Abstract:
Devices and methods for inflating and sealing packaging pillows from a material web are shown for consistently producing high-quality packaging pillows. A web of material is advanced past an inflation nozzle, inflated with gas, and sealed closed by a sealing element. The temperature of the sealing element is monitored using a thermocouple connection and automatically adjusted using a closed-loop system. A sealing clamp parallel to the sealing element maintains two sheets of the web in contact through the sealing step. The inflation nozzle is provided with two inflation outlets: a first outlet inserting gas longitudinally into the web of material, and a second outlet inserting gas laterally into the material. Gas input is controlled with the use of relief valves to maintain pillow quality at all stages of production.
Abstract:
Devices and methods for inflating and sealing packaging pillows from a material web are shown for consistently producing high-quality packaging pillows. A web of material is advanced past an inflation nozzle, inflated with gas, and sealed closed by a sealing element. The temperature of the sealing element is monitored using a thermocouple connection and automatically adjusted using a closed-loop system. A sealing clamp parallel to the sealing element maintains two sheets of the web in contact through the sealing step. The inflation nozzle is provided with two inflation outlets: a first outlet inserting gas longitudinally into the web of material, and a second outlet inserting gas laterally into the material. Gas input is controlled with the use of relief valves to maintain pillow quality at all stages of production.
Abstract:
A heat sealing wheel assembly of a shrink wrap machine reduces thermoplastic film waste during the side cutting and sealing process. The relative diameters of the heat wheel and heating hub of the heat sealing wheel assembly are configured to create an annular region towards the outer circumference of the heat wheel. This creates a space to permit closer engagement of the gripping mechanism for grasping and guiding the edge of thermoplastic film next to the point of contact of the opposing heat wheel edges, and avoids the obstruction normally caused by the heating hub. The closer gripping engagement reduces the amount of film that must extend out from the point of sealing contact of the heat wheels, resulting in less waste during the side sealing process.
Abstract:
An improved film sealing and cutting apparatus (10) for use with a shrink-wrap machine that individually wraps articles (219) sequentially with shrink-wrap film material (200) of different possible thickness and composition, especially thick, tough film which would be difficult to seal. The apparatus (10) includes two pairs of selectively heated rollers (97, 98). Overlapping layers (209) of film material wrapped around an article are passed between peripheral surfaces of each roller pair. The first roller pair forms a thermal conditioning pre-seal (208) between opposing surfaces of the overlapping layers by application of heat and pressure along the peripheral surfaces of the first roller pair. The second roller pair then completes the seal and cuts through the opposing surfaces, leaving a margin between a cutting path formed by the peripheral surfaces of the second roller pair and the seal.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for forming a connection of portions of a moving folded web of disposable undergarments is provided. The apparatus preferably includes a registration conveyor positioned to register and convey a folded web of disposable undergarments moving along a predetermined path of travel and a web connector positioned adjacent the registration conveyor to connect portions of the folded web as the folded web is conveyed along the predetermined path of travel. A method preferably includes registeringly conveying a folded web of disposable undergarments along a predetermined path of travel and connecting portions of the folded web as the folded web is conveyed along the predetermined path of travel.
Abstract:
A tube of plastic material is cut at a bag length interval from a free end to define an open mouth. The free end is sealed to form a bag and a reclosable fastener strip is affixed to the open mouth after the tube is cut. Prior to affixing the reclosable fastener strip, but after the tube section is cut, the bag is moved away from the remainder of the tube. The side edges of the bag adjacent to the open mouth are slit and the slits and reclosable fastener strip are joined after the reclosable fastener strip is positioned in the slits. The bag may be filled after the free end of the tube is sealed but before cutting the bag length interval from the tube.
Abstract:
A device for welding flatly stacked workpieces, preferably layers of tubular segments in the manufacture of sacks, by means of welds of predetermined contour in the ultrasonic welding process comprises at least one sonotrode, which is adjustable, but is stationary during the welding operation and at least one contour roller, which is assigned to said sonotrode and whose shell is provided with a contour profile, which matches the contour of the welds to be formed and which rotates at a circumferential speed that corresponds to the speed of the workpieces passing through. To weld together quite well flatly stacked workpieces, even when they tend to unfold or spread apart, the sonotrode is enclosed by a continuous belt or strap, revolving over deflecting and drive rollers. The carrying run of the belt, passing the active surface of the sonotrode, forces the workpieces to be welded against the contour roller.
Abstract:
An apparatus for sealing the folded end flaps of a plastic film package is disclosed. The apparatus has means for transporting the package along a path and linear spaced end fold guides which are spaced from the path so as to retain the end flaps of the package folded against the package while traveling along the path from an overwrapping machine. Air heating and blowing means disperse heated air towards the folded end flaps of an article traveling along the path. Rotatable air-heated spot-weld rollers having a plurality of spaced protrusions are flexibly mounted adjacent to the path. The rollers are rotatably mounted and are adapted to be pressed against the end flaps of the package so the heated protrusions spot-weld the end flaps to one another. A hot air dispersing nozzle directs the heated air from the air heating and blowing means onto the spot-welded end flaps of the package causing portions of the end flaps to become molten. Cylindrical compression rollers which are formed with a series of uniform holes are maintained in spring-mounted relation to the path so as to press against and cool the semi-molten end folds of the package traveling along the path to bring about the sealing of the end flaps to one another.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a device for fixedly securing a cap and body of a capsule together to thereby render the capsule tamper evident. In one form of the invention, the capsules are conveyed at spaced intervals along a predetermined path of travel through a treatment zone which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. An elongated bar having a tapered edge and positioned within the treatment zone engages the side of the capsule to produce an indentation in the side of the capsule which increases in depth from the entry and to the exit end of the treatment zone. This indentation around the capsule hermetically seals the cap and body of the capsule together so that the cap and body cannot be separated without destruction of the capsule. In another form of the invention, the bar is increasingly heated along its length so that, in addition to forming an indentation circumferentially around the capsule, simultaneously hermetically seals the capsule cap and body together. In still another form of the invention, a rotating disc having an outer shaped edge is aligned to and frictionally engages the outer periphery of the capsule in order to produce the desired indentation in the capsule. The disc can be heated to produce a fluid (hermetic) seal between the capsule cap and body. In still another form of the invention, a two part heated embosser forms an indentation around the capsule. The capsule is then rotated and again engaged by the embosser to hermetically seal the capsule.
Abstract:
A method for sealing an assembled gelatine capsule of the type used to contain and dispense medication is disclosed. An assembled capsule the axis of which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of a thin elongated bar is moved along and in contact with a thin edge of the elongated bar. The surface of the assembled capsule, at a point where the cap and body of the capsule overlie each other, is initially in contact with the thin edge of one end of the bar and the capsule is moved along the length of said bar so that the axis of the capsule moves closer to the edge of the bar. The bar is heated so as to be at a first temperature at a first point between its ends that will melt the gelatine, and the remainder of the bar is at a temperature that will heat plasticize the gelatine. As the capsule is moved along the heated bar it is rotated either by friction between the bar and the capsule or by mechanical means. The result is that a circumferential indentation is created around the capsule where the cap and body overlie each other, and the cap and body are fused to each other creating a hermetic seal. When a hermetric seal is not desired the temperature at the first point is below the melting temperature of the gelatine. The formed indentation and the hermetic seal, singly and combinationally, cooperate such that any attempt to separate the cap and body of a sealed capsule will fracture the cap and/or body and thereby provide an indication that the sealed capsule has been tampered with.