Patent ID: 7229512

Claim:
A system for forming a non-invasive tear mechanism in a flexible packaging having a horn side wall joined to an anvil side wall, the system comprising: a) a carriage, b) a horn joined to the carriage the horn capable of generating an ultrasonic pulse when it is actuated, c) an anvil joined to the carriage and axially aligned with the horn and the anvil having an anvil work surface, d) an actuator joined to the carriage and used for moving the horn and anvil together and apart, e) a pattern of protuberances disposed on the anvil work surface for forming the non-invasive tear mechanism in the flexible packaging when the horn and anvil are brought together and the horn generates the ultrasonic pulse causing the horn side wall and the anvil side wall to fuse at spaced apart junctions that correspond with each protuberance in the pattern of protuberances to form a line of weakness such that when a tearing force is applied to the flexible packaging in the vicinity of the line of weakness the flexible packaging tears along the line of weakness to open the flexible packaging, and f) further wherein the horn and anvil do not contact one another when the horn generates the ultrasonic pulse to fuse the spaced apart junctions to form the line of weakness.