Packaging apparatus, heat sealer and heat sealer module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12157591-B2
Application number	US-202318093482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2023
Priority date	Oct 14, 2019
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

A heat sealer module for a heat-sealing station of a packaging apparatus has a sealing belt for contacting a terminal portion of semi-sealed packages and for guiding the terminal portion of the semi-sealed packages along a main movement direction; the heat sealer module also has a first driving belt and a second driving belt to assist in accompanying the packages in proper position for sealing. A heat sealer having opposed heat sealer modules. A packaging apparatus for heat sealing packages having a vacuum chamber with an elongated opening and a conveyor for receiving semi-sealed packages and for moving the semi-sealed packages relative to the vacuum chamber is disclosed. The packaging apparatus includes evacuation means for evacuating gas present in the semi-sealed packages and forming evacuated semi-sealed packages. The packaging apparatus includes the heat sealer for heat sealing the terminal portion of each evacuated semi-sealed package thereby forming heat sealed packages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) for a heat sealing station ( 14 ) of a packaging apparatus, the heat sealing module ( 16 , 17 ) comprising:
a sealing belt ( 18 ) configured for contacting a terminal portion (TP) of semi-sealed packages (P) and for guiding the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P) along a main movement direction (M);
a first pulley ( 20 ) and a second pulley ( 21 ) configured to be arranged opposite each other with respect to the heat sealing station ( 14 ), wherein:
the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ) are mounted on a respective shaft and configured for rotating around a respective rotation axis, with the rotation axis of the first pulley and the rotation axis of the second pulley being parallel, and with first pulley ( 20 ) destined to be arranged upstream the heat sealing station ( 14 ) with respect to the main movement direction (M) for directing the sealing belt ( 18 ) towards the heat sealing station ( 14 ) while the second pulley ( 21 ) is configured for circulating back, downstream the heat sealing station ( 14 ), the sealing belt ( 18 ) towards the first pulley ( 20 ),
each of the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ) comprises a first annular groove and a second annular groove which are spaced from each other parallel the rotation axis of the pulley ( 20 , 21 ); the annular grooves of the first pulley ( 20 ) and of the second pulley ( 21 ) define two pairs of facing annular grooves, wherein a first pair of annular grooves is formed by the first annular groove of the first pulley ( 20 ) and by the corresponding first annular groove of the second pulley ( 21 ), while a second pair of annular grooves is formed by the second annular groove of the first pulley ( 20 ) and by the corresponding second annular groove of the second pulley ( 21 );

a first driving belt ( 22 ) received by the first pair of facing annular grooves and a second driving belt ( 23 ) received by the second pair of facing annular grooves, wherein the first driving belt ( 22 ) and the second driving belt ( 23 ) are configured to be synchronized and assist in accompanying the terminal portions (TP) of the packages (P) in proper position for sealing,
a bracket ( 24 ) arranged between the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ), wherein the bracket ( 24 ) longitudinally extends between the pulleys ( 20 , 21 ), wherein the bracket ( 24 ) is connected to a pressure element ( 27 ) of the heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ), optionally the connection between the bracket ( 24 ) and the pressure element ( 27 ) being made by elastic elements; and
wherein the pressure element ( 27 ) is configured for applying pressure to the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P) and for tensioning at least one driving belt ( 22 , 23 ), optionally both driving belts ( 22 , 23 ),
wherein:
the pressure element ( 27 ) comprises a first flank ( 27 a ) and a second flank ( 27 b ), each configured to act on a respective of said two driving belts ( 22 , 23 );
the first flank ( 27 a ) and the second flank ( 27 b ) are opposite one another, spaced from each other along a direction which is transversal to the main movement direction (M),
between the first flank ( 27 a ) and the second flank ( 27 b ) at least a passage opening ( 27 c ) is defined,
the first flank ( 27 a ) and the second flank ( 27 b ) are configured to act as pressure bars on respective bands of the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P).

2. The heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first flank ( 27 a ) is configured to act as a pressure bar on the band of the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P),
the first flank ( 27 a ) is configured for tensioning the first driving belt ( 22 ) and the second flank ( 27 b ) is configured for tensioning the second driving belt ( 23 ).

3. The heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) of claim 1 , wherein the pressure element ( 27 ) is movable in height at least between an operating position and a rest position, and wherein:
in the operating position the pressure element ( 27 ) is configured to tension the first driving belt ( 22 ) and the second driving belt ( 23 ) by means, respectively, of the first flank ( 27 a ) and of the second flank ( 27 b ) and to apply pressure to the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P), and
in the rest position the pressure element ( 27 ) is configured to not apply pressure to the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P), the pressure element ( 27 ) in the rest position being retracted with respect to the operating position;
optionally wherein the heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) comprises a switch ( 28 ) configured for switching the pressure element ( 27 ) from the rest position to the operating position, and vice versa, the switch ( 28 ) being a mechanical switch or automated or manually operated.

4. A heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) for a heat sealing station ( 14 ) of a packaging apparatus, the heat sealing module ( 16 , 17 ) comprising:
a sealing belt ( 18 ) configured for contacting a terminal portion (TP) of semi-sealed packages (P) and for guiding the terminal portion (TP) of the semi-sealed packages (P) along a main movement direction (M);
a first pulley ( 20 ) and a second pulley ( 21 ) configured to be arranged opposite each other with respect to the heat sealing station ( 14 ), wherein:
the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ) are mounted on a respective shaft and configured for rotating around a respective rotation axis, with the rotation axis of the first pulley and the rotation axis of the second pulley being parallel, and with first pulley ( 20 ) destined to be arranged upstream the heat sealing station ( 14 ) with respect to the main movement direction (M) for directing the sealing belt ( 18 ) towards the heat sealing station ( 14 ) while the second pulley ( 21 ) is configured for circulating back, downstream the heat sealing station ( 14 ), the sealing belt ( 18 ) towards the first pulley ( 20 ),
each of the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ) comprises a first annular groove and a second annular groove which are spaced from each other parallel the rotation axis of the pulley ( 20 , 21 ); the annular grooves of the first pulley ( 20 ) and of the second pulley ( 21 ) define two pairs of facing annular grooves, wherein a first pair of annular grooves is formed by the first annular groove of the first pulley ( 20 ) and by the corresponding first annular groove of the second pulley ( 21 ), while a second pair of annular grooves is formed by the second annular groove of the first pulley ( 20 ) and by the corresponding second annular groove of the second pulley ( 21 );

a first driving belt ( 22 ) received by the first pair of facing annular grooves and a second driving belt ( 23 ) received by the second pair of facing annular grooves, wherein the first driving belt ( 22 ) and the second driving belt ( 23 ) are configured to be synchronized and assist in accompanying the terminal portions (TP) of the packages (P) in proper position for sealing,
wherein at least the first pulley ( 20 ), or both the first pulley ( 20 ) and the second pulley ( 21 ), is/are in a material having considerable heat transfer properties, optionally in metallic material; and wherein at least the first pulley ( 20 ) is configured to be pre-heated so as to transfer heat to the sealing belt ( 18 ), thereby pre-heating the sealing belt ( 18 ).

5. A heat sealer module ( 16 , 17 ) for a heat sealing station ( 14 ) of a packaging apparatus, the heat sealing module ( 16 , 17 ) comprising:
a sealing belt ( 18 ) configured for contacting a terminal portion (TP) of semi-sealed packages (P) and for guiding the terminal portion

Assignees

• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Landolt Stefan
• Schnurrenberger Peter
• Müller Peter

Classifications

• B65B2051/105

  Heat seal temperature control · CPC title

• B65B51/32

  Cooling, or cooling and pressing, package closures after heat-sealing · CPC title

• B65B31/048 Primary

  specially adapted for wrappers or bags · CPC title

• B65B7/02 Primary

  Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks · CPC title

• B65B51/30

  Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes · CPC title