Forming jaw for producing a succession of sealed packages from a tube of sheet packaging material

• US 20050172574A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: De Pietri, Roberto, Orsini, Ivan, Paradisi, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 7,104,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/374.200
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3656 being a layer of a multilayer part to be joined, e.g. for joining plastic-metal laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3668 characterised by the means for supplying heat to said heated elements which remain in the join, e.g. special induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/368 with a polymer coating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4312 for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72321 consisting of metals or their alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72328 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72341 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7373 Joining soiled or oxidised materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81427 comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81431 comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
• 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 66/8221 Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8226 Cam mechanisms; Wedges; Eccentric mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8246 Servomechanisms, e.g. servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83533 Cooperating jaws mounted on cooperating chains and moving in a closed path
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83543 cooperating flying jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8491 : welding through a filled container, e.g. tube or bag
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7166 : Cartons of the fruit juice or milk type, i.e. containers of polygonal cross sections formed by folding blanks into a tubular body with end-closing or contents-supporting elements, e.g. gable type containers in general B65D5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/30 : Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes

Abstract

There is described a forming jaw for producing a succession of sealed packages from a tube of sheet packaging material filled with a pourable food product and fed in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The jaw has sealing means for sealing a cross section of the tube; and forming means for imparting a predetermined shape to the tube between two successive sealed cross sections, and in turn having a first and a second surface for interacting with the tube and which extend respectively in a direction crosswise to and in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube; and the first surface has a convex portion which exerts pressure on, to control filling of, the packages being formed.

Claims

1. A forming jaw for producing a succession of sealed packages form a tube of sheet packaging material filled with a pourable food product and fed in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis;

said jaw, comprising sealing means for sealing a cross section of said tube, and forming means for imparting a predetermined shape to said tube between two successive sealed cross sections;

said forming means comprising a first and a second surface for interacting with said tube and which extend respectively in a direction crosswise to and in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube;

wherein said first surface comprises a convex portion which exerts pressure on, to control filling of, the packages being formed.

2. A jaw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second surface has a further convex portion for exerting pressure on the packages being formed.

3. A jaw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprise a gripping portion interacting with the cross sections for sealing of said tube, and defining, at a downstream portion with reference to the traveling direction of the tube, said first surface from which the relative said convex portion projects.

4. A jaw as claimed in claim 3, wherein said gripping portion incorporates heating means for locally heating the packaging material of said tube.

5. A jaw as claimed in claim 3, wherein said gripping portion incorporates pressure means made of elastically yielding material.

6. A jaw as claimed in claim 2, wherein comprising a C-shaped forming tab defining, towards said tube, said second surface having said further convex portion.

7. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein said forming tab is located upstream from said gripping portion with reference to the traveling direction of said tube.