Film sealing apparatus having an optical energy source
AssigneeSIG Pack Systems AG
InventorStefan Nettesheim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for sealing films together along a path includes a sealing shoe and a counter shoe defining a clearance through which the films pass. The sealing shoe includes an elongated optical energy source having a length dimension oriented generally parallel to the sealing path; a reflector for focussing light emitted by the energy source; a window transparent to the light and having an outer surface adapted to be oriented toward the counter shoe for sealing the films by the light; and a firing arrangement for activating the energy source. The window and the counter shoe are urged toward one another.
Claims11
An apparatus for sealing films together conveyed along a path, the films having a surface, a middle and an underside, the apparatus comprising
- (a) a counter shoe including a counter plate and a counter reflector;
- (b) a sealing shoe defining, with said counter shoe, a clearance through which the films pass;
- said sealing shoe including
- (1) an elongated optical energy source having a length dimension oriented generally parallel to said path;
- (2) activating means for activating said energy source;
- (3) a-reflector for focussing light emitted by said energy source;
- said counter plate of said counter shoe being transparent to said light;
- said counter reflector of said counter shoe and said reflector of said sealing shoe forming a closed optical unit at a moment when said energy source is activated by said activating means;
- said optical unit having first and second focal points;
- at said moment said energy source being situated in said first focal point and the films passing through said second focal point;
- and
- (4) a window transparent to said light and having an outer surface adapted to be oriented toward said counter shoe for sealing the films by said light;
- the reflector and the energy source being arranged such that the light is focused on one of the surface, middle and underside of the films;
- and
- (c) means for urging said window and said counter shoe toward one another for pressing the films therebetween.
An apparatus for sealing films together conveyed along a path, the films having a surface, middle and underside, the apparatus comprising
- (a) a counter shoe;
- (b) a sealing shoe, defining, with said counter shoe, a clearance through which the films pass;
- said sealing. shoe including
- (1) an elongated optical energy source having a longitudinal axis and a length dimension oriented generally parallel to said path;
- (2) a reflector for focussing light emitted by said energy source;
- (3) a window transparent to said light and having an outer surface adapted to be oriented toward said counter shoe for sealing the films by said light;
- and
- (4) means for activating said energy source;
- wherein the reflector and the energy source are arranged such that the light is focussed on one of the surface, middle and underside of the films;
- (b) means for urging said window and said counter shoe toward one another for pressing the films therebetween;
- (c) means for rotating said reflector and said window as a unit about the longitudinal axis of said energy source;
- and
- (d) means for rotating said counter shoe in synchronism and opposite to said energy source about a further axis spaced from and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said energy source.
An apparatus for sealing films together conveyed along a path, the films having a surface, middle and underside, the apparatus comprising a sealing-shoe and a counter shoe defining a clearance through which the films pass;
- said sealing shoe including
- (1) an elongated optical energy source having a longitudinal axis and a length dimension oriented generally parallel to said path;
- (2) a reflector for focussing light emitted by said energy source;
- said energy source and said reflector being stationarily supported relative to one another;
- (3) a window transparent to said light and having an outer surface adapted to be oriented toward said counter shoe for sealing the films by said light;
- (4) means for activating said energy source;
- said reflector and the energy source being arranged such that the light is focussed on one of the surface, middle and underside of the films;
- and
- (5) a carrier mounted for rotation relatively with respect to said energy source and said reflector, about an axis spaced from and parallel to said longitudinal axis of said energy source;
- said window being mounted on and moving with said carrier;
- and
- further comprising means for urging said window and said counter shoe toward one another for pressing the films therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.