Split crimper for heat sealing packaging material
AssigneeTesting Machines, Inc.
InventorsLouis M Montano, Larry E Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A split crimper for use in a crimping assembly for engaging and heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material includes a first crimper portion having a crimping surface and a second crimper portion that is secured to the first crimper portion to form a crimper. Portions of the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity, and a heating element is disposed completely within the interior cavity.
Claims20
A crimper for engaging and heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material, the crimper comprising:
- a first crimper portion that includes a crimping surface;
- a second crimper portion secured to the first crimper portion, where the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity;
- and
- a heating element that includes a body disposed within the interior cavity, where
- the crimping surface includes a leading portion and a trailing portion that are separated by a slot, and
- the second crimper portion includes at least one pad that extends from and is integrally formed with a lower surface of the second crimper portion, where the at least one pad includes a radius that matches a rounded contour of a crimper bar connected to the second crimper portion.
A crimping assembly for heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material, the crimping assembly comprising:
- a first crimper;
- a second crimper;
- and
- an apparatus for moving the first and second crimpers so that the first and second crimpers engage and compress the overlapping layers of the packaging material provided therebetween;
- where at least one of the first crimper or the second crimper includes:
- a first crimper portion that includes a crimping surface;
- a second crimper portion secured to the first crimper portion, where the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity;
- and
- a heating element that includes a body disposed within the interior cavity,
- where
- the crimping surface includes a leading portion and a trailing portion that are separated by a slot, and
- the second crimper portion includes at least one pad that extends from and is integrally formed with a lower surface of the second crimper portion, where the at least one pad includes a radius that matches a rounded contour of a crimper bar connected to the second crimper portion.
A method for forming a crimper that engages and heat seals overlapping layers of a packaging material, the method comprising:
- providing a first crimper portion that includes a crimping surface;
- providing a second crimper portion secured to the first crimper portion, where
- the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity,
- the crimping surface includes a leading portion and a trailing portion that are separated by a slot, and
- the second crimper portion includes at least one pad that extends from and is integrally formed with a lower surface of the second crimper portion, where the at least one pad includes a radius that matches a rounded contour of a crimper bar connected to the second crimper portion;
- providing a heating element that includes a body;
- disposing the body of the heating element in the interior cavity;
- and
- connecting the first crimper portion to the second crimper portion to form the crimper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.