Heat sealer

• US 20050006371A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlas Vac Machine Co., LLC
• Original Assignee: Planet Products Corporation
• Inventors: Lynch, John A., Robinson, Douglas J., Ramey, Alford Jack, Sharrah, Jon T., Oliver, William Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,196,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/243
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7864 using a feeding table which moves to and fro oscillating around an axis B29C65/7876
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0042 of the joining tool and the parts to be joined B29C66/0046 takes precedence; joining tool characterized by its composition B29C66/8122; joining tool characterized by its microstructure B29C66/8124
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81457 comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81821 of the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8242 Pneumatic or hydraulic drives using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/849 Packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91212 involving measurement means being part of the welding jaws, e.g. integrated in the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91216 enabling contactless temperature measurements, e.g. using a pyrometer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91231 of the joining tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91421 of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/92211 with special measurement means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9241 by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/96 characterised by the method for implementing the controlling of the joining process
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/961 involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9674 involving special data outputs, e.g. special data display means B29C66/8748 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat sealer having a heated platen, a cylinder for reciprocating the platen, a die positioned to be engaged by the platen and a shuttle supporting the die to move the die from a platen-engaging position to a non-engaging position, and a control for controlling the temperature of the platen and the force applied to the platen against the die by the cylinder. The invention also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the surface temperature of the platen and a load sensor for sensing the force applied by the platen to the die. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor that reads the surface temperature of the platen and the load sensor is a load cell positioned beneath the die and supporting the die so that the load sensors can measure the direct force applied by the platen against the die. Also, in one embodiment, the infrared sensor is positioned beneath the die so that it can read the platen temperature when the die is displaced to the non-engaging position.

Claims

1. A heat sealer comprising:

a press having a reciprocating, heated platen;

a shuttle having a base that reciprocates between a position aligned with said platen, whereby said press advances said heated platen to said base, and a position removed from alignment with said platen; and

a temperature sensor mounted on said sealer whereby said sensor detects a temperature of an exposed surface of said heated platen.

2. The heat sealer of claim 1 further comprising a control connected to receive a signal from said temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of said exposed surface of said heated platen and adjust a temperature of said heated platen to a predetermined temperature in response thereto.

3. The heat sealer of claim 1 wherein said exposed surface faces said shuttle base when said base is in said aligned position.

4. The heat sealer of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is an infrared sensor.

5. The heat sealer of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted such that said base is positioned between said heated platen and said sensor when said base is aligned with said heated platen.

6. The heat sealer of claim 1 further comprising a die mounted on said reciprocating base.

7. The heat sealer of claim 1 further comprising a second base mounted on said shuttle, wherein said second base moves into and out of alignment with said platen alternatively with said base.

8. The heat sealer of claim 5 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on said shuttle.

9. The heat sealer of claim 1 wherein said shuttle includes a wear rail assembly and said temperature sensor is mounted on said wear rail assembly.

10. A heat sealer comprising:

a press having a reciprocating, heated platen;

a shuttle having a base that reciprocates between a position aligned with said platen, whereby said press advances said heated platen to said base, and a position removed from alignment with said platen; and

a load sensor mounted on said sealer whereby said sensor detects a force exerted by said heated platen on said shuttle base when said shuttle base is aligned with said heated platen.

11. The heat sealer of claim 10 further comprising a control connected to receive a signal from said load sensor corresponding to a force exerted by said heated platen on said shuttle base and adjust said force to a predetermined value in response thereto.

12. The heat sealer of claim 10 wherein said load sensor includes at least one pair of load cells.

13. The heat sealer of claim 10 wherein said load sensor is mounted such that said base is positioned between said heated platen and said load sensor when said base is aligned with said heated platen.

14. The heat sealer of claim 13 wherein said load sensor is mounted on said shuttle.

15. The heat sealer of claim 10 further comprising a die mounted on said reciprocating base.

16. The heat sealer of claim 10 wherein said shuttle includes a wear rail assembly and said load sensor is mounted on said wear rail assembly.

17. The heat sealer of claim 10 further comprising a second base mounted on said shuttle, wherein said second base moves into and out of alignment with said platen alternatively with said base.

18. A method for operating a heat sealer comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of an exposed surface of a heated platen of a press;

positioning a die beneath said heated platen;

advancing said heated platen to engage said die and perform a heat sealing operation; and

retracting said heated platen from engagement with said die.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of, subsequent to said measuring step, adjusting a temperature of said heated platen to approximately a predetermined temperature.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of, subsequent to said retracting step, removing said die from alignment with said heated platen.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of, prior to said positioning step, placing a workpiece in said die.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said measuring step includes measuring a temperature of said exposed surface using an infrared sensor.

23. A method for operating a heat sealer comprising the steps of:

positioning a die beneath a heated platen of a press;

advancing said heated platen to engage said die and perform a heat sealing operation;

sensing a force applied by said heated platen on said die; and

retracting said heated platen from engagement with said die.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of, subsequent to said sensing step, adjusting said force applied by said heated platen to approximately a predetermined force.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of, subsequent to said retracting step, removing said die from alignment with said heated platen.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of, prior to said positioning step, placing a workpiece in said die.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said sensing step includes sensing said force applied to said heated platen using at least one load cell.

28. A heat sealer comprising:

a press having a reciprocating, heated platen;

a shuttle having a first base and a second base mounted on said shuttle, wherein said first and second bases alternatively reciprocate between a position aligned with said platen and a position removed from alignment with said platen;

a die mounted on each of said bases;

an infrared temperature sensor mounted on said shuttle such that said bases are positioned between said heated platen and said sensor when said bases are aligned with said heated platen, wherein said sensor detects a temperature of an exposed surface of said heated platen; and

a control connected to receive a signal from said temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of said exposed surface of said heated platen and adjust a temperature of said heated platen to a predetermined temperature in response thereto.

29. A heat sealer comprising:

a press having a reciprocating, heated platen;

a shuttle having a first base and a second base mounted on said shuttle, wherein said first and second bases alternatively reciprocate between a position aligned with said platen and a position removed from alignment with said platen;

a die mounted on each of said bases;

a load sensor, having at least one pair of load cells, mounted on said shuttle such that said bases are positioned between said heated platen and said sensor when said bases are aligned with said heated platen, whereby said sensor detects a force exerted by said heated platen on said bases when said bases are aligned with said heated platen; and

a control connected to receive a signal from said load sensor corresponding to a force exerted by said heated platen on said bases and adjust said force to a predetermined value in response thereto.

30. A heat sealer comprising:

a press having a reciprocating, heated platen;

a shuttle having a first base and a second base mounted on said shuttle, wherein said first and second bases alternatively reciprocate between a position aligned with said platen and a position removed from alignment with said platen;

a die mounted on each of said bases;

an infrared temperature sensor mounted on said shuttle such that said bases are positioned between said heated platen and said sensor when said bases are aligned with said heated platen, wherein said sensor detects a temperature of an exposed surface of said heated platen;

a load sensor, having at least one pair of load cells, mounted on said shuttle such that said bases are positioned between said heated platen and said sensor when said bases are aligned with said heated platen, whereby said sensor detects a force exerted by said heated platen on said bases when said based are aligned with said heated platen; and

a control connected to receive a signal from said infrared temperature sensor and said load sensor, said signal corresponding to a temperature of said exposed surface of said heated platen and to a force exerted by said heated platen on said bases, wherein said control adjusts said temperature and said force to predetermined values in response to said signal.

31. A method for operating a heat sealer comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of an exposed surface of a heated platen of a press with an infrared temperature sensor;

adjusting said temperature of said exposed surface to approximately a predetermined temperature;

placing a workpiece in a die;

positioning said die beneath said heated platen;

advancing said heated platen to engage said die and perform a heat sealing operation;

retracting said heated platen from engagement with said die; and

removing said die from alignment with said heated platen.

32. A method for operating a heat sealer comprising the steps of:

placing a work piece in a die;

positioning said die beneath a heated platen of a press;

advancing said heated platen to engage said die and perform a heat sealing operation;

sensing a force applied by said heated platen on said die using at least one load cell;

adjusting said force applied to said heated platen to approximately a predetermined force;

retracting said heated platen from engagement with said die;

removing said die from alignment with said heated platen.

33. A method for operating a heat sealer comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of an exposed surface of a heated platen of a press with an infrared temperature sensor;

adjusting said temperature of said exposed surface to approximately a predetermined temperature;

placing a work piece in a die;

positioning said die beneath said heated platen;

advancing said heated platen to engage said die and perform a heat sealing operation;

sensing a force applied by said heated platen on said die using at least one load cell;

adjusting said force applied to said heated platen to approximately a predetermined force;

retracting said heated platen from engagement with said die;

removing said die from alignment with said heated platen.