Patent ID: 7509791
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: B29C,B29L,B65B

Abstract:
1. A top sealer for a gable top package that is formed, filled and sealed on a form, fill and seal packaging machine, comprising: a frame; a carriage carried by the frame, the carriage mounted for reciprocation relative to the frame, the carriage defining in part a cylinder, the carriage having a cam follower mounted thereto; a pair of opposing arms, the arms operably connected to the carriage, each arm supporting a respective sealing jaw at about an end thereof, the arms operably connected to the carriage at an end opposite of the sealing jaw; a support portion configured for mounting the arms thereto, each arm being pivotably mounted to the support portion at a pivot point intermediate the sealing jaw and the opposite end, the arms mounted for pivoting movement of the sealing jaws along a profile toward and away from one another, the support portion having a cam follower mounted thereto; a piston residing in the cylinder, the piston including an extension portion operably connected to the support portion; and a cam element defining a first cam track for the carriage cam follower and a second cam track for the support portion cam element follower, wherein movement of the cam element moves the carriage which pivots the arms to move the sealing jaws toward one another and wherein movement of the cam moves the pivot point to steepen an arc of the profile at a beginning of the profile and to flatten the arc of the profile subsequent thereto.