Closing Means Comprising Roller Or Roller-like Member Patents (Class 53/374.4)
  • Patent number: 11279509
    Abstract: A fill-packaging method for plural rows, a fill-packaging machine for plural rows and a fill-packaged body include a wide-width cylindrical body forming process for continuously longitudinal-sealing a plastic film longitudinally unreeled in the longitudinal direction to continuously form a single wide-width cylindrical body, a sealing and cutting process for continuously heat-sealing one or more widthwise positions of the wide-width cylindrical body to form longitudinally border sealed portions and continuously cutting the longitudinally border sealed portions in the longitudinal direction to cut out the wide-width cylindrical body into a plurality of narrow-width cylindrical body rows independently arranged in parallel, and a bag-making process for continuously manufacturing packaged bodies by applying horizontal sealing to each of the narrow-width cylindrical body rows separated and run independently in the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals while filling a packing material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: YUSHIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsunori Futase
  • Patent number: 10807745
    Abstract: A packaging device for medications includes a packaging material supply and a folding and guiding unit. The folding and guiding unit folds a packaging material web in the longitudinal direction so that the edges of the packaging material web are guided along packaging material web folding regions and a folding section establishes a folded region in the packaging material web. The folding and guiding unit includes an impact region for medications to be packaged, a first joining unit and a second joining unit. The folding and guiding unit also includes a medication supply section spaced apart from the folding section and via which medications are conducted vertically spaced apart from the folded region into the folded packaging material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 8943782
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for packaging flat objects into a packaging material web (110). The device includes a conveyor device (30) with an essentially plane conveyor surface (34) which is capable of conveying the flat objects (100) one after the other and distanced to one another in a conveyor direction (F). Moreover, at least one processing tool (10) with a processing-active zone (12) is present. The processing tool (10) is capable of processing the packaging material web (110) in the region between two objects (100) in a processing region (B) of the device (1). Thereby, the packaging material web (110) covers the objects (100) on both sides. The processing tool (10) is movable for processing at least perpendicularly to the conveyor surface (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Roman Dax, Thomas Luginbuehl
  • Patent number: 8661771
    Abstract: A sealing device and a medicine packaging apparatus that includes the sealing device, wherein an engaging mechanism for coupling frames has good operability and the frames can firmly engage each other. The sealing device (10) can couple roller frames (20a, 20b) by an engaging mechanism (40) to integrate the roller frames. The engaging mechanism (40) has an engager (45) and a receptor (46) formed of a recess or the like. The engager includes a manipulation lever (50) and an engaging lever (51). The engager (45) is provided in the roller frame (20a), while the receptor (46) is provided in the roller frame (20b). When the manipulation lever (50) is pushed and pivoted toward the roller frame (20b), the engaging mechanism (40) can integrate the roller frames (20a, 20b). When the manipulation lever (50) is pulled and pivoted toward a front portion, the engaging mechanism can release the engagement caused by the engaging mechanism (40) to allow the roller frames (20a, 20b) to be separable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yuyama MFG Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 8387344
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Testing Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis M. Montano, Larry E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8196630
    Abstract: A system for controlling the strength of seals imparted to workpiece layers by a sealing roll and an anvil roll, the sealing roll and the anvil roll arranged on opposing sides of a conveyed web of workpiece layers, heating elements provided on at least one of the rolls, temperature sensors provided on the at least one of the rolls, and a controller in communication with the sensors and in operable communication with the heating elements. The sealing roll includes a textured sealing surface, the textured sealing surface being divided into a plurality of regions, the texture of a first of the regions being different from a texture of a second of the regions. By controlling the temperature of the respective regions, detrimental effects of anvil wear on the strength of the seal imparted to the workpiece layers may be offset, increasing the service life of rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: James William Busch, Michael John Mers-Kelly
  • Patent number: 8146327
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Testing Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis M Montano, Larry E Smith
  • Patent number: 8117808
    Abstract: An apparatus for transverse sealing of a packaging tube, filled with products, in order to form bag packages, has a delivery conveyor for delivering the packaging tube, a removal conveyor for carrying the bag packages away and a transverse sealing unit engaging an interstice between these two conveyors. Means is provided for supporting the bag packages at least in part at the transition through this interstice. This means for supporting the bag packages is a supporting base, which reaches beneath the bag packages from two diametrically opposed sides and both supports the bag packages and transports them onward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Strasser
  • Publication number: 20110126489
    Abstract: A sealing device and a medicine packaging apparatus that includes the sealing device, wherein an engaging mechanism for coupling frames has good operability and the frames can firmly engage each other. The sealing device (10) can couple roller frames (20a, 20b) by an engaging mechanism (40) to integrate the roller frames. The engaging mechanism (40) has an engager (45) and a receptor (46) formed of a recess or the like. The engager includes a manipulation lever (50) and an engaging lever (51). The engager (45) is provided in the roller frame (20a), while the receptor (46) is provided in the roller frame (20b). When the manipulation lever (50) is pushed and pivoted toward the roller frame (20b), the engaging mechanism (40) can integrate the roller frames (20a, 20b). When the manipulation lever (50) is pulled and pivoted toward a front portion, the engaging mechanism can release the engagement caused by the engaging mechanism (40) to allow the roller frames (20a, 20b) to be separable from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 7941991
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Lako Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis M. Montano, Larry E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100313526
    Abstract: A system for controlling the strength of seals imparted to workpiece layers by a sealing roll and an anvil roll, the sealing roll and the anvil roll arranged on opposing sides of a conveyed web of workpiece layers, heating elements provided on at least one of the rolls, temperature sensors provided on the at least one of the rolls, and a controller in communication with the sensors and in operable communication with the heating elements. The sealing roll includes a textured sealing surface, the textured sealing surface being divided into a plurality of regions, the texture of a first of the regions being different from a texture of a second of the regions. By controlling the temperature of the respective regions, detrimental effects of anvil wear on the strength of the seal imparted to the workpiece layers may be offset, increasing the service life of rolls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: James William Busch, Michael John Mers-Kelly
  • Patent number: 7730698
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventors: Louis M. Montano, Larry E. Smith
  • Patent number: 7685795
    Abstract: The present invention describes an improved grip belt drive system for use in sealing machines used to wrap articles in thermoplastic film. Briefly, a timing belt is used in place of the traditional flat or V belt. The presence of teeth on the pulleys, coupled with the use of a timing belt eliminates the possibility of slippage between the belt and the pulleys. To protect the system in the case of a film jam or misplaced article, a torque-limiting mechanism is included, which disengages the drive system if there is excessive counterforce. Furthermore, the outer surface of timing belt contains a pattern, which when mated with a second belt having the same or a complementary pattern, meshes in such a way so that the two belts are positively locked in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Shanklin Corporation
    Inventors: Francis X. King, Jr., Mitchell W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090313944
    Abstract: A rotary assembly, for FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) machines, for ultrasound sealing a continuous tubular strip housing an orderly succession of products and travelling along a feed path extending through the sealing station; the rotary assembly having two rotors, which are located on opposite sides of the feed path, and rotate in opposite directions about respective axes; and at least one of the two rotors being fitted with at least one ultrasound sealing device, which cooperates at the sealing station with a corresponding anvil fitted to the other rotor with the interposition of elastic members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Roberto Ghiotti, Elena Poluzzi, Fulvio Boldrini
  • Patent number: 7555878
    Abstract: Device for closing bags for containing powder or granular materials, suitable for installation within a belt, roller or similar line for conveying bags, including at least one sealing head (52) and a conveyor member (27) for feeding the bags (60) to the sealing head (52), characterised in that the sealing head (52) presents drive elements (51, 53, 54, 55) causing it to advance, during the sealing process, at the same speed as the conveyor member to enable it to seal a bag (60) while the conveyor member is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ventomatic S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Brioschi
  • Patent number: 7448184
    Abstract: A laminate assembly, comprising a base sheet having at least one blister formed therein, a pharmaceutical composition displaced in the blister, a lid sheet bonded to the base sheet to form a primary seal therebetween, thus forming a primarily sealed laminate assembly; the primary sealed laminate assembly having a secondary seal formed therein, and related manufacturing method and system of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited
    Inventors: Verna Lo Clark, Michael Mary Van Oort, Richard Ian Walker
  • Patent number: 7434374
    Abstract: A method and a line for the high-speed packaging of filter bags (1) containing an infusion product comprises at least three successive operating steps whereby: the filter bags (1) are wrapped in a continuous protective tubular envelope (2) by sealing a continuous V-shaped folded strip (3) along a longitudinal sealing line (5) and transversal sealing lines (6); the tubular envelope (2) is cut into lengths; and the filter bags (1), individually wrapped in respective envelopes (2), are placed in cartons. In the method and line (26) according to the invention, the transversal seal (6) is made in two successive steps as the continuous folded strip (3) moves through two separate consecutive sealing stations (7, 8), the first station (7) making a part of the transversal seal (6) and the second station (8) completing the same transversal seal (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Tecnomeccanica S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Publication number: 20080178560
    Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic sealing of food product packaging is provided. The ultrasonic sealing system preferably includes a food product packaging-positioning system that delivers food product packaging and food product into direct on-item-packaging forming box. The direct on-item-packaging forming box then receives the food product packaging and forms it directly around the supplied food product forming a partially packaged food product. The partially packaged food product is then ultrasonically edge sealed around the food product by an ultrasonic food product packaging fin-sealing unit forming a partially sealed food product packaging. The partially sealed food product packaging then enters a food product packaging end-sealing unit which ultrasonically seals and crimps the ends of the food product packaging resulting in a fully packaged and ultrasonically sealed food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Publication number: 20080141624
    Abstract: A sealing assembly is employed to clamp together layers of a layered web, such as two layers of flexible laminate plastic film, and to bond and cut the layers by applying heat and pressure. The sealing assembly may include a pair of jaws, one of which has a sealing head with a conductive knife protruding from a tapered dielectric supporting base. The knife has a high thermal conductivity relative to the supporting base. A current supplied through the knife heats it and the heat of the knife raises the temperature of the supporting base to a baseline temperature. When the head abuts the layered web, a spike current through the knife raises its temperature momentarily to melt through, and therefore sever, the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: L3 CONTAINER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stefan Tobolka
  • Patent number: 7325373
    Abstract: A rotary unit, of an FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) machine, for ultrasound sealing a continuous tubular strip housing an orderly succession of products and fed along a feed path extending through a sealing station; the rotary unit having two substantially identical rotors located on opposite sides of the feed path, and which rotate in opposite directions about respective axes, and have respective pitch surfaces tangent to each other and to the feed path; and an ultrasound sealing head, forming part of one of the two rotors, cooperates at the sealing station with a corresponding anvil forming part of the other rotor, to close the tubular strip along a transverse seal line located at a respective portion of the tubular strip extending between two respective adjacent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Azionairia Constrizoni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Ghiotti, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 7323665
    Abstract: A heating element for a film-sealing apparatus comprises a heating wire segment formed of a first metal having a first reflectance to laser radiation of a predetermined wavelength. The heating element further comprises a first conductor lead comprising a wire having one end joined to a first end of the heating wire segment, and a second conductor lead comprising a wire having one end joined to a second end of the heating wire segment. The first and second conductor leads have a lower electrical resistance than the heating wire segment, and are formed of a second metal having a second reflectance to laser radiation of the predetermined wavelength, the second reflectance being higher than the first reflectance. Each of the first and second conductor leads is lap-welded to the respective end of the heating wire segment using laser radiation of the predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne M. Scott, Jason A. Rittenhour, Jack Crane
  • Patent number: 7225599
    Abstract: An apparatus for making inflated articles from a film web having two juxtaposed film plies. One version of the apparatus generally includes a first rotary sealing device for producing transverse seals that bond the film plies together, an inflation assembly for directing gas between the film plies, and a second rotary sealing device for producing a longitudinal seal between the film plies. The longitudinal seal intersects the transverse seals so that the gas is enclosed between the longitudinal seal, transverse seals, and film plies to thereby form an inflated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence B. Sperry, Eric A. Kane, Brian A. Murch, Ross Patterson
  • Patent number: 7213383
    Abstract: A foam-in-bag assembly with a film feed mechanism which feeds film with a film driver and a bag forming assembly which includes an edge sealer that contacts film being fed by the film driver and which is supported on a moving member of the film feed mechanism and retains a fixed position relative to the moving member while in sealing engagement with the film being fed by the film driver. The edge seal assembly is preferably for use with a nip roller set and has a bearing through which a driving shaft of the nip roller extends and an edge wire is received on an edge wire support of the edge sealer. The support for the edge wire retains a fixed edge seal position while the driving member rotates within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: IntelliPack
    Inventors: Douglas Walker, George Bertram
  • Patent number: 6675559
    Abstract: A rotary heat sealing system heat seals top and bottom webs to each other around discrete articles held in predetermined alignments and spacings between the webs. The rotary heat sealing system comprises a sealing station at which the heat sealing occurs, and a tensioning station upstream of the sealing station. The tensioning station produces a tension in the top and bottom webs and the articles by wrapping them in a reverse bend so as to maintain the predetermined alignments and spacings of the articles as they enter the sealing station. The sealing station includes an anvil and a heating die with a heat sealing grid and pockets between circumferential rails. The articles enter the pockets, and the webs are sealed to each other at areas corresponding to the heat sealing grid. A force mechanism applies a predetermined force between the heating die rails and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Converting Biophile Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Hilbert, Sr., Thomas F. Hilbert, Jr., Dale E. Lanser
  • Patent number: 6666004
    Abstract: A rotary heat sealing system heat seals top and bottom webs to each other around discrete articles held in predetermined alignments and spacings between the webs. The rotary heat sealing system comprises a sealing station at which the heat sealing occurs, and a tensioning station upstream of the sealing station. The tensioning station produces a tension in the top and bottom webs and the articles by wrapping them in a reverse bend so as to maintain the predetermined alignments and spacings of the articles as they enter the sealing station. The sealing station includes an anvil and a heating die with a heat sealing grid and pockets between circumferential rails. The articles enter the pockets, and the webs are sealed to each other at areas corresponding to the heat sealing grid. A force mechanism applies a predetermined force between the heating die rails and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Converting Biophile Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Hilbert, Sr., Thomas F. Hilbert, Jr., Dale E. Lanser
  • Publication number: 20030230054
    Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic sealing of food product packaging is provided. The ultrasonic sealing system preferably includes a food product packaging-positioning system that delivers food product packaging and food product into direct on-item-packaging forming box. The direct on-item-packaging forming box then receives the food product packaging and forms it directly around the supplied food product forming a partially packaged food product. The partially packaged food product is then ultrasonically edge sealed around the food product by an ultrasonic food product packaging fin-sealing unit forming a partially sealed food product packaging. The partially sealed food product packaging then enters a food product packaging end-sealing unit which ultrasonically seals and crimps the ends of the food product packaging resulting in a fully packaged and ultrasonically sealed food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 6647702
    Abstract: An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system for processing a prescription input into tablet containing serial paper bags comprises a tablet dropping unit having a hopper guiding each tablet batch from the unit to drop therethrough, and shafts each having top and below-top peripheries and an axial line between the bottom and below-top peripheries. A top roller extends from the top periphery to have a top radius, an axial plate radially extends from the axial line to intermittently seal substantially folded paper sheet in a sidewise sealing format by mutual engagement rolling of the top rollers. Below-top rollers extend from the below-top periphery to have a below-top radius less than the top radius. Edge rollers provided below the below-top rollers to seal therebetween lengthwise sealing portions of the widthwisely sealed paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Jun Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6598377
    Abstract: In a folding and guiding apparatus for use in a filling and packing machine, film F that is drawn out and guided from a film winding core and fed continuously is double-folded up along the longitudinal direction thereof, and pack-target material is filled and packed while the four sides of the double-folded film are sealed. A film guide member 12 for regulating and holding the outer surface portions of the folded portions of the double-folded film is provided between a film folding mechanism 4 and a longitudinal sealing mechanism 5 so as to be adjacent to the longitudinal sealing mechanism 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030126840
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing continuously fed elongate material, such as forming sealed bags from continuously fed film tubes, uses at least one pair of orbital tools that are cantilevered from tool drives (e.g., crank arms) at one edge of the material, extending transversely across the direction of material travel to engage opposite faces of the material. During material engagement the tools run synchronously with the moving material, but may be returned upstream rapidly to reengage the material for the next processing cycle. In order to achieve a higher throughput an additional pair of tools can be used, cantilevered and driven from the opposite edge of the material, maintaining the same processing (e.g., sealing) time. Through this arrangement the tools on opposing sides can alternate contact with the material and be run independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Helwig, Thomas Matheyka
  • Patent number: 6574944
    Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic sealing of food product packaging is provided. The ultrasonic sealing system preferably includes a food product packaging-positioning system that delivers food product packaging and food product into direct on-item-packaging forming box. The direct on-item-packaging forming box then receives the food product packaging and forms it directly around the supplied food product forming a partially packaged food product. The partially packaged food product is then ultrasonically edge sealed around the food product by an ultrasonic food product packaging fin-sealing unit forming a partially sealed food product packaging. The partially sealed food product packaging then enters a food product packaging end-sealing unit which ultrasonically seals and crimps the ends of the food product packaging resulting in a fully packaged and ultrasonically sealed food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 6557322
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a wrapper sleeve includes a first peripheral surface rotating about a first axis and having a generatrix parallel to and at a maximum distance from, the first axis and a radius of curvature smaller throughout the circumferential surface length than the maximum distance. A second peripheral surface rotates about a second axis oriented parallel to the first axis. The first and second peripheral surfaces define a line of contact with the wrapper sleeve therebetween. The first and second surfaces rotate in synchronism and roll on one another effecting sealing of the wrapper sleeve as the wrapper sleeve is advanced. A device displaces the first axis relative to the second axis in a direction transverse to the advancing direction of the wrapper sleeve for effecting displacement of the line of contact in the advancing direction as the first and second surfaces rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventor: Thomas Strasser
  • Patent number: 6550229
    Abstract: A device for sealing two plies of plastic film together generally includes an electrically conductive heating element and a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface, the cylinder being positioned in abutting relationship with the heating element and capable of rotating against the heating element, which is in fixed position, along a predetermined contact arc such that less than a complete circumference of the outer surface of the cylinder is in contact with the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne Scott
  • Patent number: 6540101
    Abstract: A tablet dispensing and packaging system comprises a safety cutter having a cam disk, a cam shaft eccentric to the disk, an upper support rod, upper and lower blades each having a cutting edge. The lower rod rear end is rotatably carried on the cam shaft, the upper rod has a substantially elongated through-opening near the rear end thereof. A protrusion extends from the upper rod rear end. The through-opening is worn on the cam shaft over the lower support rod, wherein the upper blade rear end is rotatably engaged to the upper rod front end. A pin pivotably carries thereon the lower blade rear end and mid rear portion adjacent to its rear end into a frame. An elastic member elastically administers the cam shaft and the rear end protrusion of the upper support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Jun H. Kim
  • Publication number: 20020092279
    Abstract: A device for sealing two plies of plastic film together generally includes an electrically conductive heating element and a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface, the cylinder being positioned in abutting relationship with the heating element and capable of rotating against the heating element, which is in fixed position, along a predetermined contact arc such that less than a complete circumference of the outer surface of the cylinder is in contact with the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: SEALED AIR CORPORATION (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne Scott
  • Publication number: 20010010144
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a wrapper sleeve includes a first peripheral surface rotating about a first axis and having a generatrix parallel to and at a maximum distance from, the first axis and a radius of curvature smaller throughout the circumferential surface length than the maximum distance. A second peripheral surface rotates about a second axis oriented parallel to the first axis. The first and second peripheral surfaces define a line of contact with the wrapper sleeve therebetween. The first and second surfaces rotate in synchronism and roll on one another effecting sealing of the wrapper sleeve as the wrapper sleeve is advanced. A device displaces the first axis relative to the second axis in a direction transverse to the advancing direction of the wrapper sleeve for effecting displacement of the line of contact in the advancing direction as the first and second surfaces rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas Strasser
  • Patent number: 6230781
    Abstract: A crimper assembly includes upper and lower crimper bars which are rotated relative to a sheet of packaging material. A pair of upper crimpers are secured to opposite sides of the upper crimper bar, while a pair of lower crimpers are secured to opposite sides of the lower crimper bars. Each of the upper crimpers includes a metallic base having an outwardly facing portion with an undulating cross sectional shape. A slot is formed in the outwardly facing portion of the upper crimper, and a cutting blade is retained therein. In a first embodiment, an insert is secured to the base of each of the upper crimpers. The insert includes a rigid shank having a lip portion extending therefrom. Portions of the outer surface of the shank are covered by a layer of a relatively resilient material. The layer is formed from a material which is suitable for compressing overlapping portions of the folded sheet of packaging material to form an intermeshing seal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Lako Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6212859
    Abstract: A method of continuously forming, filling and sealing of packages with a continuous web of film material is disclosed and comprises the steps of providing a continuous web of film material and folding the web to provide confronting sides joined along a bottom edge and forming a vertical seal at spaced intervals along the web. This process forms a series of horizontally disposed pouches having opposed sidewalls separated by the vertical seals with each pouch being unsealed along a top edge. The pouches are then opened by separating the opposed sidewalls and are then filled with a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Cloud Corporation, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Bielik, Jr., Robert Czolek, Adam Dworak, Robert Anderson, August Zurawski, Charles E. Cloud
  • Patent number: 6189300
    Abstract: A packaging machine is shown for individually wrapping objects, such as candies. The machine has a rotary hopper for selecting the objects to be wrapped, folding them and ejecting them precisely onto a delivery conveyor. A continuous wrapping film is laid over the objects on the delivery conveyor and the sides of the film are folded downwardly to partially wrap the objects. The objects are then gripped through the wrapping film by gripping fingers mounted on a second gripping conveyor. The gripping conveyor moves the objects along while the bottom edges of the wrapper are crimped, and the wrapper between the objects is then crimped and cut off. The gripping fingers then release the wrapped object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Tuan Vinh Le
  • Patent number: 6178719
    Abstract: In a cross joining and/or cross cutting station in a flow packing machine, opposed tool parts are moved in complementary round paths such that they can press against opposite sides of a tubular packaging web for cross closing/cutting the web between successively advanced products therein, during continuous movement of the web. Normally the tool parts are moved by simple rotation, but according to the invention they are moved in a paracyclic manner, i.e. with substantially unchanged orientation in the space. This makes it possible to maintain the tool carrying parts in operative connection with an external power source through flexible wires or hoses, such that in a packaging machine with more packaging lines it is possible to operate all of the tool sets by common moving means, yet also with the possibility of deactuating the tools individually in case of operational disturbances in one or more of the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Pak Hoyer A/S
    Inventor: Per Henrik Hansen