US3845606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package sealing in steam atmosphere
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-27
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1994-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A sealing apparatus especially adapted for closing container pouches, either formed of, or coated with thermoplastic material, while the pouches are being processed in a steam atmosphere within a sterilizer or cooker. The disclosure particularly concerns the sealing head and the manner in which the cooperating elements of the sealing head coact to ensure intimate contact and coextensive bonding between the walls defining the open end of the pouch, while the pouch is in a steam atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 D Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:16
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7373; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/22; B29C65/221; B29C65/224; B29C65/228; B29C65/24; B29C65/30; B29C65/305; B29C65/38; B29C66/001; B29C66/004; B29C66/0042; B29C66/0044; B29C66/01; B29C66/02; B29C66/024; B29C66/0242; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/349; B29C66/3494; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/431; B29C66/4312; B29C66/43121; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72321; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/812; B29C66/8122; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81422; B29C66/8145; B29C66/81457; B29C66/816; B29C66/8167; B29C66/818; B29C66/8181; B29C66/8182; B29C66/81821; B29C66/8187; B29C66/81871; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8221; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8324; B29C66/83241; B29C66/84; B29C66/849; B29C66/8491; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/91211; B29C66/91212; B29C66/91231; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91411; B29C66/91421; B29C66/91441; B29C66/91443; B29C66/91445; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91641; B29C66/91643; B29C66/91645; B29C66/91651; B29C66/919; B29C66/9192; B29C66/91921; B29C66/91931; B65; B65B; B65B51/00; B65B51/10; B65B51/26; B65B51/30; B65B9/00; B65B9/10; B65B9/12; B29C66/71; B29C66/8126; B29C66/81264; B29C66/91423; B29C66/91653; B29C66/91935; B29C66/92; B29C66/929; B29C66/94; B29C66/949; B29C66/96; B29C66/961; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A process of heat sealing flexible container pouches within a steam atmosphere, each pouch having confronting sealing surfaces of which at least one is formed by a thermoplastic material; said process comprising the steps of surrounding said sealing surfaces with a steam atmosphere; bringing the sealing surfaces together along a common contact line; pressing the sealing surfaces together in intimate contact under a gripping pressure beginning at the contact line and moving progressively outward in a lateral direction therefrom to expel foreign matter from between the sealing surfaces; simultaneously preheating the sealing surfaces as they are pressed togeTher to a temperature higher than the temperature of the steam atmosphere and lower than the sealing temperature of the thermoplastic material; maintaining said temperature until liquid droplets between the sealing surfaces are varporized and the temperature differential between the temperature of the thermoplastic material and the sealing temperature thereof is substantially reduced; momentarily heating the sealing surfaces to the sealing temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the gripping pressure on the sealing surfaces; reducing the temperature of the sealing surfaces to a temperature lower than the sealing temperature while maintaining the gripping pressure thereon; and releasing the gripping pressure on the sealing surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A process of heat sealing flexible container pouches within a steam atmosphere, each pouch having confronting sealing surfaces of which at least one is formed by a thermoplastic material; said process comprising the steps of surrounding said sealing surfaces with a steam atmosphere; bringing the sealing surfaces together along a common contact line; pressing the sealing surfaces together in intimate contact under a gripping pressure beginning at the contact line and moving progressively outward in a lateral direction therefrom to expel foreign matter from between the sealing surfaces; simultaneously preheating the sealing surfaces as they are pressed togeTher to a temperature higher than the temperature of the steam atmosphere and lower than the sealing temperature of the thermoplastic material; maintaining said temperature until liquid droplets between the sealing surfaces are varporized and the temperature differential between the temperature of the thermoplastic material and the sealing temperature thereof is substantially reduced; momentarily heating the sealing surfaces to the sealing temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the gripping pressure on the sealing surfaces; reducing the temperature of the sealing surfaces to a temperature lower than the sealing temperature while maintaining the gripping pressure thereon; and releasing the gripping pressure on the sealing surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material has a sealing temperature of about 300* F and the sealing surfaces are heated to the sealing temperature by an electrical input in an approximate range of between 32 and 64 watts per square inch of heating surface for periods of between 1.8 and 1.4 seconds, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the preheated temperature of the sealing surface of the thermoplastic material is about 10* F lower than the sealing temperature thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the common contact line between the sealing surfaces is located in the central portion thereof and the sealing surfaces are pressed together in intimate contact moving preogressively outward in lateral directions on opposite sides of the contact line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the gripping pressure between said sealing surfaces is about 200-250 p.s.i.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the overall cycle time is about 3.4-3.9 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the gripping pressure can be released about one-half second after completion of the momentary heating of the sealing surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2802086A
Cited
US2999532A
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US3162564A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |