Packaging machine and packages made therewith
Provided herein is a liquid-filled, non-reclosable tetrahedral or pillow-shaped packaging container having a longitudinal fin seal and a pair of transverse seals. In the case of tetrahedral packages, the transverse seals are perpendicular to one another. Also provided herein is an apparatus for the formation of such fin seals as part of a continuous packaging and filling operation. A third aspect of the apparatus of the present disclosure is the development of a heated jaw that exhibits consistent heating across the jaw face. Yet another feature of the apparatus of the present disclosure is provided in a modified, closed-loop electrical system for real-time monitoring and adjustment of the temperatures of the heated jaws, as they are moving.
1. A heated jaw for a continuous fill packaging machine, said heated jaw comprising (a) a base, optionally having a separable support component attached thereto; (b) an insulator block attached to said base; (c) a heated jaw block attached to said insulator block on a side opposite said base, said heated jaw block comprising a heated jaw face, a heater cartridge embedded in said heated jaw block, and an axially bored channel proximate to the heated jaw face; (d) a thermocouple embedded in the axially bored channel to measure the temperature of the heated jaw face; and (e) a wireless transmitter connected to said thermocouple and attached to said base to transmit the temperature of the heated jaw face to an antenna.
2. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein the heated jaw face has a patterned surface created by a plurality of lines engraved therein.
3. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein the heated jaw face is comprised of heat-treated stainless steel.
4. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein the heated jaw face is coated with a non-stick coating.
5. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein said heated jaw face comprises a face component and a rear component between which components said heater cartridge is positioned.
6. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein said heater cartridge is a uniform power density cartridge.
7. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein said heater cartridge is a variable power density cartridge.
8. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein said heater cartridge is embedded in a thermally conductive core before being embedded in said heated jaw block.
9. The heated jaw of claim 8 , wherein said thermally conductive core is comprised of copper.
10. The heated jaw of claim 1 , further comprising a first headspace plate that is attached at a proximal end to the top of said insulator block and a second headspace plate that is attached at a proximal end to the bottom of said insulator block, the distal ends of each of said headspace plates extending angularly over the heated jaw face.
11. The heated jaw of claim 1 , wherein said wireless transmitter is held in a transmitter housing.