Method and Apparatus For Making Sealed Pouches

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making pouches is disclosed. It includes using one or more of the following features: using two servo motors to drive a platen, providing a calibration routine is run at start-up and/or after the machine has been operating; controlling in response to feed back from the servo motor(s) such as feedback indicative of the distance the platen travels; the feedback is not of force exerted by the platen; and/or the platen is controlled to prevent unacceptable fracturing of the film laminate.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A machine for making pouches from a laminate film, comprising:
 means for sealing the laminate film, including at least two servo motors to drive a sealing platen to intermittently contact the laminate film;   means for moving the laminate film to a sealing section;   means for controlling the at least two servo motors in response to feedback from the servo motors, connected to the at least two servo motors;   means for cutting the laminate film; and   means for moving the laminate film from the means for sealing to the means for cutting.   
     
     
         43 . The machine of  claim 42 , wherein the means for controlling includes means for calibrating the sealing section by moving the platen a distance at a calibration speed to contact a backing surface and storing the distance. 
     
     
         44 . The machine of  claim 43 , further comprising means for receiving a user adjustable distance offset input, and for providing the user input to the means for controlling. 
     
     
         45 . A machine of making pouches from a laminate film, comprising:
 means for sealing the laminate film, including at least one servo motor to drive a sealing platen to intermittently contact the laminate film;   means for moving the laminate film to a sealing section;   means for controlling the at least one servo motor in response to feedback from the servo motors indicative of platen position; and   means for cutting the laminate film; and   means for moving the laminate film from the means for sealing to the means for cutting.   
     
     
         46 . The machine of  claim 45 , wherein the means for controlling includes means for calibrating the sealing section by moving the platen a distance at a calibration speed to contact a backing surface and storing the distance, and further comprising means for receiving a user adjustable distance offset input, and for providing the user input to the means for controlling. 
     
     
         47 . A machine for making pouches from a laminate film, comprising:
 means for calibrating a sealing section, by controlling at least one servo motor to move the platen a distance at a calibration speed to contact a backing surface and storing the distance;   means for moving the laminate film to the sealing section;   means for controlling the at least one servo motor to drive the sealing platen at an operating speed to intermittently contact the laminate film in response to feedback from the servo motor, wherein the operating speed is greater than the calibrating speed; and   means for moving the laminate film from the sealing section.   
     
     
         48 . The machine of  claim 47 , further comprising means for receiving a user adjustable distance offset input, and providing the user adjustable distance offset input to the means for controlling. 
     
     
         49 . A machine for making pouches from a laminate film, comprising:
 a sealing section including a platen and at least one servo motor to drive the sealing platen to intermittently contact the film;   means for moving the laminate film to the sealing section;   means for controlling the at least one servo motor to intermittently contact the laminate film without fracturing the laminate film, in response to feedback from the servo motor;   means for cutting the laminate film; and   means for moving the laminate film from the sealing section to the means for cutting.