DE202018000729U1 - System with external heat seal assembly height adjustment control and related seal assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging system comprising: a housing; a heat seal assembly having a heat seal contact element retained within the housing; andan external user adjustment interface or external user adjustment member in communication with the heat seal assembly, wherein the external user adjustment interface or external user adjustment member controls the heat seal assembly in the housing to translate vertically in response to a user input.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to packaging systems that seal flat roll material into packages.

Background of the invention

Conventionally, in the manufacture of consumer goods such as meat or other food products, such products are introduced (typically pumped) or stuffed into a wrapper in a manner that allows the wrapper to be filled with the product in a desired amount. One type of sheath is a heat sealed tubular sheath formed by sealing long edges of a thin layer of flexible material, typically elastomeric material. The patents US 5,085,036 and US 5,203,760 describe examples of automated high-speed contact sealing devices that form flat roll material into tubular sheaths. The content of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

In conventional packaging systems, the contact sealer includes a heat seal tape that requires multiple height adjustments during setup and / or operation to produce an adequate seal. In the past, the packaging systems had to be stopped and a front housing guard removed to allow a user to manually adjust an interior height adjustment member to provide suitable and / or improved seals. There is a need for alternative setting configurations.

Summary of Embodiments of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention provide a packaging apparatus for producing sheathed flat roll material products using an external user height adjustment control in conjunction with or indirectly attached to a heat seal contact element (typically a rotating heat seal tape) in the housing to allow a user a vertical height of the heat-sealing contact element.

Embodiments of the present application are directed to packaging systems including a housing, a heat seal assembly having a heat seal contact element retained within the housing, and an external user adjustment interface or an external user adjustment member in communication with the heat seal assembly. The external user setting interface or the external user setting element directs the heat seal assembly in the housing to translate vertically in response to a user input.

The system may include (i) a horizontally oriented rotatable shaft retained within the housing either (a) attached to the external user adjustment interface or the external user adjustment element, or (b) in electromechanical communication with the external user adjustment interface or external user adjustment element; and (ii) a first gear or a universal drive held at an inner end portion of the shaft.

A horizontally oriented shaft may hold the first gear at the inner end of the shaft and a second gear may engage the first gear and be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. The second gear may rotate an underlying threaded drive assembly mounted on the heat seal assembly to vertically translate the heat seal assembly in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft.

The housing may have a wall with an opening and the shaft may extend out of the wall through the opening with the user adjustment interface held outside the wall or the user adjustment member. The opening has a length sufficient to allow the shaft to move rearwardly in the housing a distance between HOME and RUN positions. The shaft may have a length within the housing that is between 6 inches and 4 feet.

The system may include a product horn in the housing under the heat seal assembly. The user setting interface or the user setting element may be configured to be simultaneously be moved with the heat seal assembly from a HOME position to a LAUF position forward. In the RUN position, the heat seal contact element of the heat seal assembly may be disposed over the product horn.

The packaging system may include a motor disposed over the heat seal assembly in communication with the external user adjustment interface or the external user adjustment device. The motor may engage a shaft of a threaded drive assembly secured to the heat seal assembly to vertically translate the heat seal assembly.

The system may further include a first mounting bracket having an inner open window space; a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket; first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket under and outside the window space of the first mounting bracket; and an engine mounting bracket supported by the second mounting bracket and extending across the first mounting bracket through the open window space. The motor and a motor mounting plate can translate from the HOME mounting bracket to a LAUF position from back to front across the open window space of the first mounting bracket.

The system may further include a first mounting bracket having an inner open window space; a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket; and include first and second spaced apart bearing blocks holding the shaft. The second bearing block may be disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and the first bearing block may be disposed on a leg of the second mounting bracket spaced from the first mounting bracket to be closer to a left side wall of the housing. The system may also include first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket below and outside the window of the first mounting bracket.

The first gear may be a worm gear or a bevel gear.

The horizontally oriented shaft may be disposed over a first mounting bracket and is attached to a second mounting bracket disposed below the first mounting bracket. The horizontally oriented shaft can translate from a HOME to a LAUF position in the housing via an open interior of the first mounting bracket.

The system may include a third mounting bracket that holds the heat seal assembly. The third mounting bracket may be attached to a front portion of the second mounting bracket and in communication with the first and second actuator cylinders such that the first and second actuator cylinders extend and retract the third mounting bracket to move the heat seal assembly between HOME and RUN positions to move.

The system may include an up / down actuator cylinder with a rod extending up and down a body of the up / down actuator cylinder. The rod may be attached to a mounting member located behind the third retractable mounting bracket to lower the heat seal assembly to the RUN position.

The system may include a threaded adjustment assembly mounted to the up / down cylinder body with a clamping plate disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and supporting a vertically aligned shaft, pin, and / or drive threads connected either to the engine or to the engine second gear over the horizontally oriented shaft are engaged.

The heat seal contact element may be a rotating belt.

The user adjustment interface or the user adjustment member may include a rotatable wheel that is held outside and adjacent a left side wall of the housing.

The user setting interface or user setting element may include a user interface with electronically selectable vertical height controls located in a controller accessible through a display providing a man-machine interface from the packaging system.

The system may include a clip machine disposed downstream of the housing with the heat seal assembly. The housing that holds the heat seal assembly may include a left side wall facing the clipper. The left sidewall may have a (typically horizontal) slot having a length between 2 inches and 24 inches.

The shaft may extend out of the left sidewall through the slot, the user adjuster being held out of the slot outside the left sidewall, and the slot having a length that allows the shaft to extend within the housing a distance between HEIM - and to move LAUF positions from back to front. The shaft may have a length within the housing that is between 6 inches and 4 feet.

Other embodiments are directed to a seal assembly including: a heat seal assembly having a heat seal contact element; and a vertical height adjustment subassembly. The vertical height adjustment subassembly comprises: a horizontally oriented rotatable shaft; a user adjustment member attached to the shaft or in electromechanical communication with the shaft; and a gear or universal drive fixed to an inner end of the rotatable shaft and in communication with the heat seal assembly for vertically translating the heat seal assembly in response to user input by the user adjustment member and rotation of the shaft.

The seal assembly may further include: a first mounting bracket having an inner open window, a second mounting bracket below the first mounting bracket; first and second spaced-apart bearing blocks holding the shaft, the second bearing block being disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and the first bearing block being disposed on a leg of the second mounting bracket spaced from the first mounting bracket to be closer to a left one Side wall of the housing to be arranged; and first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket below and outside the first window of the mounting bracket.

The user adjustment member may be set to move from a HOME position to a RUN position simultaneously with the heat seal assembly.

The shaft may be disposed over a first mounting bracket and may be attached to a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket. The shaft may be moved over an open interior of the first mounting bracket as the second bracket moves from a HOME to a RUN position.

The seal assembly may also include a third mounting bracket holding the heat seal assembly, wherein the third mounting bracket is attached to a front portion of the second mounting bracket and is in communication with the first and second actuator cylinders such that the first and second actuator cylinders extend the third mounting bracket and retract to move the heat seal assembly between HOME and RUN positions; an up / down actuator cylinder having a rod extending upwardly and downwardly about a body of the up / down actuator cylinder, which rod may be attached to a mounting member disposed behind the third mounting bracket for retraction to engage the heat seal assembly in FIG lower the RUN position; and a threaded adjustment assembly that may be secured to the up / down cylinder body with a clamping plate disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and retaining a shaft, pin and / or drive threads that engage the second drive gear.

The heat seal contact element may comprise a heat seal band.

Other disclosures are directed to methods for sealing flat roll stock into a shaped wrapper for wrapping target products. The methods include: (a) providing a packaging system having an external user adjustment interface or an external user adjustment element; (b) automatically peeling the sheath from a roll of flat material through a forming shoulder to form a tubular sheath; (c) automatically contacting the tubular sleeve with a heat seal contact element of a heat seal assembly, (d) automatically sealing the long edge portions of the sleeve due to contacting; (e) accepting user input by the external user adjustment interface or external user adjustment member to vertically downwardly direct a heat seal assembly to change an operative RUN position of the heat seal contact member; and (f) automatically moving the heat seal assembly in response to the assumed user input.

The external user adjustment interface or the external user adjustment member may be an external wheel that is attached to a horizontally oriented rotatable shaft that rotates to vertically downwardly move the heat seal assembly. The method may further include translating the wheel from a HOME position to a forward extended TURN or RUN position while simultaneously translating the heat seal assembly from the HOME to the TURN or RUN position.

The accepted user input may be performed using an electronic user interface as an external user setting interface or external user setting item.

The automatic agitation may be performed using a motor mounted directly or indirectly on a drive shaft of a drive thread assembly located behind the heat seal assembly to move the heat seal assembly a distance of between 0.1mm to 25mm.

The motor may be held over the drive shaft of the drive thread assembly on a mounting bracket holding first and second laterally extendable actuators. The method may further include simultaneously translating the motor with the heat seal assembly from a HOME position to a forward INTERMED and / or RUN position while maintaining the ENGINE in a fixed vertical position.

The assumed user input may include rotating an external wheel to rotate a shaft that rotates a first gear mounted on an inner end portion of the shaft about a horizontal axis of rotation in response to rotation of the external gear that is a second gear in communication with the first gear rotated about a vertical axis of rotation to move the heat seal assembly vertically up or down.

One turn of the wheel can move the heat seal assembly vertically between 0.1 mm and 5 mm up or down.

The heat seal assembly may be enclosed within a housing. The assumed user input may be performed while the housing remains closed with the heat seal assembly in the RUN position and in an active RUN mode of operation to thereby allow an operator to adjust the height of the heat seal contact element without physical access to the interior of the housing and, optionally, the heat seal contact element is a heat seal tape.

The user input accepted via the external user setting interface or the external user setting element may be performed by accepting the user inputs via the user setting interface provided electronically as part of the human machine interface of the packaging machine.

It is to be understood that one or more aspects or features described with respect to one embodiment may be included in another embodiment, although not specifically described with respect thereto. That is, all embodiments and / or features of each embodiment may be merged in any manner and / or combination. The Applicant reserves the right to change any of the claims originally submitted or to submit a new claim accordingly, including the right to change any claim originally filed in order for it to be subject to and / or include any feature of any other claim; although this was not originally claimed in this way.

These and other objects and / or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail below in the description.

list of figures

• 1A Figure 3 is a front perspective view of an assembled seal assembly according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 1B FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 1A. FIG.
• 2 FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 1A. FIG.
• 3 is another partial exploded view of in 1A Sealing arrangement shown.
• 4A is a front perspective view of the in 1A shown sealing unit in a "HOME" position / configuration according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 4B is an end view of the sealing unit of 4A ,
• 4C is a front view of the sealing unit of 4A ,
• 5A is a front perspective view of the in 1A shown sealing unit in a "RUN" position / configuration according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 5B is an end view of the sealing unit of 5A ,
• 5C is a front view of the sealing unit of 5A ,
• The 6A - 6C FIG. 12 are end views of the sealing unit in respective HOME, INTERMED and RUN configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 7 FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an exemplary packaging machine having a heat seal assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 8A is a side perspective view of the 7 shown packaging machine with a sealing unit in an exemplary home configuration and with certain components, such as housing covers, which have been omitted, according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 8B is a side perspective view of the 8A The illustrated packaging machine with the seal assembly in an exemplary RUN configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
• 9A is a side perspective view of the 7 with the front protective cover raised and the front cabinet doors open, to exemplify the internal components according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 9B is a side perspective view of the 7 shown packaging machine with raised front protective cover and open front cabinet doors and with an optional horn rotor according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 10 FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a packaging machine with a clip machine in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 11 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of a packaging machine with an external user adjustment member and overlying cover according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 12A FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a user adjustment assembly for vertical height adjustment for a heat seal band according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 12B is a schematic representation of an exemplary external user setting input for the in 12A shown embodiment according to embodiments of the present invention.
• 13A and 13B FIG. 15 are perspective side views of an exemplary vertical height adjustment assembly in two different positions. FIG.
• 14A FIG. 12 is a left side perspective view of a sealing unit with a worm gear according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 14B is a top view of the in 14A sealing unit shown.
• 14C is a perspective side view of the right in 14A sealing unit shown.
• 14D is a left side view of the in 14A sealing unit shown.
• 14E is a front view of the in 14A sealing unit shown.
• 15A Figure 3 is a left side perspective view of a sealing unit with a universal joint according to some embodiments of the present invention.
• 15B is a top view of the in 15A sealing unit shown.
• 15C is a perspective side view of the right in 15A sealing unit shown.
• 15D is a left side view of the in 15A sealing unit shown.
• 15E is a front view of the in 15A sealing unit shown.
• 16A FIG. 12 is a left side perspective view of a motor drive sealing unit according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 16B is a top view of the in 16A sealing unit shown.
• 16C is a perspective side view of the right in 16A sealing unit shown.
• 16D is a left side view of the in 16A sealing unit shown.
• 16E is a front view of the in 16A sealing unit shown.
• 17 FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit having a user adjustment interface for a height adjustment module in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
• 18 FIG. 10 is a flowchart of example operations that may be used to operate a packaging machine according to embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and dashed lines illustrate optional features or acts unless otherwise specified. The term "Fig." (Whether in all capital letters or not) is used interchangeably with the word "figure" as an abbreviation thereof in the specification and drawings. In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order given in the claims, unless expressly stated otherwise.

The term "simultaneous" means that the actions are performed substantially simultaneously.

The term "about" means that the quoted value can vary by +/- 20%.

It will be understood that when a feature, such as a layer, region or substrate, is referred to as "on" another feature or element, it may be directly on the other element, or there may also be intervening elements , Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly upon" another feature or element, there are no intervening elements. It will be further understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected," "attached," or "coupled" with another feature or element, it may be directly connected to the other element, or intervening elements may be present , Conversely, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected," "directly attached," or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements. The term "in communication with" refers to direct and indirect communication. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features so described or illustrated may be used in other embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms "a" and "the" used herein are also intended to include plurals, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification indicate the presence of indicated features, steps, acts, elements and / or components, but the presence or addition of a or several other features, steps, acts, elements, and components. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Words such as "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" as used herein should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, such as "between about X and Y" mean "between about X and about Y." As used herein, such as "about X to Y" means "about X to about Y".

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field, and should not be in an idealized or overly formal Sense, unless expressly defined herein.

The term "frame" means a generally skeletal structure used to support one or more assemblies, modules, and / or components, including walls of a housing or housing. The frame may be a floor-mounted frame. The term "automated" means that acts can be performed substantially without manual assistance, typically using program-controlled control systems and electrical and / or mechanical devices. The term "semi-automatic" means that operator input or assistance can be used, but most actions are performed automatically using electro-mechanical devices and program-controlled control systems.

In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, certain terms are used to refer to the positional relationship of particular structures relative to other structures. As used herein, "forward" or "forward" and variations thereof refer to the general or primary direction in which the filler or product moves in a production line to form a wrapped product; this term is intended to be synonymous with the term "downstream" which is often used in manufacturing or material handling environments to indicate that the material being moved or processed in the process is wider than other material. Conversely, the terms "backward" and "upstream" and variations thereof refer to the directions opposite to the forward and the downstream directions, respectively.

The present invention is particularly suitable for producing wrapped products that also use closure clips to seal the products held in the envelopes. The product may be an interconnected chain of elongated extruded product held in a wrapper. The sheath may be any suitable sheath (edible or non-edible, natural or synthetic) such as, but not limited to, collagen, cellulose, plastic, elastomeric and / or polymeric sheaths. Typically, the shell material is an elastomeric and / or polymeric planar roll material. The elastomeric and / or polymeric film is a relatively thin film (or film) of roll material that can be formed in situ into a continuous length of heat sealed and / or otherwise bonded or hemmed tubular sheaths. Embodiments of the invention are configured for sealing laminated or multilayer films. The multilayer films may comprise different materials, typically one material as a first layer and a second material as an overlying second layer. The various materials may be laminated or a layer may be a coating, such as a metallized spray coating. The laminated or multilayer films may include "film films", metallized polymeric and / or elastomeric films such as aluminized plastic and / or aluminized polymer films. In some embodiments, the films may include heat shrink films.

The term "film" means that the material is thin. The thickness is preferably less than about 0.5 mm, such as in a range between about 0.02 mm to about 0.3 mm, preferably between about 0.03 mm to about 0.13 mm. In some embodiments, the film may have a thickness of about 0.03 mm, about 0.04 mm, about 0.05 mm, about 0.06 mm, about 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, about 0.09 mm, about 0.10 mm, about 0.11 mm, about 12 mm, about 0.13 mm, about 0.14 mm, about 0.15 mm, about 0.16 mm, about 0.17 mm, about 0.18 mm, about 0.19 mm, about 0.20 mm, about 0.25 mm, about 0.30 mm and the like. However, the sheath may have other thicknesses.

The molding may be performed substantially automatically and continuously over a desired period of time (typically between at least about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the length of the roll material). The sealing can be carried out using a heat seal. The seal may seal a seam formed by joining two outer long sides of the sleeve / film. The seam may be a flat, rib-like or other overlapping and / or adjacent connection configuration.

The wrapped elongated or tubular product may be an elongated food product, typically a meat product. Exemplary meat products include, but are not limited to, meat strands (which may include salami, poultry and / or beef or other desired meat) and processed meat products, including whole or partial meat mixes, including sausages, hot dogs and the like. Other embodiments of the present invention may be directed to sealing other types of food (such as cheese) or other products in casing materials. Examples of other products include pasty products such as sealants or sausages or powders such as granular materials including cereals, sugar, sand and the like or other flowable materials including wet pet food (similar to that conventionally canned) or other powdered, granular, solid, semi-solid or gel-like materials, including explosives. Thus, embodiments of the invention can be used to package target products for any industry, including food, aquaculture, agricultural, environmental, construction, or facility maintenance products, chemicals, explosives, or other applications.

With reference to the 1A . 1B . 2 and 3 becomes a sealing arrangement 10 (also referred to as "sealing unit") with a subassembly 20 for vertical height adjustment for a heat seal assembly. The height adjustment subassembly 20 includes an external user setting interface or an external user setting element 21 , The external user-setting interface or the external user-setting element 21 can be outside the case 100h that is the heat seal assembly 40 surrounds ( 7 . 8A . 8B ). In some embodiments, the external user adjustment interface or the user adjustment element 21 Environmental conditions exposed to be physically accessible to a user when the housing 100h a packaging device 100 ( 7 . 8A . 8B ), the seal arrangement 10 encloses during operation of the packaging machine 100 is closed, so no starting and stopping the packaging machine 100 ( 7 . 8A . 8B ) and / or stopping production of the flat roll material from operating in sealed film mode while allowing a user access to the height adjustment element 21 allows the height of the heat seal contact element 41 the heat seal assembly 40 "Without preparation" (while the machine is operating without requiring shutdown) and / or vertically adjusting in situ.

The user-setting interface or the user-setting element 21 can be inside a cover 110 be held for access regardless of the front housing protection 102 of the housing 100 can be opened ( 11 ). The cover 110 ( 11 ) can pivot on the housing 100h be mounted or may slide or otherwise open to a user access to the user setting interface or the user setting element 21 to allow without the front protection 102 of the housing 100 to open ( 7 . 11 ). The location and configuration of the user-setting interface or user-setting element 21 allows a user to set a height of the heat seal assembly 40 and / or the heat sealing contact element 41 without direct physical access to the interior of the case 100 to need ( 7 ). In some embodiments, the user adjustment interface or user adjustment element 21 includes electronic external user interface control maintained in a PLC of an HMI of the packaging device or in a controller / processor at a different location (see, eg, FIG 12A / 12B, 17) can be kept.

The term "external" refers to a user setting interface or a user setting element 21 located outside an internal cavity of a housing or cabinet containing the heat seal assembly 40 encloses. The external user-setting interface or the external user-setting element 21 can have any suitable configuration and can be operated manually or semi-automatically based on user / operator control, direction. Such as in the 1A and 1B shown includes the user setting interface or the user setting element 21 a rotatable external wheel or a circular handle 21w with an optional thumb or finger grip 21f ,

As in 1A . 1B . 2 and 3 shown, the heat seal assembly 40 an endless heat seal tape 41b as the heat seal contact element 41 include. The heat seal tape 41b can be in communication with a motor 140 stand with a strap 141 engages a pulley 142 ( 1B ) for continuously rotating the heat seal band 41 drives to seal the hull seam. The patents US 5,085,036 and US 5,203,760 describe examples of automated high-speed contact sealing devices that form flat roll material into tubular film sleeves. The content of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. It is contemplated that other heat seal heater configurations or arrangements may be used. For example, adhesive seal systems can be used with a heat seal band. Suitable heat seal units with heat bands, motors, actuators, and thread assemblies are available from TOSS Machine Components, Inc. of Nazareth, PA as part number 13116407.

It should also be noted that while the heat seal assembly 40 is considered to include the heat sealing band 41b, it is considered that the height adjustment subassembly 20 may also be suitable for other heating types, typically contact heat sealers, such as those comprising rollers.

Referring again to the 1A . 1B . 2 and 3 can the sub-assembly 20 an elongated wave 23 include, which may be horizontally aligned. The shaft 23 may have a first end portion formed from an opening 101 (ie a slot) in an upright wall 101 of the housing 100h ( 8A . 8B protrudes, making it the external user setting element 21 is allowed laterally (in a direction from back to front orthogonal to the product horn 120 . 7 . 8A ) to cover a distance between HOME and RUN positions. In some embodiments, the shaft may 23 as in the 8A and 8B shown from an opening 101 in a left sidewall 101 extend (the wall, a clip machine 175 facing, 10 ). The opening may have curved end portions and in a direction orthogonal to the product horn 120 be aligned horizontally. The wave 23 however, it may also be arranged to extend from the right side wall, the back, the ceiling, or even the front of the housing (not shown) and to a first internal gear 25 is attached to allow access to the user while the housing 100h remains closed. The shaft 23 may have a length "L" ( 5C ), which is preferably from about 6 inches to about 4 feet long, more preferably from about 12 inches to about 24 or to about 18 inches long. The user setting element 21 can be tightly spaced from an outside wall 101 may be arranged, preferably from 0.25 inches to 3 inches.

The elongated wave 23 can be the user setting element 21 at one end or in communication, and may be attached to a first internal gearbox 25 at the other end. The first internal transmission 25 can a rotation axis AA ( 1A ) which is horizontal. The first internal transmission 25 can with a second internal gear 28 be aligned. The second internal gear 28 may have an axis of rotation that is vertical. Thus, the rotation of the shaft rotates 23 the first transmission 25 that's the second gearbox 28 turns, then a thread drive 31 ( 2 . 13A ) which vertically turns a height of the heat seal assembly 40 and / or at least the heat seal band 41 established.

When the heat seal over a top of the horn 120 is carried out, the height adjustment of the heat seal assembly takes place 40 typically at setup, where a height is adjusted (moved up or down) as product size changes. If the product diameter of an immediately preceding product, that of the packaging machine 100 ( 7 ), the heat sealing contact element / the heat seal contact device must 41 ie the heat seal tape 41 , be raised. If the product diameter decreases, the band needs 41 be lowered. Although setting up for a particular product size is the primary way to adjust the height, it may be difficult to choose an accurate height before running the film; therefore, an operator needs to start the heat seal contact element 41 may adjust slightly upwards or downwards (ie from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm) based on the nature of the seal. It is therefore believed that being able to make this adjustment while walking is a huge improvement over the need to stop the operation and provide housing protection 102 to open the vertical height adjustment. Visual inspection of the seal during running may provide information to the operator if the seal is too hot (heat seal element 41 is too low) or not sufficiently sealed (heat-seal member 41 is too high). Also, directly downstream of the seal assembly 10 a clip machine (also called "clipper") 175 ( 10 ), and the seal will be pressurized when the product is stuffed into the wrapper and this may also give the operator feedback on how strong the seal is.

The first and the second gearbox 25 . 28 may be bevel gears, however, other gear configurations and / or other conversion devices may be used for rotation in the linear motion. In some embodiments, the first and second transmissions may have a 1: 1 ratio, such that one revolution of the first transmission 25 one revolution of the second transmission 28 causes. In some embodiments, one revolution of the transmission 25 . 28 and / or the rotatable user adjustment member (ie, wheel) 21 move the heat seal contact element 41 between about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 1.5 mm.

1A . 1B . 2 and 3 show that the seal arrangement 10 an upper mounting bracket 60 over a lower mounting bracket 62 which may include the first and second actuators 65 , preferably pneumatic actuators sandwiching therebetween. A third upright mounting element 67 (shown as a vertically oriented plate) may be attached to the first and second actuators 65 be attached and can components of the heat seal assembly 40 keep that as the engine 140 , the heat sealing tape 41b and optional heat seal cooler 45 with optional nozzle brushes 46 are shown. The heat seal cooler 45, when used, may blow compressed air to the heated seal. The heat seal cooler 45 is optional and may have other configurations and / or may be other types of cooling.

As in the 4A - 4C and 5A - 5C shown, the actuators can 65 the heat seal assembly 40 automatically move between extended and retracted positions (front to back, back to front) with the retracted position away from the product horn 120 associated with a HOME position and the extended position associated with a RUN position with the lowered heat seal contact element 41 and forward relative to the HOME position ( 5A . 5B ). The 4A - 4C show the seal arrangement 10 in an exemplary HOME position. The 5A - 5C illustrate the seal assembly 10 in an exemplary RUN position.

As in the 1A . 1B . 4B . 4C . 5B . 5C and 6A to 6C shown, the sealing arrangement 10 also an up / down actuator 70 with a pole 70r include, behind the third mounting element 67 is arranged on a mounting element 170 is attached to the third mounting element 67 is attached and this with the heat seal arrangement 40 between a raised / extended HOME position and a lowered / retracted RUN position.

The upper mounting bracket 60 may be stationary and on the frame and / or the housing 100h of the packaging system 100 be attached. The upper mounting bracket 60 can be an open inner window 60w exhibit. A split plate / friction clamp 32 can the wave 31 within the window 60w hold. The friction plate 32 can act as a brake to the shaft 31 to prevent turning while the packaging system is running / operating. The friction clip 32 may be part of a threaded drive assembly 132 or part of the lower mounting plate 62 can be and the vertical thread drive 31 keep that in the second gear 28 intervenes. The second transmission 28 can be attached to a drive shaft 30 above the thread drive 31 be attached ( 2 ).

As is well known in conventional sealing units, the threaded adjustment assembly 132 for vertical height adjustment, the friction clip 32 which can remain vertically stationary, and an exposed height of the vertical thread drive 31 over the friction clamp 32 can stay constant. Referring to the 6A - 6C and the 13A and 13B For example, the friction clip 32 behind the third mounting bracket 67 located on and behind the up / down cylinder 70 and on a slide bar assembly 133 with an internal screw 133 ( 13A ) can be attached to the thread drives 31 (below the bevel gearbox 28 and under the friction plate 32 ) and attached to the heat seal assembly 40 for adjusting a height of the heat seal assembly 40 is attached. This thread adjustment arrangement 132 can be used to both the height of the heat seal assembly 40 to adjust based on the product size, as well as to allow a finer tuning when the heat seal assembly 40 is in the RUN position.

It is clear that, although here a threaded drive / Gewindeinstellanordnung 132 As an example of a vertical height adjustment system, other linear drive systems may be used, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, after the heat seal assembly 40 has been lowered to adjacent to the product horn 120 to be a user the external user height setting control / interface 21 use the heat seal assembly 40 for finer positional adjustment of automated motion from the up / down actuator 70 over the horn 120 further lowering, preferably from 0.1 mm to 25 mm, optionally while it is possible to visually see the downward movement.

The height adjustment subassembly 20 Can be used on right and left bearing blocks 29 be attached (ie upright support members for the rotatable shaft 23 ), which deals with the heat seal arrangement 40 can move forward and backward. The storage blocks 29 may be attached to the lower mounting plate 62. The lower mounting plate 62 can have a left thigh 62 containing the left-side storage block 29 holds. The right side storage block 29 Can be in alignment with the left side bearing block 29 within the window 60 adjacent the friction plate 32 and / or second gear 28 being held.

The 4C and 5C show that the wave 23 and the gears 25 . 28 at a fixed, constant vertical height (in the housing 100b ) regardless of the HOME or RUN positions of the seal assembly 10 can remain.

The 6A - 6C show three different configurations / positions that the sealing unit 10 including the HOME position ( 6A ), a RUN position ( 6C ) and an intermediate position between the HOME and RUN positions at which the heat seal assembly 40 extended to the front, but not lowered for the RUN position. The HOME position is a stowage or non-stowing position that the seal assembly 40 closer to a rear wall of the housing 100h and a distance above a product horn 120 positioned relative to a BETWEEN or RUN position. The "RUN" position is a position that is the heat seal contact element 41 over a product horn 120 placed so that it is in operating position to touch the housing, to heat and thereby seal the shell when it is pulled underneath or otherwise moved underneath. The INTERMEDIATE position moves the heat seal assembly 40 over the product horn 120 but does not lower the seal arrangement 40 in a RUN operating position to the heat seal contact element 41 to allow the sheath and / or the horn 120 to contact.

The user setting element 21 can automatically by a distance "D" ( 5B ) with the heat seal assembly 40 drive forward (and backward) while it is on the lower mounting element 62 is held. During the forward stroke cycle, the shaft may become 23 forward over the window 60w (see 5A With 5A ) of the upper mounting element 60 move while the upper mounting element 60 is stationary. The stroke of the shaft 23 (and typically the user setting element 21 ) from front to back (and back to front) between HOME and RUN positions (and RUN and HOME positions), ie, a direction orthogonal to the product horn 120 is ( 7 . 8A ) may be, for example, between 2 to 36 inches, more preferably 6 to 18 inches, such as about 3.5 inches or 80 mm, for some product horn sizes.

In some embodiments, the packaging system 100 include an affirmative third stop position corresponding to the in 6B shown intermediate position, with the heat seal assembly 40 forward over and with a distance above the product horn 120 Before moving into the RUN position with the heat seal assembly, the closer to the product horn 120 is lowered, is moved.

7 . 8A . 8B . 9A . 9B and 10 show exemplary a packaging device 100 that a Versieglanordnung 10 used to form seamed tubular sheaths of flat roll material. The device 10 closes a horn 120 , a form shoulder 160 , the sealing arrangement 10 comprising the heat seal assembly 40 , and a film drive assembly 145. The film drive assembly 145 can optionally include vacuum actuators with straps ( 9A . 9B . 10 ), the opposite sides of the shell on the horn 120 contact to pull the case forward. However, other film drive arrangements may be used. The film drive assembly 145 may be set to operate at an adjustable drive speed to pull a flat sheet of material / film from a roll of flat covers, as known to those skilled in the art. The term "film drive assembly" and derivatives thereof means the drive system for driving any cover material and is not limited to driving a "film".

The packaging system 100 can a clipper 175 ( 10 ), which may be a single clipper system or a multi-clipper system. Comparison eg US 8,006,463 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

The drive speed may be such that the sheath over the forming shoulder 160 and through the heat seal assembly 40 is transported at a desired speed. The speed may vary depending on the machine, drive system, case and products. The speed may be between about 20 feet / minute to about 400 feet / minute, but other speeds may be possible. For some particular embodiments, the speed may preferably be between about 20 to 300 feet / minute, more preferably between about 20 feet / minute to about 150 feet / minute. In the upper end of this range, it is preferred that the long ends of the sheath be for a short time of between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds below the heat seal contact heating 41 , At a speed of, for example, about 150 feet / minute, this may be the heat seal contact element 41 For example, expose it to about 0.2 seconds.

The packaging machine 100 can be a controller 200 ( 7 included in an HMI (human machine interface) 107 having at least one processor (typically comprising a programmable logic controller "PLC") and a display 108 of menu options that allow a user: (a) to select a form shoulder / horn size or sheath diameter and / or (b) footage type. The controller may include pre-defined film drive speed modes of operation, heat seal location position data for correct positioning and operating temperature, and the like. Table 1 provides an example of various parameters that may be predefined and programmed in the control of the HMI 107 for automated operation for different film types and / or horn sizes (ie, different film tube diameters and forming shoulders) (ie, as an electronic library or look-up table).
Table 1 Film type / thickness / manufacturer Tubular sheath / form shoulder and / or horn size Heizbandversiegelungposition Film drive speed F1 T1 H1 D1 F2 T2 H2 D2 F3 T3 H3 D3

Different shell materials can have different heat and seal parameters. Examples of the various parameters include a coefficient of thermal expansion, heat sealing temperature, heater strip contact pressure and / or time, heater belt speed, heater belt temperature and / or length, and the like. Different target products or emulsions can influence the heat sealing process.

As in 10 As shown, the packaging system 100 may include an emptying device V located downstream of a corresponding horn 120 and a heat seal assembly 40 is arranged to produce an elongated product from a filling source / pump P. The product can be made in a linked chain of hose or chub product with clips attached at desired intervals. The length and diameter of each link, chub or discrete product and / or the total length of the chain may vary depending on the type of product being made. Examples of typical strand or chain lengths are between about 1-6 feet. See for example the patent US 3,543,378 . US 5,167,567 . US 5,067,313 and US 5,181,302 , the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

The packaging system 100 can be designed so that there are different sizes of horns 120 and correspondingly different sizes of forming shoulders 160 exchangeable, which form the appropriate envelope size. For example, the diameter of the horns 120 from about 1/4 inch to about 8 inches, more preferably between 3/4 inch to about 5 inches in defined size increments of, for example, 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch or 1 inch. The form shoulder 160 will have a width greater than that of the corresponding horn and typically about 3X the width of the corresponding diameter of the tubular sheath.

The Horn 120 may be configured as internal and external cooperating horns. For example, the internal horn may have a length that extends through an outer heat seal horn 120h extends (eg 8A . 8B ). As shown, the heat seal horn is located 120h at least under the heat seal arrangement 40 , The Horn 120 may be a single horn attached to the forming shoulder and / or heat seal assembly 40 may have a different outer shape, such as a flat surface adapted to the heat sealing band, to facilitate the heat sealing operation.

9B shows that the horn 120 as a horn rotor assembly 122 can be designed. Please refer US 7,306,511 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

10 shows that the packaging machine 100 with an automated or semi-automatic clipper 175 interact and / or include. The horn 120 may be in constant communication with a filler / product pump P and a supply upstream thereof. If the flowable product, "pasty" or another product, from the discharge end of the horn 120 exit, will it into the heat-sealed tubular casing material surrounding the outer surface of the horn 120 is held around, stuffed and / or otherwise filled. One or more clips may be attached by the clipper 175 to seal tapered end portions of the tubular packages. Examples of exemplary apparatus and apparatus used to empty, staple or clamp casing material are in the patents US 4,847,953 . US 4,675,945 . US 5,074,386 . US 5,167,567 and US 6,401,885 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Generally speaking, staples may be applied to the wrap material to wrap the product therein and seal or seal the product therein. The seal formed by the clamp against the shell may be sufficiently strong to maintain a vacuum of about 16 mm Hg for about 24-48 hours. Examples of suitable staples include metallic generally "U" shaped staples available from Tipper Tie, Inc. of Apex, North Carolina. Other staples, staple materials, and staple configurations may also be used.

11 shows that the external user setting element 21 under a cover 110 can be held. The cover 110 can slide and / or pivot.

12A shows an electromechanical (semi-automatic) embodiment, the static user adjustment 21 ' , such as an up / down toggle switch, pushbutton or user interface, or other suitable user interface, such as touch-screen input. The user setting element 21 ' can be on the sidewall 101 of the housing 100h be held and requires no lateral movement (from front to back). An electrical circuit 121 , which may include a printed circuit board and / or wiring, may be used to customize the user adjustment element 21 ' with a motor 123 to join the wave 23 turns to the heat seal assembly 40 to move up and down for height adjustment. The motor 123 can be electric or battery powered.

12B shows an exemplary user adjustment 21 ' for the electromechanical embodiment, which is in 12A is shown. A single up or down can provide a defined incremental vertical movement of the heat seal assembly 40 which is from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm. For example, the incremental motion may be preset or selectable when set up.

14A - 14E show an embodiment which is a worm gear 25 ' as a gearbox on the shaft 23 and an aligned custom gearbox 28 ' for rotating the drive shaft 31 used the heat seal assembly 40 raise / lower.

The 15A - 15E illustrate an embodiment using a universal drive (90 degree universal joint) attached to the drive shaft 31 is attached.

The 16A - 16E For example, one embodiment is one with a motor drive where the shaft / hub / rotor 124 of the motor 123 ' with a thread drive 31 aligned and / or directly engageable. The motor 123 ' Can be attached to the second / lower mounting bracket 62 and can translate forward and backward between HOME and BET / RUN positions. The motor 123 'may be at a fixed vertical height on the second / lower mounting bracket 62 remain and can be attached to a bracket 223 be kept, which has side walls which move over a distance to at least a part of the engine body 123b over the window 60w the first / upper mounting bracket 60 to place. The motor 123 'may be relatively compact and light (preferably about 5 pounds or less) and with a height profile that is less than 12 inches, preferably between 1 and 8 inches, and a width that is less than its height, the output rotor 124 pointing downwards and typically vertically in line with the drive screw shaft 31 is. The motor 123 ' can be battery operated or hardwired and operated via a circuit. The motor 123 'may be controlled via a control cable or may be controlled via wireless communication over a wide area network, a local area network, the Internet, and / or wireless Bluetooth® communication.

The motor 123 ' can be any suitable electric motor and can be a servo or stepper motor. As in 16E shown, the packaging system 100 a controller 200 and at least one coding device and / or position sensor 113 to include a position of the heat sealing contract element 41 (ie heat seal tape). Thus, the engine can 123 ' allow a full range of motion, not only up or down, but also when the heat seal assembly is in a full range of vertical motion.

In some embodiments, the up / down actuator is 70 a pneumatic cylinder having two positions for raising and lowering the heat seal assembly 40 between a RUN mode and a HOME or between (non-running mode (i)) while the thread adjustment assembly 132 the height of the heat seal assembly 40 as a whole can stop.

It is contemplated that in some embodiments, such as when an engine 123 and a thread drive 132 (or any linear electric actuator) is used, the up / down cylinder 70 can be optional.

In some embodiments, with reference to 16E For example, a stepper or servo motor 123 'and a vertical / linear electric actuator drive system (ie, linear actuator or screw drive) employ a position sensing arrangement via an encoder and / or position sensor 113 , the up / down actuator 70 may be omitted and the motor / linear actuator may be used to perform both up / down and fine adjustment, if necessary using an open or closed control feedback system. The motor 123 ' Position sensing may be configured to fully control a height position of the tape 41 so that the height can be reduced / adjusted while running, or raised completely to stop walking.

17 shows a control circuit 100c for the packaging machine 100 with the user setting interface or the user setting element 21 acting as a user interface 21i via the HMI 107 may be provided, typically on the display 108 is accessible and in the PLC or another controller 200 is provided. Touch-screen, cursor or other user interface inputs may operate the height adjustment / motor 123 . 123 ,Taxes. An electronic menu, page or window 108p that about the ad 108 can be accessed, a heat seal band height adjustment module with user controls 21c deploy to the engine 123 , 123 'in fixed or selectable gradations, for example, from 0.1 mm to 25 mm to operate.

18 FIG. 12 illustrates a method of steps or actions that may be used to carry out embodiments of the present invention. A packaging system with a heat seal assembly held in a housing with a user adjustment device for vertical position adjustment that is held outside the housing is provided (block 300). A vertical height position of a heat seal contact element of the heat seal assembly is adjusted by a user while the housing remains closed and / or while the film is being pulled through the housing and / or the heat seal assembly is in operation (block 320).

The user adjustment device may be a rotatable handle (block 302 ).

The user setting device may include an electronic user interface (block 303 ) and can optionally be located in the PLC of the HMI and accessible via the display.

The user adjustment device may include an electronic control input and an indirect or direct drive motor (block 304 ).

When a direct drive motor is used, it may be held by a lower mounting plate attached to a drive shaft of a threaded adjustment assembly and may be extended and retracted simultaneously with the heat seal contact element and / or heat seal assembly between HOME and RUN positions (block 305).

When an external handle is used, a single full revolution of the handle can move the height from 0.1 mm to 2 mm upwards or downwards (Block 306 ).

The external user adjuster may be disposed adjacent a planar sidewall of the housing, preferably between about 0.25 inches and about 1 to 3 inches from the outer surface of the left sidewall, opposite a clipper assembly (block 307 ).

The user adjustment device may include a horizontally oriented elongate shaft having or having a user adjustment member at one end and a bevel gear at an opposite inner end (block 308 ).

The shaft can be from 6 inches to 4 feet long, more preferably between 1-2 feet long (block 310 ).

The shaft can move within a housing forward and backward to respective RUN and HOME positions of the heat seal assembly (block 312 ).

Flat wrap material may be pulled through a forming shoulder upstream of the heat seal assembly to form a shaped (typically tubular) wrapper that can be contacted by the heat seal contact element of the heat seal assembly in the LAUF position. Long edges of the shell material are thereby sealed together.

The sheath may be formed into a tubular sheath and at least one clip may be attached to at least one shirred end portion (s) of a sealed sheath.

The seal may be performed using a hot strip rotary ribbon of the heat seal assembly.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting it. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such modifications fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, wherein equivalents of the claims are intended to be included therein.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

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• US 5203760 [0002, 0056]
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• US 5167567 [0079, 0083]
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• US 4847953 [0083]
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• US 5074386 [0083]
• US 6401885 [0083]

Claims (22)

Packaging system comprising: a housing; a heat seal assembly having a heat seal contact element held in the housing; and an external user adjustment interface or an external user adjustment element in communication with the heat seal assembly, wherein the external user adjustment interface or the external user adjustment element controls the heat seal assembly in the housing to translate vertically in response to a user input. System after Claim 1 , further comprising: a horizontally oriented rotatable shaft held in the housing, either (a) attached to the external user adjustment interface or external user adjustment element, or (b) in electromechanical communication with the external user adjustment interface or the external user adjustment element; and a first gear or a universal drive held at an inner end portion of the shaft. System after Claim 2 wherein the shaft holds the first gear at the inner end of the shaft, the system further comprises a second gear meshing with the first gear and rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation, the second gear being an underlying one of the heat seal assembly attached threaded drive assembly rotates to vertically translate the heat seal assembly in response to the rotation of the rotatable shaft. System after Claim 2 wherein the housing includes a wall having an opening, the shaft having the off-wall user adjustment interface or the user adjustment member extending out of the wall through the opening, the opening having a length sufficient to allow the shaft to move in the housing a distance between HOME and LAUF positions from back to front, and wherein the shaft has a length within the housing, which is between 6 inches and 4 feet. System after Claim 1 further comprising a product horn in the housing beneath the heat seal assembly, wherein the user adjustment interface or user adjustment member is set to advance forward from a HOME position to a LAUF position simultaneously with the heat seal assembly, and the heat seal contact member of the heat seal assembly in the FIG RUN position is located above the product horn. Packaging system after Claim 1 and further comprising a motor disposed over the heat seal assembly in communication with the external user adjustment interface or external user adjuster, the motor engaged with a shaft of a threaded drive assembly attached to the heat seal assembly for vertically translating the heat seal assembly. System after Claim 6 further comprising: a first mounting bracket having an inner open window space; a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket; first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket under and outside the window space of the first mounting bracket; and a motor mounting bracket held by the second mounting bracket and extending across the first mounting bracket through the open window space, the motor and a motor mounting plate with the motor bracket into the open window space of the first mounting bracket in the housing from a HIM into a HAU. Translate position. System after Claim 2 further comprising: a first mounting bracket having an inner open window space; a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket; first and second spaced-apart bearing blocks holding the shaft, the second bearing block being disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and the first bearing block being disposed on a leg of the second mounting bracket spaced from the first mounting bracket to be closer to a left one Side wall of the housing to be arranged; and first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket under and outside the window of the first mounting bracket. System after Claim 3 wherein the first gear is a worm gear or a bevel gear. System after Claim 2 wherein the shaft is disposed above a first mounting bracket and attached to a second mounting bracket disposed below the first mounting bracket, and wherein the shaft translates from a HOME to a LAUF position in the housing via an open interior of the first mounting bracket , System after Claim 7 or 8th , further comprising a third mounting bracket holding the heat seal assembly, the third mounting bracket attached to a front portion of the second mounting bracket and in communication with the first and second actuator cylinders such that the first and second actuator cylinders extend the third mounting bracket and retract to move the heat seal assembly between HOME and RUN positions. System after Claim 11 further comprising an up / down actuator cylinder having a rod extending upwardly and downwardly about a body of the up / down actuator cylinder, the rod being attached to a mounting member that is behind the third mounting bracket for retraction to engage the mounting member Lower the heat seal assembly to the RUN position. System after Claim 11 and further comprising a threaded adjustment assembly mounted to the up / down cylinder body with a clamping plate located in the window of the first mounting bracket and retaining a vertically oriented shaft, pin and / or drive threads connected either to the motor or to the second Gear are engaged over the horizontally aligned shaft. System after Claim 1 wherein the heat seal contact element is a rotating belt. System after Claim 2 wherein the user adjustment interface or the user adjustment member comprises a rotatable wheel that is held outside and adjacent a left side wall of the housing. System after Claim 7 wherein the user adjustment interface or the user adjustment member comprises a user interface with electronically selectable vertical height controls located in a controller accessible through a display providing a human-machine interface from the packaging system. System after Claim 2 further comprising a clip machine disposed downstream of the housing with the heat seal assembly, the housing holding the heat seal assembly comprising a left side wall facing the clip machines, the left side wall comprising a horizontal slot having a length between 2 inches and 24 inches, the shaft extending out of the left side wall through the slot, the user adjustment member being retained outside the slot outside the left side wall, and the slot having a length sufficient to allow the shaft to pivot about the housing Distance between HOME and RUN positions to move from back to front, and wherein the shaft has a length within the housing, which is between 6 inches and 4 feet. Sealing arrangement comprising: a heat seal assembly having a heat seal contact element; and a vertical height adjustment subassembly comprising: a horizontally oriented rotatable shaft; a user adjustment member disposed on the shaft or in electromechanical communication with the shaft; and a gearbox or universal drive attached to an inner end of the rotatable shaft and in communication with the heat seal assembly for vertically translating the heat seal assembly in response to user input by the user adjustment member and rotation of the shaft. Sealing arrangement according to Claim 18 , further comprising: a first mounting bracket having an inner open window, a second mounting bracket under the first mounting bracket; first and second spaced bearing blocks holding the shaft, the second bearing block being disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket, and the first bearing block being mounted on a leg of the first mounting bracket a second mounting bracket is disposed spaced from the first mounting bracket to be closer to a left side wall of the housing; and first and second actuator cylinders disposed on the second mounting bracket below and outside the first window of the mounting bracket, wherein the user adjustment element is set to be moved from a HOME position to a LAUF position simultaneously with the heat seal assembly. Sealing arrangement according to Claim 18 wherein the shaft is disposed over a first mounting bracket and attached to a second mounting bracket below the first mounting bracket, and wherein the shaft translates from a HOME to a RUN position via an open interior of the first mounting bracket. Sealing arrangement according to Claim 19 , further comprising: a third mounting bracket holding the heat seal assembly, the third mounting bracket attached to a front portion of the second mounting bracket and in communication with the first and second actuator cylinders such that the first and second actuator cylinders extend and retract the third mounting bracket to move the heat seal assembly between HOME and RUN positions; an up / down actuator cylinder having a rod extending upwardly and downwardly about a body of the up / down actuator cylinder, the rod being attached to a mounting member located behind the third mounting bracket for retraction to engage the heat seal assembly in the assembly To lower the RUN position; and a threaded adjustment assembly secured to the up / down cylinder body with a clamp plate disposed in the window of the first mounting bracket and retaining a shaft, pin, and / or drive threads that engage the second drive gear. Sealing arrangement according to Claim 19 wherein the heat seal contact element comprises a heat seal band.

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