# US 2023/0141479 A1 · Heat sealing apparatuses and methods of use thereof

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- Number: US 2023/0141479 A1
- Document ID: US20230141479A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/523,371
- Filed: 2021-11-10
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-10
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Matthew IMS; William R. FRAILING; Gustav André MELLIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230141479A1

## CPC

- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/8122: {characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/305: {involving the use of cartridge heaters}
- B29C 65/787: {using conveyor belts or conveyor chains (B29C66/83421, B29C66/83521, B29C66/83531 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/3472: {in the plane of the joint, e.g. along the joint line in the plane of the joint or perpendicular to the joint line in the plane of the joint}
- B29C 66/43121: {Closing the ends of tubular or hollow single articles, e.g. closing the ends of bags (closing tube ends B29C57/10)}
- B29C 66/496: {using a support which remains in the joined object}
- B29C 66/8167: {Quick change joining tools or surfaces}
- B29C 66/81821: {of the welding jaws}
- B29C 66/81831: {of the welding jaws}
- B29C 66/81871: {of the welding jaws}
- B29C 66/83421: {band or belt types (B29C66/83431 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/841: {Machines or tools adaptable for making articles of different dimensions or shapes or for making joints of different dimensions}
- B29C 66/8432: {Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series}
- B29C 66/849: {Packaging machines}
- B29C 66/91212: {involving measurement means being part of the welding jaws, e.g. integrated in the welding jaws}
- B29C 66/91231: {of the joining tool}
- B29C 66/91421: {of the joining tools}
- B29C 66/91423: {using joining tools having different temperature zones or using several joining tools with different temperatures}
- B29C 66/961: {involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value}
- B65B 11/12: and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
- B65B 25/145: {packaging folded articles}
- B65B 51/18: by endless bands or chains
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/81261: {Thermal properties, e.g. thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient}
- B29C 66/83423: {cooperating bands or belts}
- B29C 66/91213: {and measuring the electrical resistance of a resistive element belonging to said welding jaws, said element being, e.g. a thermistor}
- B29C 66/919: {characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges (specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262)}
- B29C 2795/002: before shaping
- B65B 53/063: {Tunnels}
- B65B 2051/105: {Heat seal temperature control}
- 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)
- 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)

## Abstract

A heating block assembly including one or more configurable insulator segments and a heater block having a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more configurable insulator segments, in which each of the one or more configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the first surface. A method for sealing at least one portion of a package using such a heating block assembly is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heating block assembly comprising:
one or more configurable insulator segments; and
a heater block comprising a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more configurable insulator segments,
wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the first surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heating block assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments comprises an inner surface positioned adjacent to the first surface of the heater block and an outer surface opposite the inner surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The heating block assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments comprises a thickness of between 2.9 and 3.1 mm, wherein the thickness is defined between the inner and outer surfaces.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The heating block assembly of claim 2, wherein a temperature of the outer surface of each of the one or more configurable insulator segments is between 20% and 30% less than a temperature of the first surface of the heater block.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The heating block assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the heater block comprises a first extension and a second extension and wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments comprises a first corresponding channel and a second corresponding channel configured to receive the respective first and second extensions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The heating block assembly of claim 1, wherein the heater block comprises aluminum and wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments comprises polyether ether ketone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The heating block assembly of claim 1, wherein the heater block is configured to receive a heating cartridge and the heater block comprises a thermally conductive material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The heating block assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more configurable conductor segments each comprising a thermally conductive material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The heating block assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more configurable insulator segments comprise a first insulator segment and a second insulator segment, and wherein the first and second insulator segments are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal length of the heater block by at least one of the one or more configurable conductor segments to define at least one heating zone.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The heating block assembly of claim 9, wherein the first insulator segment comprises a first length and the second insulator segment comprises a second length that is the same as or different from the first length.

### Claim 11

A heat sealing apparatus comprising at least a first heating block assembly and a second heating block assembly, each of which comprises:
one or more configurable insulator segments; and
a heater block comprising a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more configurable insulator segments,
wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the first surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first heating block assembly comprises a first insulator segment and the second heating block assembly comprises a second insulator segment, and wherein when the first and second heating block assemblies are positioned side-by-side, at least one of top edges or bottom edges of the first and second insulator segments are horizontally aligned with each other.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of configurable conductor segments, wherein the first heating block assembly comprises first and second insulator segments spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal length of the heater block of the first heating block assembly by at least one of the plurality of configurable conductor segments, and wherein the second heating block assembly comprises third and fourth insulator segments spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal length of the heater block of the second heating block assembly by at least one of the plurality of configurable conductor segments.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second heating block assemblies are positioned side-by-side and wherein at least one of:
at least one of top edges or bottom edges of the first and third insulator segments are horizontally aligned with each other; or
at least one of top edges or bottom edges of the second and fourth insulator segments are horizontally aligned with each other.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first heating block assembly is positioned to at least partially define a first heat sealing surface configured to seal a portion of a first end surface of a package, and wherein the second heating block assembly is positioned opposite the first heating block assembly to at least partially define a second heat sealing surface configured to seal a portion of a second end surface of the package.

### Claim 16

A heat sealing apparatus comprising:
a configurable heat sealing surface comprising one or more heating zones each defined by one or more configurable insulator segments and one or more configurable conductor segments, wherein each of the one or more configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the configurable heat sealing surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the configurable heat sealing surface comprises a first configurable heat sealing surface, the heat sealing apparatus further comprising:
a second configurable heat sealing surface comprising one or more second heating zones each defined by one or more second configurable insulator segments and one or more second configurable conductor segments, wherein each of the one or more second configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the second configurable heat sealing surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first configurable heat sealing surface comprises a first insulator segment configuration and wherein the second configurable heat sealing surface comprises a second insulator segment configuration that is the same as or different from the first insulator segment configuration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first configurable heat sealing surface comprises one or more first heating block assemblies, each of the one or more first heating block assemblies comprising a first heater block with a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more configurable insulator and conductor segments, wherein the one or more configurable insulator segments each cover only a portion of the first surface of the first heater block; and
the second configurable heat sealing surface comprises one or more second heating block assemblies, each of the one or more second heating block assemblies comprising a second heater block with a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more second configurable insulator and conductor segments, wherein the one or more second configurable insulator segments each cover only a portion of the first surface of the second heater block.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more first heating block assemblies comprise a first plurality of heating block assemblies, the first plurality of heating block assemblies comprising a first pair of heating block assemblies and a second pair of heating block assemblies positioned side-by-side with the first pair of heating block assemblies, the heat sealing apparatus further comprising:
a controller operatively coupled to each of the first plurality of heating block assemblies and configured to selectively operate the first and second pairs of heating block assemblies.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The heat sealing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first pair of heating block assemblies comprises a first insulator segment configuration and the second pair of heating block assemblies comprises a second insulator segment configuration that is different from the first insulator segment configuration, the controller being configured to selectively provide power to the first and second pair of heating block assemblies such that the one or more heating zones of the first pair of heating block assemblies comprise a first temperature and the one or more second heating zones of the second pair of heating block assemblies comprise a second temperature that is different from the first temperature.

### Claim 22

A method for sealing at least one portion of a package, the method comprising:
providing a configurable heat sealing surface;
selectively adjusting a configuration of the configurable heat sealing surface to define one or more heating zones; and
advancing the package along the configurable heat sealing surface adjacent to the one or more heating zones to seal the at least one portion of the package.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein selectively adjusting the configuration of the configurable heat sealing surface comprises adjusting at least one of (i) a number of heating zones, (ii) a vertical location of the one or more heating zones, (iii) a horizontal location of the one or more heating zones, or (iv) a dimension of the one or more heating zones.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the configurable heat sealing surface comprises a plurality of heating block assemblies each comprising a heater block with one or more configurable insulator segments and one or more configurable conductor segments that define the one or more heating zones.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein selectively adjusting the configuration of the configurable heat sealing surface comprises, for each of the plurality of heating block assemblies, selectively positioning the one or more configurable insulator and conductor segments along a longitudinal length of the heater block to define the one or more heating zones.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of heating block assemblies comprise a first pair of heating block assemblies and a second pair of heating block assemblies, the method further comprising:
selectively operating the first and second pairs of heating block assemblies to seal the at least one portion of the package.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the first and second pair of heating block assemblies are positioned side-by-side.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the package comprises a first package, the method further comprising:
selectively providing power to the first pair of heating block assemblies to seal the at least one portion of the first package;
after sealing the at least one portion of the first package, advancing a second package along the configurable heat sealing surface; and
selectively providing power to the second pair of heating block assemblies to seal at least one portion of the second package.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the first pair of heating block assemblies comprises a first insulator segment configuration and the second pair of heating block assemblies comprises a second insulator segment configuration different from the first insulator segment configuration.

### Claim 30 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the configuration of the configurable heat sealing surface comprises a first configuration, the method further comprising:
after sealing the at least one portion of the package, selectively adjusting the configuration of the configurable heat sealing surface to comprise a second configuration defining one or more second heating zones, the second configuration being different from the first configuration.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising:
advancing a second package along the configurable heat sealing surface adjacent to the one or more second zones to seal at least one portion of the second package.

### Claim 32 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more heating zones comprise a first heating zone and a second heating zone that is positioned above or below the first heating zone, and wherein the package comprises a first package, the method further comprising:
positioning a second package above or below the first package; and
advancing the second package along the configurable heat sealing surface with the first package, wherein one of the first or the second heating zone seals the at least one portion of the first package and the other of the first or the second heating zone simultaneously seals at least one portion of the second package.

### Claim 33 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the configurable heat sealing surface comprises a first configurable heat sealing surface, the method further comprising:
providing a second configurable heat sealing surface positioned opposite the first configurable heat sealing surface; and
selectively adjusting a configuration of the second configurable heat sealing surface to define one or more second heating zones.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one portion of the package comprises a first end surface and wherein advancing the package along the first configurable heat sealing surface seals at least a section of the first end surface of the package.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one portion of the package further comprises a second end surface positioned opposite the first end surface, the method further comprising:
advancing the package along the second configurable heat sealing surface adjacent to the one or more second heating zones to seal at least one section of the second end surface of the package.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, wherein the package is advanced along the first and second configurable heat sealing surfaces such that the at least one sections of the first and second end surfaces of the package are sealed simultaneously.

### Claim 37 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising:
after advancing the package along the configurable heat sealing surface, subjecting the package to a heat shrinking process.