The
sonotrode and anvil of co-pending application Ser. No. 12 / 925,652, for advanced
ultrasonic welding of work pieces, are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but existing machines with heat-seal stations
pose difficult problems for swapping of the sealing packages. Kits enabling heat
station replacement, with the further improved
sonotrode and anvil disclosed herein, comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; anvil and
sonotrode support members; and a parallel gripper. Each of the anvil and sonotrode support members is slidably attached to the rail(s) and are also connected to a respective
piston of the gripper, permitting actuation of each through
cycling of the gripper pistons. The improved sonotrode / anvil combination each comprise a corresponding plurality of energy directors arranged into a three-dimensional
grid pattern to produce a narrower weld region, but one exhibiting greater durability, thereby permitting use of less packaging material, and which may also weld a company logo into the workpieces.