in the drawer member as said drawer member is in a pulled out position thereof, said drawer member being then introduced into a body of the machine in a liquid metering and sealing position; said bell member being automatically lowered and the metering device injecting an amount of liquid into said container, through said injecting nozzle; said liquid entering said container through an opening pre-formed through said film in a preceding container loading operation; said bell member being spaced from the top edge of the container to allow the film to slide to cover the container; then the bell member being again tightly closed on the drawer member, in which time the machine will perform a vacuum, gas and sealing operating cycle or only a sealing operation; said sealing operation being performed by a cold sealing method carried out through a sealing ring element; in this operating step a solenoid valve communicating with an atmosphere being opened and simultaneously a further solenoid valve coupled to the suction device being also opened; then the bell member being automatically re-opened and said drawer member being withdrawn; in this position the sealed container being removed and the machine being ready again for a following operating cycle with an already die-cut film, being die-cut by said cylindric die-cutting member during a second closure of said bell member.

### Claim 12

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein a liquid metering device is applied to a thermo-sealing apparatus, or being arranged at a remote position and being coupled to said machine by coupling tubes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein said machine comprises a thermo-sealing die on which are applied one or more injecting nozzles, therethrough a liquid coming from the metering device is conveyed.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein the liquid injected into said container passes through the die-cut regions of the film, said die-cut regions being die-cut in a preceding operating cycle of said machine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein on the bell member is provided a normally closed solenoid valve coupled to a suction device, mounted on said thermo-sealing machine or at a remote position through a coupling tube.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, said machine operating by the following operating sequence:
a—introduction of the container with the product to be sealed in a counter-biasing recess formed in the basin/drawer;
b—a closure of the basin/drawer;
c—a lowering of the top bell member;
d—a filling of the container through the injection nozzle coupled to the metering device;
e—a partial re-opening of the bell member to allow the film to slide;
f—a tight re-closing of the bell member on the basin/drawer and with a sealing only or under vacuum in a modified atmosphere;
g—an opening of the solenoid valve communicating with the atmosphere and a simultaneous opening of the solenoid valve coupled to the suction device;
h—an opening of the bell member and withdrawing of the drawer;
i—a removal of the sealed container;
j—the machine being ready for a further operating cycle with an already die-cut film.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein it is possible to use multiple-recess dies for filling a plurality of containers, even if different from one another, to each said recess corresponding an injector nozzle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

A machine including an anti-polluting and operator safety system, applied to a thermo-sealing machine for filling containers with liquids and sealing them, according to claim 12, wherein the construction materials of said machine are plastics materials or the like, metal, glass, ceramics, carbon materials or any other material allowing to make said machine while providing it with the above disclosed characteristics.