Patent ID: 9561618
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B29C,B65B

Claim:
1. A form-fill-seal machine, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey a film formed into a cylindrical shape by the form-fill-seal machine, the conveyor conveying the film at a conveyance speed; a sealing unit configured to apply pressure and ultrasonic oscillation to the film conveyed by the conveyor to create a seal between overlapping portions of the film; and a controller configured to control the conveyance speed, control the pressure applied by the sealing unit to the film, and control an amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation applied to the film by the sealing unit; wherein: the controller is configured to control the conveyor and the sealing unit during each operation cycle such that the sealing unit is controlled to apply the ultrasonic oscillation to the film in a first time period immediately prior to a first point in time at which the conveyor begins to convey the film, the controller continuing to apply the ultrasonic oscillation with the film being conveyed after the first point in time, and the controller being further configured to change the amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation applied to the film in a second time period after the first point in time while also changing the conveyance speed of the conveyor, the amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation prior to the first time period being zero, and the amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation during the first time period being at a level that enables the sealing unit to melt the film, the first time period being a preparatory time period in which ultrasonic oscillation energy is applied to the film in advance before the film begins to be conveyed.