Apparatus and method for sealing a web of film in a form, fill, and seal packaging system
AssigneeBaxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Christine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for creating the transverse seals in a form, fill and seal packaging machine is provided. The apparatus includes a heating member that heats a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals, and a cooling member that cools the heated portion of the web of film and the heating member. The heating member includes a hot bar, a heater for heating the hot bar, and a biasing member that disengages the hot bar from the heater before the hot bar contacts the web of film.
Claims46
An apparatus for sealing at least two plastic layers together comprising:
- heating means for melting a portion of each plastic layer to seal a portion of the plastic layers together, the heating means being located in a first of the jaws on one side of the plastic layers and including a hot bar and means for heating the hot bar;
- cooling means for absorbing heat from the hot bar and melted portions of the plastic layers to cool the hot bar and melted portions, the cooling means being located in a second of the jaws on a second side of the plastic layers and including a cold bar and means for cooling the cold bar;
- and
- the heating means and cooling means cooperating so that as the hot bar heats the web of film the cold bar cools the film and hot bar.
In a machine for manufacturing from a web of film a closed flexible bag having transverse seals an apparatus for creating the transverse seals comprising:
- heating means, including a hot bar with at least one film contact surface and means for heating the hot bar, for melting a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals;
- cooling means for cooling the heating means and the melted portion of the web of film, the cooling means being located diametric the heating means and including a cold bar with at least one film contact surface and means for cooling the cold bar;
- a pair of jaws, the heating means being located in a first of the jaws and the cooling means being located in a second of the jaws;
- and
- the heating means includes means for disengaging the means for heating the hot bar from the hot bar as the jaws contact the web of film.
In a form, fill, and seal packaging machine an apparatus for contemporaneously forming transverse seals in a web of film comprising:
- heating means for melting and thereby sealing a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals, the heating means being located on one side of the web of film and including a hot bar having a film contact surface, and means for heating the hot bar;
- and
- cooling means for cooling the hot bar and the portion of the film melted by the film contact surface of the hot bar as the hot bar melts the film, the cooling means being located on a second side of the web of film diametric the hot bar and including a cold bar, means for cooling the cold bar, and at least one film contact surface.
In an aseptic form, fill, seal packaging machine an apparatus for creating transverse seals in a web of film comprising:
- a pair of opposed jaws located on opposite sides of the web of film;
- heating means for melting a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals, located in one of the jaws, the heating means including a hot bar having a film contact surface, and means for heating the hot bar;
- cooling means located in a second one of the pair of jaws for cooling the hot bar and melted portion of the web of film, the cooling means including a cold bar having at least one film contact surface, and means for cooling the cold bar;
- and
- means for severing the web of film between the transverse seals.
A method for creating transverse seals in a web of film in a form, fill, and seal packaging machine including the steps of:
- heating a hot bar with heating means;
- disengaging the hot bar from the heating means;
- heating a portion of the web of film from a first side of the web with the hot bar to create transverse seals;
- and
- cooling the hot bar and melted portion of the web with a cold bar from a second side of the web of film as the film is melted by the hot bar.
An apparatus for sealing at least two plastic layers together comprising:
- heating means for melting a portion of each plastic layer to seal a portion of the plastic layers together, the heating means including a raised portion that simultaneously severs the plastic layers and seals a portion of the two layers together;
- and
- cooling means for absorbing heat from the heating means and melted protions of the plastic layers, the cooling means being located on one side of the plastic layers and the heating means being located on a second side of the plastic layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.