Methods for sealing overlapped flexible packaging material using an electrical impulse through a conductive element
AssigneeLand O'Lakes, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Gabriel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to foiiuing food packages with a lap seal. A continuous, peelable hermetic seal is formed by activating a conductive element to emit an electrical impulse while contacting the overlap region of a pouch. The overlap is sealed by the heat generated from the activation of the conductive element, for example a wire. The conductive element is placed longitudinally along the overlap area of the pouch, which results in a sealed line. A second parallel sealed line may also be made to add redundancy, thereby better sealing the pouch. The disclosed method results in a package with an unsealed flap between first seal line and the film edge that allows for easy opening of the pouch.
Claims17
A method of forming a lap seal comprising:
- providing a film surrounding a food product, the film having overlapping edges forming an overlap area, the overlap area overlying the food product;
- providing a tamper comprising a surface facing the overlap area and a conductive element disposed along a portion of the surface;
- positioning the tamper against the overlap area such that the overlap area is compressed against the food product and the conductive element is adjacent the overlap area;
- and
- heating the conductive element to form a seal line of the lap seal between the overlapping edges in the overlap area.
A method of forming a lap seal comprising:
- loading a food product into a non-wax coated polymeric film package forming an opening such that the package surrounds the food product and is open at the opening;
- folding first and second sides of the opening of the package over the food product to form an overlap area, the overlap area overlying the food product;
- providing a tamper comprising a surface facing the overlap area and a conductive element disposed along a portion of the surface;
- positioning the tamper against the overlap area such that the overlap area is compressed against the food product and the at least one conductive element contacts the overlap area, wherein the conductive element is adapted for intermittent heating, and wherein during positioning, the conductive element is inactive;
- and
- activating the conductive element thereby heating the conductive element and forming a seal line of the lap seal in the overlap area between the first and second sides of the overlapping non-wax coated polymeric film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.