With Package Stationary During Closing Patents (Class 53/374.8)
  • Patent number: 11849745
    Abstract: A meat-packaging procedure and a machine for packaging meat cuts for long-term storage is operated at temperatures of between 28° and 42° F. The process includes sealing meat cuts or full poultry birds or bird pieces within a master bag containing (i) oxygen scavenger materials capable of reducing the residual oxygen content of the atmosphere within the bag to 0 ppm within 96 hours of sealing, and (ii) a CO2 generator capable to generate CO2 in the amount of at least 100 mL per pound of meat or poultry within 7 days of sealing. Gas is injected into the master bag to form a CO2-rich storage environment of at least 50% CO2. For meat trays containing meat with poor color stability, oxygen scavengers are preferably placed within the meat trays. For cuts with good color stability, the oxygen scavengers may be placed outside the meat trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Gaurav Tewari
  • Patent number: 11713152
    Abstract: The work station for a packaging machine comprises an upper tool, a lower tool, and a lifting mechanism. The lower tool is guided for a closing motion directed along a vertical direction towards the upper tool. The lifting mechanism comprises a toggle lever mechanism which connects the lower tool to a support structure. The lifting mechanism comprises a first actuator assembly and a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly is configured to apply a first force for raising the lower tool. The second actuator assembly is configured to apply a second force for raising the lower tool. The first actuator assembly acts upon the lower tool while bypassing the toggle lever mechanism. The second actuator assembly acts upon the toggle lever mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Waegele, Florian Lutz
  • Patent number: 11505350
    Abstract: A plant for vacuum packaging of products includes a plurality of packaging stations, a vacuum pump, a first circuit, an auxiliary pressure device, and a second circuit. The plurality of packaging stations are distinct from each other and configured to separately perform the vacuum packaging of products. The first circuit is configured to put said vacuum pump in fluid communication with said packaging stations. The second circuit is configured to put at least one of said packaging stations in fluid communication with the auxiliary pressure device. The auxiliary pressure device is configured to suction a gas through the second circuit from at least one of said packaging stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventor: Riccardo Palumbo
  • Patent number: 10882651
    Abstract: The sealing device includes a bag conveying mechanism, a sealing module, and a module conveying mechanism. The sealing module includes a base and an actuator, and a first sealing block and a second sealing block arranged on the base. The actuator is configured to open and close the clamping opening and includes a push rod and a horizontal actuation track. When the sealing module is moved along the conveying path of the module conveying mechanism, the horizontal guide post slides along the horizontal actuation track, and the horizontal actuation track drives the push rod via the horizontal guide post to move horizontally. Thus, the clamping opening is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LEADRUN PACKAGING Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongjing Wang, Ruisong Liu
  • Patent number: 9957069
    Abstract: Providing a packaging machine and a packaging method both of which are capable of packaging with an imperforate bag provided with no small apertures or no aerating part, can prevent contamination of foreign substances such as insects and can further prevent the packaging bags from being damaged or collapsed during storage in a piled state or transportation by execution of reliable deaeration. The packaging machine and a packaging method have a closing unit 4 which holds a vicinity of mouth a of a packaging bag A inserted with a deaeration nozzle held from opposed sides of the bag A, an airway securing unit, a shaping press unit and a temporary sealing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL PACKER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishikawa, Shinya Ozeki
  • Patent number: 9550595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a chamber packaging machine, wherein the position of a sealing bar is during the evacuation of a diaphragm checked using a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Steidele
  • Patent number: 8245485
    Abstract: A vertical bag packaging machine has a steam nozzle that is inserted into a bag to inject steam thereinto after an article to be packaged has been filled into the bag, thereby replacing the air in the bag with the steam to effect deaeration. After the steam-replacement deaeration, a seal portion to be ultrasonically sealed is preheated by a preheating device, thereby making the temperature of the seal portion uniform throughout it. The preheating temperature is not lower than a temperature of a highest temperature region of said seal portion before it is preheated and below a melting temperature of a material constituting an inner side of said bag Thereafter, the seal portion is ultrasonically sealed by an ultrasonic sealing device. Thus, reliable and stable ultrasonic sealing can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Fukeda, Kazunori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8225583
    Abstract: A closing apparatus for closing preferably bag-type packaging units by compression, which units have regions of differing thickness along the package opening to be closed, such as square bottom bags for instance, in particular made of coated or uncoated paper, paperboard, plastic, film, and/or woven material, which packaging units have at least one suitable sealing surface that is integrated in or applied to the material for permanent bonding to a surface that is adjacent to or opposite and pressed against the material, wherein the closing apparatus has a pressing device with at least one pressure device and at least one counter-pressure device between which the packaging units can be compressed, preferably with the application of heat, in the region of their sealing surface(s). In order to achieve a uniformly durable closure, the pressure device and the counter-pressure device have zones of different pressure and/or different temperature along the package opening to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Westwind Verpackungen GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Waldherr
  • Publication number: 20110258966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine with a sealing device, whereby a sealing-tool upper part or sealing-tool lower part can be excited to a vibration (S) approximately parallel to a sealing plane (E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Richter, Elmar Ehrmann, Guido Spix
  • Patent number: 7980047
    Abstract: A method of severing and sealing a film formed of a thermoplastic material includes heating a cutting edge implement to a temperature sufficient to melt but not to burn the thermoplastic material, feeding a plurality of layers of the film between the cutting edge implement and an opposing surface, and moving the cutting edge implement, which is preferably a supported hot wire, and the opposing surface relative to one another to pinch the plurality of layers of film therebetween. Thereafter, any relative lateral movement between the cutting edge implement, the film, and the opposing surface is suspended, while the cutting edge implement and the opposing surface are relatively biased together with the plurality of layers of film pinched therebetween, until the cutting edge implement cuts through the plurality of layers of film, contacts the opposing surface, and seals the plurality of layers of film together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark Woody, P. Gregory Velez, Jeffrey S. Hoffman, Stephen P. Gangler
  • Patent number: 7665276
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for sealing a package. The apparatus comprises a sealing unit and an abutment between which a number of material layers are disposed to be clamped and sealed and fused together, wherein the abutment is connected to at least one elongate element which extends in a direction from the abutment towards and past the sealing unit, the elongate elements, beyond the sealing unit are disposed to be connected to at least one first operating element, and an operating unit is disposed to apply a force between the sealing unit and the first operating element so that these are moved in a direction away from one another and so that the abutment and the sealing unit are moved in a direction towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Anders Delén, Jan Svensson
  • Publication number: 20100011718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine, wherein at least one tool can be displaced to a lowered or to a lifted position by means of a lifting system, the lifting station being driven by at least one adjustable pneumatic/hydraulic drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CFS Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Günter Donges, Bruno Baumeister
  • Patent number: 7647747
    Abstract: A heat sealer including: a base bar equipped with a heater on a receiving section; and a pressure bonding lever facing the receiving section and capable of pressing and holding a sealing portion of a resin made sealing preform to accommodate contents therein from both sides, and the sealing portion of the resin made sealing preform placed on the receiving section and pressed by the pressure bonding lever to the receiving section side to hold the sealing portion between the receiving section and the pressure bonding lever, and current-heated and weld-sealed, wherein the base bar includes: a recording medium supplier supplying a recording medium from which specific information can be read to a predetermined position; and a recording medium transport machine transporting the recording media having been supplied to the predetermined position one at a time to the sealing portion, whereby the recording medium is sealable integrally with the sealing preform in a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujiimpulse Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Kataoka, Yasuo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7631473
    Abstract: A cutter-sealer (10) and a method (300) for cutting and sealing layers of film (70) together. The cutter-sealer (10) provides a heated blade (20), part of which moves through sheets of tautly held layers of film (70) into a slot defined by the seal pad (40). The blade's (20) motion is arrested by a set of blade shoulders (26) that press against the layers of film (70) for a period of time, thereby sealing the layers of film (70) together. The method (300) includes cutting layers of film (70) without liquefaction and sealing the newly cut edges of the layers of film (70) together, also without liquefaction of the layers of film (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas A. Nalle, III
  • Publication number: 20090007521
    Abstract: An improved sealing assembly for sealing flowable materials within containers for transport on commercial passenger flights includes at least one selectively sealable container having a volume of approximately three fluid ounces. A hand-held, portable sealing mechanism is adapted and constructed to hermetically seal flowable materials within the at least one sealable container. The sealing mechanism is of sufficient compactness and lightness to render it capable of being carried on the person of a user. The sealing mechanism is used to seal flowable materials in to the at least one container in sufficient quantity to permit transportation of the sealed, filled pouch in carry-on baggage of a passenger of the commercial passenger flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Nicola D. Opdycke
  • Patent number: 7392639
    Abstract: A method for forming a top seal on a carton being conveyed along a processing path on a form, fill and seal packaging machine using a top sealer including opposing sealing jaws is provided. The carton includes top fin panels configured for sealing to one another to form a top seal. The method includes actuating a first control valve to provide communication between a first pressurized fluid source and a first port of an actuator for moving the actuator toward a first position. The actuator is operatively connected to the sealing jaws to move the sealing jaws in a clamping direction while moving toward the first position. A second control valve is actuated to inhibit fluid escape from the actuator through a second port of the actuator to inhibit movement of the sealing jaws in the clamping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Evergreen Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Cletus Emerich Kreher, George Allen Morden
  • Patent number: 7389623
    Abstract: The sealing apparatus comprises (a) a heat seal jaw, (b) a heat seal bar having two heaters arranged in parallel, being provided in a front edge of said heat seal jaw and having a working surface, (c) a counter jaw disposed oppositely to the heat seal jaw, (d) a counter rail provided to said counter jaw and having the working surface, (e) a drive means for advancing/retracting the heat seal jaw and counter jaw relatively, (f) a heating means for actuating the heaters while clamping a packaging material by the working surface of the heat seal bar and the working of the counter rail and, (g) a cutter section comprising of a cutter disposed at the position between the two heaters and a resilient counter cutter, and is characterized in that the counter cutter is held by a holding section provided on the working surface of the heat seal bar or the counter rail and projecting from the holding working surface. The seal apparatus can improve hygiene and the flap formation of the packaging container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Keiji Yano, Kozo Yoshida, Takashige Yano
  • Patent number: 7383676
    Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging a product. The machine has a frame for supporting the product and a source of packaging material for supplying packaging material into a position to be engaged by and at least partially surround the product. At least one upper sealing assembly is adapted to move between an actuated position and a non-actuated position. The upper sealing assembly comprises at least one sealing element for forming a seal along adjacent edges of the packaging material. At least one lower sealing assembly is adapted for cooperating engagement with the upper sealing assembly in its actuated position. The at least one upper and lower sealing assemblies are positioned for clamping engagement of the packaging material therebetween for forming the seal when the upper sealing assembly is moved to its actuated position in engagement with the lower sealing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Atlanta Attachment Company
    Inventors: Lee Schmidt, Preston B. Dasher, Elvin C. Price, Tadeusz Olewicz
  • Patent number: 7320204
    Abstract: There are disclosed by a process and apparatus for positioning and sealing photostimuable phosphor imaging plates within barriers envelope blanks therefore and formed on a roll thereof wherein a barrier envelope blank including a U-shaped heat sealed portion thereof of such roll is indexed to a positioning station whereat the barrier envelope blank is caused to be opened at a free end thereof thereby permitting insertion of a restored imaging plate into such barrier envelope whereupon the barrier envelope including restored imaging plate is indexed to a station whereat heat sealing of the free end of the U-shaped heat sealed is effected to thereby enclose the restored imaging plate therein and thereafter the thus heat sealed barrier envelope is indexed to a product station for removal from the roll of barrier envelope blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Air Techniques, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Alzner, Henry Hubner, Yehuda Rosenstock, John Sylvester
  • Patent number: 7174699
    Abstract: A combination sealing and cutting device comprising: an elongated anvil having an elongated slot therein; an elongated blade having a longitudinal aperture therein; a heating element in the longitudinal aperture; and an actuator mechanism for driving the blade toward and into the elongated slot to accomplish simultaneous sealing and cutting of overlying polymer films. According to various preferred embodiments, the combination sealing and cutting device further includes a pair of parallel flanges extending along both edges of the blade that serve to retain the blade; and film retaining beads along the longitudinal edges of the parallel flanges that serve to retain the plastic films being cut and sealed against the outer edges of the elongated slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bakery Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Eric Wyman, Thomas Pearce, Mark Manzi, Roland Lomerson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7131251
    Abstract: An opening of a plastic bag with an article stored therein is placed between a cover and a vacuum assembly of a pocket sealing machine. Moving a rib to a second slot will extend a suction head into the opening of the bag. Pressing the cover will enable an electric heater to start heat sealing the opening of the bag. The machine can be relatively moved across the opening of the bag until the suction head is wrapped. After disabling the electric heater, a switch activates a motor for disabling the heat sealing and enabling the suction head to make a vacuum in the bag. Releasing the switch will deactivate the motor. Moving the rib back to a first slot will retract the suction head, and the machine is moved to cover the opening of the bag. Pressing the cover toward the vacuum assembly at that time will enable the electric heater to seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Joseph Huang
  • Patent number: 7089714
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming void-fill packaging wherein a tubular plastics material (11) is periodically fed via driver rollers (15) along a longitudinal guide path (12), first and second transverse spaced parallel heat seals are formed substantially across the plastics material via a transverse heat sealer (36, 38) to define a chamber (104) between the seals, a fluid is discharged into the chamber via a nozzle (20) positioned along the guide path and adapted to extend inside the tubular plastics material adjacent to one longitudinal edge of the plastic material, a third heat seal is formed via a longitudinal heat sealer (78) to seal the chamber (104), and the longitudinal edge of the tubular plastic material is cut via a cutting element (22) so that the movement of the tubular plastics material is not hindered by the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Green Light Packaging Limited
    Inventor: Keith Frederick Thomas
  • Patent number: 7059099
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing reclosable bags (30) by forming a film (50) includes moving the film (50) and attaching to the film (50) sequentially and crosswise with reference to the direction of movement of the film (50), a fastener (1) including a first strip (2) supporting at least one reclosable profile (10) engaged with another reclosable profile (12) that is complementary thereto and supported by a second strip (4) or a part of the first strip (2), which will subsequently be attached to the film (50). Each strip (2, 4) includes at least one web (6, 8) extending substantially mostly sideways on one side of the profiles (12). The above arrangements make possible special fasteners (1) that include sliders (9), gasket membranes (26), fasteners inverted within the bag (30), peel seals (18, 20, 21) and hinged fasteners (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7047709
    Abstract: An automated, fully programmable, and adaptable device fills straws or straw-like packages with any type of flowing, or flowable, liquid. A straw is dropped from a hopper down chutes into a capture area where it is held and filled with liquid, after which it is sealed. The straw dropping, capture, filling, and sealing actions are preferably automatically controlled by a preprogrammed electronic controller. The major elements of a typical embodiment of the invention include means for dropping a straw or other receptacle into a fixed mounting position consistently, optional means for heating fluids throughout the fill process, means for filling the receptacle, and means for sealing the receptacle. The straw hopper has a retractable slide plate at its base that slides back to allow only one straw at a time to fall through the chutes into the capture area. In the preferred embodiment, the slide plate at the bottom of the hopper moves back and forth in a predefined fully programmable sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Kathryn M. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7036293
    Abstract: In order to be able to realize complicated jaw movements in a device for welding of a foil tube, comprising two welding jaws, which can be moved opposingly and clamp the foil tube between one another, whereby a linear motor is provided as the jaw drive, it is suggested that the gearing houses a cam plate connected to a movable part of the linear drive, that the cam plate has two separate curves, and that each one cam connected to a jaw carrier is guided along a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Kammler, Ralf Bardtke, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 6789371
    Abstract: A packaging machine including a seal bar assembly for bonding layers of polymeric material together about a wrapped product to form an airtight package seal comprises a length of SILVERSTONE encapsulated, flat electrical resistance heating ribbon disposed upon a rigid seal bar having a smooth face surface. The seal bar is preferably constructed of thermally conductive and electrically insulating materials, such as virgin TEFLON. The heating ribbon is mounted onto the seal bar under nearly constant tension throughout its temperature range. Low resistance electrical leads provide a path for supplying electricity to the heating ribbon. A silicon rubber-backed seal bar mating assembly for providing pressure to the polymeric materials during bonding is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Buysman, Thomas E. Bomgaars
  • Publication number: 20040144063
    Abstract: A positive-pressure packaging system is provided to seal a product within an open package. The system includes a pressure chamber which encloses the product and package and is configured to expel atmosphere gases initially present within the package. The system includes a seal assembly for straitening the opening of the package so as to prevent the passage of particulate and other matter from within the open package. The system also includes a pressure source configured to increase pressure within the pressure chamber so as to expel the atmosphere gases by compression of the open package. A method of using the positive-pressure packaging system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: John W. Countz
  • Patent number: 6761010
    Abstract: An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: James B. Gibson
  • Patent number: 6745543
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus and a method for forming a packaging unit consisting of an endless hose, or for sealing a prefabricated packaging unit, comprising an ultrasonic welding device including an anvil and a sonotrode, which are movable towards each other, and a means for positioning the hose material to be welded between the anvil and the sonotrode. In accordance with the present invention it is suggested that the anvil comprises two anvil parts which are movable relative to one another in the direction of the sonotrode, one of said anvil parts being implemented as a sealing anvil and the other part being implemented as a separating anvil. Hence, the apparatus according to the present invention permits the production of packaging units which end directly at the weld, i.e. in the case of which no length section of the foil material projects outwardly beyond the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Grief-Velox Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Tillack, Norbert Dietrich, Hans Bernd Dreier
  • Patent number: 6739370
    Abstract: An anvil assembly having a housing and two rotatable inserts with flat upper surfaces against which the heated shoes of a package sealing machine may press a covering sheet onto a plastic package tape. The inserts have a limited range of rotation so that they automatically align themselves to be parallel to the heated shoes when they are contacted thereby. This rotatable insert feature obviates the need for precise, laborious alignment efforts. Alternatively, a pair of rotatable blades are pivotally attached to the shoes and act against a fixed anvil surface, thereby automatically aligning themselves to be parallel to the anvil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: V-Tek Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott B. Melheim
  • Patent number: 6732488
    Abstract: A sealing device 30 for a packaging material 10, comprising a linear sealing device 31 for sandwiching layers to be sealed 11A, 12A of plastic sheets 11, 12 are sandwiched by sealing bars 41, 42 narrower than a sealing width, and pressuring the layers to be sealed in a heated state, a surface sealing device 32 for sandwiching the layers to be sealed 11A, 12A of the plastic sheets 11, 12 with sealing bars 51, 52 of a width necessary for sealing by the sealing width, and pressing the layers to be sealed in a melting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Nozomu Nakanishi, Toshiki Okazaki, Shoji Uchikura, Yasuaki Kotani, Kazuo Shimamoto, Masami Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20040083682
    Abstract: Film clamp for the lower or stationary jaw of a sealing machine, particularly the lower or stationary jaw of an L-bar sealing machine. Preferably the film clamp is constructed of a thermally conductive material and is configured to effectively dissipate heat. A closed loop feedback system can be used to regulate the applied power to the sealing element in order to maintain its temperature within a predetermined range to help prevent overheating of the film clamp and other jaw components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas P. Orsini
  • Publication number: 20040068958
    Abstract: A sealing assembly (10) for sealing flexible packaging materials comprising: a sealing mechanism for sealing the packaging material; and a spreading mechanism for spreading the packaging material to be sealed prior to sealing, the spreading mechanism including at least two pair of opposed spreading members (15a, 15b), each pair having opposing converging contact edges (17a, 17b) which engage either side of the packaging material during spreading; wherein the spreading members are mounted for relative movement between a first open orientation and a second closed orientation such that, as the spreading members travel from said first to said second orientation, the contact edges initially contact the packaging material at convergent ends of the contact edges and then proceed to contact the packaging material along the length of the contact edges to divergent ends thereof, and wherein subsequently or simultaneously the spreading members engage the packaging material between the contact edges and travel transverse
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6672038
    Abstract: A bag manipulating method and assembly including a pair of bag grippers that receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station. The bag grippers are movable in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station. The bag manipulating assembly also includes upper and lower bag spreader assemblies, each having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag. Preferably, the bag grippers move toward each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis while the bag is being spread apart to facilitate opening the bag. To facilitate closing and sealing the bag, the bag grippers move away from each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis after the bag has been filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: OPTIMA Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. McGrane, Ronald R. Parsons, Gerald L. Townsend, Stefan Schabel
  • Patent number: 6665999
    Abstract: A self-aligning zipper seal module adapted for quick change-out in a sealing carriage. The zipper seal module allows for a quick modification of a sealing carriage in order to accommodate different package dimensions. The module is stored and is installed in a closed and aligned position by use of an aligning handle. The module is easily installed or removed with a single tool and is designed to reduce the potential for operator injury by isolation from heat sources and by virtue of the aligning handle. The various seal facings of the module are oriented to equalize pressure on the facings during sealing and increase stripping efficiency. The zipper seal facings incorporate a novel insert design, thereby eliminating the need for stocking different sized facings to accommodate various bag widths. A return module of similar design is used to quickly return the sealing carriage to a standard configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Bernhard Dierl, Eduard Edwards
  • Patent number: 6658821
    Abstract: A bag loading method and assembly including a bag tray for holding a stack of bags and a conveyor assembly positioned above the bag tray. The conveyor assembly is movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly is inclined with respect to the bag tray. Preferably, the conveyor assembly includes first and second rollers, a body portion between the first and second rollers, at least one vacuum generator communicating with the body portion for providing vacuum to the conveyor assembly, and an endless belt encircling portions of the rollers and the body portion. The endless belt engages the bag from the bag tray when the conveyor assembly is in the first position, and moves the bag to a position where the bag can be opened and filled when the conveyor assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Optima Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald L. Townsend
  • Publication number: 20030200722
    Abstract: A heat sealing device includes a frame rotatably supporting gears and comprising four fixed upright guide rods. Upper and lower members, in the form of U-shape, are movable along the guide rods between engaging position and separated position. The upper and lower members each have four racks respectively engaging the gears whereby the upper and lower members are movable synchronously. A power cylinder has a rod mounted to the upper member for driving the upper and lower members toward/away from each other. Heating elements are mounted to the upper and lower members and are substantially opposite to each other. The upper and lower members are maintained substantially parallel to each other during the movement thereof whereby a uniform sealing pressure is applied to the heating elements of the upper and lower members to achieve high quality sealing results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Benker P.C. Liao
  • Patent number: 6604342
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging articles in card and blister packages is disclosed, the card and blister package comprising a first or blister piece of clear pre-formed plastic with a shaped cavity for receiving small articles, and a flat flange portion along its perimeter. The second piece of the package is a flat rectangular chipboard card, appreciably larger than the card and blister piece and having printing on one or both sides. The flange of the card and blister piece can be bonded to the surface of a card to form a card and blister package for the enclosed articles. Apparatus for producing a plurality of packaged articles includes a plurality of package holders mounted on the surface of a conveyor belt that is porous to UV light, the holders made of a UV light transparent material and having upper surfaces with shaped recesses for removably supporting the plastic card and blister pieces with their cavities upwardly faced and for supporting the cards in position above the card and blister pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Appelbaum
  • Patent number: 6598371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filling with high accuracy a finely divided powdered medicament having a particle size smaller than 10 &mgr;m into cavities having a size corresponding to the volume of powder to be filled, wherein said device comprises oscillating and rotating means for breaking down aggregates formed in the finely divided powdered medicament and filling and for compacting it in said cavities. The invention also includes a method of filling with high accuracy of a finely divided powdered medicament having a particle size smaller than 10 &mgr;m and to fill said finely divided powdered medicament into cavities, wherein the finely divided powdered medicament is transported and compacted in said cavities by oscillating and rotating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Stanelco Fibre Optics Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan Draisey
  • Publication number: 20030101696
    Abstract: The bagging machine has a rotary table with openings to receive a series of bags. Each bag is staked onto four pins two of which are stationary and two of which are laterally movable. After filling, the bag is heat sealed using a pair of heat seal bars and then severed by a fly knife above the heat seal. The bag is then removed manually or automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Harry Bussey, Harry Buddy Bussey
  • Publication number: 20030101691
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for sealing a bag enclosure around a work piece. The apparatus comprises a frame defining a reference surface adapted for supporting the bag and the work piece, wherein the bag is disposed around the work piece and open on a side. A sealing head is supported by the frame and moveable between a retracted position and an engaged position, whereat the engaged position the sealing head is adjacent the open portion of the bag. A conduit is supported by the frame and comprises a distal end insertable into the open side of the bag in the engaged position of the sealing head. A negative pressure source is fluidly connected to the conduit to impart a negative pressure to the distal end, drawing air out of the bag. A stretching member is supported by the frame so as to be insertable into an open end of the bag in the engaged position of the sealing head, and is moveable to stretch the open end of the bag taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Shih Hsiung Hoe, Chit Hin Koh, Muhammad Firdaus Abdullah, Pueh Leng Ng, Chee Suan Low
  • Patent number: 6571850
    Abstract: An anvil assembly having a housing and two rotatable inserts with flat upper surfaces against which the heated shoes of a package sealing machine may press a covering sheet onto a plastic package tape. The inserts have a limited range of rotation so that they automatically align themselves to be parallel to the heated shoes when they are contacted thereby. This rotatable insert feature obviates the need for precise, laborious alignment efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: V-Tek Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott B. Melheim
  • Patent number: 6539692
    Abstract: A heat sealing station for forming closely spaced heat seals across a tube of flexible packaging material includes a set of jaws moveable between an open position where the tube is free and a closed a position where the tube is trapped between the jaws. An electrically insulating backing is carried by a first jaw of the set. A pair of closely spaced, curved resistive heat sealing bands are vulcanized onto the backing. The heat sealing bands are energizable to form closely spaced heat seals across the tube when the first jaw is moved towards the tube to bring the backing into contact with the tube and when the heat sealing bands are energized. A backing is also provided on a second jaw of the set that corresponds in shape to the electrically insulating backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Siptop Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Tobolka
  • Publication number: 20030051441
    Abstract: This invention encompasses a heat seal die incorporating heat to technology for controlling the variation of temperature across a heat seal die. The invention also encompasses a system and method for portion control size packaging using such a heat seal die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: James Robert Adair, William B. Bower, Edward Joseph Cigallio, Richard Vincent Dougherty
  • Patent number: 6519922
    Abstract: A device for producing tubular bags filled with bulk goods from continuous foil tubes. The device includes a pair of sealing tools that seal or weld the foil tubes in bag-length intervals. A pair of closing bars connected to the sealing tools are biased toward each other and press the foil tubes before the sealing tools are closed. A stripper is provided to remove the residue of the bulk goods from the area of the seal by a wiping motion in the direction of bag movement through the device. The closing bars are connected to the stripper so that through a closing movement of the closing bars, the stripper is pulled along in the run direction of the foil while touching the foil to strip the area to be sealed before the sealing tools close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Matheyka, Christian Helwig
  • Publication number: 20020178690
    Abstract: A sealing device forms a sealing line on a package film enclosing an article with the package film being properly tensioned. The sealing device includes two conveyor belts for conveying the article and the package film in a forward direction. The conveyor belts are spaced from each other in the forward direction, defining a gap therebetween. A movable carrier plate carries and supports upper and lower sealing members with the conveyor belts arranged between the upper and lower members. The upper and lower members, to which heat sealing blades are attached, are moveable with respect to each other through the gap between the conveyor belts for bringing heat sealing blade to engage the package film, and thus forming a sealing line on the package film. A stationary bottom plate is arranged below the carrier plate and supports a plurality of guide rods movably engaging the carrier plate for guiding the movement of the carrier plate with respect to the conveyor belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Benker P.C. Liao
  • Publication number: 20020170272
    Abstract: In order to handle bag configurations having extra layers in some portions, especially where thicker materials are used, the facings of the sealing jaws are relieved in the area of the extra layers, so that even pressure is applied to the material across the entire seal area. An improved transverse seal is obtained using this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Rodney Wayne Cooper, Garrett William Kohl, Eric Eugene Meyer, Steven Kenneth Tucker
  • Patent number: 6470652
    Abstract: A packaging device, particularly for foodstuffs or technical materials, comprising a bell-shaped vacuum chamber. A single-folded film can be placed in the vacuum chamber and the foodstuff can be inserted from the open longitudinal side of the film. Inside the bell-shaped vacuum chamber there is also provided a first transverse thermal bonding bar, which is laterally adjacent to a cutting blade, and a second thermal bonding bar, both bars being L-shaped. At least one nozzle for introducing gas is furthermore provided so as to face the longitudinal or transverse open side of the single-folded film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Andrea Piron
  • Publication number: 20020139084
    Abstract: A heat sealing and cutting mechanism to form a heat seal and a cut across a tube of flexible packaging material includes a carrier to contact the tube. A pair of closely spaced heat sealing bands are disposed on the carrier and are energizable to form closely spaced heat seals across the tube when the carrier is in contact with the tube. The heat sealing bands are configured to define temperature gradients along the heat sealing bands. A cutting wire is also disposed on the carrier and is positioned between the heat sealing bands. The cutting wire is energizable to cut the tube when the carrier is in contact with the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Stefan Tobolka
  • Publication number: 20020038535
    Abstract: A diaper disposal system for packaging odorous waste objects in individual sealed (substantially air-tight) packages includes a body, base, hinged lid, flexible material, and a first sealing member and second sealing member. The sealing members are operable to seal or form a substantially air-tight seal in the flexible material to prevent the odor from escaping. The sealing members move between an open position and closed/sealing position by twisting an inner lid, closing the lid, or moving an activation arm. The sealing members preferably seal the tubing by thermally fusing the tubing. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Tim Allan Nygaard Jensen, Victoria Marie Worden Jensen