Cutter-sealer and associated method for cutting and sealing polymer sheets
A cutter-sealer ( 10 ) and a method ( 300 ) for cutting and sealing target materials ( 70 ) together. The cutter-sealer ( 10 ) provides a heated blade ( 20 ), part of which moves through sheets of tautly held target materials ( 70 ) into a slot defined by the seal pad ( 40 ). The blade's ( 20 ) motion is arrested by a set of blade shoulders ( 26 ) that press against the target materials ( 70 ) for a period of time, thereby sealing the sheets of target materials ( 70 ) together. The method ( 300 ) provides a means of cutting target materials ( 70 ) without liquefaction and a means of sealing the newly cut edges of the target materials ( 70 ) together, also without liquefaction of the target materials ( 70 ).
1 . A cutter-sealer for cutting and sealing sheets of target material, said cutter-sealer comprising:
a blade for being selectively heated and for cutting and sealing sheets of the target material, said blade having a cutting section with a distal portion defining a cutting edge, said blade defining at least a first blade shoulder rearward of said cutting section, said first blade shoulders being adapted for engaging the target materials and for transferring heat to the target materials in order to seal sheets of the target materials together;
a seal pad defining a seal pad slot adapted for receiving at least a portion of said cutting section of said blade, whereby at least a portion of said cutting section of said blade travels into said seal pad slot after said cutting edge moves through said target materials, said seal pad being provided with at least a first sealing surface proximate said seal pad slot against which the target material is press by said first blade shoulder to accomplish the sealing of the target material; and
a seal pad caddy for holding said seal pad in place.
2 . The cutter-sealer of claim 1 wherein said blade defines a second blade shoulder oppositely disposed to said first blade shoulder and wherein said seal pad is provided with a second sealing surface proximate said seal pad slot against which the target material is press by said second blade shoulder to accomplish the sealing of the target material.
3 . The cutter-sealer of claim 2 wherein said blade defines a heater receptacle adapted for receiving a heating element.
4 . The cutter-sealer of claim 3 wherein said seal pad is fabricated of a flexible material.
5 . The cutter-sealer of claim 4 wherein said seal pad caddy defines at least a first material fixation surface, and wherein said cutter-sealer is provided with means for securing the target material against said first material fixation surface, whereby the sheets of target material are held in place by pressing the sheets of target material against said first material fixation surface.
6 . The cutter-sealer of claim 2 wherein said at least said cutting section of said blade is coated with a non-stick coating.
7 . The cutter-sealer of claim 2 wherein said cutter-sealer is provided with means for holding the target materials in position over said seal pad slot to facilitate the cutting of the target material.
8 . The cutter-sealer of claim 7 wherein said seal pad caddy defines at least a first material fixation surface, and wherein said cutter-sealer is provided with means for securing the target material against said seal pad caddy, whereby the sheets of target material are held in place by pressing the sheets of target material against said first material fixation surface.
9 . The cutter-sealer of claim 8 wherein said seal pad defines a second material fixation surface disposed on the opposite side of said seal pad slot from said first material fixation surface, and wherein said means for securing the target material against said seal pad caddy selectively presses the target material against said first and second material fixation surfaces.
10 . The cutter-sealer of claim 9 wherein said seal pad is fabricated of a flexible material.
11 . A method for cutting and sealing sheets of target materials, said method utilizing a blade capable of being heated, the blade defining a cutting section having a cutting edge and a pair of oppositely disposed blade shoulders rearward of the cutting section, and utilizing a seal pad defining a seal pad slot for receiving at least a portion of the cutting section of the blade, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) Heating a blade to a predetermined temperature;
(b) Holding sheets of target materials tautly across the seal pad slot;
(c) Moving the cutting section of the blade through the target materials with a predetermined cutting force until the blade shoulders arrests the movement of the blade into the seal pad slot and engage the edges of the newly cut target materials;
(d) Pressing the heated blade shoulders against the edges of the newly cut target materials with a predetermined sealing pressure in order to form a laminate seal; and
(e) Retracting the blade out of engagement with the target materials.
12 . The method of claim 11 , and before said step of heating a blade to a predetermined temperature, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining a cutting temperature and a sealing temperature of the blade.
13 . The method of claim 12 , and before said step of moving the blade through the target materials with a predetermined cutting force, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining a cutting force based on the cutting temperature.
14 . The method of claim 13 , and before said step of pressing the blade shoulders against the edges of the newly cut target materials with a predetermined sealing pressure in order to form a laminate seal, wherein said method further comprising the step of determining a sealing pressure.
15 . The method of claim 14 , and before said step of retracting the blade out of engagement with the target materials, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining when to retract said blade out of engagement with the target materials.
16 . The method of claim 15 where the target materials are polyethylenes.