Self-propelled, packaging film perforating system used in horizontal, form, fill, and seal packaging machines

Abstract

Disclosed is a packaging film perforating system used in commercially available, horizontal, form, fill and seal packaging machines. The packing film perforating system is attached to a packaging machine via a mounting module. The system is designed to create perforation lines in the packaging film, housing pre-packaged product, being moved by a conveying chain between various functional stations located on said packaging machine. The perforating system is positioned as the last automated station of the packaging machine, and is typically preceded by a plurality of other automated stations designed to fully complete the packaging process. The stations preceding the location of the perforation system may include stations designed to feed both the bottom and the top layers of the packaging film, product fill station, and both the bottom and the top package forming stations. The packaging film perforating system comprises of four primary modules: 1) perforating module assembly, for perforating the packaging film; 2) mounting module assembly, for mounting the perforating module to the machine and for enabling rotation of said perforating module; 3) packaging machine, having a package perforation station for placing therein the perforating module, held by the mounding module; 4) and a plurality of mounting hardware, used for completion of said assemblies. The perforating module assembly is sub-divided into two components: 1) shaft; 2) perforating disc sub-assembly. The perforating disc slides onto the shaft, and is releasably locked in place. The shaft may hold one or a multitude of the perforating discs. Spaces between said perforating disc may be adjusted to accommodate various shapes and sizes of the packaged products. Each perforating disc comprises of a back disc, a front disc, and a plurality of knives. Wherein each of said knives has one blunt edge and one sharp edge. The knives are configured to be equally spaced, with all blunt edges facing in the same direction, and are positioned around the outside perimeter of the two discs. The knives are sandwiched between the two discs, locked in place, made to extend beyond the two discs' outside perimeter. The perforating module is held by the mounting module, by having both ends of the shaft fitted inside bearings, held by two bearing blocks. Using actuators, the bearing blocks along with attached thereto perforating module, are moved up and down, allowing the perforating discs to engage or to disengage the packaging film, located directly below the mounting module. Once engaged, the conveyed packaging film pushes on the blunt edge of the knives, causing the perforating disc to rotate, without application of any external power. The rotation of the perforating disc generates equally-spaced, elongated cuts in the packaging film, forming perforation lines, outlining the ends of the created packages.