Method and apparatus for performing continuous motion intermittent ultrasonic sealing
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsBruce W. Keen, Alex Hanna
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for sealing packaging material using ultrasonic technology. The method includes the steps of supplying the packaging material to a sealing station that includes an anvil and horn, and sealing the packaging material. The apparatus is a cam-shaped, rotatable anvil where the rate of rotation of the anvil can be changed based upon the speed of an AC Servo driving the anvil and the desired spacing between the seals.
Claims11
A method for sealing packaging material using ultrasonic technology, said method comprising the following steps:
- i) passing a packaging material between a rotatable cam-shaped anvil and an ultrasonic horn, and
- ii) intermittently sealing the packaging material as it passes between the anvil and the horn by rotating the anvil to cause the packaging material to contact the horn,
- wherein a desired spacing between seals may be varied by adjusting the rate of anvil rotation and/or speed at which the packaging material passes between the anvil and horn.
An ultrasonic sealing apparatus comprising:
- a first pair of rollers positioned to guide a packaging material to an ultrasonic sealing station, the station comprising a rotatable cam-shaped anvil and a stationary horn positioned to allow the packaging material to pass between the anvil and horn, and
- a second pair of rollers positioned to receive the packaging material after passage through the ultrasonic sealing station.
An ultrasonic sealing apparatus comprising:
- a first pair of rollers positioned to guide a packaging material to an ultrasonic sealing station, the station comprising a rotatable cam-shaped anvil and a horn positioned to allow the packaging material to pass between the anvil and horn;
- a second pair of rollers positioned to receive the packaging material after passage through the ultrasonic sealing station;
- and
- an AC servo that is used to rotate the anvil, said AC servo having digital feedback capabilities to change the rotational speed of the anvil.
An ultrasonic sealing apparatus comprising:
- means for continuously supplying a packaging material to an ultrasonic sealing station, and
- means at the ultrasonic sealing station, and including a rotatable cam-shaped anvil and stationary horn, for intermittently sealing the packaging material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.