Pouch Machine With Sealer

Abstract

A pouch machine includes an infeed section, a sealing section, and an outfeed section. The infeed section provides a pouch or laminate to the sealing section, and the outfeed section receives the sealed pouch from the infeed section. The sealing section includes at least one sealer that has a sealing fixture disposed to move in a first direction toward and away from a sealing position. A linear actuator is mounted to provide a controlled motion in a second direction, that is not the first direction. A linkage is connected between the linear actuator and the sealing fixture. The linkage translates the controlled motion of the actuator into controlled motion of the sealer. The linkage preferably multiplies force when the sealer is in the sealing position, and multiplies distance/velocity when the sealer is retracted. The sealing fixture preferably includes a die backing member and a sealing die. The die backing member has at least one clip mounted on it. The clip includes a hook end, and has a first relaxed position and a second tension position. The sealing die includes at least one receiver that receives the hook end. When the clip is in the tension position, the sealing die is held against the die backing member.

1 . A pouch machine comprising:
 an infeed section;   a sealing section including at least one sealer, and disposed to receive an unsealed pouch from the infeed section, and;   an outfeed section disposed to receive a sealed pouch from the infeed section;   wherein the at least one sealer includes a sealing fixture disposed to move in a vertical motion, toward and away from a sealing position, a linear actuator mounted to provide a controlled horizontal motion, and a linkage connected to the linear actuator and the sealing fixture, disposed to translate the controlled horizontal motion into the vertical motion of the sealing fixture.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer is a longitudinal sealer, and the linkage translates a first horizontal distance into a lesser vertical distance. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer is a cross sealer, and the sealer further includes a pair of rail bearings, which are disposed to guide the vertical motion of the sealing fixture. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch machine of  claim 2 , wherein the linear actuator is a screw drive. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch machine of  claim 3 , wherein the sealing section includes a second sealer having a longitudinal second sealing fixture disposed to move in the vertical motion, toward and away from the sealing position, a second linear actuator mounted to provide a second controlled horizontal motion, and a second linkage connected to the second linear actuator and the longitudinal second sealing fixture, disposed to translate the second controlled horizontal motion into the vertical motion of the longitudinal second sealing fixture. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator includes a feedback signal indicative of at least one output parameter of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one output parameter includes at least one of torque, distance, force, and velocity. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch machine of  claim 5 , wherein the number of sealing fixtures is equal to the number of linear actuators. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing fixture is a platen having multiple sealing surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . A pouch machine comprising:
 an infeed section;   a sealing section including at least one sealer, and disposed to receive an unsealed pouch from the infeed section, and;   an outfeed section disposed to receive a sealed pouch from the infeed section;   wherein the at least one sealer includes a sealing fixture disposed to move in a first direction, toward and away from a sealing position, a linear actuator mounted to provide a controlled motion in a second direction, wherein the second direction is not the first direction, and a linkage connected to the linear actuator and the sealing fixture, disposed to translate the controlled motion for a controlled distance into the first motion of the sealing fixture for a first distance, wherein when the first distance is less than the controlled distance.   
     
     
         11 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the first direction is vertical. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sealer is a longitudinal sealer. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch machine of  claim 11 , wherein the sealer is a cross sealer, and the sealer further includes a pair of rail bearings, which are disposed to guide the vertical motion of the sealing fixture. 
     
     
         14 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the linear actuator is a screw drive. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch machine of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing section includes a second sealer having a longitudinal second sealing fixture disposed to move in the first direction, toward and away from the sealing position, a second linear actuator mounted to provide a second controlled motion in a third direction, and a second linkage connected to the second linear actuator and the longitudinal second sealing fixture, disposed to translate the third controlled horizontal motion into the first motion of the longitudinal second sealing fixture. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch machine of  claim 15 , wherein the linear actuator includes a feedback signal indicative of at least one output parameter of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The pouch machine of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one output parameter includes at least one of torque, distance, force, and velocity. 
     
     
         18 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the number of sealing fixtures is equal to the number of linear actuators. 
     
     
         19 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing fixture is a platen having multiple sealing surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . A pouch machine comprising:
 an infeed section;   a sealing section including at least one sealer, and disposed to receive an unsealed pouch from the infeed section, and;   an outfeed section disposed to receive a sealed pouch from the infeed section;   wherein the at least one sealer includes a sealing fixture disposed to move in a first direction, toward and away from a sealing position, a linear actuator mounted to provide a controlled motion in a second direction, wherein the second direction is not the first direction, and a linkage connected to the linear actuator and the sealing fixture, disposed to translate the controlled motion having a controlled force into the first motion of the sealing fixture for a first force, wherein when the first force is greater than the controlled force.   
     
     
         21 . The pouch machine of  claim 20 , wherein the first direction is vertical. 
     
     
         22 . The pouch machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sealer is a longitudinal sealer. 
     
     
         23 . The pouch machine of  claim 20 , wherein the sealer is a cross sealer, and the sealer further includes a pair of rail bearings, which are disposed to guide the vertical motion of the sealing fixture. 
     
     
         24 . The pouch machine of  claim 23 , wherein the linear actuator is a screw drive. 
     
     
         25 . The pouch machine of  claim 24 , wherein the linear actuator includes a feedback signal indicative of at least one output parameter of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         26 . The pouch machine of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one output parameter includes at least one of torque, distance, force, and velocity. 
     
     
         27 . A method of making pouches comprising:
 feeding unsealed pouches toward a sealing station;   moving a linear actuator in a horizontal direction;   moving a linkage that is connected to the linear actuator;   moving a sealing fixture a vertical direction, wherein the sealing fixture is connected to the linkage.   
     
     
         28 . A method of making pouches comprising:
 feeding unsealed pouches toward a sealing station;   moving a linear actuator a first distance in a horizontal direction;   moving a linkage that is connected to the linear actuator;   moving a sealing fixture a second distance in a second direction, wherein the sealing fixture is connected to the linkage, the second direction is not horizontal, and the second distance is less than the first distance.   
     
     
         29 . A method of making pouches comprising:
 feeding unsealed pouches toward a sealing station;   moving a linear actuator in a first direction, wherein the linear actuator applies a first force in the first non-vertical direction;   moving a linkage that is connected to the linear actuator;   moving a sealing fixture in a vertical direction, wherein the sealing fixture is connected to the linkage and applies a second force in the vertical direction, and wherein the first force is less than the second force.   
     
     
         30 . A sealing fixture for use in a pouch machine, comprising:
 a die backing member, including at least one clip fixedly mounted thereto, wherein the at least one clip includes a hook end, and has a first relaxed position and a second tension position; and   a sealing die, including at least one receiver, disposed to receive the hook end, whereby when the hook end is received by the at least one receiver, and the clip is in the tension position, the sealing die is held against the die backing member.   
     
     
         31 . The fixture of  claim 30 , wherein the clip is a lever actuated latch, and the hook end is the end of a curved latching spring. 
     
     
         32 . The fixture of  claim 31 , wherein the die backing member includes a source of heat. 
     
     
         33 . The fixture of  claim 31 , wherein the receiver is a recess in the sealing die. 
     
     
         34 . The fixture of  claim 31 , wherein the receiver is affixed to the sealing die.