Heater for sealing carton containers

Claim 2

A heating apparatus for use with a carton forming machine for selectively heating sealing surfaces of carton closure elements, comprising: a hot air distributor head for heating said sealing surfaces by heated air convection and by radiation; means in operative relationship with said distributor head for positioning the head adjacent to said carton closure elements and for introducing heated air into the distributor head and wherein said head includes a first planar surface; first and second elongated hollow projections integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface, each of said projections having an air flow passageway therein for passing hot air against selected carton sealing surfaces; a plurality of walls integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface and forming a substantially hour-glass like configuration between said first and second projections; a top wall integral with said walls whereby an open-ended chamber is formed; said walls further having apertures therein for directing heated air against surfaces of the carton closure elements; and means in operative relationship with each of said apertures for enabling the individual adjustment of air flow therethrough.

Claim 3

A heating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said projections are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 4

A heating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said walls form four interior acute angle corners and wherein said apertures are located at each of said corners.

Claim 5

A heating apparatus as in claim 3 further including a plurality of additional apertures located adjacent to one of said corners and in one of said walls for directing an additional volume of hot air against one of the carton sealing surfaces and also including a pair of sidewalls fastened to opposite ends of said first and second projections to help retain the hot air within the distributor head.

Claim 6

A heating apparatus for use with a carton forming machine for selectively heating sealing surfaces of carton closure elements, comprising: a hot air distributor head for heating said sealing surfaces by heated air convection and by radiation; means in operative relationship with said distributor head for positioning the head adjacent to said carton closure elements and for introducing heated air into the distributor head and wherein said head includes a first planar surface; first and second elongated hollow projections integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface, each of said projections having an air flow passageway therein for passing hot air against selected carton sealing surfaces; a plurality of walls integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface and forming a substantially hour-glass like configuration between said first and second projections; a top wall integral with said walls whereby an open-ended chamber is formed; said walls further having apertures therein for directing heated air against surfaces of the carton closure elements; hydraulic means for moving said distributor head toward and away from cartons to be sealed; a walled chamber member for receiving heated air and in fluid communication with the distributor head for directing the heated air into the distributor head; and means positioned between said hydraulic means and said chamber member for shielding the hydraulic means from heat from the distributor head and from the chamber member, said shielding means including a heat shield attached to the chamber member and between the chamber member and the hydraulic means; and a coolant plate having fluid flow passageways therein in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber member, said coolant plate positioned between the hydraulic means and the chamber member for shielding the hydraulic means from the heat in the distributor head and the chamber member and for preheating air as it passes into and through the coolant plate passageways on its way into the chamber member.

Claim 7

A heating apparatus for use with a carton forming machine for selectively heating sealing surfaces of carton closure elements, comprising: a hot air distributor head for heating said sealing surfaces by heated air convection and by radiation; means in operative relationship with said distributor head for positioning the head adjacent to said carton closure elements and for introducing heated air into the distributor head and wherein said head includes a first planar surface; first and second elongated hollow projections integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface, each of said projections having an air flow passageway therein for passing hot air against selected carton sealing surfaces; a plurality of walls integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly and in substantially the same direction away from said first surface and forming a substantially hour-glass like configuration between said first and second projections; a top wall integral with said walls whereby an open-ended chamber is formed; said walls further having apertures therein for directing heated air against surfaces of the carton closure elements; hydraulic means for moving said distributor head toward and away from cartons to be sealed; a walled chamber member for receiving heated air and in fluid communication with the distributor head for directing the heated air into the distributor head; and means positioned between said hydraulic means and said chamber member for shielding the hydraulic means from heat from the distributor head and from the chamber member, said shielding means including a heat shield attached to the chamber member and between the chamber member and the hydraulic means; and a coolant plate having fluid flow passageways therein in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber member, said coolant plate positioned between the hydraulic means and the chamber member for shielding the hydraulic means from the heat in the distributor head and the chamber member and for preheating air as it passes into and through the coolant plate passageways on its way into the chamber member.

Claim 8

A heating apparatus as in claim 5 further including a heater in position for heating air as it passes from the coolant plate passageways into the chamber member.

Claim 9

A heating apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said hydraulic means include an hydraulic cylinder and a piston movable therein, said piston connected to said coolant plate, and further including a base plate having an aperture therein for slideably receiving the piston.

Claim 10

A heating apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said base plate has two additional apertures therein and wherein the apparatus further includes two guide rods connected to the coolant plate and movably located within said additional base plate apertures for stabilizing movement of the distributor head.

Claim 11

A heating apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said chamber member includes: an outer shell; and an inner shell fastened to and spaced apart from the outer shell to form a heat insulating air space.

Claim 12

A heating apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the distributor head fits over said chamber member and wherein the interior of said inner shell is in fluid communication with the interior of the distributor head.

Claim 13

A heating apparatus as in claim 1 further including first and second baffles positioned adjacent the passageways in said first and second projections, respectively, for directing the flow of hot air against selected carton sealing surfaces.

Claim 14

A heating apparatus as in claim 11, wherein: said air flow passageways extend longitudinally tHrough said projections and terminate at top surfaces of said projections; said baffles are mounted on said top surfaces of said projections; and said projections include shoulders formed at said top surfaces to provide inwardly extending passageways beneath said baffles for directing hot air to the carton sealing surfaces.

Claim 15

A heating apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said apertures are positioned at angles of 45* with respect to said cover to direct hot air upwardly and outwardly away from said walls.