Modular packaging machine with web tension control
AssigneeKlockner Bartelt, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Todd, Thomas E. Brooker, Gregory A. Conn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.
Claims15
Apparatus for forming pouches from a continuous web of sealable material provided as a roll, the web traveling along a predetermined path, the apparatus comprising
- an unwind section having an unwind reel for supporting the roll and a variable speed unwind motor drivingly connected to the unwind reel;
- a sealing section drawing the web from the unwind section;
- an accumulating section between the unwind reel and the sealing section for storing a buffer of web material, the accumulating section including a buffer monitor measuring the size of the buffer;
- a controller for controlling speed of the unwind motor, the controller increasing the unwind motor speed as the buffer size decreases and decreasing the unwind motor speed as the buffer size increased.
Apparatus for forming pouches from a continuous web of sealable material provided as a roll, the web traveling along a predetermined path, the apparatus comprising
- a unwind section having an unwind reel for supporting the roll and a variable speed unwind motor drivingly connected to the unwind reel;
- a sealing section drawing the web from the unwind section;
- an accumulating section between the unwind reel and the sealing section for storing a buffer of web material, the accumulating section including a support arm supporting first and second rollers adjacent opposing ends of the support arm, the support arm being pivotally mounted about a point between the first and second rollers;
- and
- the accumulating section further including a third roller fixed in position above the first roller, and a fourth roller fixed in position below the second roller, rotation of the support arm adjusting the position of the first and second rollers relative to the third and fourth rollers to adjust buffer size a controller for controlling speed of the unwind motor, the controller increasing the unwind motor speed as the buffer size decreases and decreasing the unwind motor speed as the buffer size increases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.