Heat sealing apparatus and method
AssigneeAlloyd Co., Inc.
InventorRonald F. Worden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blister packaging machine for packaging product includes a frame, a heater that is supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame, a hydraulic clamp connected to the heater, an insulator is provided to adequately thermally insulate the hydraulic clamp from the heater, and a heat sealing member for contacting a heat sealable item during use. The heat sealing member is adapted to be connected to the heater by way of the hydraulic clamp. The heater and the heat sealing member are adapted to move so that the heat sealing member contacts the heat sealable item.
Claims36
A blister packaging machine for packaging product, comprising:
- a frame;
- a heater that is supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame;
- a hydraulic clamping device connected to the heater,
- an insulator provided to thermally insulate the hydraulic clamping device from the heater to prevent damage to the hydraulic clamping device;
- and
- a heat sealing member for contacting a heat sealable item during use, the heat sealing member being adapted to be connected to the heater by way of the hydraulic clamping device;
- the hydraulic clamping device comprising a first part and a second part, where the first part is connected to the heater and the second part is connected to the heat sealing member, and wherein the hydraulic clamping device has a first position where the first part is separate from and not engaged with the second part, and a second position where the first part is engaged with the second part so as to clamp the first and second parts together, the clamping being actuated by a hydraulically created force;
- and
- whereby the heater and the heat sealing member are adapted to move so that the heat sealing member contacts the heat sealable item.
A heat sealing apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a heater that is moveable with respect to the frame and is adapted to move toward a heat sealable item, thereby transmitting heat to the heat sealable item to seal the item;
- a hydraulic clamping device comprising a first part and a second part, where the first part is connected to the heater and the second part is connected to a heat sealing member, and wherein the hydraulic clamping device has a first position where the first part is separate from and not engaged with the second part, and a second position where the first part is engaged with the second part so as to clamp the first and second parts together, the clamping being actuated by a hydraulically created force;
- and
- the second part of the hydraulic clamping device being thermally insulated from the heater;
- wherein the second part of the hydraulic clamping device is adapted to releasably connect to the first part of the hydraulic clamping device.
A method of attaching heat seal members to a heater in a heat seal apparatus for heat sealing a heat sealable package, the heat sealing apparatus comprising a frame, a heater that is supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame, a hydraulic clamping device comprising a first part and a second part, where the first part is connected to the heater and the second part is connected to a heat sealing member, and wherein the hydraulic clamping device has a first position where the first part is separate from and not engaged with the second part, and a second position where the first part is engaged with the second part so as to clamp the first and second parts together, the clamping being actuated by a hydraulically created force, wherein the first part is supported by the heater, and heat sealable items that are supported by the frame and are adapted to be positioned so that the heater can move toward and away from the support member, comprising:
- positioning a heat sealing member on the support member so that the heat sealing member is in a position whereby the heat sealing member may be connected to the heater by way of the second part of the hydraulic clamping device;
- and
- actuating the first part of the hydraulic clamping device thereby clamping the second part in the first part and holding the heat sealing member against the heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.