CA1101777A - Package forming method and apparatus - Google Patents
Package forming method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1101777A CA1101777A CA323,215A CA323215A CA1101777A CA 1101777 A CA1101777 A CA 1101777A CA 323215 A CA323215 A CA 323215A CA 1101777 A CA1101777 A CA 1101777A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sealing
- elements
- heat
- items
- station
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
- B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
- B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
- B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
- B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
- B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
- B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
- B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/81433—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins, or being patterned
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
- B29C66/822—Transmission mechanisms
- B29C66/8221—Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
- B29C66/824—Actuating mechanisms
- B29C66/8242—Pneumatic or hydraulic drives
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/8341—Roller, cylinder or drum types; Band or belt types; Ball types
- B29C66/83411—Roller, cylinder or drum types
- B29C66/83413—Roller, cylinder or drum types cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
- B29C66/8351—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws
- B29C66/83511—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums
- B29C66/83513—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums cooperating jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums and moving in a closed path
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
- B29C66/849—Packaging machines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2793/00—Shaping techniques involving a cutting or machining operation
- B29C2793/009—Shaping techniques involving a cutting or machining operation after shaping
Abstract
TITLE OF INVENTION
PACKAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Ice cream sandwich packages, containing an ice cream block and two wafers in separate adjacent compartments of a flat flexible polymeric material wrapper comprised of overlying layers of material heat sealed together at the marginal edges thereof, to separate the two compartments and at each end thereof, are continuously formed in apparatus consisting of rotary sealing elements to seal films together around the items to be packaged and rotary cutting elements to separate individual packages.
PACKAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Ice cream sandwich packages, containing an ice cream block and two wafers in separate adjacent compartments of a flat flexible polymeric material wrapper comprised of overlying layers of material heat sealed together at the marginal edges thereof, to separate the two compartments and at each end thereof, are continuously formed in apparatus consisting of rotary sealing elements to seal films together around the items to be packaged and rotary cutting elements to separate individual packages.
Description
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for forming packages.
In our U.S. Patent No. 4,145,449, there is described and claimed a pouch-like packaging structure wherein overlying s layers of flexible polymeric material are heat sealed along the side edges to provide permanent seals thereat, along the top and bottom edges to provide a temporary or pealable seal at at least the top edge, and between the side edges extend-ing from the top to the bottom edge to provide a temporary 10 or pQalable seal thereat separating the interior of the package into two separate compartments. The separate com-partments enable two food or other materials which can adversely affect each other if stored in the same compartment to be stored in the same package. The specific embodiment of 15 such food materials as outlined in the prior patent are the components of an ice cream sandwich, comprised of an ice cream ~lock, packaged in one compartment, and frangible wafer biscuits, packaged in t~e other compartment. The pealable seals permit the package to be opened along the top 20 edge seal and the compartment separating seal, to provide ready access to $he contents of the compartments and the formation of a single compartment open at the top edge.
The present invention provides method and apparatus for the continuous production of the packages of the prior 25 patent.
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a method of forming a packaging structure, which comprises: feeding items to be packaged in pairs serially onto a substantially horizontally-mo~ing band 3Q of heat sealable flexi~le polymeric material in accordance -.
.
In our U.S. Patent No. 4,145,449, there is described and claimed a pouch-like packaging structure wherein overlying s layers of flexible polymeric material are heat sealed along the side edges to provide permanent seals thereat, along the top and bottom edges to provide a temporary or pealable seal at at least the top edge, and between the side edges extend-ing from the top to the bottom edge to provide a temporary 10 or pQalable seal thereat separating the interior of the package into two separate compartments. The separate com-partments enable two food or other materials which can adversely affect each other if stored in the same compartment to be stored in the same package. The specific embodiment of 15 such food materials as outlined in the prior patent are the components of an ice cream sandwich, comprised of an ice cream ~lock, packaged in one compartment, and frangible wafer biscuits, packaged in t~e other compartment. The pealable seals permit the package to be opened along the top 20 edge seal and the compartment separating seal, to provide ready access to $he contents of the compartments and the formation of a single compartment open at the top edge.
The present invention provides method and apparatus for the continuous production of the packages of the prior 25 patent.
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a method of forming a packaging structure, which comprises: feeding items to be packaged in pairs serially onto a substantially horizontally-mo~ing band 3Q of heat sealable flexi~le polymeric material in accordance -.
.
2 ~1~3~7~7 with the desired horizontal spacing on the band, and engagingthe items with a parallely-moving upper band of heat sealable flexible polymeric material; continuously heat sealing the upper band to the horizontally~moving ~and at the marginal edges thereof to provide permanent longitudinal seals there-at and between the marginal edges to provide a longitudinal pealable seal thereat to separate the pair of items;
intermittently heat sealing the upper band to the horizon-tally-moving band at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to provide closely-spaced transverse pairs of pealable seals extending bet~een the marginal edges; transversely severing the heat sealed layers ~etween the closely spaced transverse pair of peala~le seals to successively form individ1lal heat sealed packages containing the pair of items.
~n accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming packag-ing structures comprising: feeding and loading station means comprising means for simultaneously feeding two separate items to ~e packaged side-~y-side between generally horizontally-moving overlying films of heat sealable polymeric material; heat sealing station means comprising rotary heat sealing means and rotary backing means cooperating to heat ~eal the overlying films around the items; the rotary heat sealing means comprising first radially-projecting continuously circum~erential-extending sealing elements located su~stantially at the axial extremities of the sealing means, a second radially-projectiny continuously circumferen-tially-extending sealing element located ~etween the first heating elements, and axially-extending circumferentially-spaced sealing elements constituted by circumferentially-spaced pairs of closely-spaced heating elements; the second sealing element and the axially-extending sealing element radially projecting to a lesser degree than the first sealing elements whereby the first sealing elements are capa~le of produc.ing permanent heat seals whi.le the second ` sealing element and t~e axially~extending sealing element are capa~le of producing only peala~le seals; cutting station means including cutting elements for severing individual packages from a continuous ~and th.ereof1 and discharge : - -, :, . ' ~ : . ~
- .' ` ' `7~7 ~ 2a means for dischar~ing the individual packages from the apparatus.
In the present invention, therefore, materials to be packaged are serially placed ~etween upper and lower substan-tially horizontally moving heat sealable films, heat sealsare formed between the overlying films to define the heat seals of the package and packages are severed one from ano-ther.
The present invention is described further, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view of an apparatus for continuous production of ice cream sandwich packages in accordance with one em~odiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the sealing rollers used in the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a detail exploded perspective view of the cutter rollers used in the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a detail side view of the lower member of the cutter rollers used in the apparatus of Fi~ure l;
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of Figure l illustrating the continuous formation of the packages and severing of the individual ~ackages;
Figure 8 is an elevational view of the drive train used in the apparatus of Figure l; and . Figure ~ is a perspective view of the completed package.
Referring to the drawings, a packaging apparatus 10 comprises a feeding and assem~ly station 12, a sealing station 14, a cutting station 16 and a discharge station 18.
At the feeding and assembly station 12, ice cream blocks 20 and pairs of frangible wafers 22 are simultaneously advanced by reciprocating pistons 24 and 26 respectively onto the top surface of a lower horizontal moving band 28 of heat sealable flexible polymeric film, such as, polyethylene or polyethyl-
intermittently heat sealing the upper band to the horizon-tally-moving band at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to provide closely-spaced transverse pairs of pealable seals extending bet~een the marginal edges; transversely severing the heat sealed layers ~etween the closely spaced transverse pair of peala~le seals to successively form individ1lal heat sealed packages containing the pair of items.
~n accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming packag-ing structures comprising: feeding and loading station means comprising means for simultaneously feeding two separate items to ~e packaged side-~y-side between generally horizontally-moving overlying films of heat sealable polymeric material; heat sealing station means comprising rotary heat sealing means and rotary backing means cooperating to heat ~eal the overlying films around the items; the rotary heat sealing means comprising first radially-projecting continuously circum~erential-extending sealing elements located su~stantially at the axial extremities of the sealing means, a second radially-projectiny continuously circumferen-tially-extending sealing element located ~etween the first heating elements, and axially-extending circumferentially-spaced sealing elements constituted by circumferentially-spaced pairs of closely-spaced heating elements; the second sealing element and the axially-extending sealing element radially projecting to a lesser degree than the first sealing elements whereby the first sealing elements are capa~le of produc.ing permanent heat seals whi.le the second ` sealing element and t~e axially~extending sealing element are capa~le of producing only peala~le seals; cutting station means including cutting elements for severing individual packages from a continuous ~and th.ereof1 and discharge : - -, :, . ' ~ : . ~
- .' ` ' `7~7 ~ 2a means for dischar~ing the individual packages from the apparatus.
In the present invention, therefore, materials to be packaged are serially placed ~etween upper and lower substan-tially horizontally moving heat sealable films, heat sealsare formed between the overlying films to define the heat seals of the package and packages are severed one from ano-ther.
The present invention is described further, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view of an apparatus for continuous production of ice cream sandwich packages in accordance with one em~odiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the sealing rollers used in the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a detail exploded perspective view of the cutter rollers used in the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a detail side view of the lower member of the cutter rollers used in the apparatus of Fi~ure l;
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of Figure l illustrating the continuous formation of the packages and severing of the individual ~ackages;
Figure 8 is an elevational view of the drive train used in the apparatus of Figure l; and . Figure ~ is a perspective view of the completed package.
Referring to the drawings, a packaging apparatus 10 comprises a feeding and assem~ly station 12, a sealing station 14, a cutting station 16 and a discharge station 18.
At the feeding and assembly station 12, ice cream blocks 20 and pairs of frangible wafers 22 are simultaneously advanced by reciprocating pistons 24 and 26 respectively onto the top surface of a lower horizontal moving band 28 of heat sealable flexible polymeric film, such as, polyethylene or polyethyl-
3~7`77 2b ene coated paper, fed from a supply reel (not shown~.
The ice cream blocks 20 are forwarded on aconveyor surface 30 in spaced relation to the position for movement by the piston 24. The wafers 22 are fed downwardly from a stack 32 housed within a chute 34.
.
..
.
7'77 An upper moving band 36 of heat sealable flexible polymeric material, is fed from a su~ply reel (not shown) to overly the lower band 28 and the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 24 at the feeding and assembly station 12.
The sealing station 14 consists of upper and lower rollers 38 and 40. The roller 38 has radially-extending circumferentially-directed heat sealing elements ~2 located one at each axial end of the roller 38 and the third one located ketween these tw~ elements. me heater ele~ents 42 usually are constructed of metal with knurled outer surfaces. The central one 44 of the`three radial heat sealing elements 42 extends for a radial distance less than the outer ones 46 of the radial heat sealing elements 42, as may be seen from the detail view in Figure 3.
The roller 38 also includes axially-directed circumferentially spaced pairs 48 of heat sealing elements extending continuously the length of the roller 38 between the outer radial heat sealing elements 46 and extending for the height of the heating element 44. In the illustrated embodiment there are three circumferentially spaced pairs 48 of heat sealing elements, permitting three packages to be sealed for each revolution of the roller 38.
The roller 48 has surface projections which act as backing members for the heat sealing elements of the roller 38 and are generally formed of rubber or the like. Three circumferentially-directed backing elements 50 correspond to and cooperate with the heat sealing elements 42 and three circumferentially-spaced axially-directed backing elements 52 correspond to and cooperate with the heat sealing element pairs 48.
The dimensioning of the heat sealing elements and the backing elements permits the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 22 to pass between the nip of the rollers 38 and 40.
The upper roller 38 is biased downwardly on the lower roller 40 to ensure proper sealing of the overlying layers of polymeric film at the sealing station 14 and positive drive of the polymeric films through the sealing station 14. The sealing surfaces of the roller 38 are heated electrically with electrical feed ~eing provided by a flexible cable 54, '77 through fixed slip ring plate 56.
At the cutting station 16 there are provided a pair of rollers 58 and 60 which cooperate to cut sealed polymeric film passing therebetween at predetermined longitudinally-spaced positions. The upper roller 58 is downwardly biasedagainst the roller 60 to ensure positive drive through the cutting station 16 and has circumferentially-extending radial end walls 62, planar parallel recesse~, surfaces 64 and radially-directed elongate recessed cutter blade-receiving channels 66~
The lower roller 60 is similarly constructed to the upper roller 58 but has deeper recessed channels 68 each housing a radially-reciprocable cutter element 70. The cutter element 70 has a round head pin element 72 extendin~
from one end to act as a cam follower element by engagement with round head cam element 74.
The cutter element 70 has a cutting blade 76 and is reciprocably mounted in the recess 68 by connecting it to and normally in engagement with an element 78 by plates 80, the element 78 being fixedly mounted to the roller 60. An expansion spring 82 also interconnects the cutter element 70 and the element 78 and biases the cutter element 70 into engagement with the element 78. Two cutter elements 70 are used, so that each revolution of the rollers 58 and 60 produces two cutting actions.
The discharge station includes a downwardly inclined chute 84 for gravity discharge of individual packages 86 from the machine 10.
The drive mechanism for the unit is shown in Figure g and includes a single drive motor 88 drivably connected to inter-meshed gear wheel train 90. T~e single drive motor 88 and inter-meshed gear train 90 ensures a uniform speed of action of feed, sealing, cutting and discharge. The gear train 9Q also provides the desired gear ratio between the sealing rollers 38 and 4Q and the cutting rollers 58 and 60 to take into account the different numbers of operations per revolution. The gear train 90 includes a cam 91 and switch 93 for activation of cam element 74.
~OP~nATlO~l The operation of the machine 10 now will be descrihed with reference to the formation of one package 86.
The procedure is continuous, however, and packages 86 are serially formed by repetition of the recited operations.
An ice cream block 20 and two wafers 22 are simultaneously forwarded by pushers 24 and 26 onto the lower band 28, conveyed thereon and engaged by the upper band 36.
The lower and upper bands are pinched between the heating elements 46 of the roller 38 and the backing elements 80 - of the roller~40 at the sealing station 14 at the marginal edges thereof to form permanent heat seals 92 thereat. At the same time, the recessed nature of the heating element 44 as compared with the heating elements 46 causes the formation of a pealable seal 94 between the films which separates the ice cream block 20 laterally from the wafers 22.
The overlying films 28, 36 are engaged by a sealing element pair 48, which also produce two pealable seals 96, 98 constituting respectively the rearward end sëal of one package and ~he forward end seal of the immediately rearward package. In this way, the seal arrangement of my prior patent in the package and the results thereof are provided.
The radial projection of the sealing elements and the backing elements permits the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 22 to pass the rollers 38 and 40 without deformative engagement therewith.
The package so formed passes to the cutting station where, upon actuation of the cam 74 by switch 93 through suitable circuitry ahead of contact by the cam follower 72 and ride up of the cam follower 72 over the surface of the cam 74 cutter blade 76 is caused to move radially, pass through and sever the overlying films between the pealable seals formed by the pair of sealing elements 48 and into the recess 66 in roller 58, to separate the package 86 ahead from the package just formed. Upon release of the cam 74, the spring 82 retracts the cutter 76 into the recess 68.
The package then passes the station 18 by virtue of the geometric shape of the cutting rollers 58 and 60 and is severed from the preceding package on the next cuttîng action.
The separated packaye 86 then passes out of the machine 10 under the influence of gravity and the force of the next-formed package by chute 18.
The machine 10 in this way is able to produce ice cream packages of the type described in my earlier patent at any desired production rate. The number and location of the heating elements at the heating station may be varied to provide packaging structures having differing seal forms from those described and in different locations.
~
The present invention, therefore, provides method -~ and apparatus for rapidly and continuously manufacturing planar-like packages formed from sealed overlying polymeric films. ~Iodifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
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The ice cream blocks 20 are forwarded on aconveyor surface 30 in spaced relation to the position for movement by the piston 24. The wafers 22 are fed downwardly from a stack 32 housed within a chute 34.
.
..
.
7'77 An upper moving band 36 of heat sealable flexible polymeric material, is fed from a su~ply reel (not shown) to overly the lower band 28 and the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 24 at the feeding and assembly station 12.
The sealing station 14 consists of upper and lower rollers 38 and 40. The roller 38 has radially-extending circumferentially-directed heat sealing elements ~2 located one at each axial end of the roller 38 and the third one located ketween these tw~ elements. me heater ele~ents 42 usually are constructed of metal with knurled outer surfaces. The central one 44 of the`three radial heat sealing elements 42 extends for a radial distance less than the outer ones 46 of the radial heat sealing elements 42, as may be seen from the detail view in Figure 3.
The roller 38 also includes axially-directed circumferentially spaced pairs 48 of heat sealing elements extending continuously the length of the roller 38 between the outer radial heat sealing elements 46 and extending for the height of the heating element 44. In the illustrated embodiment there are three circumferentially spaced pairs 48 of heat sealing elements, permitting three packages to be sealed for each revolution of the roller 38.
The roller 48 has surface projections which act as backing members for the heat sealing elements of the roller 38 and are generally formed of rubber or the like. Three circumferentially-directed backing elements 50 correspond to and cooperate with the heat sealing elements 42 and three circumferentially-spaced axially-directed backing elements 52 correspond to and cooperate with the heat sealing element pairs 48.
The dimensioning of the heat sealing elements and the backing elements permits the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 22 to pass between the nip of the rollers 38 and 40.
The upper roller 38 is biased downwardly on the lower roller 40 to ensure proper sealing of the overlying layers of polymeric film at the sealing station 14 and positive drive of the polymeric films through the sealing station 14. The sealing surfaces of the roller 38 are heated electrically with electrical feed ~eing provided by a flexible cable 54, '77 through fixed slip ring plate 56.
At the cutting station 16 there are provided a pair of rollers 58 and 60 which cooperate to cut sealed polymeric film passing therebetween at predetermined longitudinally-spaced positions. The upper roller 58 is downwardly biasedagainst the roller 60 to ensure positive drive through the cutting station 16 and has circumferentially-extending radial end walls 62, planar parallel recesse~, surfaces 64 and radially-directed elongate recessed cutter blade-receiving channels 66~
The lower roller 60 is similarly constructed to the upper roller 58 but has deeper recessed channels 68 each housing a radially-reciprocable cutter element 70. The cutter element 70 has a round head pin element 72 extendin~
from one end to act as a cam follower element by engagement with round head cam element 74.
The cutter element 70 has a cutting blade 76 and is reciprocably mounted in the recess 68 by connecting it to and normally in engagement with an element 78 by plates 80, the element 78 being fixedly mounted to the roller 60. An expansion spring 82 also interconnects the cutter element 70 and the element 78 and biases the cutter element 70 into engagement with the element 78. Two cutter elements 70 are used, so that each revolution of the rollers 58 and 60 produces two cutting actions.
The discharge station includes a downwardly inclined chute 84 for gravity discharge of individual packages 86 from the machine 10.
The drive mechanism for the unit is shown in Figure g and includes a single drive motor 88 drivably connected to inter-meshed gear wheel train 90. T~e single drive motor 88 and inter-meshed gear train 90 ensures a uniform speed of action of feed, sealing, cutting and discharge. The gear train 9Q also provides the desired gear ratio between the sealing rollers 38 and 4Q and the cutting rollers 58 and 60 to take into account the different numbers of operations per revolution. The gear train 90 includes a cam 91 and switch 93 for activation of cam element 74.
~OP~nATlO~l The operation of the machine 10 now will be descrihed with reference to the formation of one package 86.
The procedure is continuous, however, and packages 86 are serially formed by repetition of the recited operations.
An ice cream block 20 and two wafers 22 are simultaneously forwarded by pushers 24 and 26 onto the lower band 28, conveyed thereon and engaged by the upper band 36.
The lower and upper bands are pinched between the heating elements 46 of the roller 38 and the backing elements 80 - of the roller~40 at the sealing station 14 at the marginal edges thereof to form permanent heat seals 92 thereat. At the same time, the recessed nature of the heating element 44 as compared with the heating elements 46 causes the formation of a pealable seal 94 between the films which separates the ice cream block 20 laterally from the wafers 22.
The overlying films 28, 36 are engaged by a sealing element pair 48, which also produce two pealable seals 96, 98 constituting respectively the rearward end sëal of one package and ~he forward end seal of the immediately rearward package. In this way, the seal arrangement of my prior patent in the package and the results thereof are provided.
The radial projection of the sealing elements and the backing elements permits the ice cream block 20 and the wafers 22 to pass the rollers 38 and 40 without deformative engagement therewith.
The package so formed passes to the cutting station where, upon actuation of the cam 74 by switch 93 through suitable circuitry ahead of contact by the cam follower 72 and ride up of the cam follower 72 over the surface of the cam 74 cutter blade 76 is caused to move radially, pass through and sever the overlying films between the pealable seals formed by the pair of sealing elements 48 and into the recess 66 in roller 58, to separate the package 86 ahead from the package just formed. Upon release of the cam 74, the spring 82 retracts the cutter 76 into the recess 68.
The package then passes the station 18 by virtue of the geometric shape of the cutting rollers 58 and 60 and is severed from the preceding package on the next cuttîng action.
The separated packaye 86 then passes out of the machine 10 under the influence of gravity and the force of the next-formed package by chute 18.
The machine 10 in this way is able to produce ice cream packages of the type described in my earlier patent at any desired production rate. The number and location of the heating elements at the heating station may be varied to provide packaging structures having differing seal forms from those described and in different locations.
~
The present invention, therefore, provides method -~ and apparatus for rapidly and continuously manufacturing planar-like packages formed from sealed overlying polymeric films. ~Iodifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
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Claims (7)
1. A method of forming a packaging structure, which comprises:
feeding items to be packaged in pairs serially onto a substantially horizontally-moving band of heat sealable flexible polymeric material in accordance with the desired horizontal spacing on said band, and engaging said items with a parallely-moving upper band of heat sealable flexible polymeric material, continuously heat sealing said upper band to said horizontally-moving band at the marginal edges thereof to provide permanent longitudinal seals thereat and between said marginal edges to provide a longitudinal pealable seal thereat to separate said pair of items, intermittently heat sealing said upper band to said horizontally-moving band at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to provide closely-spaced transverse pairs of pealable seals extending between said marginal edges, transversely severing the heat sealed layers between said closely spaced transverse pair of pealable seals to successively form individual heat sealed packages containing said pair of items.
feeding items to be packaged in pairs serially onto a substantially horizontally-moving band of heat sealable flexible polymeric material in accordance with the desired horizontal spacing on said band, and engaging said items with a parallely-moving upper band of heat sealable flexible polymeric material, continuously heat sealing said upper band to said horizontally-moving band at the marginal edges thereof to provide permanent longitudinal seals thereat and between said marginal edges to provide a longitudinal pealable seal thereat to separate said pair of items, intermittently heat sealing said upper band to said horizontally-moving band at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to provide closely-spaced transverse pairs of pealable seals extending between said marginal edges, transversely severing the heat sealed layers between said closely spaced transverse pair of pealable seals to successively form individual heat sealed packages containing said pair of items.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pair of items comprises an ice cream block and a pair of ice cream wafers.
3. An apparatus for forming packaging structures, comprising:
feeding and loading station means comprising means for simultaneously feeding two separate items to be packaged side-by-side between generally horizontally-moving overlying films of heat sealable polymeric material, heat sealing station means comprising rotary heat sealing means and rotary backing means cooperating to heat seal said overlying films around said items, said rotary heat sealing means comprising first radially-projecting continuously circumferential-extending sealing elements located substantially at the axial extremi-ties of said sealing means, a second radially-projecting continuously circumferentially-extending sealing element located between said first heating elements, and axially-extending circumferentially-spaced sealing elements constituted by circumferentially-spaced pairs of closely-spaced heating elements, said second sealing element and said axially-extending sealing element radially projecting to a lesser degree than said first sealing element whereby said first sealing elements are capable of producing permanent heat seals while said second sealing element and said axially-extending sealing element are capable of producing only pealable seals, cutting station means including cutting elements for severing individual packages from a continuous band thereof, and discharge means for discharging said individual packages from the apparatus.
feeding and loading station means comprising means for simultaneously feeding two separate items to be packaged side-by-side between generally horizontally-moving overlying films of heat sealable polymeric material, heat sealing station means comprising rotary heat sealing means and rotary backing means cooperating to heat seal said overlying films around said items, said rotary heat sealing means comprising first radially-projecting continuously circumferential-extending sealing elements located substantially at the axial extremi-ties of said sealing means, a second radially-projecting continuously circumferentially-extending sealing element located between said first heating elements, and axially-extending circumferentially-spaced sealing elements constituted by circumferentially-spaced pairs of closely-spaced heating elements, said second sealing element and said axially-extending sealing element radially projecting to a lesser degree than said first sealing element whereby said first sealing elements are capable of producing permanent heat seals while said second sealing element and said axially-extending sealing element are capable of producing only pealable seals, cutting station means including cutting elements for severing individual packages from a continuous band thereof, and discharge means for discharging said individual packages from the apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cutting elements comprise selectively-actuable radially-reciprocal knife means recessed in the surface of a rotating element.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said knife means is selectively actuable by cam means engaging cam follower means associated with said knife means, said knife means is biasingly received in said recess.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cutting elements include upper and lower rotary elements engaging the peripheral edges of the heat sealed films, selectively-actuable and radially-reciprocal knife means biasingly located in diametrically opposed peripheral recesses in the surface of said lower rotary member, complimentary diametrically-opposed peripheral recesses in said upper rotary member, said knife means being selectively actuable by cam means engaging cam follower means on said knife means to cause the latter to extend radially out of the respective one of said recesses in said lower member into the adjacent one of said recesses of said upper rotary member against the biasing action of biasing means and permit the radially extended knife means to return to said respective recess under the action of said biasing means.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 including single drive means drivingly engaged with said rotary elements at said sealing station and at said casting station whereby said rotary elements operate in unison, and said rotary elements at said sealing station and at said cutting station are arranged to drivingly engage the polymeric films therebetween.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB10370/78 | 1978-03-15 | ||
| GB1037078 | 1978-03-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1101777A true CA1101777A (en) | 1981-05-26 |
Family
ID=9966601
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA323,215A Expired CA1101777A (en) | 1978-03-15 | 1979-03-12 | Package forming method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1101777A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-03-12 CA CA323,215A patent/CA1101777A/en not_active Expired
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