US 6,784,407 B2 · Bench top tubing sealer

Abstract

A desk top sealer includes three compartments for housing a solenoid assembly, a power supply and a circuit board, respectively. A source of air flow flows into an initial compartment and is channeled through apertures in brackets forming the two remaining compartments for cooling purposes and is exhausted from each compartment through a base. The circuit board, upon actuation, provides RF energy to a fixed ceramic/metal jaw to heat and weld plastic tubing clamped to the fixed jaw by a movable jaw at ground potential. The movable jaw is guided during translation by a pair of rods extending from a face plate, which rods also prevent rotation of the movable jaw about its axis of translation to maintain the movable jaw in alignment with the fixed jaw. The movable jaw is relatively massive to serve as a heat sink for the heat of the tubing being welded and includes a substantial surface area to dissipate to the ambient environment any heat buildup that may occur. A face plate, supporting the fixed and movable jaws, is configured to prevent flow of fluid from a burst tubing into the sealer and the face plate may house indicator lamps providing lights reflective of the operation being performed, which lights are visible through a translucent part of the face plate.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A tubing sealer for sealing fluid filled tubing, said tubing sealer comprising in combination:

a) a housing having a base, a cover and brackets disposed within said housing for delineating three compartments within said housing;
b) a solenoid assembly disposed in one of said compartments;
c) a circuit board disposed in another of said compartments for providing a source of RF energy and for actuating said solenoid assembly;
d) a power supply disposed in yet another of said compartments for providing electrical power to said solenoid assembly and to said circuit board;
e) a face plate secured to said housing for supporting a fixed jaw;
f) an electrically grounded movable jaw adapted for rectilinear translation in response to actuation of said solenoid assembly to squeeze a length of tubing against said fixed jaw;
g) a switch for actuating said circuit board to energize said solenoid assembly and to transmit RF energy at a predetermined frequency from said fixed jaw through the tubing to said movable jaw and heat the tubing to form a welded seal;
and
h) a source of air flow directed through each of said compartments, including a plurality of apertures disposed in components of said housing for conveying the air flow, each aperture of said plurality of apertures being configured to inhibit spurious and unauthorized transmission therethrough of RF energy at other then the predetermined frequency.

6 more elements

A tubing sealer for sealing tubing by forming a weld across the tubing, said tubing sealer comprising in combination:

a) a housing having three discrete compartments therein, each of a power supply, a solenoid assembly and an electronic circuit being disposed in one of said compartments;
b) a fixed jaw mounted in a face plate secured to said housing, said fixed jaw including an electrode adapted for receiving RF energy from said electronic circuit at a predetermined frequency and for radiating RF energy into the tubing in response to actuation of said electronic circuit;
c) a grounded movable jaw adapted to be rectilinearly translatable in response to operation of said solenoid assembly to compress the tubing against said fixed jaw;
d) switch means for actuating said electronic circuit to apply RF energy at the predetermined frequency to said fixed jaw;
e) a source of air flow directed into each of said compartments for drawing off heat produced therein;
and
f) outlet ports disposed in said housing for exhausting the heated air, said outlet ports being adapted to restrict transmission therethrough of RF radiation at a frequency other than the predetermined frequency.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bench top tubing sealer

Life of this patent

Bench top tubing sealer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38