A container sealing apparatus 10 comprises an electrically conductive linearly displaceable cutting member 14 operable to cut a portion 18 of sealing material from a web 16 and an independently linearly displaceable transfer member 42 comprising an electrically insulating material and extendible rel
A container sealing apparatus 10 comprises an electrically conductive linearly displaceable cutting member 14 operable to cut a portion 18 of sealing material from a web 16 and an independently linearly displaceable transfer member 42 comprising an electrically insulating material and extendible relative to the cutting member 14 to transfer the cut portion 18 of sealing material to an open top of a container 12 to be sealed. An induction coil 52 produces an induction field 54 for heating the cut portion 18 of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to seal the cut portion 18 of sealing material to the open top of the container 12. The linearly displaceable transfer member 42 holds the cut portion 18 of sealing material against the open top of the container 12 during induction heating. A field concentrator 56 is provided to concentrate the induction field 54 in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member 14 and other electrically conductive component parts of the apparatus 10 to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion 18 of sealing material.
대표청구항▼
1. Container sealing apparatus comprising: a linearly displaceable cutting member operable to cut a portion of sealing material from a web, the linearly displaceable cutting member comprising an electrically conductive material;an independently linearly displaceable transfer member extendible relati
1. Container sealing apparatus comprising: a linearly displaceable cutting member operable to cut a portion of sealing material from a web, the linearly displaceable cutting member comprising an electrically conductive material;an independently linearly displaceable transfer member extendible relative to the cutting member to transfer the cut portion of sealing material from the linearly displaceable cutting member to an open top of a container to be sealed, the linearly displaceable transfer member comprising an electrically insulating material;an induction coil which is operable to produce an induction field for heating the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to enable the cut portion of sealing material to be sealed to the open top of the container, the linearly displaceable transfer member being operable to hold the cut portion of sealing material against the open top of the container during induction heating; anda field concentrator operable to concentrate the induction field in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion of sealing material, wherein the field concentrator is mounted on the transfer member. 2. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the induction coil is mounted generally adjacent to the field concentrator. 3. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member includes a transfer surface for transferring the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container. 4. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the field concentrator is arranged to concentrate the induction field in a region generally around the transfer surface. 5. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transfer surface includes a flexible plate member to enable the transfer surface to conform generally to the shape of the open top of a container when in contact with the container in use. 6. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use with sealing material comprising an electrically insulating sealing material and the transfer surface comprises electrically conductive material which is arranged to be inductively heated by the induction field produced by the induction coil to indirectly inductively heat the cut portion of electrically insulating sealing material. 7. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting member is generally tubular and includes a passage through which the transfer member is linearly displaceable, relative to the cutting member, between a retracted position and an extended position. 8. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cutting member includes an annular cutting surface and the transfer member includes a transfer surface that is generally flush with the cutting surface when the transfer member is in the retracted position. 9. Container sealing apparatus according to according to claim 8, wherein the transfer surface projects beyond the cutting surface when the transfer member is in the extended position. 10. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a holding arrangement operable to hold the cut portion of sealing material on the transfer member during transfer of the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container by the transfer member for sealing to the open top of the container. 11. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use with sealing material comprising an electrically conductive sealing material such that the induction field produced by the induction coil is operable to directly inductively heat the cut portion of electrically conductive sealing material. 12. A method for sealing a container, the method comprising: cutting a web of sealing material, using a linearly displaceable cutting member formed of electrically conductive material, to provide a cut portion of the sealing material;transferring the cut portion of sealing material to an open top of a container to be sealed by extending an independently linearly displaceable transfer member relative to the linearly displaceable cutting member, the linearly displaceable transfer member comprising an electrically insulating material;inductively heating the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, to seal the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container whilst held against the open top of the container by the transfer member;wherein the step of inductively heating the cut portion of sealing material comprises producing an induction field using an induction coil and concentrating the induction field, using a field concentrator mounted on the transfer member, in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion of sealing material. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the induction heating step comprises concentrating the induction field in a desired region generally around the cut portion of sealing material. 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises linearly displacing the cutting member from a first position to a second position to cut the web of sealing material and provide the cut portion of sealing material. 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises extending the transfer member relative to the cutting member when the cutting member is in the second position, to thereby transfer the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises maintaining the transfer member in the extended position for a predetermined period of time. 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises activating the induction coil to inductively heat the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, during an initial portion of the predetermined period of time and thereafter deactivating the induction coil during the remainder of the predetermined period of time. 18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises positively holding the cut portion of sealing material on the transfer member during transfer of the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container by the transfer member. 19. Container sealing apparatus comprising:— a linearly displaceable cutting member operable to cut a portion of sealing material from a web, the linearly displaceable cutting member comprising an electrically conductive material;an independently linearly displaceable transfer member extendible relative to the cutting member to transfer the cut portion of sealing material from the linearly displaceable cutting member to an open top of a container to be sealed, the linearly displaceable transfer member comprising an electrically insulating material;an induction coil which is operable to produce an induction field for heating the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to enable the cut portion of sealing material to be sealed to the open top of the container, the linearly displaceable transfer member being operable to hold the cut portion of sealing material against the open top of the container during induction heating; anda field concentrator operable to concentrate the induction field in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member to optimise the induction heating of the cut portion of sealing material;wherein the transfer member includes a transfer surface for transferring the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container and the field concentrator is arranged to concentrate the induction field in a region generally around the transfer surface. 20. Container sealing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the transfer member includes a distal end at which the transfer surface is provided and both the field concentrator and the electrical induction coil are positioned generally at or towards the distal end of the transfer member. 21. Container sealing apparatus comprising:— a linearly displaceable cutting member operable to cut a portion of sealing material from a web, the linearly displaceable cutting member comprising an electrically conductive material;an independently linearly displaceable transfer member extendible relative to the cutting member to transfer the cut portion of sealing material from the linearly displaceable cutting member to an open top of a container to be sealed, the linearly displaceable transfer member comprising an electrically insulating material;an induction coil which is operable to produce an induction field for heating the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to enable the cut portion of sealing material to be sealed to the open top of the container, the linearly displaceable transfer member being operable to hold the cut portion of sealing material against the open top of the container during induction heating; anda field concentrator operable to concentrate the induction field in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member to optimise the induction heating of the cut portion of sealing material;wherein the transfer member includes a transfer surface for transferring the cut portion of sealing material to the open top of the container and the transfer surface includes a flexible plate member to enable the transfer surface to conform generally to the shape of the open top of a container when in contact with the container in use.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Hammen, Richard R.; May, Ronald F., Adjustable cap sealer head.
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