IE84638B1 - Apparatus and process for manufacturing packaging pouches - Google Patents
Apparatus and process for manufacturing packaging pouchesInfo
- Publication number
- IE84638B1 IE84638B1 IE1999/0815A IE990815A IE84638B1 IE 84638 B1 IE84638 B1 IE 84638B1 IE 1999/0815 A IE1999/0815 A IE 1999/0815A IE 990815 A IE990815 A IE 990815A IE 84638 B1 IE84638 B1 IE 84638B1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- web
- webs
- die
- support frame
- mat
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 14
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000009966 trimming Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000789 fastener Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 240000000800 Allium ursinum Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
ABSTRACT “Apparatus and Process for Manufacturing Packaging Pouches” A pair of webs are delivered through associated web tensioners which apply a desired tension to each web. Each web is delivered through alignment means which is operable to laterally move each web as required to align side edges of the webs. When aligned the webs are overlapped and delivered to a sealing station. At the sealing station the webs are clamped between a heated die and an associated anvil plate to thermo-seal the webs together along seams which define open-mouthed pouches in the joined webs. These pouches are subsequently parted from the webs. IE990815
Description
Apparatus and Process for Mangfacturing Packaging Pouches
Introduction
This invention relates to apparatus and a process for manufacturing packaging
pouches, in particular packaging pouches of the type comprising a front panel
bonded to a thermo-seal to a rear panel forming a pocket therebetween.
The invention is particularly concerned with the production of medical pouches,
that is pouches for forming a sealed sterile environment for the packaging and
storage of medical devices prior to use. It will be appreciated that in these medical
applications pouches of high quality are required. In particular the sealing of the
panels together is critical in maintaining the required sterile environment within the
pouch during storage of the medical device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and a process for the
manufacture of such high quality medical pouches.
Statements of Invention
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for manufacturing packaging
pouches of the type comprising a front panel bonded by a therrno-seal to a rear panel
forming a pocket therebetween, at least one of the panels being of a thermoplastics
material, the apparatus including:-
a ground engaging support frame,
a pair of supply reel supports mounted on the support frame, each supply reel
support having means for rotatably mounting a supply reel carrying a web of
either a front panel forming material or a rear panel forming material on the
support frame,
means for drawing a web from each supply reel and for conveying each web
along a web feed path.
a web tensioner associated with each web mounted on the support frame in
the web feed path,
each web tensioner being operable to apply a preset desired tension to a web
drawn through the web tensioner,
means for feeding each web incrementally along the web feed path
downstream of the web tensioners,
means for sensing the position of a side edge of each web,
alignment means for laterally displacing each web relative to the support frame
in response to the sensed web edge position for maintaining the web in a
preset desired alignment as the web is delivered along the web feed path,
means for overlapping the webs downstream of the alignment means,
a sealing station in the web flow path for reception of an overlapped aligned
pair of webs, the sealing station having a die and an associated resilient
sealing mat supported on an anvil plate. the web feed path passing between
the die and the mat, the die being movable on the support frame between a
retracted disengaged position spaced-apart from the mat and an extended mat
engaging position for clamping the webs between the die and the mat, the die
having a heater operable to heat the die to a preset desirable sealing
temperature.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the resilient sealing mat at the sealing
station is a silicon mat.
In another embodiment each web tensioner comprises two associated sets of rollers,
namely, a fixed roller set and a movable roller set mounted spaced-apart on a carrier
frame, said roller sets defining between them a tortuous path about which the web is
drawn, the web being alternately wound about rollers in first one set and then the other
set, the movable set of rollers being mounted between pivot anns which are pivotally
mounted on the canier for pivotal movement towards and away from the other fixed
set of rollers to alter the length of said tortuous path, the pivot anns being biased away
from the fixed set of rollers to apply a desired tension to the web, each of the web
tensioners being mounted on a carriage which is laterally movable on the support
frame in response to the sensed web edge positions to maintain web alignment
In a further embodiment the die comprises a die plate mounted on a die holder by
means of quick-release fasteners.
In another embodiment edge trimming blades are mounted downstream of the sealing
station to engage and part excess material from the side edges of the joined webs,
extraction conduits being mounted adjacent each edge trimming blade for reception
and removal of off-cut material, each conduit tenninating in a waste bin, and means for
applying a vacuum to each extraction conduit and bin for drawing the off-cut material
into the bin.
In a preferred embodiment a web cleaner is mounted on the support frame adjacent
each supply reel support for cleaning each web as it is drawn from a supply reel.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an
embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawing which is a schematic illustration of pouch manufacturing
apparatus according to the invention.
Referring to the drawings there is illustrated pouch manufacturing apparatus
according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The
apparatus 1 has a ground engaging support frame which has been omitted from
the drawing for the sake of clarity on which the various components of the
apparatus to be described later are mounted.
A pair of supply reel supports, namely an upper supply reel support 10 and a lower
supply reel support 11 are mounted on the support frame for rotatably supporting
supply reels 12,13 carrying webs 14,15 of a front panel forming material and a
rear panel forming material respectively. In this case the front panel web 14 is of
clear therrno-plastics material and the rear panel web 15 is of a paper material to
which the web 14 can be joined.
A’ complementary pair of draw rollers 20.21 mounted on the support frame are
operable to pull both webs 14,15 from their associated supply reels 12.13, at the
same time overlapping the webs 14,15 prior to delivery of the overlapped webs to
a sealing station 22, described later. A second set of draw rollers is mounted
downstream of the sealing station 22 and is drivably linked to the first draw rollers.
Each web 14,15 as it is drawn off its associated reel 12,13 is delivered through a
web cleaner 26,27 which essentially comprises a pair of rollers between which the
web 14.15 is passed, the rollers having a tacky surface to pick up any dirt and
loose material from the surface of the web 14,15.
Downstream of each web cleaner 26,27 the web 14,15 passes through a web
tensioner 30,31. Each web tensioner comprises two associated sets of rollers,
namely an upper fixed roller set having a number of spaced-apart in-line rollers 32
and a complementary lower movable roller set comprising a number of rollers 33
mounted between a pair of spaced-apart pivot arms 34 on the support frame. As
shown in the drawing the web 14.15 is alternately wound about upper rollers 32
and lower rollers 33 to define a tortuous path about which the web 14,15 is drawn.
The movable rollers 33 are mounted on the pivot arms 34 which are pivotally
mounted on a carrier on the support frame for pivotal movement towards and
away from the fixed rollers 32 to alter the length of the tortuous path. The draw
rollers 20,21 are operable to incrementally feed the webs 14,15 to the sealing
station 22. When the draw rollers 20,21 are engaged they pull the webs 14.15
from the tensioners 30,31, the arms 34 pivoting upwardly to release the webs
14.15 on demand to the draw rollers 20,21. When the draw rollers 20,21 are
stopped in between feeding steps each pair of arms 34 drops downwardly moving
the rollers 33 away from the fixed rollers 32 to store up the web prior to the next
delivery step. In this way the webs 14,15 can be fed continuously from the supply
reels 12,13 for a smooth delivery of the webs 14,15 from the supply reels 12,13
and through the tensioners 30,31. it will be noted that the arms 34 carrying the
movable rollers 33 may be biased away from the fixed rollers 32 by any suitable
means to apply a desired tension to the webs 14,15.
Each of the web tensioners 30,31 is mounted on a carriage which is laterally
movable on the support frame for independent sideways movement of the webs.
A web edge sensor 40 is provided for each web 14,15. Each web sensor 40 is
connected to a controller for the web tensioner carriage for adjustment of the
carriage position in response to the sensed web edge positions for maintaining the
web edge pdsitions in a preset desired alignment as the webs 14,15 are delivered
through the apparatus. This way the webs 14,15 are maintained accurately in
alignment and are delivered through the draw rollers 20,21 in accurate overlapping
alignment. The webs are aligned relative to the sealing station 22 to ensure
accurate sealing of the webs.
The overlapped aligned pair of webs are delivered to the sealing station 22. The
sealing station 22 has a die 45 and associated anvil plate 46 on an upper surface
of which is located a silicone mat 47. The webs are delivered between the die 45
and the mat 47. The die 45 is vertically movable on the support frame by means
of rams 48 between a raised disengaged position spaced-apart from the mat 47
and a lowered extended mat engaging position for clamping the webs between the
die 45 and the mat 47. The die 45 incorporates heating elements to heat the die
to a preset desirable sealing temperature for sealing the webs together to provide
open ended pockets fonning pouches in the overlapped webs. When the die 45 is
raised into the retracted position the webs are again fed on one step and the next
pouch configuration is formed in the webs.
The silicone mat is typically about 6 mm thick and has a hardness in the range 55-
75 shore A.
moulded to ensure uniform density.
The mat has a smooth surface and is preferably compression
Downstream of the sealing station 22 the sealed webs are delivered past vertical
edge trimming blades 50 which engage and part excess material 52 from the side
edges of the joined webs. Such excess material 52 is delivered into extraction
conduits 54 mounted adjacent each trimming blade 50 for reception and removal
of off-cut material. Each conduit 54 terminates in a waste bin having associated
means for applying a vacuum to the bin and the extraction conduit 54 for drawing
the off-cut material into the bin.
It will be noted that the blades 50 are not fixed, but can move vertically so that the
whole of the blades are used and evenly worn down when cutting the web
material.
The webs with the fonned pouches are then delivered through a guillotine which
cuts the joined webs transversely to separate each pouch from a leading end of
the joined webs. The pouches are delivered by a take-off conveyor 62 for
packaging. Alternatively, the pouches can be wound up on a roll and later
separated.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be
varied in both construction and detail.
Claims (1)
1. A process for manufacturing packaging pouches of the type comprising a front panel bonded by a thermo-seal to a rear panel forming a pocket therebetween, at least one of the panels being of a thermoplastics material, the process including:- rotatably mounting a first supply reel carrying a web of a front panel forming material forming material on a support frame and rotatably mounting a second supply reel carrying a web of a rear panel forming material on the support frame, drawing a web from each supply reel and conveying each web along a web teed path, delivering each web through an associated web tensioner associated with each web, each web tensioner being mounted on the support frame in the web feed path, applying a preset desired tension to each web as it is drawn through the associated web tensioner, feeding each web incrementally along the web feed path downstream of the web tensioners, delivering each web through an alignment means, sensing the position of a side edge of each web and latterly displacing each web as required relative to the support frame in response to the sensed web edge position for maintaining the webs in a preset desired alignment as the webs are delivered along the web feed path, overlapping the webs downstream of the alignment means, incrementally feeding an overlapped aligned pair of webs to a sealing station, the sealing station having a die and an associated resilient sealing mat supported on an anvil plate, the web feed path passing between the die and the mat, moving the die on the support frame between a retracted disengaged position spaced-apart from the mat and an extended mat engaging position for clamping the webs between the die and the mat, the die being heated to a preset desirable sealing temperature. sealing the webs together to provide one or more open ended pockets forming pouches in the overlapped webs, moving the die away from the anvil plate into the retracted position to release the webs, incrementally advancing the webs for discharging the pouch or pouches from the mat, and parting each pouch from the webs. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient sealing mat at the sealing station is a silicone mat. Process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each web tensioner comprises two associated sets of rollers, namely, a fixed roller set and a movable roller set mounted spaced-apart on a carrier frame, said roller sets defining between them a tortuous path about which the web is drawn, the web being alternately wound about rollers in first one set and then the other set, the movable set of rollers being mounted between pivot arms which are pivotally mounted on the carrier for pivotal movement towards and away from the other fixed set of rollers to alter the length of said tortuous path, the pivot arms being biased away from the fixed set of rollers to apply a desired tension to the web, each of the web tensioners being mounted on a carriage, moving said carriage laterally on the support frame in response to the sensed web edge positions for maintaining web alignment. Process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the die comprises a die plate mounted on a die holder by means of quick-release fasteners. Process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein edge trimming blades are mounted downstream of the sealing station to engaging and parting excess material from the side edges of the joined webs, extraction conduits being mounted adjacent each edge trimming blade for reception and removal of off- cut material, each conduit terminating in a waste bin, a vacuum being applied to each extraction conduit and bin for drawing the off-out material into the bin. Process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a web cleaner is mounted on the support frame adjacent each supply reel support for cleaning each web as it is drawn from a supply reel. Process for manufacturing packaging pouches substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Packaging pouches whenever produced by the process as claimed in any preceding claim. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging pouches of the type comprising a front panel bonded by a thermo-seal to a rear panel forming a pocket therebetween, at least one of the panels being of a thermoplastics material, the apparatus including:- a ground engaging support frame, a pair of supply reel supports mounted on the support frame, each supply reel support having means for rotatably mounting a supply reel carrying a web of either a front panel forming material or a rear panel forming material on the support frame, means for drawing a web from each supply reel and for conveying each web along a web feed path, a web tensioner associated with each web mounted on the support frame in the web feed path, each web tensioner being operable to apply a preset desired tension to a web drawn through the web tensioner, means for feeding each web incrementally along the web feed path downstream of the web tensioners, means for sensing the position of a side edge of each web, alignment means for laterally displacing each web relative to the support frame in response to the sensed web edge position for maintaining the webs in a preset desired alignment as the webs are delivered along the web feed path, means for overlapping the webs downstream of the alignment means. a sealing station in the web flow path for reception of an overlapped aligned pair of webs, the sealing station having a die and an associated resilient sealing mat supported on an anvil plate, the web feed path passing between the die and the mat, the die being movable on the support frame between a retracted disengaged position spaced-apart from the mat and an extended mat engaging position for clamping the webs between the die and the mat, the die having a heater operable to heat the die to a preset desirable sealing temperature. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the resilient sealing mat at the sealing station is a silicone mat. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein each web tensioner comprises two associated sets of rollers, namely, a fixed roller set and a movable roller set mounted spaced-apart on a carrier frame, said roller sets defining between them a tortuous path about which the web is drawn, the web being alternately wound about rollers in first one set and then the other set, the movable set of rollers being mounted between pivot arms which are pivotally mounted on the carrier for pivotal movement towards and away from the other fixed set of rollers to alter the length of said tortuous path, the pivot arms being biased away from the fixed set of rollers to apply a desired tension to the web, each of the web tensioners being mounted on a carriage which is laterally movable on the support frame in response to the sensed web edge positions to maintain web alignment. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the die comprises a die plate mounted on a die holder by means of quick-release fasteners. Apparatus as claimed in any of claim 9 to 12, wherein edge trimming blades are mounted downstream of the sealing station to engage and part excess material from the side edges of the joined webs, extraction conduits being mounted adjacent each edge trimming blade for reception andremoval of off- out material, each conduit terminating in a waste bin, and means for applying a vacuum to each extraction conduit and bin for drawing the off-cut material into the bin. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein a web cleaner is mounted on the support frame adjacent each supply reel support for cleaning each web as it is drawn from a supply reel. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging pouches substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. £44638
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IE1999/0815A IE84638B1 (en) | 1999-09-30 | Apparatus and process for manufacturing packaging pouches | |
GB0024076A GB2355955B (en) | 1999-09-30 | 2000-10-02 | Apparatus and process for manufacturing packaging pouches |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IE1999/0815A IE84638B1 (en) | 1999-09-30 | Apparatus and process for manufacturing packaging pouches |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IE19990815A1 IE19990815A1 (en) | 2001-04-04 |
IE990815A1 IE990815A1 (en) | 2001-04-04 |
IE84638B1 true IE84638B1 (en) | 2007-07-25 |
Family
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