U.S. patent number 3,892,060 [Application Number 05/290,003] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-01 for hot or cold pack and apparatus for and method of making same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kay Laboratories, Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph Stanley, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,892,060 |
Stanley, Jr. |
July 1, 1975 |
Hot or cold pack and apparatus for and method of making same
Abstract
A hot or cold pack including a rupturable container having a
first chemical therein and a second container having a second
chemical therein sealed from the first chemical and reactive
therewith to absorb or give off heat. The rupturable container is
completely filled with the first chemical to facilitate rupture
thereof in response to an impact blow. The rupturable container can
be made from heat sealable sheet material in a process which
involves heat sealing through a column of the first chemical which
extends above the location at which the heat seal is formed to
thereby assure complete filling of the container.
Inventors: |
Stanley, Jr.; Joseph (Topanga,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Kay Laboratories, Inc. (San
Diego, CA)
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Family
ID: |
26697375 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/290,003 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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23598 |
Mar 30, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/127; 53/239;
53/173; 53/552 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
9/207 (20130101); B65B 29/10 (20130101); B65B
9/12 (20130101); B65B 51/306 (20130101); B65B
2220/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
29/10 (20060101); B65B 29/00 (20060101); B65b
041/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/4 ;206/47A,219
;126/263 ;128/403 ;53/111RL,127,170,173,174,18M,182M,239 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Assistant Examiner: Sipos; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roston; Ellsworth R.
Parent Case Text
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 23,598, filed Mar. 30,
1970 now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A machine for making a pack for adding heat to, or removing heat
from, an object comprising:
a supporting structure;
means for mounting a first elongated strip of heat sealable plastic
material on said supporting structure;
a first heat sealing station on said supporting structure;
means for feeding said first strip of heat sealable material to
said first heat sealing station to form a plurality of first
containers;
means on said supporting structure for depositing a quantity of a
first chemical in each of the first containers as each of said
first containers is formed;
means at said first heat sealing station for heat sealing said
first containers to seal the latter with a quantity of said first
chemical therein, said first containers being rupturable;
means for preheating said first chemical to a particular
temperature above ambient prior to the sealing and cutting of the
first strip to form the plurality of first containers;
means for heating the heat sealing means to a particular
temperature above the temperature for heat sealing the first
containers to provide for the absorption of heat by the first
chemical during the sealing operation;
means for mounting a second elongated strip of heat sealable
plastic material on said supporting structure;
a second heat sealing station on said supporting structure;
means for feeding said second strip of heat sealable material to
said second heat sealing station to form a plurality of second
containers;
means on said supporting structure for depositing a quantity of a
second chemical in each of said second containers prior to any
sealing of the second containers, said first and second chemicals
being chemically reactive to absorb or give off heat;
conveyor means for converging said first containers to said second
heat sealing station in timed relationship with the rate of
formation of said second containers and for depositing at least one
of said first containers in each of said second containers prior to
any sealing of the second containers; and
means for heat sealing each of said second containers with each of
said second containers having said quantity of said second chemical
and at least one of said first containers therein whereby each of
said second containers and the contents thereof at least partially
forms a pack.
2. In a machine for continuously making containers from an
elongated strip of heat sealable sheet material including a
supporting structure, means for folding the strip and forming a
side seal, first and second rotors mounted on said supporting
structure, drive means for synchronously rotating said rotors,
first and second heat sealing jaws carried by said first and second
rotors, respectively, for forming end seals on the containers,
means for severing the containers from the strip following
formation of the last end seal therefor by said jaws, said first
and second jaws being mounted for limited pivotal movement relative
to the first and second rotors, respectively, first and second
springs for biasing the first and second jaws, respectively, in the
direction of rotation of their respective rotors and toward a
predetermined position relative to their respective rotors, said
jaws cooperating to squeeze preselected regions of the strip
together to form said end seals while said rotors rotate, said jaws
pivoting relative to their respective rotors and against the
biasing force of their respective springs while they squeeze said
preselected regions of the strip together whereby upon formation of
an end seal by such jaws, the jaws are biased to their respective
predetermined positions, the improvement to prevent the first and
second jaws from slapping the severed container as they are biased
to their predetermined positions comprising:
first and second detainer members mounted on the first and second
jaw members, respectively, said detainer members being engageable
for a period of time after the jaws disengage to delay the return
of the jaws to their predetermined positions under the influence of
their respective springs.
3. An apparatus for making a pack for adding heat to, or removing
heat from, an object by a reaction between a flowable chemical and
a second chemical, including:
means for forming a first container having a bottom wall and side
walls spaced upwardly from the bottom wall, the side walls defining
predetermined heat sealable regions;
means for filling the first container with a flowable chemical to a
level above a particular level so that the flowable chemical above
the particular level pressurizes the flowable chemical below the
particular level;
means for sealing the first container at the particular level while
the flowable chemical below the particular level is pressurized by
the flowable chemical above the particular level, the sealed
container having characteristics for rupturing upon impact;
means for preheating the flowable chemical to a particular
temperature above ambient temperature to facilitate the sealing of
the first container;
means for preheating the sealing means to a temperature above the
temperature providing for a sealing of the first container so that
heat from the sealing means can be transferred to the flowable
chemical and sealing of the first container can be obtained even
with this transfer of heat;
means for forming a second container having a bottom wall and side
walls spaced upwardly from the bottom wall;
means for simultaneously depositing the second chemical and the
filled first container in the second container so that the first
chemical is separated from the second chemical by the first
container; and
means for thereafter sealing the second container so that upon
rupture of the first container the first and second chemicals mix
and react to give off or absorb heat.
4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 further comprising means
cooperative with the sealing means for the first container for
inhibiting any slapping of the first container by the heat sealing
means after the sealing of the first container by the heat sealing
means.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the flowable chemical
comprises water and the heating means for the flowable chemical
includes means for adding calcium chloride to the water to initiate
a heat generating reaction so that the flowable chemical is heated
to a temperature above the ambient temperature to facilitate the
sealing of the first container and so that the flowable chemical
cannot freeze thereafter.
6. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein the means for sealing
the first container includes:
at least a pair of heated jaws for engaging the predetermined
regions of the first container at the particular level to heat seal
the first container;
means for biasing the heated jaws to provide for a movement of the
pairs of heated jaws from the sealing position; and
means associated with the heated pairs for inhibiting any slapping
of the first container by the heated jaws after the heat sealing of
the first container by the heated jaws.
7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, including,
detainer means cooperative with the heat sealing means at the first
station to inhibit any slapping of the first container by the heat
sealing means after the sealing of the first container by the heat
sealing means.
8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein
the first chemical constitutes water and wherein the heat sealing
means for the water includes means for adding a second chemical to
the water to heat the water during the heat sealing of the first
containers and to prevent the water from thereafter freezing.
9. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein
the heat sealing means from the first container includes a pair of
jaws movable into position to seal the first container by the
application of heat and pressure and wherein the means for
inhibiting the slapping of the first container includes detainer
means cooperative with the jaws for delaying the movement of the
jaws after the sealing of the first container by the jaws.
10. In a machine for forming a pack for applying heat to an object
or withdrawing heat from the object:
a heat sealing station;
means for feeding a strip of heat sealable material to the heat
sealing station to form a plurality of containers;
means at the heat sealing station for depositing a particular
quantity of a chemical into each of the first containers in the
plurality;
means for preheating the chemical to a particular temperature above
ambient but below the sealing temperature of the strip prior to the
formation of the containers in the plurality;
means at the heat sealing station for heat sealing the first
containers with the heated chemical in the containers; and
means for heating the heat sealing means to a particular
temperature above the sealing temperature of the strip to provide
for the transfer of heat from the heat sealing means to the
chemical during the sealing of the strip to form the
containers.
11. In a machine as set forth in claim 10,
detainer means cooperative with the heat sealing means at the
station to inhibit any slapping of the containers by the heat
sealing means after the sealing of the containers by the heat
sealing means.
12. In a machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein
the first chemical constitutes water and the heat sealing means
includes means for adding a second chemical to the water to heat
the water during the heat sealing of the containers and to prevent
the water from freezing.
13. A machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein
the heat sealing means for the containers includes a pair of jaws
movable into position to seal the containers by the application of
heat and pressure to the containers and wherein the means for
inhibiting the slapping of the first containers includes detainer
means cooperative with the jaws for delaying the movement of the
jaws after the sealing of the containers by the jaws.
14. In apparatus for forming a pack for applying heat to an object
or withdrawing heat from the object:
means for forming a container having a bottom wall and side walls
spaced upwardly from the bottom wall;
means for filling the container with a flowable chemical to a level
above a particular level so that the flowable chemical above the
particular level pressurizes the flowable chemical below the
particular level;
means for sealing the container at the particular level while the
flowable chemical below the particular level is pressurized by the
flowable chemical above the particular level;
means for preheating the flowable chemical to a particular
temperature above ambient but below the heat sealing temperature of
the container to facilitate the heat sealing of the container;
and
means for preheating the sealing means to a temperature above the
heat sealing temperature of the first container so that heat from
the sealing means can be transferred to the flowable chemical and
sealing of the container can be obtained even with this transfer of
heat.
15. In apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein
the flowable chemical constitutes water and the preheating means
for the water constitutes means for adding a particular amount of a
second chemical to the water in the container to heat the water and
to prevent the water from thereafter freezing.
16. In a machine as set forth in claim 15,
means cooperative with the heat sealing means for preventing the
heat sealing means from slapping the container after the heat
sealing of the container.
17. In a machine as set forth in claim 16,
the heat sealing means including a pair of jaws movable to the
particular level to apply heat and pressure to the container to
seal the container; and
the means for inhibiting slapping of the container including means
for detaining the movement of the jaws from the particular level
after the heat sealing of the container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A hot or cold pack typically includes a rupturable container having
a first chemical therein. A second chemical is positioned adjacent
the rupturable container with the rupturable container preventing
contact between the two chemicals. Upon rupturing of the rupturable
container, the first and second chemicals mix and react to give off
heat or to absorb heat to thereby produce the desired heating or
cooling effect.
Hot and cold packs often use water within the rupturable container
as the first chemical. When the pack is subjected to below freezing
temperatures for a period of time, the water therein freezes. This
can occur, for example, during transport of the pack or when a hot
pack is to be used, for example, as a hand warmer in a cold
environment. If the water freezes completely, the pack is not
usable as little or no reaction will occur. With only partial
freezing of the water of a hot pack, the exothermic reaction can be
begun; however, much of the heat produced by the reaction is used
to convert the ice to water without causing any temperature rise in
the water, i.e., much of the heat of the reaction is necessary to
overcome the latent heat of fusion of the ice.
It is also desirable to control the rate of heat emission of the
hot pack. Heretofore, the reaction causes the pack temperature to
increase and drop off relatively rapidly thereby reducing the
length of time during which the pack gives off heat.
One problem which relates to both hot and cold packs is the
rupturing of the rupturable container. The rupturable container
must not fracture during normal handling and storage but must
fracture easily when struck with an intentional blow for the
purpose of rupturing the same. Heretofore attempts to control or
facilitate the rupture of the rupturable container have been
directed to the construction of the rupturable container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hot or cold pack which solves the
above noted problems. First, to facilitate and/or control rupture
of the rupturable container, the rupturable container should be
completely filled with a first flowable, substantially
noncompressible chemical and all compressible components such as
air should be excluded from the rupturable container. Preferably
the flowable chemical in the rupturable container is under some
pressure greater than atmospheric. With the container completely
filled, rupture thereof in response to an impact blow is more
easily obtained. Furthermore, if the flowable chemical within the
container is actually under some pressure, the rupture of the
container is made still easier.
To reduce the freezing point of the water which is typically used
as the flowable chemical in the rupturable container, salt such as
calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2) can be added in varying quantities to
the water depending upon the amount of freezing protection desired.
In addition to providing freezing protection, calcium chloride can
also be used to prolong the period of time during which a hot pack
is maintained at an elevated temperature. This latter advantage is
obtainable by using calcium chloride as a second chemical outside
of the rupturable container and as an ingredient of the flowable
chemical.
The present invention provides a method of advantageously filling
the rupturable container. With this method complete filling of the
rupturable container is assured. In addition, the flowable chemical
in the rupturable container is pressurized by a column of the
flowable chemical which extends above the container. The upper end
of the container is then sealed by heat sealing directly through
the column of flowable chemical. This assures complete filling of
the rupturable container and pressurizes, to some degree, the
flowable chemical in the rupturable container.
This method can be rapidly carried out in an apparatus which
continuously forms and severs rupturable containers from a strip of
sheet material. Preferably the apparatus seals portions of the
strip to form a container having an open upper end and this
container is filled or partially filled with flowable chemical.
Predetermined regions of the container which are spaced upwardly
from the bottom of the container which lie beneath the level of
flowable chemical are then sealed. The sealing operation is carried
out through the column of flowable chemical with a quantity of the
flowable chemical extending above such predetermined regions to
thereby pressurize the flowable chemical sealed within the
container.
The operation which seals the container is preferably a heat
sealing operation. Because this heat sealing operation is carried
out through a column of flowable chemical, it is necessary to heat
the heat sealing members or jaws to a higher temperature than would
be necessary if the water were not present. This is necessary
because of the additional heat absorbed by the column of flowable
chemical from the jaws thereby resulting in a greater temperature
drop in the jaws than if the heat sealing operation were not
carried out through the first chemical. Thus, the first chemical
has a cooling effect on the jaws.
With the present invention, the jaws are preferably heated to a
temperature which is sufficiently high to rupture the container if
the heat sealing operation were not carried out without the cooling
effect of the flowable chemical. Accordingly, if the apparatus for
supplying the first chemical should malfunction and fail to
adequately fill the container, the heat sealing jaws will not be
cooled and will rupture the sheet material of the container thereby
failing to seal the container. Thus, this aspect of the present
invention provides an inherent quality control feature which
prevents the production of only partially filled containers.
Another feature of the present invention involves the heating of
the flowable chemical prior to the heat sealing operation which
seals the container. In this heat sealing operation, the heat
sealing jaws must be reheated between each sealing operation and
the time required to reheat the jaws can be the limiting factor in
the speed of making the containers. With the present invention, the
water in the containers is preferably heated to a temperature above
ambient so that the jaws will transfer less heat as a result of the
heat sealing operation and thereby suffer a smaller temperature
drop. Thus, reheating of the jaws can be accomplished much more
quickly than if the water in the containers were not heated.
Although the heating of the water can be accomplished in many
different ways, it can advantageously be provided by using water
and calcium chloride as the flowable chemical. Thus, the salt not
only provides protection against freezing and a more desirable heat
emission curve but is also of substantial value in carrying out the
method of this invention.
It is often desirable to place the rupturable container and a
second chemical reactive with the flowable chemical within an outer
container. According to the present invention this can
advantageously be accomplished by making the rupturable container
and the outer container in two substantially similar machines and
by conveying the rupturable container to the machine forming the
outer container in a predetermined timed relationship. In this
manner, the rupturable container and the second chemical can be
deposited within the outer container just prior to sealing of the
outer container.
One kind of machine for making sealed plastic containers includes
first and second rotors having first and second jaws thereon for
forming the end seals on the containers. Following the sealing
operation performed by these jaws, a knife automatically cuts the
sealed container from the remainder of the sheet material and such
container is allowed to fall by gravity to an appropriate location
such as a conveyor. The heat sealing jaws must be pivotally mounted
on their respective rotors and spring biased in the direction of
rotation of their respective rotors in order to assure proper
orientation of the jaws at the beginning of the heat sealing
operation. As the jaws separate following the heat sealing
operation, their respective springs thereof quickly snap the jaws
toward the severed container. This can result in the jaws slapping
the container and causing it to fall to a location spaced from the
desired location. The present invention provides means for
preventing slapping of the container by the jaws. Specifically, the
present invention delays movement of the jaws in response to the
forces directed thereagainst by their respective springs at the
completion of the heat sealing operation.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation
together with further features and advantages thereof, may best be
understood by reference to the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus constructed in
accordance with the teachings of this invention and adapted to
carry out the method of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the heat
sealing jaws and the means for delaying the abrupt movement of the
jaws at the termination of the heat sealing operation.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing how the apparatus of Fig. 1 heat
seals the plastic sheet material to form a container.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rupturable container of the type
utilized in a hot or cold pack.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing typical sidewall
construction of the rupturable container of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line
6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partially in section of a hot or
cold pack constructed in accordance with the teachings of this
invention.
FIG. 8 is a representative plot of pack temperature versus time for
a typical prior art hot pack and a hot pack constructed in
accordance with the teachings of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 11
designates a rupturable container constructed in accordance with
the teachings of this invention. Although the container 11 may take
many forms, in the embodiment illustrated the opposite ends of the
container 11 are sealed by seams 13 and 15 and the container is
sealed longitudinally between the seams 13 and 15 by a back or side
seam 17. The seams 13, 15 and 17 are preferably the result of heat
sealing operations. As used herein, heat sealing means the
formation of a seal through the application of heat and/or pressure
to the regions to be sealed. The container 11 is adapted to contain
a flowable, substantially noncompressible chemical 19 which may be
in liquid form such as water.
The chemical 19 completely fills the container 11 so that
substantially all compressible gases such as air are excluded from
the container 11. Preferably, the chemical 19 is under some
pressure greater than atmospheric.
The container 11 is a rupturable container and the complete filling
thereof as well as the pressurization of the chemical 19
facilitates rupture of the container. The container 11 may be made
rupturable in any desired manner such as by scoring or controlling
the heat sealing operations to provide a weakened joint.
Preferably, however, the container 11 is made rupturable in the
manner described in common assignee's copending application No.
19,202 filed Mar. 13, 1970 entitled "Rupturable Container" now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,674,134 issued July 4, 1972.
The container 11 is constructed of thin flexible sheet material
which is preferably heat sealable. Although the particular details
of construction can be varied within the teachings of the present
invention, it is preferred to utilize laminated plastic sheet
material. In the embodiment illustrated, the laminate includes an
outer layer 21 (FIG. 5) of a polyester film made from polyethylene
terephthalate (commonly designated by the trademark Mylar) and an
inner layer 23 of low density polyethylene film. For example, the
outer layer 21 may be 50 gauge seran coated polyester such as
Dupont M24 Mylar. The two layers may be bonded together with a
suitable adhesive 25 such as a polyurethane adhesive compound.
FIG. 6 shows the seam 17 with the illustrated construction being
simplified so that the seam appears as a two-layer structure. The
seam 17 is preferably a flip or French seal and is folded over
substantially as illustrated. The seam 17 may be formed in the
manner disclosed in common assignee's copending application Ser.
No. 19,202 filed Mar. 13, 1970, entitled "Rupturable Container" now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,134 issued July 4, 1972.
FIG. 7 illustrates a pack 29 which includes an outer container 31
having the rupturable container 11 and a chemical 33 sealed
therein. The container 29 may be made from one or more suitable
layers of material to provide the desired properties for the
container. For example, the container 29 may have an inner layer 35
of a polyethylene composition to allow the inner surfaces of the
container to be sealed as by the application of heat and pressure
to form end seams 37. The container 29 may also include an outer
layer 39 of a suitable material such as polyethylene terethphalate
to impart strength to the container. The container 31 may also have
a side seam (not shown) similar to the side seam 17 (FIG. 4).
The chemical 33 in the embodiment illustrated is a solid granular
material and is sealed within the container 29. If the pack 29 is
intended to apply heat to an object, the chemical 33 may be
anhydrous calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2). When the pack is to remove
heat from an object, the chemical 33 may be ammonium nitrate
(NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3). The ammonium nitrate may be commercial grade
particles which may be partially ground before they are placed in
the container. Commercial grade ammonium nitrate generally includes
particles or pellets having a clay coating. By partially grinding
the particles or pellets, the clay coating becomes ruptured to
expose the ammonium nitrate.
The rupturable container 11 in the embodiment illustrated is
disposed within the container 29 and is sealed so that the chemical
19 therein is sealed from the chemical 33. If the pack 29 is a hot
pack, the chemical 19 may be a solution of water and a salt such as
calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2). The calcium chloride lowers the
freezing point of the water an amount dependent upon the relative
proportions of the water and calcium chloride. For example, a
solution containing 18% by weight calcium chloride and 82% by
weight water can be expected to protect the water against freezing
down to a temperature of zero degrees F.
Another advantage of adding the calcium chloride to the water
within the rupturable container 11 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Curves
A and B represent typical plots of prior art hot packs and a hot
pack constructed in accordance with the teachings of this
invention, respectively. It can be seen that the typical prior art
hot pack produces a higher temperature initially and that the
temperature of the prior art hot pack drops to ambient more
rapidly. Thus, with the present invention, the hot pack provided
elevated temperatures for a longer period of time.
In use of the pack 29, the user strikes the pack with an impact
blow thereby rupturing the rupturable container 11 to allow mixing
of the chemicals 19 and 33. The mixing of the chemicals 19 and 33
can be speeded up by shaking or kneading of the pack 29.
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 51 which is particularly adapted for
constructing hot or cold packs such as the pack 29 (FIG. 7).
Generally, the apparatus 51 includes two substantially similar
container forming machines 53 and 55 for making the containers 11
and 31, respectively. The machine 53 is elevated by support 57 to a
higher elevation than the machine 55. Each of the machines 53 and
55 may be of conventional construction except to the extent
expressly noted herein and for this reason these machines are not
described in intimate detail. For example, each of the machines may
be of the type manufactured by Econ-o-Line Manufacturing Company of
Houston, Tex.
The machine 53 includes rotors 59 and 61 suitably mounted for
rotation about parallel horizontal axes with each of the axes being
at the same elevation. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for
adjusting the distance between the axes of the rotors 59 and 61. A
plurality of heat sealing jaws 63 and 65 are pivotally mounted on
the rotors 59 and 61, respectively. Although five of the jaws are
mounted on each of the rotors 59 and 61, any number of jaws may be
utilized; however, the number of jaws 63 should equal the number of
jaws 65. The rotors 59 and 61 are synchronized so that each of the
jaws 63 can cooperate with one of the jaws 65 to perform a heat
sealing operation. The rotors 59 and 61 rotate continuously at the
same angular velocity.
The construction and coaction of the jaws 63 and 65 can best be
understood from FIG. 2 which shows a typical pair of the jaws 63
and 65. The jaws 63 and 65 are suitably mounted for limited pivotal
movement on base members 67 and 69, respectively, by pins 71. The
base members 67 and 69 are suitably rigidly mounted on the rotors
59 and 61, respectively. Springs 73 and 75 tend to pivot the jaws
63 and 65, respectively, in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2.
When the jaws 63 and 65 are unrestrained as shown in FIG. 1, their
respective springs 73 and 75 bias them to a predetermined inclined
position shown in FIG. 1. Suitable stops (not shown) hold the jaws
in the inclined positions shown in FIG. 1. However, cooperation of
a pair of jaws 63 and 65 causes the cooperating jaws to pivot to a
generally radial position as shown in FIG. 2.
Each of the jaws 63 and 65 are suitably electrically heated in a
conventional manner. Each of the jaws 63 and 65 have cooperating
faces 76 which confront each other during the heat sealing
operation performed thereby as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the jaws 63
has a knife 76a mounted in a conventional manner in a recess in the
face 76. The machine 53 as described hereinabove in the Description
of the Preferred Embodiment is conventional.
Delaying means in the form of angle members 77 and 79 are mounted
on the upper ends of the jaws 63 and 65 as shown in FIG. 2. Each of
the angle members 77 and 79 includes a base 81 for fixedly mounting
the angle member on its respective jaw and an upright leg 83.
A roll 85 of heat sealable flexible plastic sheet material 86 is
mounted for rotation on a spindle 87. The sheet material 86 may be
of the type shown in FIG. 5. The sheet material 86 is run over a
number of rollers 89 to a sealing and forming device 91 which forms
the sheet material into a generally tubular configuration and which
forms a longitudinal heat seal such as the seam 17 of the
rupturable container 11 (FIG. 4). In the embodiment illustrated,
the sheet material 86 is pulled through the machine by the jaws 63
and 65.
The device 91 is also of conventional construction and some of the
details thereof can best be understood from reference to FIG. 3.
Many different kinds of the device 91 can be utilized and the form
shown in FIG. 3 is merely illustrative.
The device 91 includes a plate member 93 having a generally
circular forming orifice 95 therein. A finger element 97 projects
through the forming orifice 95 in spaced relationship to the wall
of the orifice. The finger element 97 extends radially inwardly as
it extends downwardly as shown in FIG. 3. The finger element 97 is
arcuate in transverse cross section with the curvature thereof
generally conforming to the curvature of the adjacent portion of
the wall of the orifice 95. The finger element 97 and the plate
member 93 are suitably rigidly affixed to the machine 53 and form a
portion thereof.
A side sealing element 99 is pivotally mounted by a pin 101 on a
support arm 103 which is in turn pivotally mounted on the plate
member 93 by a shaft 105. The support arm 103 can be pivoted to
move the side sealing element 99 toward the finger element 97 to
form a side seal for the container. The side sealing element 99 is
suitably electrically heated.
In operation of the portion of the device shown in FIG. 3, the jaws
63 and 65 pull the sheet material 86 through the forming orifice 95
and between the finger element 97 and the wall of the forming
orifice 95. This forms the sheet material 86 into a generally
tubular column. The support arm 103 is pivoted to move the side
sealing element 99 into cooperative engagement with the finger
element 97 to continuously form a side or back seal such as the
seam 17 (FIG. 4) as the sheet material 86 is pulled past the
element 99. The lower end of the sheet material 86 is heat sealed
by the lowermost jaws 63 and 65 visible in FIG. 3 to form the end
seal 13. Accordingly, the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 forms the sheet
material into an elongated container 107 having an open upper
end.
The container 107 is supplied with the flowable chemical 19 from a
tank 108 (FIG. 1) through a supply tube 109 by a pump 110 (FIG. 1)
with the flow rate being adjustable by a valve 110a. The supply
tube 109 has a lower end 111 which lies below the upper surface of
the flowable chemical 19. The flowable chemical is preferably
continuously supplied through the supply tube 109 at a rate which
will cause the lower end 111 thereof to always be maintained
beneath the upper level of the flowable chemical. This
significantly reduces the likelihood of the introduction of air
bubbles into the flowable chemical 19.
As shown in FIG. 3, predetermined opposed regions 113 of the
container 107 are being forcibly moved together by an upper set of
cooperating jaws 63' and 65'. The regions 113 are spaced upwardly
from the bottom of the container 107 which is defined by the seam
13. Continued rotation of the rotors 59 and 61 moves the jaws 63'
and 65' downwardly and closer together to apply heat and pressure
to the regions 113 to thereby heat seal these regions of the
container 107 and form the end seal 15. During this operation, a
column of the flowable chemical 19 has been maintained above the
regions 113 so that the flowable chemical beneath the regions 113
is under a predetermined static head. The static head assures that
the container will be completely filled by the flowable chemical
and that such flowable chemical sealed within the sealed container
will be at a pressure greater than atmospheric.
The sealed filled container is severed by the knife 76a from the
remainder of the sheet material 86 automatically at the completion
of the heat seal which joins the regions 113. The regions 113 are
cut approximately in half longitudinally so that the lower half of
the regions 113 forms the end seal 15 of a lower container while
the upper half of the regions 113 form the end seal 13 of an upper
container. As the rotors 59 and 61 rotate continuously, containers
11 will be continuously formed with each of the containers having
the chemical 19 therein. The length of the rupturable container 11
can be varied by varying the distance between the axes of rotation
of rotors 59 and 61.
The jaws 63 and 65 are heated to a temperature higher than that
required for heat sealing of the regions 113 and to a temperature
sufficient to at least partially rupture or destroy the sheet
material 86 of the container 107 through melting thereof. However,
the flowable chemical 19 is supplied to the container 107 at a
temperature significantly less than the temperature of the jaws 63
and 65. As the contact between the jaws 63 and 65 and the regions
113 occurs for a period of time during which the regions are also
in contact with the flowable chemical 19, heat transfer between the
jaws and the flowable chemical occurs. Such heat transfer results
in a temperature reduction of the jaws 63 and 65 sufficient to
prevent rupture of the container 107 and to allow the heat sealing
operation to be carried out.
Should the apparatus for supplying the flowable chemical to the
container 107 malfunction so that the upper level of the flowable
chemical 19 lies beneath the regions 113, then little or no heat
from the jaws 63 and 65 would be absorbed by the flowable chemical.
In this event, the jaws 63 and 65 would be sufficiently hot to
rupture the regions 113 and no heat seal would occur. By this
arrangement an automatic quality control feature is provided which
assures that each of the containers produced by the apparatus will
be completely full of the flowable chemical.
After each set of jaws 63 and 65 have been utilized to form a heat
seal, they must be reheated to the necessary temperature before
they can be utilized again. One factor effecting the speed of
rotation of the rotors 59 and 61 is the rate at which the jaws 63
and 65 can be reheated. According to the present invention,
excessive cooling of the jaws 63 and 65 by the flowable chemical 19
is prevented by heating the flowable chemical. Although the amount
which the flowable chemical is heated will vary depending upon the
heat sealing temperature range of the sheet material 86, a
temperature of 130.degree. F. has been found satisfactory when the
heat sealable sheet material 86 is low density polyethylene.
The flowable chemical 19 can be heated by any suitable means.
However, it is preferred to heat the flowable chemical 19 by adding
a substance which will produce an exothermic reaction. In the
embodiment illustrated, the flowable chemical 19 is a mixture of
water and calcium chloride with sufficient calcium chloride having
been added to obtain a temperature in the neighborhood of
130.degree. F. within a few minutes after the calcium chloride is
added to the water.
As the containers 11 are severed by the knives 76a, they fall on
conveyor 121 mounted on, and extending between, the machines 51 and
53. The conveyor 121 runs continuously at a predetermined speed and
lies beneath the region between the rotors 59 and 61 so that it can
receive the rupturable containers 11 as they are dropped thereon.
The conveyor 121 extends upwardly to a location just above a
forming and sealing device 123 of the machine 55. The forming and
sealing device 123 can be identical to the device 91 (FIG. 3)
described hereinabove.
The chemical 33 is stored in a hopper 125. A suitable metering
device 127 such as a volumetric filler supplies metered quantities
of the chemical 33 through a tube 128 to a location just above the
forming and sealing device 123.
Plastic sheet material 129 is wound on a roll 131 and rotatably
supported by a spindle 133. The sheet material 129 which may be
identical to the laminate formed by layers 35 and 39 (FIG. 7) is
fed over a number of rollers 135 to the device 123. The device 123
forms the sheet material 129 into a generally tubular column and a
side sealing element 136 continuously forms side seals for the
containers 31 as described hereinabove with reference to FIG.
3.
The machine 55 also includes rotors 137 and 139 carrying heat
sealing jaws 141 and 143, respectively. The jaws 141 and 143 and
the rotors 137 and 139 are preferably identical to the
corresponding parts of the machine 51 except that the rotors 137
and 139 have sponges 145 mounted adjacent each of the jaws carried
thereby.
The jaws 141 and 143 cooperate in the same manner as the
corresponding jaws 63 and 65 of the machine 51 to form end seals
for the containers 31. The sponges 145 compress the zone of the
container 31 beneath the jaws 141 and 143 just prior to the heat
sealing operation carried out by such jaws to remove the air from
within the container. Each of the jaws 141 and 143 also includes a
blade for severing the sealed container 31 from the plastic sheet
material 129. The severed container 31 falls on a conveyor 147.
The rotors 59, 61, 137 and 139, the conveyor 121 and the metering
device 127 are synchronized so that one of the rupturable
containers 11 and a metered quantity of the chemical 33 will be
supplied to each container 31 just after or while the bottom end
seal thereof is being formed and before such container is
completely sealed through the formation of the upper end seal. By
so doing, the entire process can be carried out rapidly and
automatically.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown
and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill
in the art that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may
be made without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of
this invention.
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