Patent Publication Number: US-8124915-B2

Title: Sealing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/623,100 filed Jul. 22, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,383 which claims priority of provisional application 60/468,988 filed May 9, 2003, with each of these being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sealing device, with a preferred embodiment being a sealer with means for localized heating to bond film material as in a resistance heating element applied to film layers such as those used in bag formation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many sealing mechanisms have been created including sealing mechanisms such as those used in “Foam-In-Bag”, “Air-In-Bag” and “Food (or other Product types)-In-Bag” manufacturing devices. Many endeavor to use a sealing wire, heated by electrical resistance, which rolls or drags over the material being sealed. Other sealing techniques have been attempted, including the use of hot melt glues, pressures sensitive adhesives, pressure sensitive co-adhesives, hot air jets, hot metal rollers and mechanical crimping. 
     Examples of heated wire “Air-in-bag” embodiments are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,598,373 and 5,942,076 which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     One sealing approach relative to a foam-in-bag device is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,208. In one commercialized (foam-in-bag) embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,208 a round, 10-mil diameter, Nichrome material sealing wire is wrapped around the outside diameter of a rigid nip roller opposing a rubber nip roller. The sealing substrate, underneath the wire, is a hard plastic material as in “VESPEl” plastic, that is selected on the belief it can resist the extreme heat of the sealing wire. The sealing wire is wrapped around the roller, but the ends are separated, each end being one contact point for the flow of electrical current. 
     As the nip rolls turn, the electrically heated wire turns with the rigid roller, essentially rolling over an open edge of the bag, forming the edge seal during its brief contact period with the film as the film passes through the nipped section. 
     A problem associated with the &#39;208 patent approach is that it requires a rotating electrical contact to supply power to the edge seal wire. Since the edge seal wire is rotating with the nip roll, direct wire connections from the edge seal wire to the non-rotating control board presents the potential for wind up and breakage after a few revolutions. This problem is addressed with a rotating electrical union, which is quite expensive and has many failure modes of its own. Also, maintenance (e.g., heater wire replacement) is difficult with this embodiment as can be seen by the high finger dexterity requirement associated with removing and replacing wires on its substrates. In addition, even with a highly skilled person with good dexterity the switching out of a defective wire for a new one is time consuming and thus also undesirable to a user from a manufacturing “down time” efficiency standpoint. 
     An additional edge sealer embodiment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,638 showing a snap on edge sealer that is a “drag seal” embodiment wherein a pair of downstream drive rollers pull the film past the clipped on edge sealer. This avoids having the complexity of maintaining electrical contact relative to a rotating heater wire support structure and a non-rotating support. In a commercialized embodiment of the &#39;638 patent, the snap-on unit, called an edge seal card, can be replaced without using any tools within a few minutes. This commercialized embodiment of a drag sealer features a 10-mil, round Nichrome wire attached at the face of a thin “Delrin” card, which is machined to the same 2.5-inch radius as a receiving nip roll. A segment of the wire, of about ¼ inch long, is exposed on the edge of the card, but is covered by a layer of 3-mil Teflon tape. The Nichrome wire becomes a sealing element through electrical resistance heating. The exposed wire segment is placed in pressure contact with the rubber nip roll, and melts the film when it gets hot enough. The drive action of the two nip rolls drags the film past the hot wire, which is an example of a drag seal arrangement. A disadvantage of this commercialized embodiment of the &#39;638 design is its short life in comparison to other designs. Even though replacement is easy and quick, the noted snap-on edge sealer is often able to only run for a few film rolls before having to be removed. 
     A further difficulty associated with the prior art designs is seen in the difficulty of forming and maintaining good seal production as opposed to weak or defective seals due to improper bonding temperature or surface contact, or too much contact or heat application and a resultant improper ribbon cutting (in situations where ribbon cutting is not an intended result). 
     Applicants believe that the following are some reasons for the failure modes in the &#39;638 commercialized embodiment design: 
     1. The seal wire melts into the substrate, as in “Acetal” or “Delrin” material, causing it to lose sealing power into the substrate, leading to poor seals. 
     2. The seal wire burns a hole in the Teflon tape that covers it, causing the unit to make bad seals. 
     3. In general, seal quality is not consistent, causing the machine operator to make frequent adjustments to the temperature settings or attempts to repair the edge seal card in order to maintain seal quality. 
     4. The edge seal cards are not interchangeable, and the machine operator has to adjust its temperature setting every time a new one is installed. 
     5. When the 10-mil Nichrome wire does fail there is no easy way to replace it, which is frustrating to operators because the wire only costs a few cents while the entire card assembly is much more expensive. 
     6. The rubber roll will gradually wear a matching radius into the edge of the plastic edge seal card in contact with it, reducing its usefulness over time. 
     7. The cables that connect the edge seal card to the plug-in connector panel, frequently get caught in the nip rolls or in the sealing jaws. 
     The snap-on drag sealers of the &#39;638 patent represent sealing devices that are intended to be used to seal without cutting the film (although it is a difficult task with this prior art design to maintain a good strong seal without, at the same time, cutting through one or more layers of the film); or as an edge sealer that both seals and cuts the film. For foam-in-bag embodiments where it is desirable to form gas escape vents in or adjacent an edge seal, cutting of a layer of the film is one way to produce a vent for the release of pressure. For example, a commercialized embodiment of &#39;638 patent includes a second edge seal card, with the sealing wire positioned to contact one layer of the bag film just before it enters the roller contact zone. When this wire is powered with sufficient energy, it will cut a slit in the moving web to produce a vent inside of the edge seal in the transverse direction. The length of the vent slit, and its gas flow capacity, can be controlled by adjusting the power on time of this wire. The commercialized embodiment of the “roller seal” described above for the &#39;208 patent features a power lowering cycle to prevent a seal formation along a section of the overall seal length, which no seal formation vent is used to vent gases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed at problem reduction relative to prior art sealers such as the edge sealers described above, by avoiding, for example, some of the complexities associated with the coil wire wrap arrangement like that in the above noted &#39;208 patent and avoiding the often replacement requirement of the above noted &#39;638 patent embodiment. A preferred embodiment also avoids the need for a tape cover or the like (e.g., cover means used to avoid film cutting in a sealing operation not involving cutting). 
     An edge sealer is provided that includes a heater element designed for contact with the film material to be sealed, a substrate that supports the heater element that is preferably in the form of an insert head and a housing for receiving the insert head with heater element or, in an alternate embodiment, the substrate comprises a substrate main body not received in a housing but with suitable mounting means (e.g., bottom or side mounting means as in an adhesive layer) to secure the substrate main body to a supporting object. The heater element is preferably arranged to present a film forward face surface that is retained in a desired position as by, for example, housing positioners that maintain the insert head and associated heating element at the desired position. The edge sealer&#39;s substrate (e.g., an insert head) has a heater element reception area and additional characteristics for maintaining a desired heater element relationship with the film being bonded. Thus the edge sealer is designed to initially position the heater element at a desired (highly) efficient and consistent bond formation position and to maintain the heater element at that desired position during the life cycle for the edge sealer. As an example, an edge sealer is provided having a heater element and a substrate supporting the heater element which combination preferably features a substrate comprising an insert head and a reception housing with the sealing surface of the heater element being essentially flat and flush with the surface(s) of the substrate (e.g., the insert head and/or housing) in contact with the film or arranged for seal formation in the film. The housing preferably provides mounting means for engagement with the assembly in which the edge sealer is being used as in a housing designed for securement to a component of a bag forming assembly. 
     The edge sealer is well suited for use in a foam-in-bag assembly that comprises a film feed mechanism which feeds film with a film driver, a bag forming assembly which includes the edge sealer that, in a preferred embodiment, directly contacts film being fed by the film driver and which is preferably supported on a fixed (or repetitious repeat) position relative to the foam-in-bag assembly. In this way there can be maintained a desired film to heater element sealing engagement (direct contact preferred although the subject matter of the present invention is inclusive of a non-direct contact relationship but one where the heater element is close enough to effect seal formation although a direct contact, “tapeless” embodiment is preferable). A preferred embodiment also features a common plane “flush” relationship wherein a flat surface of the heater element is co-planar with the substrate&#39;s film contact surface or surfaces so that the facing surface of the heater element contacts the film at the same time as the film contacts the substrate&#39;s film contact surface(s). The edge sealer also preferably presents an essentially solid surface below the flush plane and relative to the heating element as in a rectangular heating element having received within the substrate without side gaps and any adjacent substrate component(s) avoiding side gaps in the region of the film where there is a possibility of melted film generation. 
     In a preferred embodiment, there is also featured a dispenser for feeding product (e.g., air or other products as in foam or food (solid or liquid)) to a bag being formed by the bag forming assembly. In addition, the present invention&#39;s edge sealer (above and below described embodiments) is well suited as a replacement for pre-existing edge sealers as in a retrofitting of the edge sealer in the air-in-bag assembly of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,598,373, and 5,942,076. 
     This continuation-in-part application further features an edge sealer that is considered an improvement (hereafter “the improved edge sealer” for easier reference) relative to the prior art edge sealers discussed in the background as well as the earlier developed present invention edge sealer embodiments described in the parent application Ser. No. 10/623,100, now U.S. Publication No. 2005-0029132 A1 (see, for example, FIGS.  28  to  67 —with reference below being to “earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments”). Even relative to the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, which provided many improvements over the prior art, there are some areas of concern such as those set forth below (which in some instances, are also areas of concern found in prior art embodiments). 
     1. Frequent Re-Taping Required 
     Relative to the “earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments” (and also many prior art devices), the tape covering (e.g., Kapton™ tape material) covering the seal wire and the insert has to be replaced frequently, to maintain seal quality, and to prevent what is known in the art as “ribbon-cutting”. Ribbon-cutting occurs when the seal wire slices the outside edge away from the body of the bag, essentially forming a ribbon of film that is no longer a part of the bag itself. Ribbon-cutting occurs when the tape covering over the seal wire wears away, exposing the round wire edge to the film. The exposed wire becomes like a hot knife that cuts the film rather than creating the desired seal. Seal quality is not very good when the edge sealer is ribbon-cutting. The seals are weak, and can break under slight pressure, such as that generated from rising foam inside of a bag being manufactured by a foam-in-bag assembly, by the air pressure involved in an “air-in-bag” assembly or internal pressure involved with a “food-in-bag” assembly. In some of the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, tape replacement is required, on every film roll change, if not more often. Also, in an effort to maintain optimum seal quality and avoid the problems associated with ribbon-cutting, recommended tape replacement for the tape over the seal wire is every 700 to 1000 bags, which usually means multiple tape replacements per film roll. Other tape material options have been explored, other than KAPTON™ material, and the inventors have found that KAPTON™ material provides a good compromise taking into account the elements associated with well functioning tape material and successful high resistance to abrasion and heat. The avoidance of having to use any tape material is preferred under the present invention in any event. 
     2. Mediocre Seals Were the Norm 
     Under the prior art, the seals were often barely acceptable if not defective and, even with the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, it was often found that the quality of seals produced varied from fairly good to barely acceptable. Also, when the tape wears and burns over the seal wire the seals tend to deteriorate quickly, and weak side seals are a frequent issue with users of the edge sealer in a foam-in-bag assembly as, for many users, the bags often pop open, spewing foam all over the inside of the box and sometimes onto the product itself. The same problem can also be found in an air-in-bag assembly that results in defective (e.g., not properly cushioning) air-in-bag chains or sheets (whether filled at the manufacturing site or at the customer site). 
     3. Thermal Degradation and Mechanical Creep Effects on the Insert by the Seal Wire 
     The ultimate life of the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments is typically determined by the life of the substrate or insert which sits directly under the seal wire, providing, in some embodiments, mechanical support for its drag seal function, and in the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, electrical contact with the contact blocks or positioners on each side of the insert sealer support. The earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments include an embodiment where an arbor housing is provided (shaped to accommodate the shaft extension) with an insert made of VESPEL™ material, which is an expensive, very tough, hard, and high temperature resistant plastic made by the DuPont company. VESPEL™ is also easy to machine. However, despite its superior physical and thermal properties in comparison to many other plastics, the portions of the VESPEL™ insert in contact with, or in close proximity to the seal wire will eventually be destroyed by the intense thermal energy involved. By observing the seal wire&#39;s effect on the VESPEL™ insert, it is believed that it achieves surface temperatures in excess of 750° F. When VESPEL™ material is used it can handle the seal wire heat for a while, but eventually thermal degradation becomes apparent, as the VESPEl™ material becomes charred, turns black, and decomposes into powder where it contacts the wire. The destruction of the VESPEl™ material insert will eventually allow the seal wire to sink into the insert, moving the seal wire away from the sealing zone. This sinking action reduces the seal wire&#39;s ability to make adequate seals, since the seal wire becomes recessed below the surface of the insert, and thus can no longer press against the film with enough force to form a good seal. A user can compensate for this reduced sealing pressure by raising the heat setting on the edge seal drive circuit, to apply more energy to the seal wire. However, the increased energy from the wire accelerates the thermal ruin of the insert material, to exacerbate the conditions that caused the problem in the first place. Eventually, the seal wire sinks deeply enough so that the edge sealer is not able to make a seal at all. Thermal degradation of the insert material also allows the seal wire to sink into the surface of the insert at the two locations where the seal wire makes electrical connection to the contact blocks in the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments. Thus, as the seal wire sinks into the insert, it moves away from, for example, the brass contact shoe blocks that are used in a preferred embodiment of the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments to supply it with electrical power. It does not take much movement before the electrical connection between the seal wire and the contact blocks becomes intermittent. Intermittent electrical contact makes the resultant seals intermittent and of poor quality; at which point the edge sealer is usually considered to have failed, since air, foam or other product can leak through these incomplete seals. Frequently, an operator will run an “intermittent” edge sealer to the point where the electrical connection is totally lost, which means that the edge sealer will no longer make any edge seal, and large quantities of foam, air, or product will leak through the open edge of the bag. In addition to the thermal degradation issue (which was also a predominate problem in prior art sealers as in the snap-on edge sealers used in the industry and described in the &#39;638 patent), the seal wire can also sink into the insert by the phenomenon known as creep, where an object that pushes onto a piece of plastic material will slowly sink into the plastic even without reaching a melting state. The effects of creep are similar to the effects of the thermal degradation described above. It is difficult to determine how much of the problem is caused by thermal degradation and how much is caused by creep, but both appear to have some influence on the degradation of the edge sealer over time. 
     4. Loss of Electrical Contact Due to Flexing of the Arbor Housing Body 
     In earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, the housing bodies of the edge seal arbors were preferably made out of Acetal, which is an inexpensive, free machining plastic. 
     Acetal is inexpensive and easy to machine, but it is not as rigid or as strong as metals like steel or aluminum. Consequently, the arbor bodies of some earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments were somewhat flexible, and would bend slightly under stress. This bending can exacerbate the electrical connection issues outlined in the above section, so that edge sealers can become intermittent or simply stop working altogether when subjected to normal handling or installation stresses. Often, the effective electrical resistance of the edge sealer assembly is increased due to this flexing problem, because of shifts in the contact point between the seal wire on the face of the contact blocks. When this happens, the seal wire length is essentially lengthened, because its point of connection with the contact block will move further down the face of the arbor. In this situation, the edge sealer may continue to function, but the operator may have to adjust the heat setting in software because of the higher resistance value. 
     5. Abrasion on the Face of the Arbor from Film Drag 
     The earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments included embodiments made from materials that abraded to some degree where they contact the moving web of film. The drag of the film across the face of the edge sealer abrades and wears, for instance, the Acetal body, the seal wire itself, and the face of the VESPEl™ insert. This wear abrasion has not typically led to failure of the old style present invention edge sealer, because they usually fail for other reasons prior to the point were abrasion can become an issue. However, if the other failure modes are removed, then wear can become a limiting factor in an earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments. 
     6. Wire Breakage at the 90 Degree Bend 
     An additional issue that has arisen relative to earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, is that in fixing a seal wire the seal wire is given a relatively sharp 90° bend at each end of the VESPEl™ insert; so that the wire can make electrical connection with each of the contact blocks. Because the seal wire has a circular cross section, it has a higher thickness to bend radius ratio than a wire with the same cross sectional area and a rectangular cross section as used in a preferred embodiment featured in the present continuation-in-part application or “new style” embodiment. Thus, the round wire of earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments, with its support arrangement, can tend to crack when bent to some critical value of bend radius. A flat band as preferred in the new style embodiment, however, as a design that can make the same bend radius without cracking—because its thickness/bend radius ratio is lower. This is one of the reasons that a flat seal band is preferably utilized in the new style relative to a round wire design. There has been seen failures in production and in the field because of the round seal wires cracking at the support bends. The cracks can start small, but grow quickly because the thermal shocks involved with rapidly heating and cooling the wire. 
     7. Changing Resistance of the Seal Wire with Usage 
     Because of the inconsistent contact resistance between the contact blocks and the seal wire, for reasons such as those discussed in the preceding sections, the total electrical resistance of even earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments could change with usage. The resistance of the edge seal device of the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments can increase significantly over time, which changes the heat output of the wire sealing element. This resistance change can affect the quality of seals produced by the edge sealer. Also, while a machine user may be able to compensate for these changes by adjusting the power settings of the edge sealer assembly (e.g., a software change), most users are not sufficiently knowledgeable to make these adjustments correctly. Eventually, the edge sealer performance can degrade to the point that it stops sealing completely. 
     8. Manufacturing Difficulties with the Earlier Inventive Edge Sealer Embodiments&#39; Arbor Design 
     The earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments presented some difficulties in assembly into a working unit. The arbor body on the earlier inventive edge sealer embodiments included ones made of Acetal. However, the Acetal body is not very rigid, so it will bend significantly as the diagonal screws were tightened into the contact blocks of a preferred design. This bending tends to pull the contact blocks away from the VESPEl insert, and also away from contact with the seal wire, thus increasing the resistance of the edge sealer. At times, the bending of the body is enough to completely open the circuit, or the body may bend sufficiently to make the housing or arbor body of the edge sealer difficult to install in its base support. This is typically due to the plugs that extend from the bottom of the arbor body in a preferred embodiment become unparallel, and they no longer line up with their mating sockets in the base support, which are parallel. The assembler has to be very careful to not over tighten the screws, but if the screws are not tight enough, that can cause poor contact and erratic resistance. If the screws are too tight, the arbor body can be distorted so that its conductor plugs (e.g., Multilam) plugs will not fit into the pair of mating sockets in its base on the machine. 
     Thus with the foregoing in consideration the subject matter of the present invention includes a sealer (e.g., a plastic film bag edge sealer) for use in fusing film material that preferably comprises a heater element (e.g., a resistance wire) with a substrate support and preferably a substrate support which comprise an insert head providing direct support to the heater element and a receiving housing which supports the insert head and the heater element. The heater element has a sealing surface that is essentially flush with a presentment surface of the substrate (insert head surface(s) and/or housing surface(s)) relative to the film material being fused (e.g., heater element support means presentment surface or surfaces with all lying on a common flush plane). Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the sealing surface is a flat, planar presentment surface facing the film material and is essentially flush which includes having a maximum recess dimension below an exposed surface plane of said presentment surface of the substrate that is 30% to 100% of a film layer thickness being fused and a maximum proud dimension relative to the surface plane that is 10 to 60% of a film layer thickness (e.g., a maximum deviation from a true flush state is less than 0.0005″ of an inch or less or, more preferably, 0.0002″ or less). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a ceramic insert head having an exposed surface with a reception groove that is dimensioned to receive said heater element, with the ceramic insert preferably being comprised of a plurality of stacked ceramic insert plates sized to form the groove. In an alternate embodiment, the substrate comprises a main body formed of a first material that has a reception groove formed therein and preferably has a covering formed of a second material when the main body material does not meet all the desired characteristics. When using a material covering (e.g., coating), the covering preferably comprises an electrically insulating material as in one that includes a ceramic material. An embodiment of the heater element includes one having a flat sealing surface and either a flat walled bottom region or a curved bottom region or non-flat sided bottom region received within a conforming in shape recessed region formed in the substrate as in a semi-circular configuration to match a semi-circular cross-sectioned groove shape in the main body of the support substrate. 
     In one embodiment the housing includes mounting means for securement of the edge sealer to a product-in-bag forming device as in a foam-in-bag or air-in-bag assembly. 
     The subject matter of the present invention also features a sealer device that comprises a heater element, a housing body having an insert reception recess and a heater element support stack received within said insert reception recess. The heater element support stack preferably comprises first and second plates with the first plate underlying and supporting the heater element and the second plate having a side surface in a position retention relationship relative to a side edge of said heater element. The first and second plates are formed of ceramic material and the heater element is a resistance wire and is preferably one that is band shaped with a non-fully circular cross section, and the heater element has a film sealing contact surface that is preferably planar and has an outermost surface that is within 0.005 inch of an exposed film contact edge surface of the heater element support stack. Thus, the heater element has a film contact surface that falls on a common plane with a film contact surface of the heater element support stack. Also, the first plate preferably has rounded corner edges to help avoid and crack formation in a bent heater element, and it is preferred that the first and second plates have different heights and common plane bottom and side edge surfaces. A heater element support stack that further comprises a third plate, with the first, second and third plates being in a stacked relationship and the first plate defining a recess groove relative to the other plates within which the heater element is received is a suitable stack embodiment. Thus, in a preferred embodiment the first, second and third plates are formed of ceramic material and the groove has bottom corner edges and receives a resistance wire heater element that is band shaped as in with a non-fully circular cross-section (e.g., rectangular cross-section). Also, preferably the heater element support stack comprises a stacked laminate set of first, second and third plates with the first plate being intermediate and of lesser height than said second and third plates and the heater element is supported by the first plate and has a film presentation surface that falls on a common plane with a film presentation surface of said second and third plates, and the heater element has a U-shaped configuration and is supported by the first plate positioned under the heater element, and the preferred band shape can extend around rounded upper corners in the supporting plate below. 
     Also, an embodiment of the invention further comprises heater element support means which includes a substrate that has an insert head and a housing which housing includes a first heater element fixation assembly which comprises a first adjustable retention member that is supported by a housing component (e.g., housing main body), and preferably a second adjustable retention member, and with the heater element being a U-shaped resistance wire and said first and second fixation devices compress respective legs of the U-shaped heater element into a compression contact relationship with the heater element support stack. Preferably the first adjustable retention member is a conductive element and the housing body is a conductive body and the sealer device further comprises a friction reducing insulating layer insulating the first adjustable retention member from the housing body, and there is preferably provided a recess formed in the housing body which receives a free end of the heater element and is dimensioned such that said heater element can be placed under tension by a pulling on the free end prior to final position fixation on the first plate. 
     An additional embodiment of the present invention features a heater element that has a rectangular band shape or one that has a flat upper surface and a non-fully circular cross section and a heater element support member that is a member that is either monolithic or stacked and one that either has a grooved main body with a coating or other covering means and on which the heater element rests or is free of such a coating or layering and has a groove formed in it that directly receives the heater element. The heater element preferably has a flat upper face and the rest of the body is received in a groove so that only the flat upper face is exposed as in a flush relationship with the surfaces to opposite sides of the groove formed in the substrate. The heater element preferably comprises a resistance wire either shaped originally at the time of manufacture to have the flat face to be flush with the substrate such as a rectangular cross sectioned ribbon band wire or an originally non-rectangular cross-sectioned wire as in circular wire that is processed to have a flat “exposure” sealing face (a circular diameter wire ground down to be semi-circular in cross-section). Also the substrate is preferably comprised of an insert head and a positioning housing or holding means which holds the insert head in place, although alternate substrate designs are featured as in one that comprises a stack plate or solid body equivalent that is attached directly to a supporting surface of the film processing device as in an adhesive attachment of an assembled stack plate to a component of the film feed device. Alternate substrate mounting means for mounting the substrate on an assembly involved in the film presentation to the sealing device as in a housing having mounting means for engagement to a component of a product-in-bag assembly such as to a drive roller shaft support member or a cross-cut jaw or other suitable assembly component support means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a foam-in-bag manufacturing device in which a sealing device of the present invention is suited for use. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of a bag forming assembly of the foam-in-bag manufacturing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of the bag forming assembly mounted on the support base. 
         FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of that which is shown in  FIG. 3  together with a mounted dispenser apparatus (dispenser and bagger assembly combination). 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of the front access panel in an open state. 
         FIG. 6  shows the assembly supported by the front panel frame sections. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the roller assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a first perspective view of a first embodiment of edge sealer assembly from the electrical contact side. 
         FIG. 9  shows a first perspective view of a second embodiment of edge sealer assembly from the electrical contact side. 
         FIG. 10  shows a second perspective view of the first embodiment of the edge sealer assembly from the heater element (wire shown) side. 
         FIG. 11  shows a second perspective view of the second embodiment of the edge sealer assembly from the heater element (wire shown) side. 
         FIG. 12  shows an elevational view of the heater element (wire shown) side of the first embodiment of the edge sealer assembly. 
         FIG. 13  shows an elevational view of the heater element (wire shown) side of the second embodiment of the edge sealer assembly. 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line A-A in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line A-A in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  shows a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line B-B in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line B-B in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 18  shows the exterior side of one of the two sub-rollers of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 19  shows the exterior side of one of the two sub-rollers of the second embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 20  shows the interior side of the sub-roller in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 21  shows the interior side of the sub-roller in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  shows the internal sleeve of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 23  shows the roller bearing of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly which is received by the sleeve and receives the driven roller set shaft. 
         FIG. 24  shows a perspective view of the arbor support base of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 25  shows a perspective view of the arbor support base of the second embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 26  shows a cross-sectional view of the arbor support base shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 27  shows a cross-sectional view of the arbor support base shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 28  shows a perspective view directed at the heater wire side of the edge sealer of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 29  shows a perspective view directed at the heater wire side of the edge sealer of the second embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 30  shows an elevational view of the heater wire side of the edge sealer of the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 31  shows an elevational view of the heater wire side of the edge sealer of the second embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 32  shows a cross-sectional view taken along A-A in  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 33  shows a similar cross-sectional view relative to  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 34  shows a side view of the arbor assembly or edge sealer first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIG. 35  shows a side view of the arbor assembly or edge sealer of the second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 36 ,  38  and  40  show alternate perspective views of the edge sealer of the first embodiment with  FIGS. 36 and 40  illustrating the seal wire tensioning means. 
         FIGS. 37 ,  39  to  41  show alternate perspective views of the edge sealer of the second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48   50  and  52  show various illustrations of the arbor housing for the first embodiment with the edge seal wire and associated tensioning means removed for added clarity as to the receiving housing. 
         FIGS. 43 ,  45 ,  47 ,  49 ,  51  and  53  show various illustrations of the arbor housing for the second embodiment with the edge seal wire and associated shoes removed for added clearly as to the receiving housing. 
         FIGS. 54 ,  56  and  58  show perspective views of the wire end connector of the first edge seal embodiment. 
         FIGS. 55 ,  57  and  59  show perspective views of a shoe conductors of the second edge seal embodiment. 
         FIGS. 60 and 61  illustrate the ceramic insert head used in the arbor assembly in the first embodiment of the edge seal assembly. 
         FIGS. 62 and 63  illustrate the insert head used in the arbor assembly of the second edge seal assembly embodiment. 
         FIGS. 64 and 65  illustrate alternate perspective views of the edge wire tensioner block or moving mounting block. 
         FIG. 66  shows a cross-sectional view of the tensioner block. 
         FIG. 67  shows a heater wire end connector in the wire tensioning assembly. 
         FIG. 68  shows a perspective view of a third edge sealer embodiment of the present invention for use with an edge sealer assembly. 
         FIG. 69  shows a cross-sectional, bisecting view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 68 . 
         FIG. 70  shows a partial cut-away view of that which is shown in  FIG. 68 . 
         FIG. 71  shows the arbor housing or arbor body together with some of the inserts that are inserted into the arbor body. 
         FIG. 72  shows a view similar to  71  with additional bridge contact and stack inserts shown in an exploded view presentation with the arbor body. 
         FIG. 73  shows a view of an assembled  FIG. 72  with additional cover plate, wire band and set screw inserts shown in an exploded view presentation. 
         FIG. 74  shows a view of an assembled  FIG. 73  with additional contact posts and contact insulator shown in an exploded view presentation. 
         FIG. 75  shows the cover side plate for the arbor assembly. 
         FIG. 76  shows an enlarged view of the upper central region of that which is shown in  FIG. 69 . 
         FIG. 77  shows an enlarged view of the central upper region of that which is shown in  FIG. 68 . 
         FIG. 78  shows an exploded view of the stack inserts with seal band heater element. 
         FIG. 79  shows the stack inserts and seal band in an assembled state. 
         FIG. 80  shows a cross-sectional view of the arbor seal face. 
         FIG. 81  shows an exploded view of the bridge contact assembly comprised of a bridged contact in contact with insulating cover sheets. 
         FIG. 81A  shows the bridge contact in combination with the insulator sheets. 
         FIG. 82  shows a close up of the edge sealer with cover removed. 
         FIG. 83  shows a similar perspective view of that shown in  FIG. 82  but with more of the under edge of the edge sealer shown. 
         FIG. 84  shows an exploded view similar to  FIG. 23  but from the opposite side such that the seal (o-rings shown) are visible. 
         FIG. 85  shows a schematic presentation of a heater element (along its length) and insert captive recess flush level relationship. 
         FIG. 85A  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination or fusion means featuring a plastic material substrate (solid, non-stack substrate) and a curved bottom heater element (shown in cross-section). 
         FIG. 85B  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination featuring a metallic substrate with, coating (e.g., plastic or plastic composite) and a substantially V-shaped heater element. 
         FIG. 85C  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination featuring a metallic substrate with a coating (e.g. ceramic) layer with a semi-circular cross-sectioned heater element. 
         FIG. 85D  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination featuring a substrate with an upper layer of a different material, having a dove shaped recess for receiving a correspondingly shaped heater element. 
         FIG. 85E  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination featuring a metallic substrate with outer laminate layering and a polygonal recess receiving a correspondingly shaped heater element. 
         FIG. 85F  shows an alternate embodiment of the fusion means featuring a monolithic ceramic substrate with a semi-circular groove formed directly in its exposed surface. 
         FIG. 86  shows an overall dispenser assembly sub-systems schematic view of the display, controls and power distribution for a preferred foam-in-bag dispenser embodiment. 
         FIG. 86A  provides a legend key for the features shown schematically in  FIG. 86 . 
         FIG. 87  shows a schematic view of the control, interface and power distribution 
         FIG. 88  illustrates a TCR resistance versus temperature plot for a particular heater wire material. 
         FIG. 89  shows a testing apparatus for use in testing temperature versus resistance for heater wires. 
         FIG. 90  shows an exploded view of a pair of sub-rollers between which is formed the edge sealer assembly insertion groove. 
         FIG. 91  shows an assembled view of that which is shown in  FIG. 90 . 
         FIG. 92  shows an exploded view of the shaft and rollers supported on that shaft. 
         FIG. 93  shows an assembled view of that which is shown in  FIG. 92 . 
         FIG. 94  shows the rollers and shaft combination of  FIG. 93  mounted on the flip open access means of a product-in-bag assembly (with product including for example air, foam, food, etc) and the edge sealer assembly retention means in exploded view. 
         FIG. 94A  shows an enlarged view of the right side of  FIG. 94  with edge sealer retention means. 
         FIG. 95  shows a fully assembled view of an opposite side of that shown in  FIG. 94 . 
         FIG. 96  shows a fully assembled view of that which is shown in  FIG. 94 . 
         FIGS. 97 and 98  show pre and post insertion of the electrical feed wires extending to the base block of the edge sealer assembly. 
         FIG. 99  shows an alternate mounting means embodiment for a heater element substrate of the present invention. 
         FIG. 100  shows an alternate embodiment of the mounting means in  FIG. 99  wherein there is provided biased deflection potential in a support shaft component of the mounting means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As an example of an environment in which the sealing device (edge sealer in this embodiment) of the present invention can be utilized, there is described below a dispenser system  22  having film feed means and a product dispensing means which work with the edge sealer to form a bag containing the material.  FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of dispenser system  22  which includes exterior housing  38  supported by support assembly  40  which is mounted on base  42 . Chemical A and Chemical B are fed into respective heater chemical hoses  28  and  30 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , is control console  52  with touch pad and screen and logic board(s) (inside housing). Film roll reception assembly  56  and film roll driver motor  58  extend out from support assembly  40  while housing  38  supports bag film operation adjustment pad board  54 . For a more detailed discussion of the illustrated dispenser system  22  (e.g., relative to various foam-in-bag assembly sub-systems in addition to an edge sealer sub-system), reference is made to parent application U.S. Ser. No. 10/623,720 filed Jul. 22, 2003, which claims the priority of provisional application 60/468,988 filed May 9, 2003, with each of these being incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIGS. 2-5  shows foam-in-bag assembly or “bagger assembly”  64  (with dispenser removed for added clarity in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 ) that is designed to be mounted in cantilever fashion on support mount or bracket  62  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Bagger assembly  64  comprises framework  65  having first side frame  66  and second side frame  68 . Side frame  66  has means for mounting bagger assembly  64  to support bracket  62 . Framework  65  further includes front pivot rod  70  extending between the two interior sides of side frames  66 , and  68 , as well as front face pivot frame sections  71  and  73  which are pivotally supported by pivot rod  70 . Rod  70  also extends through the lower end of front face pivot frame sections  71  and  73  to provide a rotation support for sections  71 ,  73 . Driver roller shaft  72 , supporting left and right driven or follower nip rollers  74  and  76 , also extends between and is supported by side frames  66  and  68 . While in a latched state the upper ends of pivot frame sections  71 ,  73  are also supported (locked in closed position) by door latch rod  85  with handle latch  87 . 
     First frame structure  66  further includes mounting means  78  for roller shaft drive motor  80  in driving engagement with drive shaft  82  extending between and supported by frame structures  66  and  68 . Drive shaft  82  supports drive nip rollers  84  and  86 . Framework  65  further comprises back frame structure  88 . Driven roller shaft  72  and driver roller shaft  82  are in parallel relationship and spaced apart so as to place the driven nip rollers  74 ,  76 , and drive nip rollers  84 ,  86  in a film drive relationship with a preferred embodiment featuring a motor driven drive roller set  84 ,  86  formed of a compressible, high friction material such as an elastomeric material (e.g., synthetic rubber) and the opposite, driven roller  74 ,  76  is preferably formed of a knurled aluminum nip roller set. The roller sets are placed in a state of compressive contact by way of the relative diameters of the nip rollers and rotation axis spacing of shafts  72  and  82  when pivot frame sections  71 ,  73  are in their roller drive operation state.  FIG. 2  further illustrates door latch rod  85  rotatably supported at its opposite ends by pivot frame sections  71 ,  73  and having door latch (with handle)  87  fixedly secured to the left end of door latch rod  85 . Latch  87  provides for the pivoting open of pivot frame sections  71 ,  73  of the hinged access door means about pivot rod  70  into an opened access mode. While in a latched state, the upper ends of pivot frame sections  71 ,  73  are also supported (locked in closed position) by door latch rod  85 . 
     Drive nip rollers  84  and  86  have slots formed for receiving film pinch preventing means  90  (e.g., canes  90 ) that extend around rod  92  with rod  92  extending between first and second frames  66 ,  68  and parallel to the rotation axes of shafts  72  and  82 .  FIG. 2  further illustrates film edge sealer assembly  91 , (a bag film edge sealer in this embodiment) shown received within a slot in roller  76  and positioned to provide edge sealing to a preferred C-fold film supply. Although not shown, other film source means are also featured under the present invention including, for example, separate source film sheets (e.g., individual sheet supply rollers) feeding to a common location or a single film roll with layered, but independent stacked sheets or a tubular film source as in one which is precut and then resealed after receiving material). In an alternate embodiment, such as a separate source film means or independent, stacked sheet source film means, there is provided a plurality of film sealer assemblies as in an opposite edge pair of edge sealer assemblies and/or one or more intermediate longitudinal film seal sealing means assemblies. An opposite edge pair is well suited for bag formation when independent (non-“C-fold” film) sheeting is utilized, while both edge and interior rows of seals are well suited for forming multiple rows of seal pockets as in a multi-pocket device as in an air cushioning device with multiple cells either in communication with each other or not, and either filled simultaneously with formation or designed for subsequent inflation as in shipping to a packing lication in a non-inflated state and filled at that location. 
     Rear frame structure  88  has secured to its rear surface, at opposite ends, idler roller supports  94  and  96  extending up from the nip roller contact location. Idler roller supports  94 ,  96  include upper ends  98  and  100  each having means for receiving a respective end of upper idler roller  101 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , ends  98 ,  100  present opposing parallel face walls  102 ,  104  and outward flanges  106 ,  108 . Within the confines of flanges  106 , and  108  there is provided first and second idler roller vertical and horizontal roller adjustment mechanisms  110 , and  112  ( FIG. 5 ) for smooth film passage. Sliding plate  110  is retained in a frictional slide relationship with surface  100  by way of slide tabs TA extending through elongated horizontal slots SL at opposite corners of the plate. On the front flange  100  FF ( FIG. 4 ) there is supported adjustment screw SC extending into engagement with tab TA on sliding plate  110  receiving an end of the idle roller  101 . Upon rotation of screw SC, plate  110  is shifted together with the end of the idler roller. The opposite side is just the same but for there being a vertical adjustment relationship. 
     With reference particularly to  FIG. 2 , second or lower idler roller  114  is shown arranged parallel to drive roller shaft  82  and supported between left and right side frames  66  and  68 . Also, these figures show first (preferably fixed in position when locked in its operative position) end or cross-cut seal support block or jaw  116  positioned forward of a vertical plane passing through the nip roller contact location and below the axis of rotation of drive shaft  82 . End seal jaw  116 , which preferably is operationally fixed in position, is shown having a solid block base of a high strength (not easily deformed over an extended length) material that is of sufficient heat wire heat resistance (e.g., a steel block with a zinc and/or chrome exterior plating), and extends between left and right frame structures  66  and  68 . 
     Movable end film sealer and cutter jaw  118  ( FIG. 5 ) is secured to end sealer shifting assembly  120  and is positioned adjacent fixed jaw  116 , with fixed jaw  116  having sealer and cutter electrical supply means  119  with associated electric connections supported on the opposite ends of jaw  116  positioned closest to the front or closest to the operator. End sealer shifting assembly  120  is positioned rearward and preferably at a common central axis height level relative to end seal contact block  116 . During formation of a bag, heater jaw  116  supports a cutter heated wire in-between above and below positioned seal forming wires providing the seal (SE) cut (CT) seal (SE) sequence in the bag just formed and the bag in the process of being formed. Sealer shifting assembly  120  as shown in  FIG. 2 , comprises first and second sealer support rod assemblies  122 ,  124 . The heater and sealer wires are sensed and thus in communication with a controller such as one associated with a main processor for the system or a dedicated heater wire monitoring sub-processing as illustrated in  FIG. 86 . Venting preferably takes place on the side with the edge seal through a temporary lowering of heat below the sealing temperature as the film is fed past or some alternate means as in adjacent mechanical or heat associated slicing or opening techniques (See for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/333,538 filed Jan. 18, 2006 entitled “Venting System For Use In A Foam-in-Bag System” which is incorporated herein by reference ). Block  118  also has a forward face positioned rearward (farther away from operator) of the above mentioned nip roller vertical plane when in a stand-by state and is moved into an end seal location when shifting assembly is activated and, in this way, there is provided room for bag film feed past until end sealer shifting assembly  120  is activated. 
     Cam shaft  4032  ( FIG. 4 ) supports cams  144  at each end (one shown in  FIG. 2 ) which cams are in driving relationship with track rollers  122 ′ and  124 ′. The cams are shaped to generate forward and spring return retraction movement relative to moving jaw  118 . The cam shaft  4032  (and attached cams) are driven by way of drive pulley  150  forming part of drive pulley assembly  152  which further includes pulley belt  154 . As seen from  FIG. 2 , side frame  66  includes cam motor support section  156  to which cam motor  158  is secured. Cam motor drive shaft  160  is secured to drive pulley  162  of drive pulley assembly  152 . Thus, activation of cam motor  158  leads to drive force transmission by transmission means (represented by the drive pulley assembly in the illustrated preferred embodiment) which in turn rotates cam shaft  4032  and cams  144  fixedly mounted thereon to provide for the pushing forward during the push forward cam rotation mode and the rearward movement guidance of jaw  118  after the sealing function is completed (can include cutting as sole means of sealing or as a component of multiple seals (non-cutting and cutting) or as a weakening for downstream separation in a bag chain embodiment through control of the level of heat and time of contact with film or a means for interconnecting cells).  FIG. 2  also illustrates the preferred external support plates  156  for cam motor  158 , and plate  66  for drive shaft motor  80 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a preferred bag formation assembly mounting means featuring lifter assembly  40  and securement structure  62 . Securement structure  62  comprises curved forward wall  164  and vertical back wall  166  which, together with lifter top plate  168 , define cavity  169 . Securement structure  62  further comprises curving interior frame member  170 , which has an outer peripheral edge  171  that provides for dispenser hinge bracket support and a back curved flange section  175  extending outward and integral with frame member  170  as well as outer frame wall  174 . Frame wall  174  has a pulley drive assembly reception aperture  172  formed therein. 
     Further longitudinally (right side-to-left side) outward of frame wall  174  is mounting plate  176  for securement of the electronics such as the system processor(s), interfaces, drive units, and external communication means such as a modem or wireless transmitter.  FIG. 3  also illustrates the supporting framework for the hinged front access door assembly shown open in  FIG. 5  which comprises front access door plate  180  (partially shown in  FIG. 4 ) supported at opposite ends by pivot frame sections  71  and  73 . Pivot frame sections  71  and  73  preferably have a first (e.g., lower) end which is pivotally secured to pivot rod  70  and also between which rod  70  extends. 
       FIG. 3  further reveals film roll support means  186  shown supporting film roll core  188  about which bag forming film is wrapped (e.g., a roll of C-fold film). Film roll support means  186  is in driving communication with film roll/web tensioning drive assembly  190  (partially shown in  FIG. 3 ) with motor  58  shown supported on the back side of lifter assembly  40 . 
       FIG. 4  provides a perspective view of bagger assembly  64  mounted on mounting means  78  with dispenser apparatus  192  included (e.g., a two component foam mix dispenser apparatus is shown), which is also secured to support assembly  62  in cantilever fashion so as to have, when in its operational position, a vertical central cross-sectional plane generally aligned with the nip roller contact region positioned below it to dispense material between a forward positioned central axis of shaft  72  and a rearward positioned central axis of shaft  82 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , dispenser assembly  192  comprises dispenser housing  194  with main housing section  195 , a dispenser end or outward section  196  of the dispenser housing with the dispenser outlet preferably also being positioned above and centrally axially situated between first and second side frame structures  66 , and  68 . With this positioning, dispensing of material can be carried out in the clearance space defined axially between the two respective nip roller sets  74 ,  76  and  84 ,  86 . 
     Dispenser assembly  192  further includes chemical inlet section  198  positioned preferably on the opposite side of main dispenser housing  192  relative to dispenser and section  196 . The outlet or lower end of dispenser assembly  194  is further shown positioned below idler roller  101 . 
       FIG. 4  also illustrates dispenser motor  200  used for dispenser outlet flow controlling valve rod (e.g., a flow on/flow off reciprocating valve rod reciprocating in dispenser end section). Inlet end section  198  comprises chemical shut off valves with chemical shut off valve handles  201 ,  203  as well as filters  4206  and  4208 . In  FIG. 4  there is demarcation line FE representing the most interior film edge with the opposite edge traveling forward of the free end of dispenser system  192 . Thus, with a C-fold film, the bend edge is free to pass by the cantilevered dispenser assembly  192  while the interior two sides are joined together with edge sealer assembly  91  while passing along line edge FE. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates adjustment of the access panel into the panels exposed, service facilitating state. When rotated and locked in its upright state, the front of heater jaw assembly  1024  is in its operational position aligned with the aforementioned moving jaw  118 . The preferred embodiment features having the heating wires (cutting as well as sealing in the preferred embodiment shown) used to cut and seal the end of one bag from the next on the heated jaw  1024  and to have the heated jaw  1024  fixed in position relative to moving jaw  118 . A reversal or sharing as to heat wire support and/or wire backing support movement are also considered alternate embodiments of the present invention. Having the moving mechanism positioned out of the way under the bagger assembly is, however, preferable from the standpoint of stability and compactness. Also, having the heater wires on the accessible door facilitates wire servicing as described below. Heater jaw assembly  1024  is shown rigidly fixed at its ends to the front face pivot frame sections to provide a stable compression backing relative to the moving jaw  118  and is positioned, relative to the direction of elongation of frame sections  71  and  73 , between the aforementioned driven roller set and the pivot bar  70  to which the bottom bearing ends of frame sections  71  and  73  are secured. 
     With the cam latches and handle in the front face closed mode (shown in  FIG. 2  with latches  1008  and  1010  engaged with pin stubs  1012 ,  1014 ), the driven rollers are positioned in proper nip location in relationship to the drive rollers  84  and  86  that are preferably of a softer high friction material as in an elastomer (e.g., natural or synthetic rubber) to facilitate sufficient driving contact with the film being driven by the rollers and proper edge sealer placement. In addition to proper film drive positioning brought about by the latched front access door arrangement, the heater jaw is also appropriately positioned to achieve a proper cut and/or seal relationship relative to the opposite jaw. 
     The flip open front door access means of the present invention provides easy access to the sealing jaws, seal wires, cut wires, and the various substrates and tapes that cover the jaw face(s) and one or more edge sealer means as in edge sealer assembly  91 . Opening the door provides full visibility, greatly easing the task of servicing the sealing jaws and edge sealers to provide the inevitably required periodic maintenance (e.g., cleaning of melted plastic build up and/or foam build up). 
       FIG. 5  also illustrates door movement limitation means or door stop  1078  which comprises connection rod  1080  extending through fixed reception member  1082  having a passage through which the rod extends and a base secured to the fixed frame  68 . At the free end of rod  1080  there is provided clip  1084  to prevent a release of the rod from member  1082  and a stop means to limit the downward rotation of the fixed jaw and front access door. The opposite end of connector rod  1080  is connected to part of the flip open access door such as front face pivot frame structure  71 . Thus, the hinged access door is precluded from rotating freely down into contact with fixed frame structure of the bagger assembly. Additional damping means DA is preferably also provided as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5  featuring a pair of constant force negator springs DS arranged in mirror image fashion to counteract forces generated by the springs at their fixed positing on the support extending up from frame structure  88 . The negator springs are held in a bracket support and connected by way of a cable past the two illustrated redirection pulleys PL to connection to hinged front door. 
     An advantage of the access door flip open feature is easy access to the edge sealer assembly  91 . Edge sealer assembly  91  is shown as part of edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS with assembly  91  comprising arbor base support  1108  and edge sealer  1106 , and combination  91 AS including the edge sealer assembly plus additional components for integrating the edge sealer assembly in with the seal material providing means as in a bag forming assembly (e.g., a combination comprising the sub-roller set and bearing that provides for edge sealer assembly positioning relative to the driving means for the film; alternate edge sealer mounting means are also featured under the present invention). Edge sealer  1106  preferably has quick release means as in plug-in ends similar to those shown for the end sealer and cutter wires and roller connector means. Thus the access provided by the door allows for either replacement, servicing or cleaning of the entire edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS or individual components thereof such as the edge sealer assembly  91  with its support base or just the double pin and heater wire combination or the below described high temperature insert head and/or heater element, with one of the standard prior art edge sealers typically requiring cutter wire servicing about every 20,000 to 30,000 bag cycles or less. 
     An additional not easily accessed and difficult to service component of the dispenser system is the roller canes  90  ( FIG. 5 ) used to prevent undesired extended retention of the film on the driving nip roller. With the access made available by the access means of the present invention, an operator or service representative can readily clean or replace a cane  90 . 
     As seen from  FIG. 5 , and the view of the driven roller assembly shown in  FIG. 6  with driven shaft  72  and driven rollers  74  and  76 , as well as the cross-sectional view of the same in  FIG. 7 , edge sealer assembly  91  is mounted on shaft  72  which is preferably a precision ground steel support shaft supporting aluminum (knurled) driven rollers  74  and  76 . Edge sealer assembly  91  is shown as well in  FIG. 2  on the right side of driven shaft  72  (viewing from the front of the bagger) in a side abutment relationship with driven roller  76 . The cross sectional view of  FIG. 7  shows driven roller  76  preferably being formed of multiple sub-roller sections with driven roller  76  having three individual sub-roller sections  76   a  and  76   b  and the sub-rollers  1100  and  1102  of edge seal assembly combination  91 AS (e.g., in the illustrated edge seal assembly embodiment combination  91 AS includes edge sealer assembly  91  and roll segments  1100  and  1102 ). 
     Thus with this positioning, edge sealer assembly  91  is the sealer that seals the open edge side of the folded bag. The open edge side is produced by folding the film during windup of the film on core  188  ( FIG. 3 ), so the folded side does not need to be sealed and can run external to the free end of the suspended dispenser. The present invention features other bag forming techniques such as bringing two independent films together and sealing both side edges which can be readily achieved under the design of the present invention by including an additional edge sealer assembly on the opposite driven roller such as in the addition of a seal assembly in roller  74   a . The open side edge side of the film is open for accommodating suspended dispenser insertion and is sealed both along a direction parallel to the roller rotation axis via the aforementioned heated jaw assembly and also transversely thereto via edge sealer assembly  91 . 
       FIGS. 8 to 67  illustrate in greater detail an embodiment of edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS (with two different edge seal types referenced as  91  and  91 ′ with the letter “A” added to represent components of the second edge sealer assembly embodiment  91 ′). Edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS comprises first and second sub-rollers  1100  and  1102  and edge sealer assembly  91  having edge sealer (or arbor assembly)  1106  on the film contact side of the driven roller and support base (or arbor base)  1108  on the opposite side.  FIG. 14  shows each sub-roller  1100  and  1102  having a pocket cavity  1110  and  1112 .  FIGS. 18 and 20  illustrate sub-roller  1102  with pocket cavity and with the cavity interior surface  1114  having a pair of screw holes  1116  spaced circumferentially (diametrically) around it, that open out at the other end as shown in  FIG. 18 . Thus, edge seal roller  1102 , which is positioned on the side of the edge seal assembly  91  that is closest to the center of elongation of shaft  72 , is attached to adjacent driven sub-roller  76   b  by insertion of screws SC ( FIG. 7 ) through screw or fastener holes  1116  and into receiving thread holes formed in driven sub-roller section  76   b . This arrangement thus ensures that the sub-roller  1102  will not drag with the edge seal unit, causing it to rotate more slowly than the rest of the driven nip rollers. Sub rollers  76   a  and  76   b  are each secured to shaft  72  with a fastener as shown in  FIG. 7  as is roller  74 . The edge seal sub-roller  1100  is positioned on the outer side closest to the adjacent most end of driven shaft  72  and is attached to the closest of the shaft collars (in  FIG. 7 )  1120  positioned at the end of driven shaft  72  and secured to the shaft to rotate together with it. Shaft collar  1120  forces edge seal sub roller  1100  to also rotate as a unit with the shaft  72  in unison with sub-roller  1102  but is independent of that sub-roller except for the common connection to shaft  72 . 
       FIG. 14  shows that extending within and between pocket cavities  1110  and  1112  is edge seal sleeve  1122  which is shown alone in  FIG. 22  and functions as a means for providing a site of attachment for support base  1108  and a positioner for edge sealer  1106 . Sleeve  1122  includes a cylindrical housing having an axially centrally positioned slot  1124  that extends circumferentially around for ½ of the circumference of the sleeve  1122  and occupies about a third of the entire axially length of sleeve  1122 . Sleeve  1122  further includes fastener hole  1125  positioned on the solid side of sleeve  1122  diametrically opposite to slot  1124 . In addition to locating arbor base  1108 , sleeve  1122  further functions as means for supporting cylindrical roller bearing  1126  which is preferably secured by way of a press fit into the sleeve and arranged so that the driven shaft  72  runs through the center of the bearing  1126  and the large radius on the bottom surface of the arbor assembly rests on the exposed (slot location) surface of the bearing&#39;s outside diameter. As shown in  FIG. 23 , rollers  1128  or other bearing friction reduction means are arranged around the interior or inside diameter of the roller bearing and protect the surface of the bottom surface of the edge sealer or arbor assembly  1106  so that the arbor assembly is unaffected by the rotating shaft and thus not worn down by that rotation. This provides for the feature of precision positioning and maintenance of the compression depth of the below described edge seal heater element (e.g., heater wire ribbon) into the surface of the elastomeric or compressible material of the opposite drive roller  84  ( FIG. 2 ) to be maintained which provides for high quality seals to be formed and extends the life of arbor assembly  1106 . In other words, the seal compression depth, which controls the length of the sealing zone (and venting zone) and the pressure of the sealing wire on the film has a significant influence in the quality of the edge seal.  FIG. 14  further illustrates seal rings  1130 ,  1133  positioned around the opposite axial ends of bearing  1126 . 
       FIGS. 24 and 26  illustrate support or arbor support base  1108  of edge sealer assembly  91  with  FIG. 26  showing a vertically bisecting cross section of the arbor base or base support  1108  shown in  FIG. 24 . Arbor base  1108  functions as an edge sealer support base unit to provide a mounting base for edge sealer  1106 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , arbor base  1108  has a central semi-circular recess that has radius Ra which is the same as the radius Rs of the exterior of sleeve. The interior radius RB of sleeve  1122  conforms to the exterior radius of bearing  1126  and with the interior radius of bearing RC conforms to the exterior radius of shaft  72  such that the edge seal unit is able to stay in place as the roller bearings accommodate the rotation of shaft  72  and as the adjacent sub-rollers  1100  and  1102  rotate. Arbor base  1108  is formed of an insulative material such as Acetyl plastic which is preferably machined to have the illustrated configuration. Fastener hole  1125  in sleeve  1122  is also in line with fastener passage  1132  formed in arbor base  1108  such that sleeve  1122  can be mounted to the arbor base  1108  with a small flat head screw, for example.  FIG. 26  also shows electrical pin reception passageways  1134 ,  1136  formed in the enlarged side wings of arbor base  1108  with each having an enlarged upper passageway section  1138  ( FIG. 26 ) which opens into an intermediate diameter inner passageway  1140  which in turn opens into a smaller diameter lower passageway section  1142 . The lower passageway section  1142  opens out at the bottom into notch recesses  1144  and  1146 . 
       FIG. 16  further illustrates elongated cylindrical, electrically conductive contact socket sleeves  1148  and  1150  nested in intermediate passageway  1140  for each of the passageways  1134  and  1136 . Socket sleeves  1148  and  1150  are dimensioned for mating with bottom electrical contact pins  1152  and  1154  having enlarged heads  1156 ,  1158  for sandwiching electrical contact leads  1160 ,  1162  and  160 ′,  1162 ′ to the base edge of the arbor base provided within a respective one of notched recesses  1144  and  1146 . Thus, the electrical contact leads  1160 ,  1160 ′ and  1162 ,  1162 ′ are held in position and placed into electrical communication (e.g., power and/or sensing electrical lines) with the interior of sleeves  1148  and  1150  via respective contact pins  1152  and  1154 .  FIG. 87  illustrates the control sub-system for controlling and monitoring the performance of edge seal assembly  91 . 
       FIGS. 24 to 26  provide illustrations of base  1108 , while  FIGS. 28 to 67  provide various views of first and second embodiments of edge sealer  1106  which, in the illustrated embodiments, functions to position an edge seal wire  1182  in a preferably consistent (e.g., stationary) and a preferably direct contact state relative to film being fed therepast, and which is designed to provide a high quality edge seal in the bag being formed.  FIGS. 28 to 40  illustrate edge sealer  1106  having arbor housing body  1168  having an outer convex upper surface  1170 , central bottom concave recessed area  1172  conforming in curvature to the exterior diameter of bearing  1126  and outer extensions  1174  and  1176  which extend out to a common extent or slightly past the wing extensions of arbor base  1108 .  FIG. 50  illustrates a preferred arrangement for the intermediate portion of upper convex surface or profile for housing  1170  (between the straight slope sections as in  1188 ″ described below) and concave lower surface  1172  which share a common center of circle and with  FIG. 50  illustrating in part concentric circles by way of concentric sections C 1  and C 2  (e.g., diameters for example, of 1.25 inch for C 1  and 2.5 for C 2  partially shown in  FIG. 50  with dashed lines). 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 32 , edge sealer or arbor assembly  1106  further comprises contact pins  1178  and  1180  extending down from respective outer sections  1174  and  1176 , and sized to provide a friction fit connection in the arbor base  1108  in making electrical connection with respective electrical contact sleeves  1148  and  1150 . Pins  1178  and  1180  are preferably very low in resistance so as to minimize alterations in the below described sensed parameters associated with the edge seal heater wire  1182  being powered via the connector pins  1178  and  1180 , which are preferably of similar design as the plugs used in the end seals/cutter wires. A suitable connector features the gold sided flex pin connectors available from the Swiss Company “Multicontact” having a very low ohm characteristic. Thus, as shown by  FIGS. 8 and 16 , two lead wires extend out from each of the insertion holes for pins  1178  and  1180  powering the heating element (heater wire in this embodiment). Lead lines  1160  and  1160 ′ are preferably the power source lines and more robust than parallel sensor lines  1162 ,  1162 ′ which are less robust as they are designed merely as a sensor wire leading to the control center for determination of the temperature of the edge seal heater wire. A similar arrangement is utilized for each of the seal/cut bag end heater wires  1046 ,  1048 ,  1050 . 
     The sealing device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for the measurement and control of the temperature of the heating element as in a seal wire (e.g., the edge seal wire or cross-cut/seal wire(s)). This is preferably achieved through a combination of metallurgic characteristics and electronic control features as described below and provides numerous advantages over the prior art which are devoid of any direct temperature control of the sealing element. The arrangement of the present invention provides edge sealing that is more consistent, has shorter system warm-up times, more accurate sizing of the gas vents (e.g., a heating to melt an opening or a discontinuance of or lowering of temperature during edge seal formation), longer sealing element life, and longer life for the wire substrates and cover tapes, if utilized. 
     Under a preferred embodiment of the present invention control is achieved by calculating the resistance of the sealing wire, by precisely measuring the voltage across the wire and the current flowing through the wire. Once the current and the voltage are known, one can calculate wire resistance by the application of Ohm&#39;s law:
 
Resistance=Voltage/Current
 
or
 
 R=V/I  
 
     Voltage is preferably measured by using the four-wire approach used in conventional systems, which separates the two power leads that carry the high current to the seal wire, from the two sensing wires that are principally used to measure the voltage. In this regard, reference is made to the above disclosure regarding the use of low ohm connector plugs to avoid interference with sensed voltage and current readings and the discussion above concerns leads  1060 ,  1060 ′,  1062  and  1062 ′, two of which provide the wires for sensing. 
     This technique of using finer sensor wires eliminates the voltage loss caused by the added resistance of the power leads, and allows a much more accurate measurement of voltage between the two sensing wire contact points. This feature of avoiding potentially measurement interfering added resistance is taken into consideration under the present invention as the measurements involve very small resistance changes, in the milliohm range, across the sealing wire (e.g., 0.005 Ω). While this discussion is directed at the monitoring and controlling of the edge seal wire, the same technique is utilized for the cross-cut and cross-seal wires. Also, while a preferred heating element is an independent heater wire, the heater element may take on other forms as in a sandwiched plate, or a different material than the support that is either an independent element or integrated in a heat-resistant means molded or embedded within a support. However, a heater wire is preferred for the described embodiment and techniques as it can be replaced as a relatively, inexpensive component and, when a TCR control is involved, pre-testing can be readily achieved. 
     Under a preferred embodiment, current is calculated by measuring the voltage drop across a very precise and stable resistor on the control board and using Ohm&#39;s law one more time. The voltage and current data is used by the system controls to calculate the wire resistance in accordance with Ohm&#39;s law. Resistance is preferably calculated by the ultra fast DSP chips (Digital Signal Processing) on the main control board, which are capable of calculating resistance for a sealing wire thousands of times per second. 
     To determine and control temperature (e.g., changes in duty cycle in the supplied current), the measured resistance values must be correlated to wire temperatures. This involves the field of metallurgy, and a preferred use of the temperature coefficient of resistance (“TCR”) value for the seal wire utilized. 
     TCR concerns the characteristic of a metallic substance involving the notion that electrical resistance of a metal conductor increases slightly as its temperature increases. That is, the electrical resistance of a conductor wire is dependant upon collisional process within the wire, and the resistance thus increases with an increase in temperature as there are more collisions. A fractional change in resistance is therefore proportional to the temperature change or 
                 Δ   ⁢           ⁢   R       R   0       =     αΔ   ⁢           ⁢   T           
with “α” equal to the temperature coefficient of resistance or “TCR” for that metal.
 
     The relationship between temperature and resistance is almost (but not exactly) linear in the temperature range of consequences as represented by  FIG. 88  (e.g., 350 to 400° F. sealing temperature range and 380 to 425° F. cutting temperature range for typical film material). The control system of the present invention is able to monitor and control wire temperature because it receives information as to three things about every seal wire involved in the dispenser system (edge seal and end seal/cut wires). 
     (1) The electrical resistance of the wire involved at the desired sealing temperature (this is achieved by choosing wires that provide a common resistance level at a desired heating wire temperature set point (with adjustment possible with exceptence of some minor deviations due to the non-exact linear TCR relationship)). 
     (2) Approximate slope of the resistance vs. temperature curve at sealing temperature; and 
     (3) The measured resistance of the wire at its current conditions. 
     Thus, in controlling the edge seal or cross-cut seal and/or cutting wire under the present invention there is utilized a technique designed to maintain the seal wire at its desired resistance during the sealing cycle. This in turn maintains the wire at its desired temperature since its temperature is correlated with resistance. The slope of the R vs. T curve or data mapping of the same can also be referenced if there is a desire to adjust the set point up or down from the previous calibration point calibrated for a wire at the set point temperature (e.g., an averaged straight line of a jagged slope line). Initial wire determination (e.g., checking whether wire meets desired Resistance versus Temperature correlation) preferably involves heating the wires in an oven and checking to see whether resistance level meets desired value. Having all wires being used of the same resistance at the desired sealing temperature set point greatly facilitates the monitoring and control features but is not essential with added complexity to the controller processing (keeping in mind that a set of wires sharing a common resistance value at a first set point temperature may not have the same resistance among them at a different set point temperature due to potentially different TCR plots). In this regard, reference is made to  FIG. 89  illustrating a testing system for determining temperature versus resistance values for various wires. The test system shown in  FIG. 89  is designed to determine the resistance of the wires at three temperatures, Ambient, 200° F. and 350° F. This test was performed on wires in a “Tenney” thermal chamber (from Tenney Environmental Corp.) at the desired temperature. The instrumentation used to measure the resistance was an Agilent 34401A Digital multimeter using 4-Wire configuration. Temperature measurements were taken with a thermocouple attached to the wire under test. Temperature measurement was taken using the Omega HH509R instrument. Ambient temperature was set at 74.6° F. (The Fluke measurement device being replaceable with the same Omega model). 
     As can be seen from the forgoing and the fact that different metals and alloys have different TCR&#39;s, the proper choice of metal alloy for the sealing element can greatly facilitate the controlling and monitoring of sealing wire temperature. For a desired level of accuracy, the wire should deliver a significant resistance change so that the control circuits can detect and measure something. The above described controller circuit design can detect changes as small as a few milliohms. Thus, there can successfully be used wires with TCR&#39;s in the 10 milliohm/ohm/° F. range. 
     Some currently commonly used wire alloys, like Nichrome, are not well suited for the wire temperature control means and monitoring means of the present invention because they have a very small TCR (but embodiment of the invention do find them suitable for using), which means that their resistance change per ° F. of temperature change is very small and they do not give the preferred resolution which facilitates accurate temperature control. On the other hand, wires having two large a TCR jump in relation to their power requirement (also associated with resistance and having units ohms/CMF) can lead to too rapid a burn out due to the avalanching of hot spots along the length of the wire which is a problem more pronounced with longer cross-cut wires as compared to the shorter edge seal wires used under the present invention. For the edge seal of the present invention, an alloy called “Alloy 42” having a chemical composition of 42Ni, balance Fe with (for resistivity at 20° C.) an OHMS/CMF value of 390 and a TCR value 0.0010 Ω/Ω/° C. is suitable. Alloy 42 represents one preferred wire material because it has a relatively high, (yet stable) TCR characteristic. The edge seal wire has improved effectiveness when length is ½ inch or less in preferred embodiments. Another requirement of the chosen edge seal wire is consistency despite numerous temperature cycle deviations, which the Alloy 42 provides. 
     For lower seal heat requirements, there is the potential for alternate wire types such as MWS 294R (which has shown to have avalanche problems when heated to too high a level) and thus has limited usage potential and thus is less preferred compared to Alloy 42 despite its higher TCR value as seen from Table II. As an example of determining TCR wire characteristics, Table I below illustrates the results of tests conducted on a one inch piece of MWS 294R wire. The testing results are shown plotted in  FIG. 88 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 EDGE SEAL WIRE MWS 294R 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 TEMP 
                 RES 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 AMB. 
                 .383 
               
               
                   
                 110 F. 
                 .325 
               
               
                   
                 120 F. 
                 .320 
               
               
                   
                 130 F. 
                 .305 
               
               
                   
                 140 F. 
                 .278 
               
               
                   
                 150 F. 
                 .269 
               
               
                   
                 160 F. 
                 .262 
               
               
                   
                 170 F. 
                 .263 
               
               
                   
                 180 F. 
                 .264 
               
               
                   
                 190 F. 
                 .279 
               
               
                   
                 200 F. 
                 .297 
               
               
                   
                 210 F. 
                 .316 
               
               
                   
                 220 F. 
                 .350 
               
               
                   
                 230 F. 
                 .350 
               
               
                   
                 240 F. 
                 .365 
               
               
                   
                 250 F. 
                 .380 
               
               
                   
                 260 F. 
                 .392 
               
               
                   
                 270 F. 
                 .396 
               
               
                   
                 280 F. 
                 .418 
               
               
                   
                 290 F. 
                 .430 
               
               
                   
                 300 F. 
                 .422 
               
               
                   
                 310 F. 
                 .440 
               
               
                   
                 320 F. 
                 .425 
               
               
                   
                 330 F. 
                 .430 
               
               
                   
                 340 F. 
                 .426 
               
               
                   
                 350 F. 
                 .428 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As seen from the above table for the typical heater wire levels, the MWS 294R wire (29Ni, 17Co., balance Fe) shows a relatively large resistance jump per 10° F. temperature increases (with an increase of about 0.012 ohms per 10° F. being common in the plots set forth above and illustrated in  FIG. 88 ) and features an OHMS/CMF value of 294 as seen from Table II below setting forth some wire characteristics from the MWS® Wire Industry source. Using the testing device shown in  FIG. 89 , a TCR plotting can be made and an X-axis to Y-axis correlation between desired temperature set point and associated resistance level can be made for use by the controller as it monitors the current resistance level of the wire and makes appropriate current adjustments to seek the desired resistance (temperature set point level). While Alloy 42 can be used for the cross-cut seal in certain settings, in a preferred embodiment a stainless steel (“SST 302”) wire also available for MWS® Wire Industries is well suited to use as the cross-cut wire in providing sufficient TCR increases (TCR of 0.00017—toward the lower end of the overall preferred range of 0.00015 to 0.0035, with a more preferred range, at least for the edge seals being 0.0008 to 0.0030, and with the preferred OHMS/CMF range being 350 to 500 or more preferably 375 to 400). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 COEFFICIENT 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 RESISTIVITY 
                 OF LINEAR 
                 TENSILE 
                 POUNDS 
                 APPROX. 
               
               
                   
                 AT 20° C. 
                 EXPANSION 
                 STRENGTH 
                 PER CUBIC 
                 MELTING POINT 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 MATERIAL 
                 COMPOSITION 
                 OHMS/CMF 
                 TCR 0-100° C. 
                 BETWEEN 20-100° C. 
                 MIN. 
                 MAX. 
                 INCH 
                 (° C.) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 MWS-875 
                 22.5 Cr, 5.5 Al, 
                 875 
                 .00002 
                 .000012 
                 105,000 
                 175,000 
                 .256 
                 1520 
               
               
                   
                 .5 Si, .1 C, bal. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Fe 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 MWS-800 
                 75 Ni, 20 Cr, 
                 800 
                 .00002 
                 .0000314 
                 100,000 
                 200,000 
                 .293 
                 1350 
               
               
                   
                 2.5 Al, 2.5 Cu 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 MWS-675 
                 61 Ni, 15 Cr, 
                 675 
                 .00013 
                 .0000137 
                 95,000 
                 175,000 
                 .2979 
                 1350 
               
               
                   
                 bal. Fe 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 MWS-650 
                 80 Ni, 20 Cr 
                 650 
                 .00010 
                 .00003132 
                 100,000 
                 200,000 
                 .3039 
                 31400 
               
               
                 Stainless 
                 18 Cr, 8 Ni, bal. 
                 438 
                 .00017 
                 .000017 
                 100,000 
                 300,000 
                 .286 
                 1399 
               
               
                 Steel 
                 Fe 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ALLOY 42 
                 42 Ni, bal. Fe 
                 390 
                 .0010 
                 .0000029 
                 70,000 
                 150,000 
                 .295 
                 31425 
               
               
                 MWS-294 
                 55 Cu, 45 Ni 
                 294 
                 .0002* 
                 .00003149 
                 60,000 
                 135,000 
                 .321 
                 1210 
               
               
                 MWS-294R 
                 29 Ni, 17 Co, 
                 294 
                 .0033 
                 .0000033 
                 65,000 
                 150,000 
                 .302 
                 31450 
               
               
                   
                 bal. Fe 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Manganin 
                 13 Mn, 4 Ni, 
                 290 
                 .000015** 
                 .0000187 
                 40,000 
                 90,000 
                 .296 
                 1020 
               
               
                   
                 bal. Cu 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ALLOY 52 
                 50.5 Ni, bal. Fe 
                 260 
                 .0029 
                 .0000049 
                 70,000 
                 150,000 
                 .301 
                 31425 
               
               
                 MWS-180 
                 22 Ni, bal. Cu 
                 180 
                 .00018 
                 .0000159 
                 50,000 
                 100,000 
                 .321 
                 1100 
               
               
                 MWS-120 
                 70 Ni, 30 Fe 
                 120 
                 .0045 
                 .000015 
                 70,000 
                 150,000 
                 .305 
                 31425 
               
               
                 MWS-90 
                 12 Ni, bal. Cu 
                 90 
                 .0004 
                 .0000161 
                 35,000 
                 75,000 
                 .321 
                 1100 
               
               
                 MWS-60 
                 6 Ni, bal. Cu 
                 60 
                 .0005 
                 .0000163 
                 35,000 
                 70,000 
                 .321 
                 1100 
               
               
                 MWS-30 
                 2 Ni, bal. Cu 
                 30 
                 .0013 
                 .0000165 
                 30,000 
                 60,000 
                 .321 
                 1100 
               
               
                 Nickel 205 
                 99 Ni 
                 57 
                 .0048 
                 .000013 
                 60,000 
                 135,000 
                 .321 
                 31450 
               
               
                 Nickel 270 
                 99.98 Ni 
                 45 
                 .0067 
                 .000013 
                 48,000 
                 95,000 
                 .321 
                 31452 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *TCR at 25-105° C. 
               
               
                 **TCR at 25-105° C. 
               
               
                 Note: 
               
               
                 Available in bare or Insulated 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The temperature of the seal wire can be readily changed under the current invention by changing the duty cycle pulses of the supplied current within the range of 0 to 100%. Maintaining the sealing wire at the correct temperature helps improve the consistency of the seals, since wire temperature is the main factor in producing seal in the plastic film. 
     As described above, the thickness of arbor housing  1168  for the edge seal supporting the desired wire (e.g., one having resistance increase of 0.005 (more preferably 0.008) or more per 10° F. jump in temperature in the typical seal/cut temperature range of the film like that described above) is designed for insertion within slot  1124  in sleeve  1122 . 
       FIGS. 42 to 52  illustrate arbor housing  1168  with its bridge-like configuration having opposite side walls  1184  and  1186  with upper rims  1188  and  1190 . As seen from  FIG. 52 , each rim has a circular intermediate section represented by  1188 ′ and straight edge sloping sections (opposite sides) represented by  1188 ″ which place the arbor assembly components not involved in the compression edge seal wire function removed from the elastomeric drive roller. Between rims  1188  and  1190  there is provided a series of arbor assembly reception cavities. The illustrated reception cavities include non-moving end connector reception cavity  1192  having horizontal base  1194  with pin aperture  1196 , and with cavity  1192  ( FIG. 42 ) being defined at its upper edge with enlarged base horse-shoe shaped rim  1198  being bordered on opposite sides by rails  1199  and  1197 . Rim  1198  opens into intermediate reception cavity  1195  which is preferably a horizontal planar mount surface bordered by thicker side rail sections  1193  and  1191 . Centrally positioned within intermediate cavity there is located central cavity  1189  which extends deeper into arbor housing  1168  than intermediate reception cavity  1195 . As shown in  FIG. 164 , to the opposite side of intermediate section, there is provided moving end connector reception cavity  1187  which includes sliding slope surface  1185  extending out from a transverse wall  1183  having an upper edge forming the outer edge of smaller based horse-shoe shaped rim surface  1181  having notched side walls bordered by sloped outer contact surfaces  1179 ,  1177  ( FIG. 42 ,  44 ). Further provided is second horizontal base surface  1175  with second pin aperture  1173  formed therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 32 , pin connectors  1178 , have threaded upper ends with pin  1178  having its upper threaded end receiving nut  1169  below horizontal base  1194  and extended through house cavity  1167 ′ and fixed in position with nut NU. Pin  1180  has it upper end threaded into a threaded cavity  1167  formed in non-moving connection block  1165  having a bottom flush with horizontal base  1194 . Non-moving connector block  1165  has a configuration that generally conforms to the profile of cavity  1192  so that block  1165  slides either vertically or horizontally into and out of cavity  1192  but  1192  during installation, and after that is prevented from any appreciable movement in a side to side, inward or rotational direction. 
       FIGS. 54 to 58  illustrate in perspective and in cross-section non-moving connector or mounting block  1165  and is preferably formed of a brass material. There is additionally formed in block  1165  sloping (down and in from an upper outward corner) reception hole  1163  having a central axis of elongation that extends transverse to the planar sloped surface  1161 . As seen from  FIG. 56 , the side edge from which reception hole  1163  opens is a multi-sided side edge MS. 
     Arbor assembly  1106  further includes ceramic plug  1159  which is illustrated by itself in  FIGS. 60 and 61 , and has insertion projection  1157  and head  1155 . Ceramic plug  1159  has side walls  1153 ,  1151  (includes coplanar or co-extensive surfaces for both head end plug) which are separated apart a distance that generally conforms to the opposing inner walls of thick-end rail sections  1191 ,  1193  for a slight friction sliding fit. Similarly, central cavity  1189  has a generally oval configuration that conforms to that of projection  1157  for a snug fit. Head  1155  has underside extension surfaces extending out from opposite sides of the top of projection  1157  and defines a surface designed to lie flush on intermediate planer surface defining intermediate cavity  1195  such as a common flush horizontal surface arrangement. Ceramic plug  1159  has an upper convex surfacer  1149  which, as shown in  FIG. 32 , matches the curvature of  1170  of arbor housing  1168  and terminates out its ends at the outer edges of intermediate cavity  1195 . 
     Arbor assembly  1106  further comprises moving mounting block  1147  illustrated in position within arbor housing  1168  and alone in  FIGS. 64 to 66 . As shown in  FIGS. 64 to 66 , moving mounting block  1147  has an electrical plug reception hole  1145  that extends transversely into moving mounting block  1147  from upper planar surface  1143 . Electrical plug reception hole  1145  is preferably threaded and is designed to receive and hold an electrical connection  1117 ′ with lead connector  1145 ′ clamped down ( FIG. 16 ). In similar fashion lead connector  1145  is clamped down by nut NU″. Block  1147  further includes planar bottom surface  1141  which is placed flush on sloping upper surface  1161 , and planar side walls  1139  and  1137  spaced apart to generally coincide with the side walls defined by arbor housing  1168 . Block  1147  further includes convex (three sloping flat sides forming a general curvature) end walls  1135  and  1133 . Interior passageway  1131  ( FIG. 66 ) extends between end walls  1135  and  1133  and opens out at a central vertical location in the middle sub-wall of the convex end walls. At the end closest to the central plug  1159  there is formed notch  1129  which extends from end  1133  inward with an upper level commensurate with an upper level of passageway  1131  and downwardly to open out at bottom surface  1141 . The interior end of notch  1129  includes transverse enlargements to form a T-shaped cross-section TC as shown in  FIG. 64 . 
       FIG. 32  further illustrates slide shaft  1127  received within housing  1168  at one end and designed to extend into interior passageway  1131  so as to provide a means for guiding slide movement along guide shaft  1127  in said moving mounting block  1147 . Between the end surface  1183  of the arbor housing and the convex end surface  1135  of the adjacent moving mount block, there is positioned outward biasing means  1125  which in a preferred embodiment comprises conical spring which biases moving mounting block  1147  outward along slope surface  1179 . The T-shaped slot facilitates adding the conical spring on to the system (e.g., allows for finger grasping in holding its position as the guide is passed through the center of the spring).  FIG. 32  further shows upper nut NU which fixes conducting pin  1178  in position and sandwiches first arbor conductor lead  1145 ′ between the planar surface  1175  and nut NU. Threaded fastener  1117 ′ is threaded within threaded part  1145 ″ in the moving block and through the base region of end connector plate  1113  ( 1111 ) in  FIG. 67  and also through the looped end of electrical lead  1145 ′ so as to compress them into electrical communication. Moving block  1147  is preferably formed of the same material as non-moving block  1165  as in electrically conducting base. Moving block  1147  is also sized as to have an operative position inward from the end of the conducting pin extending upward from planar surface  1175 . 
     Heater wire assembly  1119  comprises the aforementioned heater wire  1182  connected at its ends to respective arbor assembly wire plates  1113  and  1111 , which are similar to those described above for the heater wire end seal wire support plates. Plates  1111  and  1113  have an enlarged portion with conductor screw aperture and a tapering, elongated end for welded, soldered or alternate securement means to fix edge seal heater wire  1182  to the plates at opposite ends of the heater wire. Heater wire insert plugs  1117  and  1115 , are preferably of a screw type for threaded attachment to the respective mounting blocks. Thus, the screws are extended through the central apertures formed in plates  1113  and  1111  so as to hold the plates and the connected wires in fixed position relative to the mounting blocks  1147  and  1165 . Thus moving mounting block  1147  acts as a tensioner device in the edge seal heater wire as soon as the heater wire and plates combination are secured by the threaded screws to the respective blocks and the blocks are received within the respective arbor housing cavities (the combination of tensioning facilitator and tension state maintenance providing tension maintenance means under the present invention). The tensioner maintenance means of the present invention preferably maintains edge seal heater wire  1182  under tension at all times of use (the biasing means is preferably a relatively small spring as to avoid over tensioning and stretching the heater wire)  1182 . The moving block is under spring tension and moves in a linear fashion as it is guided by the guide shaft  1127  to keep the edge seal wire taught. The movement makes up for the normal variations in wire length and for the thermal expansion of the wire while the moving block moves along the loosely fitting, preferably stainless steel guide shaft  1127  (to avoid binding). 
     The edge seal heater wire  1182  is centered on the curved upper head surface of insert head or plug  1159  which is formed of a high heat resistant material such as a ceramic plug. Plug  1159  is preferably able to withstand over 450° F. and more preferably over 650° F. (e.g., up to 1500° F. available in conventional ceramics) without ablation or melting of the underlying face of the plug coming into contact with the heater wire and without any Teflon taping. 
     Thus, as the film is driven by driven roller set through the nip region, the film is compressed against the compressible material roller and heated to a level which will bond and seal together an edge seal (or seals if more than one involved). The present invention, provides a stationary support and accurate positioning of the edge seal heater wire, both initially and over prolonged usage as in over 20,000 cycles. As the core works relatively well at precluding underlying heater wire or support backing material melting or softening, there is avoided rapidly forming deviations in the location of the edge seal and a degraded edge seal quality which are problems common in prior art designs. For example, the rapid deviation in positioning as the heater wire sank into the backing material was one of the problems leading to poor edge seal quality in prior art designing. 
       FIGS. 15 and 17  are representative of an alternate edge sealer assembly  91 ′ embodiment. This second embodiment  91 ′ of the edge seal assembly has its components represented by the “A” reference versions amongst  FIGS. 8 to 59  together with  FIGS. 62 and 63 . As seen there are general similarities between the edge sealing means embodiments of edge sealer assembly  91  and edge sealer assembly  91 ′ and thus the emphasis below is on the differences. 
     As seen, from  FIGS. 9 and 15  edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS′ with two part edge seal assembly  91 ′ features a modified sleeve to roller segments clamping means featuring components which include annular wedge ring P 1 , threaded block P 2 , and threaded cylinder P 3  with threaded fastener FS is associated with external block P 2  and internally threaded with cylinder P 3  and with annular wedge ring P 1  completing the connection due to sleeve  122 A being fixed in position there under with fastener  1132 A received in the opposite, internal end of threaded cylinder  3 . 
     As further seen from  FIGS. 15 ,  17 , and  33 , the edge sealer assembly combination  91 AS′ represents an alternate preferred embodiment from, for example, the standpoint of symmetry in design to the left and right of ceramic insert head CH of the same ceramic described above or of, for example, VESPEL brand high temperature plastic of DuPont is received within the central reception cavity CS defined by main housing MH having pin connectors  1178 A and  1180 A as shown in  FIG. 33 . Shoes SH 1  and SH 2 , together with fasteners F 1  and F 2 , are used to secure in position insert head CH (e.g., a sliding friction positioning is suitable between the interior most ends of the shoes). Shoes SH 1  and SH 2  are thus designed as positioners that are used to sandwich head CH within slot CS with fasteners F 1  and F 2  being utilized to secure shoes or positioners SH 1  and SH 2  to housing MH. Head CH supports heater wire segment W with upper end UE conforming to the head&#39;s CH convex curvature CC and designed for reception within groove or slot Wg shown in  FIG. 62 . The shoes SH 1  and SH 2  are formed of a conductive material so as to provide for an electrical conduction of current from the pins,  1178 A and  1180 A to head CH. Heater wire segment W preferably has, in addition to its upper exposed, central section, two side wire extensions EX that are placed in contact with the interior ends of the shoes to complete the circuit running from one of the conductor pins (e.g. pin  1178 A to an adjacent shoe which receives the conductor pin and which has its interior end in contact with wire extension EX) such that the electricity passes through the wire, through the opposite shoe and then out through the opposite conductor pin. Because rollers  1100  and  1102  are of a non-conducting material together with the arbor housing unit supporting the shoes, there is sufficient electrical insulation provided relative to the conductive shoes when the edge seal assembly is assembled. Also, the fasteners F 1  and F 2  are received within the main housing MH formed of an electrically insulating material and upon drawing in the shoes against the housing the interior end of the shoes compress the wire extensions against the opposing sides of the insert head, so as to provide both a good electric contact and facilitate the position retention (with or without the use of position pin CP). The odd numbered Figures from  25  to  59  show individual components of edge seal assembly  91 ′ shown, for example, assembled in  FIG. 17 , with the noted added “A” to reference numbers sharing some similarity with the earlier described embodiments. 
       FIG. 53  shows main housing MH for the edge seal assembly  91 ′ shown in  FIG. 17  and includes an intermediate cavity  1195 A formed between side walls  1184 A and  1186 A in similar fashion to the edge sealer assembly  91 . Side walls  1188 A and  1190 A which are preferably curved in length and planar in width at the exposed upper surfaces are represented by rims  1188 A and  1190 A. 
       FIG. 53  further shows non-walled end sections SES 1  and SES 2  that have an exposed arched surface designed to generally correspond in shape to shoes SH 1  and SH 2  as shown in  FIG. 17 . This includes planar flush mount surfaces FM 1  and FM 2  having apertures FRB 1  and FRB 2  through which fasteners F 1  and F 2  ( FIG. 33 ) extend until received by threaded apertures TE ( FIG. 55 ) formed in shoes SH 1  and SH 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 55 and 57  shoes SH 1  and SH 2  are each formed with conductive pin receipt apertures PR and planer surfaces FM 3  and FM 4 , respectively, around the opening for threaded aperture TE receiving fasteners F 1  and F 2 .  FIG. 55  further show stepped shoulder TA from which extends out the thinner width projection PRO having a width dimensioned for sliding friction contact with side walls  1186 A and  1188 B. The exposed surface EXA of the shoes has an interior portion EXI that is also designed to match the curvature of rims  1188 A and  1190 A as seen from  FIGS. 33 and 35 . The exposed surface EXA preferably extends in continuous fashion from interior portion EXI into portion EXE. Projections PRO have an underlying contact surface UC 1  which is preferably a planar surface design. Surface UC 1  rests flush on planar surface UC 2  of main housing MH defining the base of cavity  1195 A. Projection PRO for each shoe also preferably has a contact edge CN designed to come in electrical communication contact with the heater element or heater wire side extension extending down the opposite side walls of insert head CH. Thus shoes SH 1  and SH 2  act to sandwich the insert head CH and the two side extensions Ex of wire W in position and in a electrical communication due to the conductive nature of shoes SH 1  and SH 2 . 
       FIGS. 33 ,  62  and  63  further illustrate insert head CH having an exposed film control surface CC with central groove Wg extending over its entire length for receiving the exposed upper portion UE of heater element W such that upper portion UE is recessed to some degree along the preferably ceramic material insert head CH. Also the exposed portion UE follows the curvature of heater element W preferably generally following the curvature of the rims  1188 A and  1190 A and the shoes exposed interior portion EXE ( FIG. 55 ) so as to present a generally flush, continuous and planar in width film presentation (e.g., direct contact) surface. 
       FIG. 86  shows an overall schematic view of the display, controls and power distribution for a preferred foam-in-bag dispenser embodiment which provides for coordinated activity amongst the various sub-assemblies like that for the foam-in-bag dispenser system described above (and for which component reference numbers are provided in addition to the key legend of  FIG. 86A ). In  FIG. 86  edge sealer  91  is schematically presented in relation to other foam-in-bag assembly components. 
       FIG. 68  illustrates third embodiment edge sealer assembly  91 ″ of the present invention which, in a preferred embodiment, is configured as an arbor assembly like the two above described first and second edge sealer embodiments utilized with roller mounts in edge seal assembly combinations  91 AS′ or some alternate mounting means to place the sealing device at the desired position relative to the film material being sealed. Edge sealer assembly  91 ″ comprises edge sealer  310  housing body or “arbor body”  311  which, in the illustrated preferred embodiment, is formed of an electrically conductive material (e.g. steel) and as a monolithic body with a film-side peripheral edge  3100 . A steel arbor body also provides the benefits of low flexibility (e.g., steel, as in a hardened steel, is in the order of 100 times stiffer than “Acetal” plastic). Edge  3100  is preferably formed of an overall convex contour with a less convex or planar intermediate face or presentation section  3101  being provided (or, in an alternate embodiment, the intermediate face has a convex configuration matching the contour extending to opposite sides or various other support housing configurations can also be provided depending on intended usage and environment including straight presentation faces in the housing). In the preferred “arbor” version of edge sealer  311 , there is further included opposite side or underside arbor body edge  3102  which is shown to include an intermediate concave section  3104  and left and right, more planar, base extensions  3106  and  3108 . As described above, the concave section provides a rotation bearing sleeve or rotation shaft reception recess such that the edge sealer and its presentation face can be maintained stationary in the preferred drag past film/stationary sealer arrangement (although the edge sealer of the present invention can also be utilized in other environments as in non-stationary sealer environments and uses such as where the heat sealer is moving either relative to a stationary film material or a moving film material either in a common or non-common direction of movement or where both the material and the sealer are stationary when placed in position as in a clamp arrangement or where each is fixed in position, but one or the other is provided with ability to flex or adjust under a bias or spring force upon deflection). Base sections  3106  and  3108  provide for surface contact with an arbor support base, such as arbor support base  1108  described above for the first two edge sealer embodiments. While shown as having releasably connected “two part” supporting means to accommodate the drive shaft, edge sealer assembly  91 ″, like the earlier embodiments, can take on a variety of forms such as a supporting means for the heater insert that is more of a “single part” that is attached to example to a fixed or moving component in an overall film sealing device such as a moving arm. 
     Support body  311  further includes thicker peripheral edge surfaces  3111  and  3113  of thicker body sections  3110  and  3112 . As shown in  FIG. 71 , the thinner face edge section  3101  and underlying wall  3226  ( FIG. 72 ) define an insert reception recess  3114 .  FIG. 71  also illustrates contact bridge reception cavity  3116  extending from just inward of side wall  3118  of the arbor body and opening into recess  3114  at its opposite end. Reception cavity  3116  has an upper covering represented by an upper region of thicker section  3112  and a lower covering represented by a flange portion defining on its underside concave intermediate section  3104  and on its upper side a lower region of the thicker section  3112  directly above base extension  3106 . There is further featured first and second engagement block sections  3120  and  3122  that are positioned to define the base of recess  3114 , and having an intermediate thickness or depth relative to the thinner wall section  3101  and thicker wall sections  3110  and  3112 . A third intermediate thickness engagement block section is represented by block  3124  in  FIG. 71  and falls in thickness between thicker section  3110  and the recess defined by thinner wall section  3101 . Fourth engagement block section  3125  is shown also in  FIG. 71  as being formed in thicker wall section  3112  between peripheral edge surface  3113  and bridge reception cavity  3116 . 
       FIG. 71  further shows insertion cavity  3126  extending into thicker body section  3110  and opening out at a boundary region of peripheral edge surface  3111  and side wall  3119 . As seen from  FIG. 69 , insertion cavity  3126  extends horizontally into thicker wall section  3110  and opens out at interior outlet reception cavity  3128 , which extends to second engagement block section  3122 . On the other side, within thicker wall section  3112 , there is provided insertion cavity  3130  which opens out at peripheral edge section  3113  and, as shown in  FIG. 69 , also extends horizontally until opening out into heater element support insert (and contact bridge end) reception recess  3114 , and preferably at a vertically spaced relationship relative to insertion cavity  3126  (cavity  3130  shown as having a central axis of elongation at a higher level than insertion cavity  3126  in the preferred embodiment). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 69 ,  71 ,  72  and  74 , there is depicted insertion cavity  3132  extending up into base section  3106  and including an expanded diameter section  3134  opening out at exposed surface  3136  ( FIG. 74 ) and defining notches  3138  and  3140  in the front and rear face surfaces of base section  3106 , and a smaller diameter section  3139  that opens out into bridge reception cavity  3116 . As seen, insertion cavity  3132  extends vertically and transversely to the direction of elongation of cavities  3126  and  3130 . There is further formed in housing body  311 , insertion cavity  3142 , which also extends vertically and is formed in thicker block section  3110  and intersects cavity  3126  in a middle region between outlet recess  3128  adjacent engagement block  3122  and the opening of cavity  3126  at surface  3111 . Insertion cavity  3142  also opens out at the concave surface  3104  of underside  3102  and preferably terminates at its opposite end internally within block section  3110  above cavity  3126 . 
       FIGS. 69 ,  70  and  74  further illustrate insertion cavity  3144 , also extending vertically, as in parallel fashion, with cavity  3132 , and extending into thicker block section  3110  with an interior end encased within block section  3110  and an opposite end opening out at exposed surface  3146  ( FIG. 74 ) of base extension  3108 . 
       FIG. 71  shows an initial assembly stage starting with housing body  311  and some of the assembly components and prior to the providing of additional components to completely assemble the edge sealer  311  embodiment, with a preferred general sequence of assembly being described below. That is, as shown in  FIGS. 69 ,  70  and  71 , there is supplied positioner or position retention means  314  comprised of heating element contactor  315  and position fixing device  3148  with both shown ready for insertion into cavity  3126  ( FIG. 71 ) and in a final position in  FIG. 70 . Contactor  315  is inserted into insertion cavity  3126  such that its interior end opens out into outlet recess  3128  immediately adjacent a side wall of second engagement block section  3122  as shown in  FIGS. 69 and 70 . Position fixing device  3148 , which in a preferred embodiment is a screw fastener, provides position fixing means for the contactor  315  (e.g., an arrangement in which a desired compression level is achieved between an interior contact end  3150  of contactor  315  and a heating element section sandwiched between contactor  315  and block section  3122 ). In a preferred embodiment, contactor  315  is slideably received within cavity  3126 , while position fixing device  3148  is an independent set screw that has a threaded exterior which threads into threading provided at the insertion end of cavity  3126  so as to achieve the above noted (e.g., horizontal) position retention means arrangement for positioner  314 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 69 and 70 , in a preferred embodiment, positioner  314  comprises a generally cylindrical rod or pin member for contactor  315 , having a thicker region  3152  (e.g., an uninterrupted cylindrical section) with a diameter generally conforming to an intermediate step-in or lesser diameter section  3151  of cavity  3126  (positioned internally to the set screw reception threaded region receiving set screw  3148 ). Contactor  315  has an outer fastener abutment end for contact with the set screw  3148 . Contactor  315  also preferably has stabilization configuration portion  3154  that extends across cavity  3142 . Cavity  3142  also receives stabilizer  3155  which, in a preferred embodiment, is another fastener designated for threaded insertion into cavity  3142  as in the illustrated set screw  3154  (e.g., one that is preferably just the same in design as screw  3148 ). 
     Stabilizing configuration section  3154  is shown in a preferred embodiment as being an elongated notched section of the contractor rod  315  presenting a planar surface for contact with stabilizer  3155  as it is placed in its final position (e.g., threaded further into insertion cavity  3142  until contact is made between the upper end of set screw  3155  and the planar surface  3154  of the notched positioner pin  3150 ). 
       FIG. 71  further illustrates the providing of heating element insulator  320  into housing body  311  which, with the preferred use of a resistance wire as the heating element, comprises a cylindrical sleeve insulator designed for insertion into (e.g., a friction fit insertion or a threaded insertion or the like) block section  320 . Other heating element insulating means as in a block that is threaded, adhered or otherwise fastened to housing body  311  or a molded or plastic insulator member such as one integrally formed in housing body  311  are also featured under the present invention. 
       FIG. 72  illustrates some additional assembly steps for which the step sub-sets illustrated and described in respective  FIGS. 71 ,  72 ,  73  and  74  represent a preferred assembly sequence. However, a variety of sequence variations are possible both internally within a Figure sub-set in general and relative to the noted Figures, so long as a step does not preclude completion of the assembly process in general (e.g., the clamping down of positioner  314  into its final position before the heating element is placed for clamping in position is not a preferred sequence).  FIGS. 72 ,  81  and  81 A illustrate bridge contact assembly  313  prior to insertion into the corresponding configured bridge reception cavity  3116 . With reference to  FIGS. 72 and 81 , there can be seen that bridge contact assembly  313  preferably includes an interior contact member  3156  and one or more exterior insulating members. In a preferred embodiment the insulating means includes the illustrated front and rear side surface insulator sheets  322  and  323  as well as initial feed-in end insulator sheet  321 . The insulators are preferably sheets of insulting material (e.g., Teflon sheets) that share a common configuration with the contact portion of the internal conducting bridge body  3156 , with bridge assembly  313  shown in exploded and assembled state in  FIGS. 81 and 81A . The insulators are also preferably adhered or otherwise joined to the corresponding configured exposed sections of bridge contact  3156  so as to insulate the bridge assembly from the conductive housing body  311 . A variety of other insulating means can also be utilized as in spray or molded on insulating layering or coating. 
     Insulators  321 ,  322  and  323  are preferably formed as to provide not only an insulating function but also a low friction surface to facilitate the sliding in place of bridge assembly  313  into its final resting state within housing body  311 . This low friction easy slide sate is useful during a final positioner lock down stage wherein bridge assembly  313  is moved into a lock down state relative to the heating element described below. Die cut Teflon contact insulator sheeting is illustrative of a suitable insulting and low friction or easy slide into position material as it achieves good electrical insulation relative to the preferably conductive support body  311 , while allowing the bridge assembly to easily slide within the support body in response to the final (or intermediate) clamping compression and fixation stage described below. 
       FIG. 72  illustrates position retentioner  3160  on the opposite side of body  311  which, in combination with positioner  314 , provides clamping means for both retention of the heater element insertion head and the heater element  328  ( FIG. 73 ). As shown in  FIG. 72 , position retentioner  3160  includes engagement head  3162  of bridge contact  3156 . Engagement head  3162  is provided in one side of insert reception recess  3114  so as to have exposed surface  3164  adjacent thin wall section  3226  of housing body  311 . As shown in  FIGS. 81 and 81A  head  3162  has interior contact wall  3166  and exterior contact wall  3168  together with a step-in wall  3170  and vertical wall section  3172  with the latter two walls conforming to a sidewall and top wall of first engagement block  3120 . Intermediate body portion  3160  of bridge contact  3156  is shown as having a curvature that conforms to the curvature of concave underside  3102 . As seen from  FIG. 69 , the configuration of bridge contact  3156  closely conforms with the configuration of bridge reception cavity  3116  with some positioner adjustment play allotted (e.g., slide forward during heater element positioner lock down) and those surfaces in sliding contact with the interior surface of housing body  311  as shown covered with insulation and thus not utilized for electrical transfer. In this way, the electrical transfer along bridge contact  3156  is limited to travel from the in-feed end  3157  and along the body of bridge contact  3156  until reaching engagement head  3162 . The non-covered surfaces of bridge contact  3156  are shown spaced from the support body  311  by way of spacing gaps such as the underside gap  3180 , the overside gap  3182  and the back end gap  184  shown in  FIG. 69 . The in-feed end  3157  has an enlarged thickness relative to the rest of bridge  3156  to accommodate contact receptor aperture  3174  which is a preferred embodiment is a threaded aperture extending vertically into the in-feed end  3157  so as to be axially in line with insertion cavity  3132 . 
       FIG. 72  shows stack inserts  317 ,  318  and  319  which, in combination, provide insert head or heater element substrate  3176 . The stack inserts are placed in contact in a stacked arrangement and inserted into the remaining portion of insert reception cavity  3114 . A first side wall  3186  of the combination stack  3176  faces interior contact wall  3166  of engagement head  3162 , while the opposite wall of combination stack  3176  faces the interior wall of third engagement block section  3124  of housing body  311  having more, or the same, or essentially the same depth thickness as the combination stack.  FIG. 72  also shows position retentioner  3160  having contact positioner  325  positioned for insertion into insertion cavity  3130  and position fixer  3178 , which is preferably a threaded fastener in the form of a set screw like the previous described set screws. Contact positioner  325  is preferably a non-conductive, insulating material member (e.g., a cylindrical plastic plug) that extends across overside gap  3182  (a portion of the nearly filled in reception cavity  3114 ) into contact with the exterior contact wall  3168  of engagement head  3162  and is fixed in position by set screw  3178  to lock in position leg  328 C of heater element  328  as explained below. 
       FIG. 73  shows the further assembly of components in the assembly of edge sealer  311 . In  FIG. 73  there is shown heater element  328  positioned for insertion into supporting contact with the undersized (relative to the other stack inserts  317  and  319 ) intermediate stack insert  318 . As seen from  FIG. 69 , heating element  328  is in the form of a U-shaped band of wire, preferably having a non-round cross-sectional configuration as in a polygonal cross-sectioned wire band (e.g., a ribbon wire having a rectangular or square cross-section). As shown in  FIG. 69  the heater means or heater element  328  extends about three sides of the conformingly shaped peripheral surface of intermediate stack insert  318 . Heater element  328  is also shown having side legs  328 A and  328 C with intermediate leg section  328 B. Thus, upon set screw  3178  being threaded deeper into a threaded outer section of cavity  3130 , there is provided fixation means or a fixation, sandwich arrangement comprising combination support stack  3176 , leg  328 C, and interior contact wall  3166  of engagement head  3162 . Also, the lower region of that same leg  328 C of heater element  328  extends through insulator  320  and preferably extends out and terminates in the opening out region  3186  of insulator reception cavity  3188  for receiving insulator  320  best shown in  FIG. 69  and  FIG. 74  (e.g., leg  328 C extends out a sufficient extent to provide for gripper (e.g., pliers) engagement). In this way heater element can be tensioned to the desired state before being fixed in a desired operational state by locking down of positioner retentioner  3160 . 
     The intermediate section  328 B of the U-shaped heating element  328  extends across the top surface of intermediate stack insert  318  while the combination of stack inserts or head insertion  3176  is placed in a relationship of position retention with the adjacentmost (e.g., vertical) wall surface  3196  of engagement block section  3124  helping define reception recess  3114 . The upper region of heater element leg  328 A is also placed in a sandwich arrangement between wall  3196  of block  3124  and stack insert  318 . As shown in  FIG. 69 , the lower portion  3198  of side heater element leg  328 A extends within outlet recess  3128  wherein it is clamped against block section  3122  by way of compression contactor rod  315  of positioner  314 . In a preferred embodiment rod  315  of positioner  314  has an enhanced retention surface as in a serrated face  3200  on its positioner contact surface. Thus, when the illustrated hex set screw  3148  is threaded deeper into insertion cavity  3126  and into final adjustment position relative to rod  315 , the serrated end  3200  of rod  315  is placed into contact with section  3198  of leg  328 A to lock the U-shaped sealing wire band in place. In this way, the sealing wire band  328  can be locked in place at one end region and pulled taught by pulling on the opposite end of wire band  328  extending within open-out region  3186  and through insulator sleeve  320 . While either of the positioning components of the combination (e.g., left and right) clamping means can be placed in its fixing positions first, it is preferable that the positioner with rod  315  be first utilized then the next one. For example, sealing wire band  328  is pulled taught, and then it is locked into its final ready-for-use state upon being placed in its final compression state relative to the heater element leg  328 C by set screw  3178  and plug  325 . Thus, by having bridge contact  3156  fit loosely within reception recess  3116 , the heater element or sealing wire band  328  in the illustrated embodiment can be inserted between the stacked insert combination  3176  and the respective juxtaposed wall  3196  of the housing body  311  and wall  3166  of the bridge conductor engagement head  3162  prior to clamping wire band  328  in place. The stacked inserts define a seal wire band reception groove and the ability to fix in position one end of the band  328  firmly while being able to pull the second band to its desired tension state prior to final lock down is helpful in that during the band wire  328  positioning process the band wire  328  is pulled to near its yield stress point but not beyond to allow it to fit tightly into groove  3202  (See  FIGS. 76 and 77 ) formed by the size and configuration relationship between the stack inserts  317 ,  318  and  319 . The usage of curved corners in the middle stack plate also helps in this regard as there is avoided a sharp edge extension into the wire during the tensioning of the heater wire. Also position fixer  3152  is used to prevent rod  315  of positioner  314  from rotating when position fixer or set screw  325  is tightened on the opposite side. This facilitates avoiding damage to the sealing band  328  which could occur if the serrated face  3200  of the preferably hardened tool steel positioner rod  315  were able to rotate against the seal band or alternate form of heater element. As seen, the planar notch surface  3154  is sufficiently long as to allow for the non-rotating slide adjustment, during the positioner lock down stage. The independent pin  315  and position fixer screw  3148  arrangement allows for the tightening down without having to have rod  315  rotate which is why, in a preferred embodiment, a unitary threaded screw that is sufficiently long to achieve the positioner lock down upon threading state represents an example of a less preferred embodiment. On the opposite side, a plastic positioner  325  is forced into position by way of a preferably steel set screw  3178  for firm threaded engagement with housing body  311  via threaded insertion cavity  3130 . Contact positioner  325  is made of a non-conductive or insulating material to maintain electrical isolation between the housing body  311  and bridge contact  156 . The clamping force provided by set screw  3178  against positioner  325  and thus also bridge conductor engagement head  3162  provides an advantageous high contact pressure relationship while rod  315  is maintained in stable position with the help of stabilizing screw  3155 . This high clamp pressure contact relationship provided by the opposite side clamping means correlates into a strong and stable retention as well as a low resistance connection with the conductive heating element  328  and conductive housing body  311  on the one side of stacked insert combination  3176 , and the heating element  328  and insulated bridge contact  3156  on the opposite side of stacked insert combination  3176 . The ability under the clamping means of the present invention for clamping the pertinent portions of the heating element to its underlying support represents an advantageous feature of the present invention because in previous designs there was a deficiency in the ability to get sufficient force between the wire fixing components and/or maintain a low resistance connection. 
       FIGS. 73 and 75  illustrate cover plate  312  having projection portion  3204  designed for reception within a corresponding notched section that forms a portion of bridge reception recess  3116  and which also provides a reception area for in-feed end  3158  of bridge contact  3156 . As seen from  FIG. 75 , there is further provided recessed section  3208  designed to conform to blocking  3210  positioned adjacent outlet recess  3128  and third engagement block  3124  as seen in  FIGS. 72 and 75 . Upper edge  3212  of the cover  312  is designed to conform with upper edge  3101  and a portion of thickened edge section  3111 . Curved wall edge  3214  is designed for correspondence and finish contact with concave section  3104 . In addition on the interior side of cover  312  there is further provided one or more compression members  3216  with a preferred embodiment including two individual compression seals  3126 A,  3126 B (e.g., o-rings) held in position by compression seal receiving means  3220  which in the illustrate embodiment comprises receiving recesses  3222  and  3224  that are of a depth and dimension to retain compression members  3126 A and  3126 B in position while still presenting a compressable portion outwardly away from the covers interior surface. The compression members  3126 A,  3216 B are positioned such that when cover  312  is in position relative to the conforming surfaces of housing body  311  the compressable compression member  3216 B places the stacked insert combination  3176  into a compressive state relative to wall  3226  ( FIG. 72 ) (defining the interior surface of reception recess  3114  and thin edge surface  3101 ) upon fasteners  3228 ,  3230 ,  3232  being utilized to secure cover  312  in place. A preferred embodiment uses screw fasteners designed to extend through fastener openings  3236 ,  3238 ,  3240  (shown in  FIG. 73 ) formed in the smooth face side  3234  ( FIG. 84 ) for threaded engagement with threaded apertures  3244 ,  3246 , and  3248  formed in cover  312 . 
     The other compression member  3216 A of compression means  3216  is used to secure bridge contact  3156  in position within recesses  3116  relative to back interior wall  3249  ( FIG. 72 ) (e.g., the insulated sheet on that side being placed in a compressive state with interior wall  3249 ), of course other fastening means and fastener arrangements (e.g., screws arranged in opposite direction), can be utilized to fasten cover  312  to housing body  311 . The fastening means is preferably such that there is initial cover position retention ability under a slight compression state (e.g., not fully threaded in screws) during the stage of tensioning the one-end clamped wire by pulling it into its final rest position relative to the stacked insert combination and the final clamping position of engagement head  3162  to lock the sealing wire into final operational state. Once this is accomplished, a final cover closure fixation step is undertaken wherein compression members  3216 A and  3216 B are put into a final compression state. Alternatively the final compression sate of compression means  3126  can be imposed and then the final tensioning step carried out or after the final tensioning step and before the final fixation of the heater element  328 . The low friction insulation film of bridge contact  156  provides for final adjustments while under, for example, an intermediate compression state (prior to full fastener attachment) and relative to the noted alternatives, provides for end head adjustment even under maximum compression state achieved with screws  3228 ,  3230  and  3232 . 
       FIG. 74  illustrates additional assembly steps associated with edge sealer  311  including the insertion of the dual diameter contact post insulator  3250 . Contact post insulator  3250  has smaller diameter section  3252  for inserting into the interior portion of housing body insertion cavity  3132  for a preferred friction retention state. An enlarged diameter portion  3254  is also provided and is received in the corresponding, notched expanded diameter section  3134 . Electrically conductive contact means  327  includes (opposite ends of electrical path) first and second contacts  3256  and  3264 , each preferably being in the form of a conductive plug as in the above described “Multilam plug”. Plug  3256  is shown having threaded end section  3258 , plug-in section  3260 , intermediate section  3261 , and threading facilitator  3262  (e.g.,a multi-sided integrated nut). With reference to  FIGS. 69 and 70  there can be seen threaded end section  3258  threaded within threaded aperture  3174  in-feed end  3158  of bridge contact  3156 . Contact post insulator  3250  (e.g., non-conductive plastic) has its smaller diameter section  3252  and enlarged diameter portion  3254  insulating the intermediate section  3261  from the conductive support body  311 ; and the enlarged diameter portion also provides for insulation of the flanged threading facilitator from contact with an underlying surface of support body  311 . In this way post insulator  3250  provides electrical insulation between housing body  311  and multilam plug  3256  on one side of edge sealer  311 . Plug  3256  is electrically connected to bridge contact  3156  while maintaining electric isolation from arbor or housing body  311  so that there can be supplied electric current to one side of the heating element such that current can flow across the exposed sealing surface of the sealing heating element and reach there without being short circuited. 
     Second conductive contact  3264  is preferably the same as conductive plug contact  3256 . The conductive plug  3264  screws directly into the arbor body on the opposite side (relative to electric transfer) across heating element  328 . As shown, conductive contact  3264  is fastened directly into base extension  3108  of arbor body  311  providing an electrical connection to the opposite side of wire band  328  through the support body itself (e.g., metallic thicker wall section  3110 ).  FIG. 70  provides a good view of the direct conductive attachment of plug  3264  while its opposite side conductive plug  3256  is in electrical contact with bridge contact  3156  only. The electric current path through the housing body  311  is illustrated in  FIG. 70  showing edge sealer  311  with the side cover  312  removed. In  FIG. 70 , the lettered arrows “A to G elucidate the path of electrical current through edge sealer  311 .” Arrow “A” represents the location where an electrical current enters the support body  311  through electrically conductive contact  3256  which is preferably a 2.8 mm Multilam Plug. This plug fits into a mating socket on a support base assembly which supports edge sealer  311  to form edge sealer assembly  91 ″. As shown in  FIG. 69 , the multilam plug  3256  passes through post insulator  3250  shown as a plastic bushing that electrically isolates the plug from housing body. The electrical flow past non-conductive insulator  3250  is labeled at point “B” in the above electrical diagram. Plug  3256  has threaded end  3158  that attaches into the base of the preferably steel bridge contact block  3156  which electrical exchange point is labeled as “C”. 
     The bridge contact block  3156  is preferably is made of solid steel and conducts electrical current very efficiently to its engagement head  3162  end of the contact bridge block. At point “D” the contact block makes electrical contact with heating element seal band leg  328 C as the band  328  is folded or positioned on the upper edge of the three piece ceramic insert combination  3176  or some other alternate support means. Seal band  328  conducts current along its length, starting at the aforementioned bridge contact block contact location (point D) and then conveys electrical current passing through heater element  328  to the “support body” portion directly at the opposite side of the ceramic insert or heater element support  3176  as represented by point “E”. Electrical contact is made along the leg  328 A of the band passing along the grooved ceramic insert on the “E” side as well as where the seal band  328  is clamped by the serrated face  3200  of the preferably steel rod  315  as represented by point “F”. From there the electrical current passes in support body  311  itself which body is shown as the largest component of the edge sealer  311  in a preferred embodiment. Current flows from the seal band  328  through the support body as represented by “F” and finally to the second conductive plug, which is represented by point “G”. The second contact plug  3264  on the edge sealer is preferably identical to the other plug and can connect to a preferably identical mating socket of, for example, an arbor base body such as arbor base body  1106  described above. In this way the electrical feed circuit is complete and can be controlled by a controller or the like to set the sealing temperature at the desired level. Also, the exposed region of heater element  328  represented by intermediate band section  328 B can be seen as being positioned between contact points D and E within a grooved upper exposed surface of insert head  3176 . A separate conductive element can be utilized to provide an electric current path from steel rod  315  to second conductive plug including a symmetrical dual bridge arrangement. However, the illustrated embodiment provides a less complex/less components system which is preferred. 
     In addition, the cross-sectional illustration in  FIG. 76  shows contact positioner  325 , that is preferably made of PEEK (polyetheretherketone engineered thermoplastic (e.g., Victrex® PEEK plastic)), which is an easily machinable, robust engineering plastic that can withstand high compression loads generated by set screw  3178 . In  FIG. 76  there is also illustrated the radius or rounded opposite top corners  318 A,  318 B in middle (ceramic) state insert  318 . The radiused (e.g., non-sharp edged) corners are preferably provided by way of a rounded (e.g., a continuous curve) corner arrangement for what would otherwise be the top, left end right corners of stack insert  318 . The outer sandwiching inserts  317  and  319  preferably have full corners which helps in position maintenance across the thickness of the stacked insert combination  3176 . The radiused corners  318 A,  318 B for middle insert  318  helps heater element band  328  sit flat within reception groove  3202  that is preferably provided by having middle insert  318  of a lesser height reach than at least one and preferably both of exterior stack inserts  317  and  319 . The ability to have seal band  328  sit flat and flush (common plane) provides for improved seal formation. Also, since insert recess  3114 , which receives insert head  3176 , opens out to the environment, there is preferably provided cover supported compression means as in compression members  3216 A and  3126 B which are preferably formed of an elastomeric, high friction material as in a rubber o-ring to provide a compression function relative to the thickness of housing body  311  to preclude slippage via elastomeric compression, for example, relative to individual stack inserts and also relative to the combination of inserts (head insert  3176 ) for situations where edge sealer  311  might be oriented in a fashion where gravity could otherwise cause a fall out of the combination insertion stack  3176 . Further, the opposite side plates and recessed groove forming intermediate stack plate arrangement is preferred as this arrangement avoids heat degradation to exterior components, and provides good positioning retention to the heater element received between the outer preferably side abutting plates. Alternate arrangements are also featured under the present invention as in a solid monolithic insert head such as those described for the earlier embodiment (preferably inclusive of the rounded corner and flush band presentment of the heater element such as via a groove) with reliance on the substrate as in reliance on a stacked insert head with adjacent housing walls, which help in side retention or a dual or triple stack arrangement. As an example, a wall of the housing main body is positioned to one side with or without an insulator, or a yoke type arrangement with the housing formed of a first material, a grooved yoke body of a second material and the underlying heater element support of a third material with the first, second and third materials having lower intermediate and higher high relative temperature resistance values as in the third material being a ceramic and the yoke being a high temperature resistant plastic such as that described above. 
     The embodiment represented by the arrangement shown as edge sealer  311  is preferred, however, since it can consistently produce seals that are stronger, require virtually no maintenance, perhaps for the entire life of an average product-in-bag system in the field, and can do its job is a fraction of the space required for similar sealing methods, minimizing mechanism size, weight, and the linear sealing distance required to make an edge seal. In addition, edge sealer  311  is easy to assemble and inexpensive with no moving parts. Once assembled an edge sealer such as  311  is considered generally impervious to the heat generated by its sealing band, which was the driving factor in limiting the life of older designs. The edge sealer  311  is also considered generally impervious to the wearing effects of, for example, high density polyethylene HDPE film that may drag over it in some embodiments. Also, edge sealer  311  is fully functional in many environments without having to use tape (e.g., Kapton tape) over the seal band, which was a maintenance headache with the older designs as it would wear out quickly. In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate insert  318  of the combination stack  3176  (and preferably also each of inserts  317 ,  318  and  319 ) is formed as a ceramic material that provides constant position support underneath the sealing band, avoids creep, and provides an extremely long life. Also, the ceramic insert used in preferred embodiments of the invention is generally unaffected by the heat of the wire, and is of a type that avoids any wear upon contact with the moving web of bag film. For example, in many film applications there is used a small amount of aluminum oxide (a.k.a. Alumina) which gives the film a “silver” color. However, aluminum oxide is a very hard material, so it will eventually grind down anything that is not of sufficient hardness it rubs against. Aluminum Oxide is so hard that it is typically used to make grinding wheels for industrial applications. Zirconia modified with Yttrium Oxide is an example of a suitable ceramic material for heater insert  3176  (e.g., a monolithic component for edge sealer assembly embodiments  91  and  91 ′ or a stack arrangement of common material stack inserts such as used in edge sealer assembly  91 ″ and which is well suited for use with aluminum oxide containing film material. Alternate embodiments include the use of different material for individual stack inserts such as certain plastics for some or all of the stack inserts or different ceramic type material for the stack inserts (e.g., a ceramic stack insert with a higher heat resistance level for the intermediate stack piece, and exterior stack inserts with a higher abrasion level but lower heat resistance or a hybrid ceramic/plastic arrangement). For reasons described herein an all ceramic head insert stack  3176  is preferred. (In lab testing utilizing an edge sealer like  311  the ceramic inserts of Zirconia based ceramic were able to survive intact even after 100,00 bags&#39; film were dragged past the insert). Ceramic inserts of this type like the noted Zirconia based ceramic can also withstand temperatures in excess of 4000° F. which is considered by the inventors far higher than anything that the seal band can generate in preferred usages. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the seal band  328  is made of a nickel chrome alloy which will melt at about 2500° F. Therefore, the preferred seal band material operating at with the above noted parameters is considered not to be able to generate temperatures that could damage the Zirconia based ceramic inserts (e.g., a higher melt temperature of 1.3/1 or above and more preferably about 1.6/1). 
     An additional feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the heating element or sealing wire  328  is a flat band or ribbon of wire (e.g. a polygonal cross-sectioned resistance heating element) It has been determined by the inventors that for intended sealing, round wires generally do not work that well, unless they are covered with tape to help dissipate the heat generated and avoid ribbon cutting. That is, in order to make an arbor seal work well with a round wire, it is helpful to cover the wire with tape, to “soften” the cutting edge effect that the wire naturally provides. Kapton tape is considered one of the better tape materials for this purpose and it provides a life of, for example, about 800 bags on average. Teflon tapes work well also, and will in fact provide a better seal than Kapton tape while it lasts; but Teflon wears out in less than, for example, 100 bags, which is too short a life for many preferred applications. Once the tape covering wears out, the seal will tend to ribbon cut the film, and seal quality will normally deteriorate to an unacceptable level. This means that the machine operator must replace the tape to restore seal quality. Although, the tape replacement operation is relatively simple for the earlier inventive edge seal embodiments and inexpensive, history has shown that many operators will not carry out a maintenance step such as tape replacement. That is, the inventors have developed a belief that wires with a circular cross-section are very good for cutting, but not for sealing. Flat bands are preferred for sealing applications, although conceivably under the right environment a band wire could be used for cutting. One reason for the preference for round wires when cutting and band wires for sealing is that round wires have a relatively sharp edge in contact with the film; in comparison with, the truly flat profile presented by a flat band (a flat band under the present invention preferably is a single plane configuration but other embodiment include, for example, multi-plane profiles as in central flat and downwardly sloped ends as well as nearly or essentially flat with some roundness but of a very large radius to avoid the ribbon generated problem described above and with the bottom shape being even more variable). Efforts have been made by the inventors to incorporate a flat band into earlier edge seals designs, but has not met with the desired level of success until the advent of the preferred edge sealer  311  which has a preferred orientation with the band being flush with the adjacent surfaces of the insert(s). 
     As represented schematically in  FIG. 85 , it has been found by the inventors that when the flat seal band is made to be truly flush or essentially flush (see examples below with essentially flush including truly flush and the additional ranges described below) relative to the adjacent surfaces of the ceramic insert(s) or adjacent supporting body portion(s) for the heater element, there is obtained good seals. Thus, the exposed surface of the seal band section  328 B in a preferred design should not be proud of the plane represented by the exposed surfaces of the adjacent supporting body portion for the heater element as in not proud or outward beyond 0.0005 of an inch and more preferably not proud by more than 0.0002″. If the band sticks up farther than this it can more readily ribbon cut the film. Also, as illustrated schematically in  FIG. 85 , the seal band&#39;s exposed surface should not be recessed more than 0.001″ and a recess limit of about 0.0005″ below the surface of the adjacent supporting body (e.g., adjacent ceramic insert stack) is the preferred limit. If it is recessed more than this, the sealer can have difficulty making a good seal. In this regard reference is made to  FIG. 85  showing recess  3202  provided by insert stack  318  and the exposed faces of adjacent insert stack members  317  and  319 . The depth of groove  3202  (formed by making middle insert to a specific dimension relative to the inserts  317  and  319  which are also made to desired specific dimension) is designed to match the thickness of the sealing band  328 . While a grooved unitary insert body (e.g., a single ceramic body) may be utilized, to form head insert  3176 , the preferred ceramic material for forming heater element support  3176  is extremely difficult to machine absent the use of expensive equipment and precise tolerance is difficult to achieve in such a setting. The stacked arrangement provides for rapid and less expensive achievement of the desired seal band positioning and support means of the present invention. The above “recessed” and “proud” dimensions, measured in tenths of thousandths of an inch are indeed small, but should be taken into consideration in the context that in many sealing applications an effort is being made to seal two layers of film together, each layer being approximately 0.0009″ thick. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum recess dimension below the ceramic exposed surface plane is, for example, 30% to 100% of a film layer thickness with the preferred 0.0005″ being 56% of the film thickness, and the maximum proud dimension is, for example, 10 to 60% of a film layer being bonded thickness with the preferred of 0.0002″ being 22% of the film thickness. A flush or 0% arrangement is preferable. 
     Changes to the design will affect these numbers significantly. For example, if you make the seal band narrower than the 0.0156″ used in a preferred embodiment of the present application, you would have to keep it closer to the surface than the 0.0005″ off flush dimensions specified in the above description. In addition to making the seal band essentially flush with the surface of the ceramic inserts there should be no gap between the edge of the seal band and the side wall(s) defining the groove in the ceramic insert head. An actual contact on each side is preferred and can be achieved under the tensioning means arrangement described above where one end of the wire is fixed while the other one drawn by pulling around rounded corners being preferred to avoid cracking and/or a break in the (wire while avoiding any side bulging due to compression by the sides). Gaps between the seal band and the ceramic provide a place for the molten plastic to escape away from the seal area of the film. This migration of the molten plastic into this gap can weaken the seal, because there is less plastic in the seal zone to make it thick and robust. For this reason, a contact of the side of band to stack insert adjacent wall is desirable or a gap of less than 0.0005″. The seal band used in the current design is preferably under 0.02″ wide and under 0.006″ thick, with 0.0156″ wide by 0.0048″ thick being preferred. Various other seal band configurations and dimension are also featured under the present invention, with the above representing one of the preferred embodiments for the seal band. The above width upper end value is considered to be based to some extent on suitable power source usage as a wider band (e.g., twice the preferred value) may not work with some systems as the drive circuit is not able to push enough power into the band to make a seal (e.g., a band width of 2× the above noted preferred width can lead to drive circuit inability in some foam-in-bag systems). However, if a wider seal band is desired than it can be utilized bearing in mind the potential need for an increase in the drive circuit power. The trade off and benefits with a wider band width include the notion that a wider seal band requires more electrical power to make a seal, because it has to melt more plastic than a narrower band. Sealers that use wider bands are, however, less sensitive to the band being recessed in from the surface of the ceramic insert, because the film will be easier to push into a wider groove than into a narrow groove. 
     A three-piece plate or insert stack design for the ceramic insert is very helpful in achieving a groove width of tight tolerance as, without a three piece insert arrangement, it is more problematic to fabricate a ceramic based insert to the precision required to make the seal band work to provide good seal quality. As noted, because of the nature of the ceramic materials desired for use or alternate high heat resistant substrate material or materials (e.g., composites) it is not generally practical to cut a groove with sharp inside corners into a solid body of ceramic material of this hardness. It is believed that diamond grinding wheels are needed to cut Zirconia, but even they wear out very quickly. For example, a circular grinding wheel of diamonds with square corners between the peripheral grinding face and the two parallel side faces will wear such that the sharp, square corners become quickly rounded. Thus such a grinding wheel cuts a round bottom groove instead of a flat bottom groove with sharp corners between the base of the groove and its side walls, which can lead to difficulties in achieving the desired flushness levels in a preferred embodiment of the invention. By contrast it is relatively easy to grind or form ceramics such as Zirconia into flat plates with tight tolerance on heightened thickness, using for instance, surface grinding equipment that is very similar to machines used to grind metal plates or initial manufacture techniques (as in crystal growth, extension, pressing or casting), although a final grinding or processing step after formation is typically required to achieve the tolerance levels desired. The three plate design of a preferred embodiment of the present invention takes advantage, among other things, of this exterior or exposed surface grinding advantage, and avoids the problem of cutting a groove with sharp corners entirely. By doing the things described above in relation to the seal band and the insert underneath it, there is no longer a need for tape over the seal band on the preferred embodiment represented by edge sealer  311 . A long, maintenance free life without taping or cleaning can thus be obtained under the preferred edge sealer assembly  91 ″ of the present invention. 
     Also, the housing body  311  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is much more rigid than, for example, the Acetal plastic bodies used previously. For example, housing body  311  can be made out of hardened tool steel so it flexes and bends much less than the earlier relied upon Acetal based bodies. A lack of rigidity in earlier support body design&#39;s was a significant problem for previous sealer designs (e.g., the noted tool steel is 100 times less flexible than Acetal plastic). A benefit of a more rigid body like that used in sealer  311  is that electrical connections to the seal band are solid and much more consistent over time and are not subject to subtle variations in assembly technique. This rigidity level of design makes it easy to maintain tight dimensional clearances and tolerances even with the stresses produced by the various clamping screws or fasteners. 
     In addition, electrical connections to the seal band are made with a much stronger clamping method under sealer  91 ″. This insures that the wire will make good electrical connections at each end to minimize the problems of lost or intermediate connections experienced in earlier seal designs. One factor in the edge sealer&#39;s improved clamping function lies in the use of a single set screw that drives the engagement head of the bridge contact block  3156  with essentially pure orthogonal force, into the sides of the stacked ceramic inserts combination  3176  (the spacing between it and the housing body  311  and Teflon slide surfaces facilitating this clamping movement). This put a maximum load onto the ends of the seal band that are trapped in that area without any unwanted, off orthogonal side loads that could tend to make the sealer body  311  bend and possibly cause intermittent electrical contact. In comparison, the earlier inventive sealer design such as sealer  91 ′ relies on two socket head cap screws installed at 45 degrees to the centerline of the housing body, which, while suitable for many uses, can lead to the noted electrical connection problems. It is believed by the inventors that these off orthogonal screws delivered as much side load and compressive load which caused the noted connection problems and a connection of this type was not able to provide as much direct force to the ends of the wire as the new, single set screw design can. An additional feature of sealer  91 ″ is that the sealing band can make electrical contact with the bridge contact  3156  as close to the sealing surface of the ceramic insert as possible. This arrangement minimizes the size of the hot-spot that may occur in parts of the sealing band that do not contact the film. Sealer  91 ″ is a design well suited for such minimization, because of the superior clamping methods described previously. An additional advantage of the preferred sealer  91 ″ embodiment is that all of the sealer parts will be reusable since they are not of the type that will wear out in contact with the moving web of film and are generally unaffected by the heat of the sealing band. The only exception to this may be the seal band itself, but the preferred sealing band material has a long life and can outlast many systems as well. For example, the inserts have run the above-described seal band in edge sealer  91 ″ for 140,000 test bag cycles with no significant wear. Another preferred feature in sealer  91 ″ is the above-described use of side cover compression means such as the noted o-rings mounted into the side plate cover to press parts together for tight fit and tight control of groove width in the insert stack as there is avoided relative plate sliding (although each stack insert is preferably designed to have a matching configuration (common bottoms and width), but for the lower height in the middle stack insert  318 ). The ability to maintain the correct groove width in the insert stack assembly is beneficial in maintaining good seal quality. Another preferred feature of sealer  91 ″ is insulating bridge contact  3156  with insulation means as in the described die-cut Teflon tape sheets secured to bridge contact  3156 . The insulator sheets, are provided for electrical isolation between the “housing body”, and the contact block  3156 . If the housing body and the contact block come into electrical contact they can short circuit the seal band and the sealer will completely lose its sealing ability. Sealer  91 ″ also preferably features a wire positioner with serrated teeth to grip the wire on the side opposite an adjacent contact block of housing body  311 . The wire positioner which is forced into one end of the seal band with, for example, a set screw, utilizes its serrated contact surface to secure one end of the seal band to a specific location on the housing body. By securing the seal band in this manner, the assembler of the sealer can pull hard on the opposite end of the seal band which extends through the hole through the center of the wire insulator. This tension on the seal band is beneficial in getting the heating element to sit flat and square into the groove in the ceramic insert stack  3176 . As has been previously discussed the position of the seal band with respect to the ceramic insert is highly influential on sealing performance. A metal, pour mold arrangement, wherein the seal band is poured in while in a fluid state and thus solidifies (e.g., relative to a fixed in place three piece laminate stack assembly) is an alternate embodiment, but the removable seal band with the pull tensioning ability is preferred as for example, easier control over the flushness quality. 
     Another beneficial feature of the preferred sealer  311  design is the radius on the upper corners  318 A,  318 B of the middle insert  318  of the stacked insert assembly  3176 . This radius helps to lay the seal band down flush with the ceramic surface when the assembler pulls on the loose end or ends. Without this radius the seal band can bunch up as it tries to make the sharp bend around these corners. When the seal band bunches up or kinks in any way, it can protrude above the surface of the adjacent ceramic inserts by, for example, more than a preferred 0.0002″ maximum allowance and increase the chance of the ribbon cutting phenomenon. The corners can also induce cracking in the heater element. 
     The new sealing techniques associated with sealer  311  and its sub-components and associate methods disclosed above can also be used in many other types of machinery besides the illustrated foam-in-bag system. As just a few examples, edge sealer  311  (and the earlier inventive sealer embodiments as well) are suited for us in inflatable air bag systems—in common use today in void fill packaging applications. Prior art inflatable air bag machines generally utilize some sort of edge sealing technology to make their air-filled bags. The sealer technology describe herein is useful in these machines by, for example, providing a high quality sealer that is efficient in design to provide reliable sealing device in a very small package. 
     There is another class of air-inflatable packaging materials that are based on layers of plastic film that are sealed in such a way as to create an interconnected labyrinth of air-filled chambers between two sheets of plastic film. When inflated, many of these products look like bubble wrap. However, unlike bubble wrap this new class of product often arrives at the customer site in a sheet-like, un-inflated form, so they take up much less storage volume than bubble wrap. The user then inflates the product with air or other fluid through some sort of passageway that allows air pumped from the machine to fill the interconnected chambers, using a another sealing devices, then seals off the passage way to trap the air inside. The sealing techniques and methods described herein are beneficial to these kinds of machines. An additional example, of machines that make plastic bags in large quantities that might also benefit, include, for example, plastic bags that are used everyday by almost everyone (supermarkets) and are manufactured by a wide variety of machine types many of which can benefit from the sealer technology described herein. Garbage bags manufacturing is another example of usage of the sealer technology of the present invention. A further example is found in food packaging (or other product manufacturing) where, for example, a partially formed bag is filled with a product which is then sealed within the bag (e.g., a pouch) until the desired seal bond is formed. These are but a few examples of applications suited for the inventive sealer subject matter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 85  shows a preferred embodiment featuring a film material bonding device or sealer fusion means FME comprising a heater element and a heater element support substrate such as the above-described one having a stacked insert head.  FIG. 85  also shows a heater element embodiment having a rectangular cross-sectioned heater element and a heater element support that is formed of a material that is well suited for handling the high temperature of the heater element and/or avoiding an undesirable degree of creep and/or alteration in its heater element support position in use (e.g., avoids flexing).  FIGS. 85A to 85F  show alternate embodiments of sealer fusion means FME comprising a plastic material substrate (solid, non-stack substrate) heater element support  318 C with groove Wg formed for receiving heater element  328 A. Heater element  328  is preferably in wire form in similar fashion to the  FIG. 85  embodiment, but it has a curved or convex (e.g. semi-circular), in cross section, shaped bottom received by a preferably corresponding shaped groove Wg in the substrate and having an exposed, flat or planar film presentation surface (preferably a contact surface)  328 F which is also preferably within the “flush” parameters described above in  FIG. 85  with plane F being a true flush state with the exposed, adjacent surface of the supporting substrate and/or housing receiving the supporting substrate and a planar across the width surface  328 C, and plane R and plane E representing the preferred limits for having the exposed, upper surface  328 C fall below and above the plane represented by the exposed surface of the supporting substrate having a groove Wg in which the heater element is received as within the “flush” parameters described above for the other embodiments. Heater element support  318 C in  FIG. 85B  is preferably a body that is non-stacked as in a monolithic or one common piece body and is shown formed of a plastics based material (e.g., all plastics or a plastics composite material) of a type suited for the high heat environment and which preferably avoids too much a degree in creep and flexing as in “VESPEL” plastics material. 
     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 85F  rather than a stacked ceramic substrate as in  FIG. 85  there is featured a monolithic or single unit ceramic body  318 ′ into which is machined a suitable groove Wg into the solid piece of ceramic (similar to the earlier described embodiment shown in  FIG. 62 ). In the embodiment of  FIG. 85F  the groove is dimensioned so as to receive or fit a seal wire so that the seal wire&#39;s exposed surface is relatively flush with the sealing surface. Having a curved cross-sectioned groove can make groove formation in the ceramic body easier, as explained above. Thus, as the embodiment of  FIG. 85F  features a semi-circular cross-sectioned heater wire, the groove in the ceramic is preferably made semi-circular in cross section to match that configuration. Also, in this embodiment, a seal wire can be fabricated from a round wire that is machined to form a flat on one side for flushness and good sealing. The circular, unmachined, side of the wire is fit into the groove cut into the ceramic substrate such that the flat side becomes the sealing surface. It is easier to cut a round groove into a ceramic material than it is to cut a sharp cornered groove, and thus, while potentially requiring an added machining step, the ceramic reception groove is more easily formed to the desired dimensions. 
       FIG. 85B  shows an alternate embodiment of fusion means FME comprising a heater element support  318 D having a base metallic substrate SU with coating  318 E defining the film or seal material presentment surface that lies flush with exposed surface  328 F of the heater element. In the  FIG. 85B  embodiment substrate SU is a metallic substrate as in an aluminum or steel body with a coating better suited for handling the high heat temperature and/or better suited as a presentment material to the material to be sealed as in a ceramic based coating and/or a more electrically insulating quality material. In the  FIG. 85B  embodiment there is illustrated a substrate SU of aluminum and coating of Teflon Impregnated Hardcoat. Hardcoat is basically a thin layer of Aluminum Oxide that is plated onto the surface of the aluminum. Aluminium Oxide has ceramic qualities so it is not conductive, has excellent wear properties, and resists heat quite well. Hardcoat is preferably applied in a thickness range between 0.0005″ and 0.005″. The inventive subject matter also includes a monolithic ceramic body with groove for the heater element formed therein but as noted above under current preferred machining processes forming a groove to the desired dimensions (e.g., square cornered) can be difficult. Thus, like the stacked embodiment, an advantage lies in forming the base substrate out of a metal that is easier to machine during formation of the groove to the desired dimensions prior to the coating layer application. Also,  FIG. 85B  shows the coating being applied to multiple surfaces of the insert head as in providing a non-conductive coating in the areas where insulation is desired while avoiding application in the areas where the conductiveness of the insert head is desired. Also,  FIG. 85B  shows a different configuration for the heater element which again is matched by the groove formed in the support and figures a substantially v-shaped heater element. This is illustrative of the surface under the exposed surface  328 F can take on a wide variety of forms under the present invention. 
       FIG. 85C  shows an alternate embodiment of a heater element and substrate combination featuring a metallic substrate with an exposed surface covering  328 F that is integrated with the main body represented by SU but having different qualities as in a surface treatment process including for example an oxidation layer formation embodiment.  FIG. 95C  is also illustrative of alternate coating techniques as in deposition as in a chemical vapor deposition or electric charge (EDM) based deposition process is also featured under the subject matter of the present invention which again can help avoid tool wear or the like in the formation of the groove in the main body of the substrate. 
       FIG. 85E  shows an alternate embodiment of fusion means FME with its heater element and substrate combination and that features a metallic substrate with outer laminate layering and a polygonal recess receiving a correspondingly shaped heater element.  FIG. 85E  illustrates a substrate machined from a solid piece of, for example, steel and then coated in a number of different plating processes to provide a coating formed of layers LA 1  and LA 2  preferably having similar properties to the Aluminum Hardcoat (e.g. essentially non-conductive to a charge provided to the main body of the substrate and thick enough to provide the non-conductive quality). 
       FIG. 85D  shows an alternate embodiment of fusion means FME with its heater element and substrate combination and that features a substrate with an upper layer of a different material better suited for presentment to the material being sealed as in a first plastics base material (e.g., a less expensive, less durable in the noted environment plastics material) and an exposed covering layer  338 G formed of a second material (e.g., a more durable plastics material). In the illustrated embodiment featuring two different plastics material the covering can be applied with an overmolding process and there is preferably providing an irregular contact surface to promote better attachment at the boundary. In the  FIG. 85D  embodiment there is also shown a recess for the heater element formed at the same time as the upper coating (as opposed to for example a subsequent machining step) having a dove shape recess for receiving a correspondingly shaped heater element. This provides for easy insertion and retention while, for example the side legs of the heater element are placed in the desired position relative to the position retention means such as those described above and used to compress the legs into the sides of the insert head for heater element position maintenance. The above is illustrative of but some of the various fusion means workable under the present invention. 
       FIGS. 90 to 98  illustrate an alternate embodiment of edge seal assembly  4000  used in conjunction with an alternate embodiment of an edge sealer retention means  4002  which represents an alternate design to the edge seal retention means provided by edge sealer assembly combinations  91 AS and  91 AS′ described above. In the embodiment featured in  FIGS. 90 to 98 , edge sealer retention means  4002  provides a support for the edge seal assembly  4000  such that the latter is properly positioned relative to the material to be sealed as in film material being drawn by the nip roller set  4004  shown in  FIGS. 94 to 96  which shares similarities to those earlier described but includes some differences as discussed below. 
       FIGS. 94 to 96  illustrate hinged access door means  4070  which is similar to that described above for the earlier embodiments and comprises driver roller shaft  4072 , supporting left and right driven or follower nip rollers  4074  and  4076  and is supported by side frames  66  and  68  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). While in a latched state the upper ends of pivot frame sections  4071 ,  4073  are also supported (locked in closed position) by door latch rod  4085  with handle latch  4087 . In place of the roller mount described for the earlier embodiments, edge sealer assembly is supported by retention means  4002  which comprises retention member  4006  which is shown in the form of a plate member  4008  having vertically adjustable securement means  4010  which is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 94A . As shown, retention member  4006  includes posts  4009  and  4011  extending inwardly and securement means  4012  which includes slot set  4014  and fasteners  4016 . Fasteners  4014  extend into corresponding reception apertures  4018 A which are formed in cross-cut seal support block or jaw  4116  which is similar to cross-cut jaw  116  described above and is thus positioned forward of a vertical plane passing through the nip roller contact location and below the axis of rotation of drive shaft  4072 . End seal jaw  4116 , which preferably is operationally fixed in position, is shown having a solid block base of a high strength (not easily deformed over an extended length) material that is of sufficient heat wire heat resistance (e.g., a steel block with a zinc and/or chrome exterior plating), and extends between left and right frame structures  66  and  68 . As with seal jaw  116 , jaw  4116  supports the one or more cross cut and/or seal wires used to form a cross-cut and/or seal in the film being fused. Alternate jaw location(s) for retention member  4006  is also featured under the present invention subject matter. While plate member  4008  can be made thin enough for flexing, it is preferable to make it of a relatively inflexible material and thickness and to rely on one or more bias members (e.g., springs or elastomeric members)  4019 A and  4019 B to provide a degree of flexibility or floating capability in edge seal assembly  4000  in a direction transverse to the shaft  4072  axis of elongation relative to edge sealer support base or arbor base  4020  forming part of the below described edge sealer assembly  4000 . Thus, edge seal assembly  4000  is well adept at accommodating variations of film material travel of a single plane (e.g. deviations in a front to back direction from a vertical plane) and also maintains a desired compression state on the film material being sealed despite wear of a roller, etc. In the illustrated embodiment the spring adjustment in edge sealer  4000  is accommodated by pins  4009  and  4011  which extend into the upper and lower extremities of an intermediate region  4026  of the back end of base block  4022  ( FIG. 97 ), which back end also is shown having holes for receiving springs  4019 A and  4019 B. Base block  4022  of edge sealer assembly  4000  also preferably has electrical connection means as in a recessed centralized electrical post extending within a cavity at shoulder  4028  and  4030  into which are inserted wire connector plug-in ends  4028  formed at the end of the electrical feed wires W 1  and W 2  which plug-in ends have a female reception port for the internalized electrical post (a variety of other plug in arrangement are also featured as in a lined aperture in the base block and a conductive male post in the wire end, etc.).  FIG. 28  shows plug-in ends  4028  received within the back of base block  4022 . To provide for a supplemental edge sealer or a different located edge sealer relative to the jaw  4116  there is further provided second aperture set  4018 B which is provided of a different location along the length of jaw  4116 . 
     Edge seal assembly  4000  has a recessed region through which shaft  4072  is free to extend but unlike the earlier embodiment does not rely on a bearing or shaft bearing and preferably has a free of contact relationship with shaft  4072 . Edge sealer assembly  4000  is received within a recessed or slotted region formed in roller  4076  at a location suited for providing the desired edge seal in, for example, a bag being formed. The edge seal assembly  4000  preferably has an edge sealer like that of  FIG. 68  with a modified arbor base  4022 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 90 to 93  to illustrate the providing of edge sealer assembly accommodation recess  4024  in roller  4076 . As shown therein roller  4076  is comprised of interior sub-roller  4030  which is fixed to shaft  4072  via set screws  4040  which extend into contact with recesses  4041  in shaft  4072 , and intermediate sub-roller  4031  also designed for fixation to the shaft set screws  4040 . At the outer end of sub-roller  4031  is provided exterior sub-roller  4033  which has an intermediate area defining accommodation recess  4024 . Exterior sub-roller  4033  is shown as being made up of two spaced apart roller segments  4034  and  4035  which are shown assembled in  FIG. 91  and in exploded view in  FIG. 90 . As shown in these figures, sub-roller  4034  is preferably provided with cup-shaped member  4036  having threaded apertures for affixation to the intermediate sub-roller  4031  which is secured to the shaft  4072 . Thus, like the earlier embodiment sub-roller  4031  moves with the shaft. The cup-shaped member  4036  is capped off by apertured, flanged cap  4037 . Sub-roller  4035  comprises cup-shaped member  4038  and apertured, flanged cap  4039  arranged in mirror image fashion and fixed by way of shaft mount  4040  having set screws which contact the shaft and provide fixation for the cup shaped member  4038  having axially extending threaded apertures for attachment to the mount  4040 . A spacer  4044  is also preferably provided across slot  4024  and within the apertured flange caps and cup-shaped members. The flange cap member can be formed of a variety of materials including insulating, low friction (but durable) plastics material or of a metal material, etc. with a preferred side-to-side contact relationship with the edge seal assembly or a spacing can be provided to increase the material type options. 
     Mounting of sealer assembly  4000  is readily accomplished by mounting base block  4022  onto the mounting pins of retention member  4006  and then securing plate  4008  with securement means  4010  to the desired one of the jaw aperture sets and then making the desired vertical adjustment with slots of the securement means at play. With this combination in position the edge sealer such as that shown in  FIG. 68  can be readily plugged into position for edge sealing. 
       FIGS. 99 and 100  illustrate additional embodiments of an edge sealer with emphasis on mounting means for placement of the edge sealer heater element is a desired state relative to the film being sealed. For example, in  FIG. 99  there is illustrated sealer device  6100  shown in relationship with film FI in which is formed seal SL and a supporting component  6102  as in a component of a product-in-bag assembly (e.g., a support plate attached to a fixed jaw component of an end sealer assembly). Seal SL can be formed by movement of film past the sealer device movement and/or film movement. In  FIG. 99  sealer device  6100  comprises heater element  6104  (e.g., a ribbon wire as described above) arranged flush relative to its supporting substrate  6105  which includes substrate head  6106  comprised of either a unitary head or a multi-component head as in the multi-stack arrangements described above.  FIG. 99  shows a preferred multi-stack combination featuring a three stack of plates  6108 ,  6110 ,  6112 , with plate  6110  being a shorter intermediate plate defining a heater element reception groove in which heater element  6104  is received as in the embodiments above. Substrate  6105  further comprises mounting means  6114  which includes back plate  6116  and support shaft  6118  extending from plate  6116  and having flanged connection base  6120  secured to component  6102  via fasteners  6122 .  FIG. 99  also illustrates heater element fixation means  6107 A and  6107 B which hold side legs of the heater element in position and can be, for example, adhered (e.g., one before and one after wire tensioning) to hold the wire in the desired state; alternate fixation means as in wrapped or mechanical fastening are also featured under the present invention. 
       FIG. 100  shows a less rigid mounting means  6114 ′ to which the substrate head can be attached which is similar to mounting means  6114  and can support a similar or different heater element support head as that in  FIG. 99 . Mounting means includes adjustment means for allowing some degree of extension/retraction adjustment in the supported heater element relative to the film and a preferred counter pressure region provided by a component to the opposite side of the film FI as in a roller surface (not shown). In the embodiment shown the adjustment means includes a telescoping shaft  6118 ′ comprised of fixed shaft component  6118 A and adjusting shaft sleeve  6118 B and a biasing device which is show in the form of a spring but can take on other forms as in an elastomeric pad or fluid damp pot. Also rather than a telescoping arrangement an adjustment means can be placed in series with the other components as in a deflecting support or a deflecting pad (e.g., one positioned on plate  6116 , etc.) 
     Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be limited by the claims.