US 12,110,146 B2
Apparatus for heat-sealing a lidding film to a supporting element
Giovanni Mondini, Cologne (IT); and Paolo Carlo Mondini, Cologne (IT)
Assigned to G.MONDINI S.P.A., Cologne (IT)
Filed by G.MONDINI S.P.A., Cologne (IT)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/827,236.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000015857 (IT), filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402638 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 7/16 (2006.01); B65B 43/42 (2006.01); B65B 51/14 (2006.01); B65G 17/14 (2006.01); B65G 17/32 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 51/14 (2013.01) [B65B 7/164 (2013.01); B65B 43/42 (2013.01); B65G 54/02 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for heat-sealing a lidding film (2) to a supporting element (3) on which a product is present, the apparatus (1) comprising:
a structure (4);
a movement track (5) which is fitted on the structure (4) and which extends between an infeed zone and an outfeed zone;
a heat-sealing device (6) which is fitted on the structure (4), along the movement track (5), and which comprises a supporting unit (10) and a closing unit (11); at least one of the supporting unit (10) and the closing unit (11) being movable, relative to the other, between a home position in which they are at a distance from each other, and an operating position in which the supporting unit (10) and the closing unit (11) are coupled to clamp, in use, the lidding film (2) and the supporting element (3);
a conveying unit (8) which is configured to support the supporting element (3) and is associable with the movement track (5) for moving on said movement track (5), conveying the supporting element (3), from the infeed zone to an intermediate zone (7) at which the heat-sealing device (6) is located, and from the intermediate zone (7) to the outfeed zone;
wherein:
the conveying unit (8) defines a seat (16) for the supporting element (3) and comprises one or more active portions (12) configured to support from below the supporting element (3) positioned in the seat (16);
when the conveying unit (8) is located in the intermediate zone (7), during an activation of the heat-sealing device (6) the one or more active portions (12) couple to the supporting unit (10) to define with said supporting unit (10) a clamping unit for clamping the supporting element (3) against the closing unit (11); and
the clamping unit has an operating part (18) with annular shape which is constituted partly of the one or more active portions (12) and partly of the supporting unit (10).