GB2346108A - A sealing and cutting device for a packaging machine - Google Patents

A sealing and cutting device for a packaging machine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2346108A
GB2346108A GB9902050A GB9902050A GB2346108A GB 2346108 A GB2346108 A GB 2346108A GB 9902050 A GB9902050 A GB 9902050A GB 9902050 A GB9902050 A GB 9902050A GB 2346108 A GB2346108 A GB 2346108A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
blade
cutting
sealing
web
jaw
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9902050A
Other versions
GB9902050D0 (en
Inventor
Malcolm Charles Kerry
Peter John Whitlock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mpac Group PLC
Original Assignee
Molins Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molins Ltd filed Critical Molins Ltd
Priority to GB9902050A priority Critical patent/GB2346108A/en
Publication of GB9902050D0 publication Critical patent/GB9902050D0/en
Publication of GB2346108A publication Critical patent/GB2346108A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
    • B29C65/745—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool
    • B29C65/7451—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool the severing tool and the welding tool being movable with respect to one-another
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
    • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
    • B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
    • B26D1/34—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut
    • B26D1/42—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and slidably mounted in a rotary member
    • B26D1/425—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and slidably mounted in a rotary member for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
    • 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
    • B29C66/40—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
    • B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
    • B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
    • 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
    • B29C66/81427—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 comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
    • 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
    • B29C66/81431—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 comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
    • 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
    • B29C66/80—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
    • B29C66/81411—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 characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat
    • B29C66/81415—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 characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being bevelled
    • 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
    • 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
    • B29C66/851—Bag or container making machines
    • B29C66/8511—Bag making machines

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Package Closures (AREA)

Abstract

A sealing and cutting device for use in making transverse seals in a tubular web on a form, fill and seal packaging machine and cutting the web at the location of the seals comprises a rotatable sealing jaw 52 carried by a shaft 56 and a blade 54 which is arranged to rotate with the sealing jaw. The blade is movable relative to the sealing jaw so as to cut the web by slicing. The cutting device may comprise a cam mechanism (70, Figure 3) for actuating the cutting blade 54 and providing both a movement in a lengthwise and radial direction of the respective sealing jaw 52, movement caused by the cam being transferred to the blade 54 by a series of linkages 96, 100, 102.

Description

Packagina Apparatus The invention relates to packaging apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, to vertical form, fill and seal packaging machines.
Typically, in a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine (hereinafter referred to as a"VFFS machine") a web of flexible packaging material is fed over a forming shoulder which is arranged to cause the web to form a tube about a vertically oriented pipe. The edges of the web are sealed together in the longitudinal direction of the tube and then successive transverse seals are made at package length intervals by a pair of opposed sealing jaws. One jaw of the pair carries a fixed knife which cuts the tubular web at each transverse seal to provide an upper end seal for a completed package and a lower seal for the following package. Product is fed through the pipe in synchronicity with the sealing jaws so that each package contains a required quantity of product.
The knife fixed to the one jaw operates by crushing the packaging material against a surface of the opposing jaw, which surface is sometimes referred to as an anvil, so as to sever the material through the seal and separate the complete filled package from the tubular web. This so-called crush cutting technique has been widely used for many years.
The invention provides a sealing and cutting device for use in making transverse seals in a tubular web on a form, fill and seal packaging machine and cutting said web at the location of said seals, said device comprising: at least one sealing jaw connected with a member adapted to be fixed to a shaft of such a machine such that the or each sealing jaw can be rotated by said shaft about an axis of the shaft; and a blade associated with the or each sealing jaw and rotatable therewith, the or each blade being movable relative to the respective said sealing jaw so as to cut said web by slicing.
The invention also includes a form, fill and seal packaging machine comprising two sealing jaws connected with respective rotatable shafts which are disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship and arranged such that said jaws are rotated in opposite directions on opposite sides of a path of a tubular packaging web so that the jaws engage said packaging web on opposite sides thereof to form successive transverse seals, and a cutting device associated with one of said jaws, said cutting device having a cutting blade mounted so as to be rotatable with the associated jaw and movable relative thereto for cutting said web by slicing said seals in a lengthwise direction thereof.
In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine ; Figure 2 is a partially sectioned plan view of a part of a sealing and cutting device for the machine shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a partially sectioned plan view showing another part of the device shown in Figure 2 ; and Figure 4 is schematic perspective view of opposed sealing jaws.
Elements of a VFFS packaging machine 10 are illustrated in Figure 1. The machine comprises a frame 12 to the rear of which is fixed a mounting device 14. The mounting device 14 is arranged to receive a reel 16 of packaging film which is held so as to be rotatable whereby the film, or web, can be gradually payed off from the reel by means of a motor drive not shown.
The web is fed gradually upwardly from the mounting device to a first roller unit 20, also mounted at the rear of the frame.
The roller unit 20 comprises one or more rollers (illustrated schematically as roller 22) around which the web is guided and is arranged such that the web is directed generally horizontally towards the front of the frame 12.
A cylindrical chute 24 is supported on the front of the frame and carries a forming shoulder 26. A weigher or other control device 28 is mounted above the chute 24 and serves to drop predetermined amounts of the product which is to be packaged into the chute.... The web is fed from the roller 22 towards the chute 24 and the forming shoulder is arranged to cause the web to adopt a tubular configuration about the chute. Downstream of the forming shoulder, the edges of the web are sealed longitudinally by means of a heat sealing unit 36 which is positioned at the front of the machine and connected to the frame 12 by means of an L-shaped connecting arm 38.
Two drive bands 40 are arranged on opposite sides of the chute 24 to draw the web downwardly towards a transverse sealing and cutting device 42. The device 42 comprises opposed rotary sealing jaws (not shown) which serve to form transverse seals in the film to define a succession of packages. One jaw of the pair includes a blade by means of which the individual packages 46 are separated from the film.
The sealing jaws may be guided so as to follow a D-shaped path (as illustrated in Figure 1). Alternatively, the sealing jaws may follow a circular path. An example of a suitable arrangement of such sealing jaws is shown in the applicant's copending applications GB 9720873.0 (Publication No. GB2314064) and PCT/GB98/00882 (Publication No. W098/42576) the content of which is incorporated herein by reference and elements of which may be incorporated in the claims of the present application.
An example of a sealing and cutting device 42 for the machine 10 will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a twin-jaw sealing unit 50 in which each sealing jaw 52 has an associated cutting blade 54. The jaws 52 are clamped to a drive shaft 56 by means of which they are rotated about the shaft axis 58. The jaw clamping arrangement is indicated at 60. Figure 3 shows a drive and actuator arrangement for the sealing jaws 52 and cutting blades 54 and is a continuation of the left-hand end portion of Figure 2.
The sealing and cutting device 42 is intended to be provided with a similar twin-jaw sealing unit (one jaw from this unit is shown in Figure 4) which would not, however, be provided with cutting blades. It will be appreciated that as the tubular web is fed downwardly between the opposed sealing jaws of the sealing units, two transverse seals will be made for each revolution of the respective drive shafts which carry the jaws.
The sealing and cutting device 42 is suitable for use with the product stripping and catching arrangement shown in the applicants above mentioned copending application PCT/GB98/00882.
The sealing jaws 52 include heating elements (not shown) which are powered by means of slip rings. The use of slip rings is a technique well known to those skilled in the art and will not therefore be described in detail herein.
The shaft 56 is supported at each end in bearings mounted in the machine frame 12. The bearing arrangement for the left-hand end of the shaft (as viewed in Figures 2 and 3) is indicated at 64 Figure 3. The shaft 56 is driven by means of an electric motor, preferably a servo motor, via a toothed pulley 66 fixed to the shaft. A spur gear 68 is shown mounted on the shaft adjacent the pulley 68. The spur gear 68 is not essential to the present invention and is intended to provide the drive to a product stripping arrangement as described in the applicant's above-mentioned copending application PCT/GB98/00882.
The cutting blades 54 are actuated by a cam arrangement 70 which is mounted on the machine frame 12 as shown in Figure 3. The cam arrangement 70 includes a cam plate 72 which has an integral spigot 74. The spigot 74 is received in a suitably sized hole in a cam retainer plate 76 and the cam plate is secured to the retainer plate by means of, for example, cap head screws 78. The retainer plate 76 is secured to a triangular arrangement of pillars 80 which are also secured to the machine frame 12.
The drive shaft 56 is hollow and has a push rod 86 slideably mounted therein. An end of the push rod protrudes from the shaft 56 and has a bar 88 fixed it. The bar 88 extends perpendicular to the drive shaft axis 58 so as to form a T with the push rod. A roller 92 is fitted on each end of the bar 88 and these rollers are arranged to roll on a cam face 94 of the cam plate 72.
A crossbar 96 is fixed to the other end of the push rod 86.
The cross bar 96 protrudes from an elongate slot 98 which extends through the drive shaft 56 perpendicular to the shaft axis 58. The slot 98 is sized to permit reciprocal sliding movement of the crossbar 96 in the direction of the shaft axis.
As shown in Figure 2, one end of each of the cutting blades 54 is connected to the crossbar 96 by means of respective linkage systems. The linkage systems are identical and therefore for economy of presentation only one will be described.
The linkage system comprises a cranked lever 100 which has one end pivotally connected to an end of the cutting blade 54. The other end of the lever 100 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 102, the other end of the link being fixed to the crossbar 96. The lever 100 is additionally pivotally connected to a clamp 104 which is firmly fixed to the drive shaft 56 and which transmits rotation of the shaft to the push rod 86 via the linkage system.
A similar linkage arrangement is fixed to the other end of the cutting blades 54 and as these arrangemnents are likewise identical, only one will be described.
The linkage arrangement comprises a cranked lever 110 corresponding to the cranked lever 100 and likewise pivotally connected to an end of the cutting blade 54. A pin 112 is pivotally connected to the other end of the lever 110. The lever is additionally pivotally connected to an arm 114 of a cross bar 116 which extends through an elongate slot 118 defined by the shaft 56. The slot 118 is sized to permit the cross bar 116 to slide in the direction of the shaft axis 58. A compression spring is positioned in a recess in the cross bar 116 and extends around the pin 112 to press against the end of the lever 110 adjacent the pin.
In use, the sealing jaws of the opposed twin-jaw sealing units are rotated by their respective drive shafts which are synchronised so that the sealing jaws form tranverese seals in the tubular web in a conventional manner which will be familiar to those skilled in the art.
The rotational movement of the drive shaft 56 is transmitted to the push rod 86 by means of the clamp 104 and the associated linkage system. Rotation of the push rod causes rotation of the bar 88 which in turn results in the rollers 92 rolling over the cam face 94. The cam face is smooth apart from two projections (not shown) which are spaced apart by 180 . The arrangement is such that as the sealing jaws move into engagement to form a seal, the rollers 92 roll over the projections causing the bar 88 and thus the push bar 86 to move to the right as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. The push bar slides inside the shaft 56 and pushes the crossbar 96 so that it slides in the slot 98 towards the sealing jaws 52. This rightward sliding movement of the crossbar 96 is transmitted to the cranked lever 100 causing the lever to rotate anticlockwise about its pivotal connection to the clamp 104 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.
As shown in Figure 2, the cutting blades 54 are normally received in recesses 122 which extend along the length of the sealing jaws such that only the ends of the blades attached to the levers 100,110 protrude from the respective recesses. The rotational movement of the lever 100 causes the blade 54 to move relative to the sealing jaw in the lengthwise direction of the jaw and with a component of movement radially outwards of the shaft axis 56. This movement causes the cutting edge of the blade 54 to be advanced beyond the jaw recess 122 and into cutting engagement with the tubular web. The extended, or cutting, position of the blade is indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2 and it will be appreciated that the movement of the blade relative to the jaw causes it to slice across the tubular web through the newly formed seal.
Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the sealing jaw 124 dispose opposite the blade carrying jaw is provided with a recess 126 into which the blade moves as it emeges from its recess 122 and slices through the web.
As also shown in Figure 4, the cutting edge of the blade is preferably serrated. In order for it to slice through the seal it is necessary to move the blade in the lengthwise direction of the jaw a distance corresponding to one tooth pitch P. In practice, it has been found desirable to move the blade a distance of three to four times the tooth pitch P in order to ensure a clean cut which will completely separate the completed package from the tubular web.
Referring back to Figure 2, it will be seen that as the blade is pulled from its recess 122 by the anticlockwise movement fo the lever 100, a similar movement is induced in the lever 110 at the opposite end of the blade. This movement of a lever 110 is indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2 and causes the spring 120 to be compressed. As the sealing jaw continues to rotate, the rollers 92 come off their respective projections on the cam surface 94 and the compression spring acts against the lever 110 causing it to rotate in a clockwise direction and return the blade to its non-extended position within the recess 122. It will be understood that the spring 120 exerts a biassing force which normally acts to retain the blade in its recess 122 and serves to return the blade to the recess when the rollers come off the cam projections.
It will be appreciated taht the blade 54 is moved into its cutting position substantially simaltaneously with the forming of the transverse seal and that in fact both of the blades 54 move together, although, only one actually performs a cut at any one time.
It will be understood that in a sealing and cutting device comprising twin-jaw sealing units such as the units 50, it is not essential for the blade for each opposed sealing jaw pair to be carried by the same unit. Instead, each unit could carry one blade, although, this would make it necessary to provide a blade actuator for each unit.

Claims (11)

  1. Claims 1. A sealing and cutting device for use in making transverse seals in a tubular web on a form, fill and seal packaging machine and cutting said web at the location of said seals, said device comprising: at least one sealing jaw connected with a member adapted to be fixed to a shaft of such a machine such that the or each sealing jaw can be rotated by said shaft about an axis of the shaft ; and a blade associated with the or each sealing jaw and rotatable therewith, the or each blade being movable relative to the respective said sealing jaw so as to cut said web by slicing.
  2. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each said blade is arranged such that its movement relative to the respective said sealing jaw includes a component which is radially outward of said axis of rotation.
  3. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each said blade is movable in a lengthwise direction of the respective said sealing jaw.
  4. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each said sealing jaw defines a recess extending in said lengthwise direction, the arrangement being such that the or each blade is movable from a position wherein it is at least substantially contained in the respective said recess.
  5. 5. A form, fill and seal packaging machine comprising a sealing and cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
  6. 6. A form, fill and seal packaging machine comprising two sealing jaws connected with respective rotatable shafts which are disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship and arranged such that said jaws are rotated in opposite directions on opposite sides of a path of a tubular packaging web so that the jaws engage said packaging web on opposite sides thereof to form successive transverse seals, and a cutting device associated with one of said jaws, said cutting device having a cutting blade mounted so as to be rotatable with the associated jaw and movable relative thereto for cutting said web by slicing said seals in a lengthwise direction thereof.
  7. 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cutting device comprises a cam mechanism for actuating said cutting blade.
  8. 8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shaft connected with the said sealing jaw associated with said cutting blade houses an elongate member having a first end connected with said cam mechanism and a second end connected with a linkage system connected with said blade.
  9. 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said linkage system comprises a cranked lever whereby movement of said push rod caused by said cam mechanism is magnified.
  10. 10. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said cutting blade is housed in a recess defined by said associated sealing jaw such that in a non-cutting condition a cutting edge thereof does not extend radially beyond said jaw.
  11. 11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein comprising at least one spring arranged to bias said cutting blade to said non-cutting position.
GB9902050A 1999-01-29 1999-01-29 A sealing and cutting device for a packaging machine Withdrawn GB2346108A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9902050A GB2346108A (en) 1999-01-29 1999-01-29 A sealing and cutting device for a packaging machine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9902050A GB2346108A (en) 1999-01-29 1999-01-29 A sealing and cutting device for a packaging machine

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GB9902050D0 GB9902050D0 (en) 1999-03-17
GB2346108A true GB2346108A (en) 2000-08-02

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1190821A2 (en) * 2000-09-22 2002-03-27 Windmöller & Hölscher KG Oscillating single bladed knives and method of cutting with such knives
NL1020191C2 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-19 Cortech Protect B V Blade, method of cutting with the blade, and packaging device.

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1291167A (en) * 1970-01-22 1972-10-04 Fmc Corp Rotary head for wrapping machines
US3943686A (en) * 1974-09-05 1976-03-16 Fmc Corporation Wrapping machine with severing blade in crimping head

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1291167A (en) * 1970-01-22 1972-10-04 Fmc Corp Rotary head for wrapping machines
US3943686A (en) * 1974-09-05 1976-03-16 Fmc Corporation Wrapping machine with severing blade in crimping head

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1190821A2 (en) * 2000-09-22 2002-03-27 Windmöller & Hölscher KG Oscillating single bladed knives and method of cutting with such knives
EP1190821A3 (en) * 2000-09-22 2004-11-03 Windmöller & Hölscher KG Oscillating single bladed knives and method of cutting with such knives
NL1020191C2 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-19 Cortech Protect B V Blade, method of cutting with the blade, and packaging device.
EP1350724A2 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-10-08 Cortech Protect B.V. Blade, method of cutting with the blade and packaging device
EP1350724A3 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-10-15 Cortech Protect B.V. Blade, method of cutting with the blade and packaging device

Also Published As

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