US4545844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat cutting and sealing apparatus
Assignee: M&D Balloons Inc
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Filing: 1984-11-21
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Granted: 1985-10-08
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Expires: 2004-11-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for forming an article out of superimposed heat-sealable panels comprises a conveyor for moving a pair of superimposed webs along a path and into a cutting and sealing station whereat the panels are cut out of the webs and simultaneously heat-sealed together. The simultaneous cutting and sealing steps are effected by a unitary die having a cutting die that is heated to a predetermined cutting temperature and a sealing die that is heated to a predetermined sealing temperature that is substantially lower than the cutting temperature. The apparatus also includes steering means for automatically shifting a belt of the conveyor to maintain it in proper alignment and a scrap removal station for removing the web after the cutting and sealing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley H. Buchanan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:22
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D22/00; B29D22/02; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/24; B29C65/30; B29C65/305; B29C65/74; B29C65/741; B29C65/7411; B29C65/7412; B29C65/745; B29C65/7461; B29C65/749; B29C65/78; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7861; B29C65/787; B29C65/7888; B29C65/7891; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2422; B29C66/24221; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72321; B29C66/7234; B29C66/72341; B29C66/80; B29C66/82; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/90; B29C66/98; B29C66/45; B29C66/71; B29L; B29L2022/00; B29L2022/02; B29L2022/022; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/108; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/1313; Y10T156/1317; Y10T156/1378
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In an apparatus for forming an article out of a pair of superimposed heat-sealable panels comprising conveyor means for moving a pair of superimposed webs along a path and a cutting and sealing station for receiving said webs including unitary cutting and sealing die means for simultaneously cutting said webs at a predetermined cutting temperature to define said panels and heat sealing said panels together at a predetermined sealing temperature that is substantially lower than said cutting temperature to form said article, said die means including a vertically disposed heat conductive sealing die, a vertically disposed heat conductive cutting die having an upper end portion thereof directly secured solely to said sealing die in heat conducting relationship therewith, heating means directly secured only to a lower end portion of said cutting die for heating it to said predetermined cutting temperature and control means formed in said cutting die between the upper and lower end portions thereof for impeding and simultaneously controlling the conduction of heat composing said cutting temperature from said heating means, upwardly through said cutting die and to said sealing die to create said sealing temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an apparatus for forming an article out of a pair of superimposed heat-sealable panels comprising conveyor means for moving a pair of superimposed webs along a path and a cutting and sealing station for receiving said webs including unitary cutting and sealing die means for simultaneously cutting said webs at a predetermined cutting temperature to define said panels and heat sealing said panels together at a predetermined sealing temperature that is substantially lower than said cutting temperature to form said article, said die means including a vertically disposed heat conductive sealing die, a vertically disposed heat conductive cutting die having an upper end portion thereof directly secured solely to said sealing die in heat conducting relationship therewith, heating means directly secured only to a lower end portion of said cutting die for heating it to said predetermined cutting temperature and control means formed in said cutting die between the upper and lower end portions thereof for impeding and simultaneously controlling the conduction of heat composing said cutting temperature from said heating means, upwardly through said cutting die and to said sealing die to create said sealing temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for reciprocating said die means between a retracted position out of engagement with said webs and a self-centering and operative cutting and sealing position engaging said webs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for reciprocating said die means includes a support having said die means secured thereunder and a double-acting cylinder universally connected to said support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said support includes a plate and a thermo-insulating pad means secured directly between said plate and said sealing die for thermally insulating said die means from said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of holes formed through said cutting die.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper end portion of said cutting die is secured on an outboard side of said sealing die in cantilevered relationship thereon to define a separation and air space between said sealing die and the lower end portion of said cutting die.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical heating element secured on a outboard side of the lower end portion of said cutting die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said sealing and cutting dies are each generally annular.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes endless belt means, composed of an elastomeric material, for elastically deforming upon its engagement with said die means, said belt means underlying said die means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a stationary back-up plate disposed beneath said die means and an elastomeric pad secured on said plate and disposed between said plate and said belt means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a scrap removal station including take-up roll means rotatably mounted on said apparatus for removing said webs from said apparatus after said article has been formed in said cutting and sealing station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said take-up roll means includes means for controlling the tension of said webs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising first drive means for driving said conveyor means intermittently and second drive means for driving a pair of rolls and of said take-up roll means continuously and under a constant torque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for placing said webs under a predetermined tension during movement thereof along said path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising steering means for automatically shifting said conveyor means to continuously maintain its alignment with said path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for forming a slit in one of said webs prior to movement of said webs into said cutting and sealing station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
121 words
A combined cutting and sealing die comprising a vertically disposed heat conductive sealing die, a vertically disposed heat conductive cutting die having an upper end portion thereof directly secured to said sealing die in heat conducting relationship therewith, heating means directly secured only to a lower end portion of said cutting die for heating it to a predetermined cutting temperature, and control means formed in said cutting die between the upper and lower end portions thereof for impeding and simultaneously controlling the conduction of heat composing said cutting temperature from said heating means upwardly through said cutting die and to said sealing die to reduce the sealing temperature of said sealing die substantially below the cutting temperature of said cutting die.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
A combined cutting and sealing die comprising a vertically disposed heat conductive sealing die, a vertically disposed heat conductive cutting die having an upper end portion thereof directly secured to said sealing die in heat conducting relationship therewith, heating means directly secured only to a lower end portion of said cutting die for heating it to a predetermined cutting temperature, and control means formed in said cutting die between the upper and lower end portions thereof for impeding and simultaneously controlling the conduction of heat composing said cutting temperature from said heating means upwardly through said cutting die and to said sealing die to reduce the sealing temperature of said sealing die substantially below the cutting temperature of said cutting die.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The die of claim 17 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of holes formed through said cutting die.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The die of claim 17 wherein the upper end portion of said cutting die is secured on an outboard side of said sealing die in cantilevered relationship thereon to define a separation and air space between said sealing die and the lower end portion of said cutting die.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The die of claim 17 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical heating element secured on an outboard side of the lower end portion of said cutting die.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The die of claim 17 wherein each of said sealing and cutting dies are each generally annular.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-07 | 1989-04-08 | 1989-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-07 | 1993-04-08 | 1993-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-07 | 1997-04-08 | 1997-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |