Patent EP0179454A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0179454A2
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EP
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Method for forming an adhesive sealed package
Assignee: Mahaffy and Harder Engineering Co
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Filing: 1985-10-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for packaging products between first (26) and second plastic components sealed by using a hot melt adhesive applied by a dispensing applicator (40) in one of several serially arranged stations of a packaging operation. The first plastic component (26) is supported for indexing movement on a transport means (12) or is formed therein and moved under a hot melt applicator (40) which is continuously driven in a predetermined path of travel (50) which in part traverses the entire periphery of the product loaded first plastic component (26). The first plastic component (26) is stopped under the applicator (40) for a predetermined dwell time during which the applicator dispenses the hot melt adhesive, then advanced where the second plastic component is applied to form a filled package which is then evacuated and sealed. Apparatus is provided for preventing dripping or stringing of the hot melt adhesives.
Inventors
- 👤 Reid A. Mahaffy
- 👤 George W. Anderson
- 👤 Eugene Garson
- 👤 John A. Giordano
- 👤 Robert E. Hirt
- 👤 Milan R. Ostrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B51/00; B65B51/02; B65B51/023; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
1 . The method of packaging products between first (26) and second (36) plastic components which form the package in which such products are sealed using hot melt adhesive applied by a dispensing applicator (40) in one (B) of several stations (A-E) of a packaging operation comprising the steps of: continuously driving said applicator (40) in a predetermined path of travel which in part traverses the entire periphery of said first plastic component (26) which holds said product being packaged; transporting said first plastic component (26) after being loaded with the product to be packaged under the path of travel of said applicator (40); stopping said first plastic component (26) under the path of travel of said applicator (40) for a predetermined dwell time; actuating said continuously traversing applicator (40) during said dwell time for applying hot melt adhesive around the periphery of said first plastic component (26) while said first component is stopped under said applicator (40); advancing said first plastic component (26); applying said second plastic component (36) over said first component (26); evacuating said package between said first (26) and second (36) components; and sealing said package by bringing said second plastic component (36) into contact with said hot melt adhesive (50) surrounding the periphery of said first plastic component (26).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
1 . The method of packaging products between first (26) and second (36) plastic components which form the package in which such products are sealed using hot melt adhesive applied by a dispensing applicator (40) in one (B) of several stations (A-E) of a packaging operation comprising the steps of: continuously driving said applicator (40) in a predetermined path of travel which in part traverses the entire periphery of said first plastic component (26) which holds said product being packaged; transporting said first plastic component (26) after being loaded with the product to be packaged under the path of travel of said applicator (40); stopping said first plastic component (26) under the path of travel of said applicator (40) for a predetermined dwell time; actuating said continuously traversing applicator (40) during said dwell time for applying hot melt adhesive around the periphery of said first plastic component (26) while said first component is stopped under said applicator (40); advancing said first plastic component (26); applying said second plastic component (36) over said first component (26); evacuating said package between said first (26) and second (36) components; and sealing said package by bringing said second plastic component (36) into contact with said hot melt adhesive (50) surrounding the periphery of said first plastic component (26).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including the step of preventing the dripping of adhesive on or in the contents of said first plastic component (26) during the advancement of said first plastic component between stations of the package operation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
43 words
The method set forth in claims 1 or 2, including the step of minimizing the contact between said second plastic component (36) and said adhesive (50) in the area where evacuation of the package between said first and second plastic components take place.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of minimizing the contact between said second plastic component (36) and said adhesive (50) includes separating said first (26) and second (36) plastic components in the area of evacuation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for packaging products between first (26) and second (36) plastic components which comprise the package in which such products are packaged in one (A) of several stations (A-E) of a package machine (10) having a machine drive (16) and are sealed using a hot melt adhesive comprising: transport means (12) for moving said first plastic component (26) through a plurality of stations (A-B) where packing functions are performed; an adhesive applicator station (B) having an adhesive applicator (40) for controllably applying an adhesive in a predetermined pattern (50) around a peripheral area of said first plastic component (26); means (48, 70; 74) for continuously driving said applicator (40) in said predetermined pattern (50); indexing means (18) coupled between said machine drive (16) and said transport means (12) for moving said transport means (12) between said stations (A-E) and keeping said first plastic component (26) in each station for a predetermined dwell time; means for actuating said applicator (40) during said predetermined dwell time in said applicator station (B) thereby applying said adhesive in said predetermined pattern (50); means (96) for applying said second plastic component (36) on said first plastic component (26) thereby forming said package; evacuating said package between said first (26) and second (36) plastic components; and means (100) for completely sealing said package by completely bringing said first (26) and second (36) plastic components fully into engagement on said predetermined adhesive pattern (50).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for packaging products between first (26) and second (36) plastic components which comprise the package in which such products are packaged in one (A) of several stations (A-E) of a package machine (10) having a machine drive (16) and are sealed using a hot melt adhesive comprising: transport means (12) for moving said first plastic component (26) through a plurality of stations (A-B) where packing functions are performed; an adhesive applicator station (B) having an adhesive applicator (40) for controllably applying an adhesive in a predetermined pattern (50) around a peripheral area of said first plastic component (26); means (48, 70; 74) for continuously driving said applicator (40) in said predetermined pattern (50); indexing means (18) coupled between said machine drive (16) and said transport means (12) for moving said transport means (12) between said stations (A-E) and keeping said first plastic component (26) in each station for a predetermined dwell time; means for actuating said applicator (40) during said predetermined dwell time in said applicator station (B) thereby applying said adhesive in said predetermined pattern (50); means (96) for applying said second plastic component (36) on said first plastic component (26) thereby forming said package; evacuating said package between said first (26) and second (36) plastic components; and means (100) for completely sealing said package by completely bringing said first (26) and second (36) plastic components fully into engagement on said predetermined adhesive pattern (50).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5, having means (90) for maintining a separation between said first (26) and second (36) plastic component in an area where said package is to be evacuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for maintaining the separation of said first and second plastic components comprises a spring biased sheet separator (90) for biasing said second plastic component (36) upward away from said first plastic component (26) in an area wherein said package is to be evacuated.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
42 words
The apparatus set forth in anyone of claims 5 - 7, in which said adhesive application comprises a pair of guns (40) which are slaved together and driven to transverse the same paths around the peripheral areas of said first plastic components.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
67 words
The apparatus set forth in anyone of claims 5 - 8, in which said applicator (40) is mounted in a stationary bar (42) carrying a cam follower (44), a stationary cam (46) having a predetermined track therein, said cam follower (44) mounted for movement in said track for driving said applicator (40) in a path corresponding to the movement of said cam follower (44) in said track.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
36 words
The apparatus set forth in anyone of claims 5 - 9, in which the drive for continuously driving said applicator (40) is driven at a ratio of 1.5 to 1 with respect to said machine drive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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