US20140311100A1 - Packaging Apparatus and Method of Making Packages - Google Patents
Packaging Apparatus and Method of Making Packages Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140311100A1 US20140311100A1 US14/358,443 US201214358443A US2014311100A1 US 20140311100 A1 US20140311100 A1 US 20140311100A1 US 201214358443 A US201214358443 A US 201214358443A US 2014311100 A1 US2014311100 A1 US 2014311100A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- elongate
- knife
- packaging apparatus
- holder
- anvil
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
- B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
- B29C65/743—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
- B29C65/745—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
- B29C65/745—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool
- B29C65/7451—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool the severing tool and the welding tool being movable with respect to one-another
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
- B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
- B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
- B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
- B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
- B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
- B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
- B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
- B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
- B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
- B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
- B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
- B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
- B29C66/43129—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams said flat seams being transversal but non-orthogonal with respect to the tubular or hollow articles, i.e. oblique
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81411—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat
- B29C66/81415—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being bevelled
- B29C66/81417—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being bevelled being V-shaped
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81411—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat
- B29C66/81421—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave
- B29C66/81422—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave being convex
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81411—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat
- B29C66/81421—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave
- B29C66/81423—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave being concave
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81427—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81431—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81433—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins, or being patterned
- B29C66/81435—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins, or being patterned comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8145—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the constructional aspects of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/81457—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the constructional aspects of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/816—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8161—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
- B29C66/81611—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material by resilient material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/8351—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws
- B29C66/83511—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums
- B29C66/83513—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums cooperating jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums and moving in a closed path
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
- B29C66/849—Packaging machines
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/16—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by rotary members
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
- B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
- B65B51/306—Counter-rotating devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
- B65B9/08—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
Abstract
A packaging apparatus including a cutting device, the cutting device comprising an elongate holder, an elongate knife having an elongate cutting edge, and a heat seal device located on the elongate holder on opposed sides of the knife, the heat seal device comprising a pair of elongate pressure strips projecting outwardly from the elongate holder, each pressure strip extending along a respective side of the knife, wherein each pressure strip comprises an elongate bar mounted for sliding movement in a respective slot in the elongate holder, the sliding movement varying the distance an outer edge of the elongate bar projects from the elongate holder, and a biasing element within the respective slot, the biasing element engaging an inner edge of the elongate bar and arranged to bias the elongate bar outwardly of the slot. A packaging method is also disclosed.
Description
- This application is a US 371 National Stage Application from PCT/EP2012/072651 filed Nov. 14, 2012, which claims priority to GB 1119863.7 filed Nov. 17, 2011, now GB Patent 2496645, issued Apr. 9, 2014, the technical disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to packaging apparatus and to a method of making packages.
- It is known to employ vertical form, fill, and seal (VFFS) packaging apparatus to produce packages, in the form of bags, pillow packs or pouches of products, such as snack foods. A tubular film, having been formed from a roll of packaging film of heat sealable plastic material which has been longitudinally sealed, is fed intermittently through a jaw device. The film forms a flattened tube at the jaw device. The jaw device forms a pair of vertically spaced hermetic heat seals extending transversely across the tube, the seals being located between vertically adjacent packages. The jaw device also cuts through a middle portion, located between the hermetic seals, extending across the tube which separates a lower sealed package containing the packaged product from an upper unsealed package.
- In this way, a lower hermetic seal forms the upper seal of the lower package, and an upper hermetic seal forms the lower seal of the upper package. The upper package is then filled with product, the tube is advanced downwardly through the jaw device, and then the cycle is repeated when the upper edge of the upper package, and the lower edge of the following package, is disposed between the jaws of the jaw device.
- There are several known principles of operation of such jaws of a vertical, form, fill, and seal (VFFS) packaging apparatus. One class of jaw devices utilises a continuous rotary jaw motion, which is illustrated with reference to
FIG. 1 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 , in such ajaw device 10, aknife 12 is disposed on one side of the flattened, longitudinally sealedtube 14, and a hardened reaction pad oranvil 16 is disposed on the opposite side of thetube 14, with the tube located between theknife 12 andanvil 16. Theknife 12 is urged under pressure against theanvil 16 to cut through the film of thetube 14, trapped between theknife blade 18 and theanvil 16, by a pressured crush-cutting action. - The
knife 12 and theanvil 16 both rotate in phase and in opposite rotational directions as shown by the arrows inFIG. 1 so that theknife 12 and theanvil 16 engage so as to cut packaging film material, in the form of a flattened tube as described below, centrally located therebetween. - The
knife 12 is rotated about an axis X orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L of thetube 14 and parallel to the surface of theanvil 16 and thecutting edge 20 of theblade 18. Although not illustrated,plural knives 12 may be mounted about a common shaft disposed along axis X and mutually angularly separated, so that for each cycle of rotation of the common shaft, plural cuts are made byrespective knives 12.Plural anvils 16 would be correspondingly provided. - The
elongate knife 12 is mounted in anelongate holder 21 in the form of a mounting block. The lower portion of theknife 12 is received in anelongate recess 30 in theelongate holder 21 and securely fixed therein. The cutting action of theknife 12 is progressive, so that during the continuous rotation of theknife 12 inholder 21, initially one longitudinal end of theknife 12 first contacts theanvil 16 and subsequently the contact point therebetween progresses along thecutting edge 20 of theblade 18 towards the other longitudinal end of theknife 12. To achieve such progressive cutting action, thecutting edge 20 of theblade 18 is ground at an angle α to the plane of theknife 12. Typically, the angle α is 2 degrees. Accordingly, as the rotary contact progresses, the whole width of theflattened tube 14 is not cut through simultaneously, but instead point contact of theknife blade 18 transitions across thetube 14 as the rotary action progresses. The progressive cutting action is similar to that of a rotary blade of a cylinder lawnmower. - Elongate
heat seal devices anvil 16 and/or in theelongate holder 21 for the knife so that transversehermetic seals flattened tube 14 on opposite sides of thetransverse cut 36 made by theknife 12. Theheat seal devices anvil 16 and theelongate holder 21. - The
knife 12 and theheat seal devices sides elongate holder 21 which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L. Thus, when the longitudinal direction is conventionally oriented vertically, theknife 12 and theheat seal devices - The known rotary jaw device provides an effective heat sealing and cutting mechanism, which reliably forms hermetic seals at the opposite ends of a package and with adjacent packages being reliably separated by the action of the knife.
- However, there is an increasing need for product manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging material associated with their products, and in particular not only to reduce packaging costs but also to reduce the carbon footprint, expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, of the packaging material and/or the packaging operation.
- The known rotary jaw device forms hermetic seals which are rather wide, in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and also there is material wastage between adjacent hermetic seals, because a portion of the film material of the tube which is cut through by the rotary cutting action of the knife must be provided between the adjacent hermetic seals.
- Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a rotary jaw device for a packaging apparatus, and to a method of making packages, which can permit the amount of packaging material to be reduced, together with the associated packaging costs and carbon footprint, i.e. carbon dioxide emissions, while still achieving effective hermetic seals at the opposite ends of a package.
- The present invention aims at least partially to meet this need.
- The present invention accordingly provides a packaging apparatus adapted for forming pillow packs of film material, the apparatus including a cutting device, the cutting device comprising an elongate holder, an elongate knife having an elongate cutting edge, and a heat seal device located on the elongate holder on opposed sides of the knife, the heat seal device comprising a pair of elongate pressure strips projecting outwardly from the elongate holder, each pressure strip extending along a respective side of the knife, wherein each pressure strip comprises an elongate bar mounted for sliding movement in a respective slot in the elongate holder, the sliding movement varying the distance an outer edge of the elongate bar projects from the elongate holder, and a biasing element within the respective slot, the biasing element engaging an inner edge of the elongate bar and arranged to bias the elongate bar outwardly of the slot, wherein the elongate bar is rigid and has a thickness of from 1.5 to 2.5 mm, and wherein the biasing element comprises an elongate strip of elastic resilient material which has an upper surface which mates with the inner edge of the elongate bar, and an anvil mounted in opposition to the elongate holder, so that the elongate holder and the anvil comprise opposed jaws of a jaw device, the anvil having a reaction surface for the cutting action of the knife and for the pressure strips.
- Preferably, the elongate bar is composed of a metal, such as stainless steel.
- Optionally, the outer edge of the elongate bar has a convex cross-section. Typically, the convex cross-section is arcuate, and optionally the arcuate cross-section has a radius of from 0.75 to 1.25 mm.
- Preferably, the elongate bar is captive in the elongate holder. Optionally, the elongate bar has a first coupling element located at each longitudinal end of the elongate bar which couples with a second coupling element located at each longitudinal end of the slot, the first and second coupling elements retaining the elongate bar captive in the elongate holder. Preferably, the first coupling element comprises a male element and the second coupling element comprises a channel extending along the sliding direction of the elongate bar.
- The elastic resilient material preferably comprises an elastomeric polymer. Typically, the elongate strip of elastic resilient material has a circular cross-section.
- In one embodiment, the elongate knife is mounted on and projects outwardly from the elongate holder.
- In one preferred embodiment, the holder is mounted on a mounting support adapted to rotate about a rotational axis, the knife is planar, the elongate cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the knife and the plane of the knife is inclined to the rotational axis. Preferably, the cutting edge extends along a centre of the knife. Typically, the knife has a thickness of from 1 to 3 mm.
- Preferably, the holder is mounted on a mounting support adapted to rotate about a rotational axis, the elongate cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the knife and the plane of the knife is inclined to the rotational axis and the knife and anvil are mutually arranged so that as the knife rotates by rotation of the elongate holder, the cutting edge of the knife progressively contacts the reaction surface with a contact point therebetween moving longitudinally along the cutting edge.
- Preferably, the anvil comprises a heater for heating the reaction surface.
- The packaging apparatus of the invention may be particularly adapted for forming pillow packs of film material.
- The present invention further provides a method of making packages, wherein the packages are pillow packs of film material, the method comprising the steps of:
-
- a. providing a flattened tube of packaging film;
- b. providing a cutting device mounted in opposition to an anvil so that the cutting device and the anvil comprise opposed jaws of a jaw device, the cutting device having an elongate knife with an elongate cutting edge, a pair of elongate pressure strips projecting outwardly from an elongate holder, each pressure strip extending along a respective side of the knife, wherein each pressure strip comprises an elongate bar mounted for sliding movement in a respective slot in the elongate holder, the sliding movement varying the distance an outer edge of the elongate bar projects from the elongate holder, and a respective biasing element within the slot, the biasing element engaging an inner edge of the elongate bar and arranged to bias the elongate bar outwardly of the slot, wherein the biasing element comprises an elongate strip of elastic resilient material, wherein the elongate bar is rigid and has a thickness of from 1.5 to 2.5 mm, and the anvil having a reaction surface for the cutting action of the knife and for the pressure strips, at least the reaction surface for the pressure strips being heated;
- c. locating a portion of the flattened tube between the cutting device and the anvil;
- d. relatively moving the cutting device and the anvil together;
- e. cutting through the portion of the flattened tube between the cutting device and the reaction surface of the anvil by the cutting action of the knife; and
- f. pressing the pressure strips against the heated reaction surface thereby simultaneously heat sealing together opposed sides of the flattened tube to form an elongate transverse hermetic seal in the vicinity of each cut end of the flattened tube, during the pressing action each elongate bar sliding rearwardly in the respective slot against the bias of the biasing element within the slot.
- Typically, the cut edge of each package is 0.5 to 1.5 mm from the hermetic seal, more typically about 1 mm from the hermetic seal. Typically, the hermetic seal has a width of from 1 to 4 mm, more typically from 1 to 2 mm.
- Preferably, the packages are pillow packs of film material, and typically the packages contain snack food.
- Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of known rotary jaw device for a packaging apparatus; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic section through a side of a rotary jaw device for a packaging apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic section through the cutting and heat sealing assembly and opposed anvil used in the rotary jaw device ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic section on line A-A through the cutting and heat sealing assembly ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the cutting and heat sealing assembly ofFIG. 3 ; and -
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a pair of packages produced by the rotary jaw device ofFIG. 2 . -
FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a rotary jaw device for a packaging apparatus according to the present invention, which has a continuous rotary jaw motion. The device is structured and operates in a manner similar to that of the known device ofFIG. 1 except that the structure of the mounting block, the knife and the heat sealing devices is significantly modified to achieve the desired reduction in the amount of packaging material required to form packages. The cutting and heat sealing assembly and the anvil both rotate in phase and in opposite rotational directions as shown by the arrows inFIG. 2 so that the knife and the anvil engage so as to cut the film material centrally located therebetween. The film material is intermittently advanced in the longitudinal direction L. - In the
jaw device 110 ofFIG. 2 , aknife 112 is disposed in a cutting andheat sealing assembly 111 on one side of a flattened, longitudinally sealedtube 114 of packaging film to formpackages 115, similar to the known device ofFIG. 1 . Onepackage 115 is shown inFIG. 2 . A hardened reaction pad oranvil 116 is disposed on the opposite side of thetube 114, with thetube 114 located between theknife 112 andanvil 116. Theknife 112 is urged under pressure against theanvil 116 to cut through the film of thetube 114, trapped between theknife blade 118 and theanvil 116, by a pressured crush-cutting action. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
elongate knife 112 is mounted on and projects outwardly from the elongate holder. - The
knife 112 is rotated about an axis X orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L of thetube 114 and parallel to the surface of theanvil 116 and thecutting edge 120 of theblade 118. The cutting andheat sealing assembly 111 holding theknife 112 is mounted about the axis, for example to a shaft disposed along the axis, by a mountingsupport 111. Theanvil 116 is similarly is rotated about an axis Y. - As shown particularly in
FIGS. 3 and 5 , theelongate knife 112 is mounted in anelongate holder 121 in the form of a mounting block. For clarity of illustration, some dimensions and angles are exaggerated inFIGS. 3 and 4 . Typically, the width of the knife (dimension a inFIGS. 3 and 5 ) is from 1 to 3 mm, most typically 2 mm, and thecutting edge 120 is centrally located along the entire length of theblade 118 of theknife 112. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
elongate knife 112 is mounted on and projects outwardly from theelongate holder 121. However, in alternative embodiments other knife mounting and cutting arrangements may be used. For example, the knife may be disposed in a gap between two holder parts and reciprocally slidable, forwardly and rearwardly, in the gap, the sliding motion being between a forward projecting cutting position and a rearward recessed non-cutting position. Known form, fill and seal machines have a variety of different cutter arrangements and the heat seal device employed in the present invention has utility with these various machines. - The lower portion of the
knife 112 is received in anelongate recess 130 in theelongate holder 121 and securely fixed therein. The cutting action of theknife 112 is progressive, so that initially onelongitudinal end 122 of theknife 112 first contacts theanvil 116 and subsequently the contact point progresses along thecutting edge 120 of theblade 118 towards the otherlongitudinal end 124 of theknife 112. - To achieve such progressive cutting action, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5 , theknife 112 is mounted at an angle β to the longitudinal direction of theelongate holder 121. Thecutting edge 120 of theblade 118 is ground so as to be parallel to the plane of theknife 112. Typically, the angle β is 2 degrees. - A heat seal device is located on the
elongate holder 121 on opposed sides of theknife 112. The heat seal device comprises a pair of elongate pressure strips 126, 128. - The elongate pressure strips 126, 128 are parallel to the
knife 112, and accordingly the elongate pressure strips 126, 128 are also mounted at an angle β to the longitudinal direction of theelongate holder 121. Theknife 112 and the pressure strips 126, 128 are therefore inclined at the angle β to the longitudinal sides of theelongate holder 121 which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L. Thus, when the longitudinal direction is oriented vertically,knife 112 and the pressure strips 126, 128 inclined at the angle β to the horizontal. - The
knife 112 and the pressure strips 126, 128 stand proud of the mountingsurface 138 of theelongate holder 121. Eachpressure strip knife 112. Eachpressure strip slot elongate holder 121. The outward (indicated by the direction O inFIG. 4 ) or inward (indicated by the direction I inFIG. 4 ) sliding movement can vary the distance anouter edge 131 of theelongate bar elongate holder 121. Eachelongate bar elongate bar outer edge 131 of theelongate bar - In the illustrated embodiment, the
anvil 116 has a front surface 160 formed with a pair of recessedchannels channel outer edge 131 of a respectiveelongate bar channels elongate bars channels - Alternatively, the front surface 160 of the
anvil 116 may be planar. - A biasing
element slot inner edge elongate bar element elongate strip upper surface inner edge elongate bar elongate strip - The biasing
element elongate bar slot elongate bar respective slot elongate holder 121. Theelongate bar first coupling element longitudinal end elongate bar second coupling element longitudinal end slot second coupling elements elongate bar elongate holder 121. In the illustrated embodiment, thefirst coupling element second coupling element elongate bar - As the rotary contact progresses, the whole width of the flattened
tube 114 is not cut through simultaneously, but instead point contact of theknife blade 118 transitions across thetube 114 as the rotary action progresses. - The
anvil 116 is a heated block incorporating anelectrical resistance heater 117. The heater may alternatively be in theelongate holder 121, or both theholder 121 and theanvil 116 may include a respectiveelectrical resistance heater 117. When the elongate pressure strips 126, 128 are pushed against theanvil 116, the pressure strips 126, 128 urge the flattenedtube 114 against theheated anvil 116 so that transverse hermetic heat seals 132, 134 are formed in the flattenedtube 114 on opposite sides of thetransverse cut 136 made by theknife 112. - Each
pressure strip tube 114 to form an elongate transversehermetic seal tube 114. During the pressing action, eachelongate bar respective slot element slot outer edge 131 remains proud of the mountingsurface 138. The pressure strips 126, 128, compressed against the bias of the biasingelements tube 114 which forms highly and uniformly bondedhermetic seals elements - The pressure strips 126, 128 locally press the film material of the
tube 114 against theheated anvil 116 to form the two spacedhermetic seals outer edge 131 of theelongate bar tube 114 are pushed into thechannels elongate bars anvil 116 has a planar surface 160 then planar hermetic seals are formed. - The elongate pressure strips 126, 128 are parallel to the
knife 112 and so the entire assembly of theknife 112 and the elongate pressure strips 126, 128 on opposite sides thereof is mounted at an inclination to the longitudinal direction of theelongate holder 121. - The provision of elongate pressure strips 126, 128 of rigid material such as metal which are urged against a rigid
heated anvil 116, which may have a complementarily profiled channelled surface or a planar surface, provides the advantage of a high strength seal of minimum width. The pressure strips 126, 128 can exert a high pressure over a small surface area, providing an enhanced heat seal as compared to providing a lower pressure seal over a greater width. Therefore a narrower heat seal can provide improved hermetic performance and durability as compared to a wider seal. The elongate pressure strips 126, 128 are biased by concealed elastic resilient material, which is not subject to external contact and so is safely retained within theslots - Typically, the entire width of the assembly of the
knife 112 and the elongate pressure strips 126, 128, all inclined to the longitudinal direction of theelongate holder 121, is 8 mm, whereas in the known device the entire width of the assembly of theknife 12 and theheat seal devices elongate holder 21 is 20 mm. - The result of this change of structure and orientation of the knife is shown in
FIG. 5 . -
FIG. 6 shows twoadjacent packages knife 112. Eachpackage transverse edge package hermetic seal package endmost portion transverse edge endmost portion FIGS. 1 to 3 . - Therefore for each package produced in accordance with this embodiment of the invention there is a typical total film material saving of 3 mm in length without having any impact of the security of the heat seal.
- This material saving is achieved by reducing the amount of unsealed material at the ends of the packages that has no functional purpose with respect to forming a hermetic seal.
- In addition, the heat seal can be narrower than known heat seals by using the specific pressure strips against the heated anvil, providing even greater packaging material savings. Typically, the heat seal has a width of from 1 to 4 mm, optionally 1 to 2 mm.
- Such a film material saving has potentially enormous impact on high volume production of products such as snack foods.
- The Applicant and its related companies form part of one of the largest snack food companies in the world, and it is estimated that this packaging material saving cumulatively amounts to a global cost saving in packaging material of many tens of millions of dollars per annum, and, importantly, a saving of approximately 16 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide production per annum. This invention therefore may yield very significant reductions in the carbon footprint of the packaging of a wide variety of products, particularly snack foods.
- It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the angle and dimensions exemplified above are merely indicative of an angle size and dimensions that may be used in accordance with the present invention, and that these parameters may be varied depending upon a number of factors, including package size, shape and dimensions.
- The jaw device and method may be used to produce primary packages of a variety of products, of which snack foods are only a preferred example. The jaw device and method may also be adapted to produce secondary packages, for example multi-pack packaging.
- As described above for the known device, in the device of the invention plural knives may be mounted about a common shaft disposed along the rotational axis and mutually angularly separated, so that for each cycle of rotation of the common shaft, plural cuts are made by respective knives, and corresponding plural packages are separated by the cutting action for each rotational cycle of the shaft. Plural anvils would be correspondingly provided.
- In an alternative embodiment, the jaw device may have a translational action rather than a rotary action, and either or both of the elongate holders for the knife and the anvil may be translationally reciprocated.
- Other modifications to the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Claims (37)
1. A packaging apparatus including a cutting device, the cutting device comprising an elongate holder, an elongate knife having an elongate cutting edge, and a heat seal device located on the elongate holder on opposed sides of the knife, the heat seal device comprising a pair of elongate pressure strips projecting outwardly from the elongate holder, each pressure strip extending along a respective side of the knife, wherein each pressure strip comprises an elongate bar mounted for sliding movement in a respective slot in the elongate holder, the sliding movement varying the distance an outer edge of the elongate bar projects from the elongate holder, and a biasing element within the respective slot, the biasing element engaging an inner edge of the elongate bar and arranged to bias the elongate bar outwardly of the slot.
2. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate bar is rigid.
3. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the outer edge of the elongate bar has a convex cross-section.
4. A packaging apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the convex cross-section is arcuate.
5. A packaging apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the arcuate cross-section has a radius from 0.75 to 1.25 mm.
6. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the elongate bar has a thickness of from 1.5 to 2.5 mm.
7. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the elongate bar is composed of a metal.
8. A packaging apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the metal is stainless steel.
9. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the elongate bar is captive in the elongate holder.
10. A packaging apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the elongate bar has a first coupling element located at each longitudinal end of the elongate bar which couples with a second coupling element located at each longitudinal end of the slot, the first and second coupling elements retaining the elongate bar captive in the elongate holder.
11. A packaging apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first coupling element comprises a male element and the second coupling element comprises a channel extending along the sliding direction of the elongate bar.
12. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the biasing element comprises an elongate strip of elastic resilient material.
13. A packaging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the elastic resilient material comprises an elastomeric polymer.
14. A packaging apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the elongate strip of elastic resilient material has an upper surface which mates with the inner edge of the elongate bar.
15. A packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the elongate strip of elastic resilient material has a circular cross-section.
16. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the elongate knife is mounted on and projects outwardly from the elongate holder.
17. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the holder is mounted on a mounting support adapted to rotate about a rotational axis, the knife is planar, the elongate cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the knife and the plane of the knife is inclined to the rotational axis.
18. A packaging apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the cutting edge extends along a centre of the knife.
19. A packaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the knife has a thickness of from 1 to 3 mm.
20. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising an anvil mounted in opposition to the elongate holder, so that the elongate holder and the anvil comprise opposed jaws of a jaw device, the anvil having a reaction surface for the cutting action of the knife and for the pressure strips.
21. A packaging apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the holder is mounted on a mounting support adapted to rotate about a rotational axis, the elongate cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the knife and the plane of the knife is inclined to the rotational axis and the knife and anvil are mutually arranged so that as the knife rotates by rotation of the elongate holder, the cutting edge of the knife progressively contacts the reaction surface with a contact point therebetween moving longitudinally along the cutting edge.
22. A packaging apparatus according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the anvil comprises a heater for heating the reaction surface.
23. A packaging apparatus according to any foregoing claim adapted for forming pillow packs of film material.
24. A method of making packages, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a flattened tube of packaging film;
b. providing a cutting device mounted in opposition to an anvil so that the cutting device and the anvil comprise opposed jaws of a jaw device, the cutting device having an elongate knife with an elongate cutting edge, a pair of elongate pressure strips projecting outwardly from an elongate holder, each pressure strip extending along a respective side of the knife, wherein each pressure strip comprises an elongate bar mounted for sliding movement in a respective slot in the elongate holder, the sliding movement varying the distance an outer edge of the elongate bar projects from the elongate holder, and a respective biasing element within the slot, the biasing element engaging an inner edge of the elongate bar and arranged to bias the elongate bar outwardly of the slot, and the anvil having a reaction surface for the cutting action of the knife and for the pressure strips, at least the reaction surface for the pressure strips being heated;
c. locating a portion of the flattened tube between the cutting device and the anvil;
d. relatively moving the cutting device and the anvil together;
e. cutting through the portion of the flattened tube between the cutting device and the reaction surface of the anvil by the cutting action of the knife; and
f. pressing the pressure strips against the heated reaction surface thereby simultaneously heat sealing together opposed sides of the flattened tube to form an elongate transverse hermetic seal in the vicinity of each cut end of the flattened tube, during the pressing action each elongate bar sliding rearwardly in the respective slot against the bias of the biasing element within the slot.
25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the biasing element comprises an elongate strip of elastic resilient material.
26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the elastic resilient material comprises an elastomeric polymer.
27. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the elongate bar is rigid.
28. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 27 wherein the outer edge of the elongate bar has a convex cross-section.
29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the convex cross-section is arcuate.
30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the arcuate cross-section has a radius from 0.75 to 1.5 mm.
31. A method any one of claims 24 to 30 wherein the elongate bar has a thickness of from 1.5 to 2.5 mm.
32. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 31 wherein the cut edge of each package is 0.5 to 1.5 mm from the hermetic seal.
33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the cut edge of each package is about 1 mm from the hermetic seal.
34. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 33 wherein the hermetic seal has a width of from 1 to 4 mm.
35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the hermetic seal has a width of from 1 to 2 mm.
36. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 35 wherein the packages are pillow packs of film material.
37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the packages contain snack food.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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GB1119863.7A GB2496645B (en) | 2011-11-17 | 2011-11-17 | Packaging apparatus and method of making packages |
GBGB1119863.7 | 2011-11-17 | ||
PCT/EP2012/072651 WO2013072386A1 (en) | 2011-11-17 | 2012-11-14 | Packaging apparatus and method of making packages |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140311100A1 true US20140311100A1 (en) | 2014-10-23 |
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ID=45444285
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/358,443 Abandoned US20140311100A1 (en) | 2011-11-17 | 2012-11-14 | Packaging Apparatus and Method of Making Packages |
Country Status (5)
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US (1) | US20140311100A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2780153A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112014011617A2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2496645B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013072386A1 (en) |
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US20180105306A1 (en) * | 2016-10-17 | 2018-04-19 | Morrisette Paper Company, Inc. | Machine and process for packaging unique items |
US11304847B2 (en) * | 2017-03-29 | 2022-04-19 | Randy Howard Weinstein | Thermal pack that approximates a curved three-dimensional surface |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN115335209A (en) * | 2020-03-19 | 2022-11-11 | 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司 | Packaging unit and method for producing sealed packages containing a pourable food product |
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- 2011-11-17 GB GB1119863.7A patent/GB2496645B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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- 2012-11-14 EP EP12797768.4A patent/EP2780153A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2012-11-14 BR BR112014011617A patent/BR112014011617A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2012-11-14 WO PCT/EP2012/072651 patent/WO2013072386A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-11-14 US US14/358,443 patent/US20140311100A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US4693058A (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1987-09-15 | Hayssen Manufacturing Company | Bag sealing bar |
US4761197A (en) * | 1986-07-28 | 1988-08-02 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. | Apparatus for sealing a web of film |
US5094707A (en) * | 1990-07-25 | 1992-03-10 | Bruno Edward C | Apparatus for extruding plastic storage bags |
US5284002A (en) * | 1992-02-25 | 1994-02-08 | Simple Packaging Solutions, Inc. | Apparatus and method for making a reclosable storage bag |
US5937614A (en) * | 1994-02-01 | 1999-08-17 | Watkins; David Leonard | Bag sealing apparatus |
US5714033A (en) * | 1995-03-08 | 1998-02-03 | Shikoku Kakoi Co., Ltd. | Heat-sealing device for liquid-filled tube |
US5673534A (en) * | 1995-06-23 | 1997-10-07 | Simple Packaging Solutions, Inc. | Reclosable storage bag |
US5590511A (en) * | 1995-08-22 | 1997-01-07 | Milliken Packaging Corporation | Automatic cutter adjustment |
US5678390A (en) * | 1995-10-17 | 1997-10-21 | Food Machinery Sales, Inc. | Horizontal form, fill, and seal packaging machine |
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US6871476B2 (en) * | 2000-11-13 | 2005-03-29 | Stefan Tobolka | Heat sealing and cutting mechanism and container forming apparatus incorporating the same |
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US20120064280A1 (en) * | 2010-09-10 | 2012-03-15 | John Lee Hammons | Deformed Web Materials |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180105306A1 (en) * | 2016-10-17 | 2018-04-19 | Morrisette Paper Company, Inc. | Machine and process for packaging unique items |
US10717558B2 (en) * | 2016-10-17 | 2020-07-21 | Morrisette Paper Company, Inc. | Machine and process for packaging unique items |
US11304847B2 (en) * | 2017-03-29 | 2022-04-19 | Randy Howard Weinstein | Thermal pack that approximates a curved three-dimensional surface |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB201119863D0 (en) | 2011-12-28 |
GB2496645A (en) | 2013-05-22 |
EP2780153A1 (en) | 2014-09-24 |
BR112014011617A2 (en) | 2017-05-30 |
GB2496645B (en) | 2014-04-09 |
WO2013072386A1 (en) | 2013-05-23 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FRITO-LAY TRADING COMPANY GMBH, SWITZERLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TILLEY, MARK ANTONY;REEL/FRAME:032902/0835 Effective date: 20140506 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |