Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Erik Schott

Hisami Mitsuishi

Stefan Annehed

Par J Svensson

Dean C Skonieczny

Olof Stark

David L Persells

Gunnar Drevfors

Shigehiro Kinoshita

Ultrasonic sealing apparatus, including at least one anvil and at least one transducer opposed to the anvil to transmit ultrasonic energy to a workpiece clamped between them, is disclosed. The anvil and sealing horn each are reciprocated between an open position allowing a carton to pass and a closed position for sealing a closure. A biasing element is connected between the anvil or the horn and its drive to define the sealing pressure developed between the anvil and the horn. The biasing force can be adjusted without stopping the machine, by using an externally applied pneumatic force. The anvil has a backing element, a facing member, a body, and a resilient pad separating the body from the facing member. The backing element has a curved front surface facing the transducer. The back surface of the anvil pad is curved similarly to and bears against the curved front surface of the backing element. A fastener is provided for selectively fixing the anvil pad and the backing element together or allowing the anvil pad to shift along the curved surface of the backing element for aligning the anvil with respect to the transducer. The apparatus may also include cooling fluid passages within the facing member and extending through the anvil body and the resilient pad for carrying fluid from the source of cooling fluid through the facing member of the anvil. A method for aligning the anvils and transducers of a ultrasonic sealing apparatus as described above is also disclosed.

Ultrasonic carton sealer

An ultrasonic transducer assembly for hygienic ultrasonic sealing is disclosed. The assembly includes a hygienic ultrasonic sealing area and a non-hygienic area, separated by a barrier wall. The barrier wall has an opening which allows an ultrasonic converter to move back and forth ('reciprocate') through the opening. The ultrasonic converter is also vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency by machinery located in the non-hygienic area of the machine, and transmits those vibrations to the hygienic area of the machine. The converter has a null area at which the converter is vibrated substantially minimally and other areas which are much more vigorously vibrated. A generally cylindrical sealing surface is fixed with respect to the null area of the transducer. The sealing surface is wiped by a wiping seal mounted to the edge of the opening. These two parts may also be reversed. Other details of the anvils, ultrasonic transducers, their drives and assemblies, and other aspects of an ultrasonic gable carton sealing machine are also disclosed.

Ultrasonic piston converter

An apparatus for sealing a fin at a gabled end of a carton is disclosed. The apparatus includes a longitudinal force mechanism for applying a sealing force to a first pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton. The longitudinal force mechanism is movable from a first position in which the gabled end of the carton is in a generally open condition to a second position at which the fin of the gabled end is sealed. A transverse force mechanism applies oppositely directed transverse forces to a second pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton as the longitudinal force mechanism moves from the first position to the second position. The transverse force mechanism urges the second pair of opposed flaps toward one another during movement of the longitudinal force mechanism. The second pair of opposed flaps are thus urged inward toward one another as the longitudinal force mechanism moves to form and seal the fin thereby preventing 'duckbilling'.

Apparatus for sealing the fin of a gabled carton

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

Erik Schott