Apparatus for forming packages using non-linear sealing jaws

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9452853-B2
Application number	US-83357610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2010
Priority date	Jul 9, 2010
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

New and improved seal jaws and methods for creating a seal on a package containing a high-profile product therein are described herein. The seal jaws are configured to seal overlapping wrapping film segments together adjacent the product in a seal zone where the height of the product results in additional film width. The height of the product creates an inward pull that can prevent the additional film width from being taut, which can result in folds or wrinkles in a subsequently formed seal. Advantageously, the seal jaws described herein have a non-linear configuration that provides extra sealing surface area as compared to linear surfaces over the same lateral distance. The extra sealing surface is provided by an array of curvilinear peaks and valleys, where the peaks tension the overlapping film segments in the seal zone to substantially prevent the additional film width from forming folds in a subsequently formed seal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pair of mating sealing jaws for forming a seal between opposing plastic film segments, one of the pair of sealing jaws having a non-linear sealing surface with between 2 and 8 curvilinear peaks separated by curvilinear valleys and another of the pair of sealing jaws having a complementary, non-linear sealing surface, and
wherein the lengths of the sealing surfaces result in between 0.16 and 0.18 inches of extra travel per linear inch as compared to linear sealing surfaces.

2. A pair of mating sealing jaws for forming a seal between opposing plastic film segments, one of the pair of sealing jaws having a non-linear sealing surface with between 2 and 8 curvilinear peaks separated by curvilinear valleys and another of the pair of sealing jaws having a complementary, non-linear sealing surface, and
wherein the valleys each have a depth of between 0.09 and 0.25 inches and the peaks each have a height of between 0.09 and 0.25 inches as measured from a median line.

3. A pair of mating sealing jaws for forming a seal between opposing plastic film segments, one of the pair of sealing jaws having a non-linear sealing surface with between 2 and 8 curvilinear peaks separated by curvilinear valleys and another of the pair of sealing jaws having a complementary, non-linear sealing surface,
wherein the non-linear sealing surfaces comprise complementary sinusoidal waves, and
wherein the complementary sinusoidal waves have wavelengths between 1.0 and 2.5 inches.

4. The pair of mating sealing jaws of claim 3 , wherein between 1.5 wavelengths and 3 wavelengths provide sufficient extra travel over a linear width to tension out all excess width within a seal zone of a package containing a high-profile food product.

5. A pair of mating sealing jaws for forming a seal between opposing plastic film segments, one of the pair of sealing jaws having a non-linear sealing surface with between 2 and 8 curvilinear peaks separated by curvilinear valleys and another of the pair of sealing jaws having a complementary, non-linear sealing surface, and
wherein a depth of one of the valleys is sized such that the plastic film segment not adjacent to the valley does not have stretch marks after formation of the seal.

Assignees

• Doll Paul E
• Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc

Inventors

• Doll Paul E

Classifications

• B65B9/067

  the web advancing continuously (B65B9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/81457

  comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber (pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161) · CPC title

• B29C66/0044

  using a separating sheet, e.g. fixed on the joining tool · CPC title

• B29C66/849

  Packaging machines · CPC title

• B29C66/344

  Stretching or tensioning the joint area during joining · CPC title