Heat Sealing Machine Tray Sealing Method with Dynamic Gas Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat sealing machines require additional operations like vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging, which increase cycle time and reduce productivity due to the need to maintain the sealing station in a closing position for gas injection and extraction before sealing.

Innovation Solution

A tray sealing method and machine with a sealing station featuring a variable separation distance between upper and lower sealing assemblies, allowing gas injection/extraction to start during the relative displacement, and positioning the lid film at an intermediate distance to create a cavity before the sealing station reaches the closing position, enabling partial completion of gas operations before sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas injection and extraction are performed before sealing in the closing position, then vacuum packaging or modified atmosphere packaging can be achieved, but cycle time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging qualityVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid film is positioned in advance at an intermediate distance from the lower sealing assembly during the opening position, creating a cavity before the sealing station reaches the closing position. This preliminary positioning enables gas injection and extraction to start during the relative displacement, so that gas operations are completed before sealing without requiring the sealing station to remain in the closing position, thus reducing cycle time while maintaining packaging quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing station utilizes dynamic relative displacement between the upper and lower sealing assemblies to transition from the opening position to the closing position. During this dynamic movement, the lid film is positioned at an intermediate distance to create a cavity, and gas injection/extraction is performed dynamically during the displacement process. This dynamic approach allows gas operations to be completed during the sealing motion itself, eliminating the need to wait in the closing position and reducing overall cycle time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the sealing station remains in the closing position for gas operations, then sealing can be performed, but additional time is required for gas injection and extraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing qualityVSAvoidtime in closing position

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relative displacement between the sealing assemblies continues throughout the gas injection and extraction process, eliminating idle time in the closing position. The cavity is maintained during the displacement, and gas operations are performed continuously during the motion from opening to closing position, making the sealing motion itself productive by completing gas operations during the transition rather than requiring a separate stationary phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces cycle time, increases productivity by allowing gas operations to be completed during the relative displacement, and eliminates the need to keep the sealing station in the closing position, thus speeding up packaging.

Implementation Method 1

causing an approach between the tray and the lid film by a relative displacement between the sealing assemblies of the sealing station in which the separation distance between the lower sealing assembly and the upper sealing assembly is reduced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRelative displacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 2

a sealing tool of the upper sealing assembly presses the lid film towards the tray, the lid film being sealed to the tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4477566A1Tray sealing method for a heat sealing machine and heat sealing machine

Publication Date: 2024.12.18 ULMA PACKAGING SCOOP

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AI summary

The invention relates to a tray sealing method and to a heat sealing machine with a lower sealing assembly (1.1) and an upper sealing assembly (1.2) facing each other and separated by a variable separation distance (Ds) between a maximum value and a minimum value. The method comprises arranging, between the sealing assemblies (1.1, 1.2), a film (300) at a distance (D1) from the lower sealing assembly (1.1) which is less than 65% of the difference between said maximum and minimum values of the separation distance (Ds), and a tray (200); and starting to inject and/or extract a gas between the foil (300) and the tray (200) during a relative displacement between the sealing assemblies (1.1, 1.2) and before said separation distance (Ds) is reduced by 65% of said difference starting from its maximum value.