Method and system for ultrasonic sealing of food product packaging

• US 20060086068A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roberto A. Capodieci
• Original Assignee: Roberto A. Capodieci
• Inventors: Capodieci, Roberto A.
• Application Number:
  US11/301,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/479
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/48 for articles of indefinite length, i.e. bending a strip progressively
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/086 using a rotary anvil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/087 using both a rotary sonotrode and a rotary anvil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7443 by means of ultrasonic vibrations
• 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 66/133 Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/232 said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4312 for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4322 by joining a single sheet to itself B29C66/4332 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/80 General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8122 characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81433 being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins comprising a single tooth B29C66/81429, or being patterned
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81435 comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping comprising a single ridge B29C66/81427
• 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 66/81465 one placed behind the other in a single row in the feed direction
• 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 66/8246 Servomechanisms, e.g. servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 : cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83421 : band or belt types B29C66/83431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83513 : cooperating jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums and moving in a closed path
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/849 : Packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/951 : by measuring or controlling the vibration frequency and/or the vibration amplitude of vibrating joining tools, e.g. of ultrasonic welding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2827/18 : PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/225 : by ultrasonic welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/306 : Counter-rotating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/06 : Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/067 : the web advancing continuously B65B9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 53/02 : High frequency electric sealing

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasonic sealing of food product packaging is provided. The ultrasonic sealing system preferably includes a food product packaging-positioning system that delivers food product packaging and food product into direct on-item-packaging forming box. The direct on-item-packaging forming box then receives the food product packaging and forms it directly around the supplied food product forming a partially packaged food product. The partially packaged food product is then ultrasonically edge sealed around the food product by an ultrasonic food product packaging fin-sealing unit forming a partially sealed food product packaging. The partially sealed food product packaging then enters a food product packaging end-sealing unit which ultrasonically seals and crimps the ends of the food product packaging resulting in a fully packaged and ultrasonically sealed food product.

Claims

1. A system for ultrasonically fin-sealing food product packaging, said system including:

a rotating anvil wheel; and

,

an ultrasonically activated horn operably positioned with respect to said rotating anvil wheel, said ultrasonically activated horn and rotating anvil wheel operating in conjunction to ultrasonically fin-seal said food product packaging passing between said ultrasonically activated horn and rotating anvil wheel.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a pair of opposing discharge rollers for pulling food product packaging through said ultrasonic food product packaging fin-sealing system.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a pair of opposing infeed rollers for guiding the said partially packaged food product into said food product packaging fin-sealing system and pressing together the ends of said partially packaged food product.

4. The system of claim 1 further including a pair of opposing fin fold down rollers for folding down the fin seal on said partially sealed food product packaging.

5. The system of claim 1 further including said ultrasonically activated horn mounted on an air-operated slide for maintaining proper operational pressure and alignment of said ultrasonically activated horn against the opposing side of said partially packaged food product.

6. The system of claim 1 further including anvil servo drive for maintaining proper operational pressure and alignment of said rotating anvil wheel against the side of said partially packaged food product.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a confectionery food product.

8. A method for ultrasonically fin-sealing food product packaging, said method including the step of:

fin-sealing food product packaging by passing said food product packaging between an operably connected rotating anvil wheel and an ultrasonically activated horn.

9. The method of claim 8 further including a continuously supplied food product packaging.

10. The method of claim 8 further including a continuously supplied food product.

11. The method of claim 8 further including a confectionery food product.