Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Heat sealing apparatus including first and second support sections; means mounting said sections for relative movement between a closed, or sealing, position and an open, or work loading and unloading, position; heat sealing means including a die mounted to said first section and electrically energized first means for heating said die; switch means connected in circuit with said first means for controlling energization thereof; said switch means being operated automatically to closed circuit position upon movement of said sections from said open to said closed positions while said heat sealing means is relatively cool; second means connecting said heat sealing means to said switch means for automatically operating the latter to open circuit position to deenergize said first means when said heat sealing means becomes heated to a predetermined level while said sections are in said closed position; latch means for maintaining said switch means in said open circuit position after operation thereto by said heat sealing means; said switch means being operated automatically to said open circuit position upon movement of said section to said open position; said second means incluDing a mechanical linkage movable by said heat sealing means upon expansion thereof to operate said switch means to said open circuit position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Heat sealing apparatus including first and second support sections; means mounting said sections for relative movement between a closed, or sealing, position and an open, or work loading and unloading, position; heat sealing means including a die mounted to said first section and electrically energized first means for heating said die; switch means connected in circuit with said first means for controlling energization thereof; said switch means being operated automatically to closed circuit position upon movement of said sections from said open to said closed positions while said heat sealing means is relatively cool; second means connecting said heat sealing means to said switch means for automatically operating the latter to open circuit position to deenergize said first means when said heat sealing means becomes heated to a predetermined level while said sections are in said closed position; latch means for maintaining said switch means in said open circuit position after operation thereto by said heat sealing means; said switch means being operated automatically to said open circuit position upon movement of said section to said open position; said second means incluDing a mechanical linkage movable by said heat sealing means upon expansion thereof to operate said switch means to said open circuit position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said linkage is constructed to amplify motion of said heat sealing means upon expansion and contraction thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said switch means includes a relatively movable and a relatively stationary cooperating contact; said movable contact being mounted for operation by one end of said linkage and said linkage having its other end secured to said heat sealing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said die means and said first means include a strip of metal constituting a resistance heater; one end of said strip being fixedly secured to said first section and the other end of said strip being free to move and drive said linkage as said strip expands during heating thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which, with said sections in closed position, heating of said strip causes said movable contact to wipe across said stationary contact until said strip heats to said predetermined level at which point said movable contact is driven beyond said stationary contact into engagement with said latch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which there is a biasing means providing contact pressure as said movable contact wipes across said stationary contact, said biasing means also maintaining said movable contact in engagement with said latch means until subsequent operation of said sections to said open position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which the linkage comprises a bar mounted to a pivot located much closer to one end than to the other end thereof; said other end of said strip being secured to said one end of said bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, in which the linkage also includes an arm secured at one end thereof to said other end of said bar and being mounted on a pivot that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot for said bar; said movable contact being at the other end of said arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which with said sections closed, heating of said strip causes said movable contact to wipe across a face of said stationary contact until said strip heats to said predetermined level, at which point said movable contact is positioned clear of said face; said movable contact having self biasing means providing contact pressure while said movable contact is in engagement with said face; said self biasing means operating said movable contact into engagement with said latch means when said movable contact is moved clear of said face by expansion of said strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 also including means for adjusting the heating level of said heat sealing means at which the latter operates said switch means to said open circuit position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Heat sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 also including means for changing the location of said pivot with respect to the ends of said bar to adjust the heating level of said heat sealing means at which the latter operates said switch means to said open circuit position.