Method and Apparatus For Making Bag Using Ultrasonic Sealing
A method and apparatus for making bags or pouches is disclosed. An ultrasonic sealer may be used to form the seals. Sealing patterns may be used to provide a desired strength profile.
1 . A bag machine for creating bags from a web, comprising an input section and a sealing section, where the web moves in a downstream direction from the input section to the sealing section, and wherein the sealing section includes a rotary ultrasonic sealer disposed to seal at least a portion of the web.
2 . The bag machine of claim 1 , wherein the rotary ultrasonic sealer is a hem sealer and the sealing section further includes a hem folder and a drawtape inserter, wherein the rotary ultrasonic sealer is downstream of the hem folder and the drawtape inserter.
3 . The bag machine of claim 2 , wherein the rotary ultrasonic sealer comprises a horn and an anvil, wherein the anvil has a sealing pattern thereon.
4 . The bag machine of claim 3 , wherein the sealing pattern is a continuous sealing pattern.
5 . The bag machine of claim 4 , wherein the sealing pattern has a cross section having a width with two edges, a radius at least at the two edges, and two sides.
6 . The bag machine of claim 5 , wherein the two sides are at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the width.
7 . The bag machine of claim 4 , wherein the sealing pattern includes micro grooves.
8 . The bag machine of claim 3 , wherein the sealing pattern is a discontinuous sealing pattern.
9 . The bag machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealing pattern comprises a first row of dots and a second row of dots, wherein dots in the first row are offset from dots in the second row.
10 . The bag machine of claim 9 , wherein an upper surface of the dots has a radius, and a side surface of the dots is angled.
11 . The bag machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealing pattern comprises at least one repeating shape.
12 . The bag machine of claim 11 , wherein the least one repeating shape is an angled oblong.
13 . The bag machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealing pattern comprises at least one repeating shape with a changing orientation.
14 . The bag machine of claim 1 , wherein the rotary ultrasonic sealer is at least one of a side sealer or cross sealer, and wherein the seals formed by the rotary ultrasonic sealer for a bag.
15 . A pouch machine for creating bags from a web, comprising an input section and a sealing section, where the web moves in a downstream direction from the input section to the sealing section, and wherein the sealing section includes an ultrasonic sealer disposed to seal at least a portion of the web, thereby forming pouches.
16 . A method of creating bags from a web, comprising feeding the web to a sealing section in a downstream direction, and sealing the web by applying ultrasonic energy to the web.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising folding the web to form a hem and inserting a drawtape prior to applying the ultrasonic energy.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy includes rotating an anvil with a sealing pattern thereon and rotating and vibrating a horn, wherein the horn and the anvil that are in close proximity to the web.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein rotating the anvil includes rotating the anvil with a continuous sealing pattern thereon.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein rotating the anvil includes rotating the anvil with a discontinuous sealing pattern thereon.
21 . The method machine of claim 16 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy to the web includes applying ultrasonic energy to form at least one of a side seal or end seal, thereby forming a bag.
22 . A bag machine for creating bags from a web, comprising an input section and a sealing section, where the web moves in a downstream direction from the input section to the sealing section, and wherein the sealing section includes means for imparting ultrasonic energy to seal at least a portion of the web.
23 . The bag machine of claim 22 , further comprising means for folding a hem, and means for inserting a drawtape, wherein the means for imparting ultrasonic energy is downstream of the means for folding and the means for inserting a drawtape.
24 . The bag machine of claim 22 , wherein the means for imparting ultrasonic energy is disposed to form at least one of end seals or side seals.
25 . The bag machine of claim 22 , further comprising a controller, disposed to control the means for imparting ultrasonic energy, and a feedback path disposed to provide a feedback signal to the controller.
26 . The bag machine of claim 25 , wherein the feedback signal is indicative of amplitude.
27 . The bag machine of claim 25 , wherein the feedback signal is indicative of power.