Ultrasonic sealing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9561619-B2
Application number	US-201414787841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Jul 23, 2013
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

Described is an ultrasonic device for sealing material ( 1 ) in strips, comprising: a generator ( 9 ) of electrical power signals; a converter ( 9 a ) for converting the electrical power signals into mechanical vibrations; a sonotrode ( 2 ) rotating about a first axis (X 2 ); an anvil ( 4 ) rotating about a second axis (X 4 ) parallel to the first axis (X 2 ); the sonotrode ( 2 ) having a circular groove ( 6 ) and the anvil ( 4 ) having a protruding element ( 7 ) which is annular in shape; the protruding element ( 7 ) is configured to operate in conjunction with the groove ( 6 ) along directions parallel to the first axis (X 2 ) and to the second axis (X 4 ) in such a way as to seal the sheet or strip of material ( 1 ) moved along a direction (A) transversal to the first (X 2 ) and second (X 4 ) axis of rotation and passing between the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the anvil ( 4 ) engaging the groove ( 6 ) and the protruding element ( 7 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic sealing device, comprising:
an electrical signal generator ( 9 );
a converter ( 9 a ) for converting the electrical signals into mechanical vibrations;
a sonotrode ( 2 ) rotating about a first axis (X 2 ) and having a first peripheral surface ( 3 ); and
an anvil ( 4 ) rotating about a second axis (X 4 ) parallel to the first axis (X 2 ) and having a second peripheral surface ( 5 );

characterised in that:
one between the first peripheral surface ( 3 ) and the second peripheral surface ( 5 ) has a circular groove ( 6 ); and
one between the second peripheral surface ( 5 ) and the first peripheral surface ( 3 ), respectively, has a protruding element ( 7 ) which is annular in shape; the protruding element ( 7 ) being configured to engage the groove ( 6 ) for a predetermined depth (P) and operating in conjunction at least axially along directions parallel to the first axis (X 2 ) and to the second axis (X 4 ) with the groove ( 6 ), in such a way as to seal a material ( 1 ) to be sealed, the material being moved along a direction (A) transversal to the first (X 2 ) and second (X 4 ) axis and passing between the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the anvil ( 4 ) engaging the groove ( 6 ) and the protruding element ( 7 ), and wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) and the groove ( 6 ) have respective geometrical configurations, in cross-section, which are different, and wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) has a geometrical configuration, in cross-section, which is able to penetrate into the groove ( 6 ) by the depth (P) which is less than the maximum depth of the groove ( 6 ).

2. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the groove ( 6 ) is continuous.

3. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) is continuous.

4. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) is discontinuous.

5. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 4 , wherein the groove ( 6 ) is discontinuous.

6. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the groove ( 6 ) has an aperture with a width L and the protruding element ( 7 ) has an operating head ( 13 ) with a width S less than the width L of the aperture of the groove ( 6 ).

7. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) is inserted onto the first ( 3 ) or second ( 5 ) peripheral surface.

8. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element ( 7 ) is integral with the first ( 3 ) or second ( 5 ) peripheral surface.

9. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the groove ( 6 ) has a transversal cross-section, or profile, in the shape of a “V”, or in the shape of a “U”, or with a curved shape.

10. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral surface ( 3 ) of the sonotrode ( 2 ) has the protruding element ( 7 ) and the second peripheral surface ( 5 ) of the anvil ( 4 ) has the groove ( 6 ).

11. The ultrasonic sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral surface ( 3 ) of the sonotrode ( 2 ) has the groove ( 6 ) and the second peripheral surface ( 5 ) of the anvil ( 4 ) has the protruding element ( 7 ).

12. A method for sealing a strip of material ( 1 ) using the sealing device according to claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
feeding a strip of material ( 1 ) to be sealed along the direction (A) to engage, with a portion of it to be sealed, the groove ( 6 ) and the protruding element ( 7 );
transmitting axial vibrations to the rotary sonotrode ( 2 ) to axially vibrate, along directions parallel to the first and second axis (X 2 , X 4 ), the groove 6 or the protruding element ( 7 ) in such a way as to seal the portion to be sealed of the strip ( 1 ) by a vibrating contact between the portion to be sealed and the groove ( 6 ) and the protruding element ( 7 ).

Assignees

• Ima Spa

Inventors

• Betti Cristian

Classifications

• B29C66/1122

  Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/73921

  characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics · CPC title

• B29C66/81431

  comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove · CPC title

• B29C66/81419

  and flat · CPC title

• B29C65/08 Primary

  using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} · CPC title