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US 5,603,801 AGranted
Infinite universal sealing assembly
OwnerJohn M. DeFriese, David Gasselinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infinite heat sealing assembly preferably for heat sealing a thermoplastic heat-shrinkable plastic film, has a heat sealing assembly for cutting and sealing a seam in a film or layers of film without regard to the length of the seam. The heat sealing assembly includes a heated blade and a plurality of belt conveyors for conveying the film with a desired tracking through the assembly. An adjustable angle blade and slotted film support ramp result in improved sealing of heavier gauge films by increasing the dwell time of the film on the heated blade.
Claims17
An infinite sealing assembly for cutting and sealing a film, comprising:
- means for conveying a film through a sealing assembly, the film having at least two free edges abutting one another;
- means for tracking the film in a generally desired path through the sealing assembly and maintaining the free edges in an abutting relationship;
- means for trimming an excess portion of the film as the film is conveyed through the assembly the trimming means comprising a generally internally heated blade and an associated source of heat to raise the temperature of the blade as required to trim the film;
- a heat source receiving means defined by the heated blade and the heat source located generally within the heat source receiving means;
- reciprocating means associated with the heated blade, the reciprocating means allowing movement of the heated blade into contact with the film and out of contact with the film;
- means for actuating the blade in response to the reciprocating means, the actuating means actuating the blade for maintaining operative contact between the blade and the film during operation of the sealing assembly, and further allowing the angle of the blade relative to the film to be adjusted, the actuating means and the conveying means operating relatively independent of one another;
- ramp means for effecting elevation of the film during operation of the sealing assembly, the ramp means located substantially below the blade and in a generally supporting relationship relative to the film so as to provide support for the film while the film is in operative contact with the blade;
- and
- the trimming means heated blade and the associated source of heat to raise the temperature of the blade as required to seal together the free edges of the film further providing means for sealing the free edges of the film as the film is conveyed through the assembly.
6 more elements
An infinite sealing assembly for cutting and sealing a centerfold shrink wrap film, comprising:
- a plurality of moving belt conveying apparatuses for conveying a film through a sealing assembly, the film having at least two free edges abutting one another and an opposing centerfold;
- tracking means for the film for conveying the film in a generally desired path through the sealing assembly and maintaining the free edges in an abutting relationship;
- means for trimming an excess portion of the film as the film is conveyed through the assembly the trimming means comprising a generally internally heated blade and an associated source of heat to raise the temperature of the blade as required to trim the film;
- a heat source receiving means defined by the heated blade, the heat source located generally within the heat source receiving means;
- reciprocating means associated with the heated blade, the reciprocating means allowing movement of the heated blade into contact with the film and out of contact with the film;
- means for actuating the blade in response to the reciprocating means, the actuating means actuating the blade for maintaining operative contact between the blade and the film during operation of the sealing assembly, and further allowing the angle of the blade relative to the film to be adjusted, the actuating means and the conveying means operating relatively independent of one another;
- a ramp member located adjacent and substantially below the heated blade, the ramp member effectively elevating and stretching the portion of the film to be trimmed and sealed into a generally supporting relationship relative to the film so as to provide support for the film while the film is in operative contact with the heated blade, the ramp means including a slotted portion located opposite the blade and the angle of the ramp being adjustable to correspond to the angle of the blade;
- and
- the trimming means heated blade and the associated source of heat to raise the temperature of the blade as required to seal together the free edges of the film further providing means for sealing the free edges of the film as the film is conveyed through the assembly.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.