Heat-seal coolers for packaging systems and related systems, kits, methods and assemblies

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide heat-seal coolers with reservoir bodies holding non-circulating liquid that feeds/wets an applicator pad that contacts heat-seal downstream of the heat-seal on a product horn in for applying liquid using an applicator pad that can inhibit pooling of liquid while cooling heat-seals.

1 . A heat-seal cooler assembly, comprising:
 a reservoir body comprising at least one liquid inlet in fluid communication with at least one liquid cavity, and at least one holding compartment with an open space with an outer facing open perimeter, wherein the reservoir body also includes a partition extending between the at least one liquid cavity and the holding compartment, and wherein the partition distributes liquid from the liquid cavity over a longitudinally extending length of the holding compartment; and   a valve in fluid communication with the at least one liquid inlet of the reservoir body.   
     
     
         2 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an applicator pad held in the holding compartment so that an outer surface thereof extends a distance below the holding compartment outside bounds of the reservoir body. 
     
     
         3 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is attached to the reservoir body. 
     
     
         4 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir body has a length of between 3-10 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid flow conduit attached to the valve and a liquid supply. 
     
     
         6 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator pad has an elongate configuration with an exposed surface that contacts heat-sealed film 
     
     
         7 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the applicator pad is rectangular with a length dimension greater than a height and a width dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir body has an elongate shape, and wherein the partition comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator pad has an elongate polygonal shape and comprises felt or sponge material. 
     
     
         10 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the holding compartment has sidewalls that taper outward below the partition and longitudinally extending spaced apart shoulders that are sized and configured to releasably hold a compressible applicator pad therein. 
     
     
         11 . The heat-seal cooler assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting assembly configured to mount the reservoir body to a frame of a packaging system over a product horn so that the reservoir body is closely spaced apart above the product horn and is optionally able to float in a vertical direction to thereby accommodate uneven product horns. 
     
     
         12 . The heat-seal cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket attached to the heat-seal cooler, and wherein the bracket also holds a roller assembly comprising a roller adjacent and longitudinally spaced apart from the applicator pad and at a position aligned with the applicator pad so that a bottom of the roller resides at a common longitudinal height as the applicator pad and longitudinally extending centerlines of each are in-line. 
     
     
         13 . The heat-seal cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the roller resides within 0.25 inches and three inches of an adjacent end of the applicator pad. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging system comprising:
 a rotating platform having a vertical column;   a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart clippers mounted to the rotating platform, wherein the platform is configured to concurrently mount the plurality of clippers in respective circumferentially spaced apart clipper stations; and   a heat-seal cooler holding an applicator pad with an exposed surface positioned adjacent and over a product horn so that the exposed surface of the applicator pad contacts heat-sealed film to thereby apply liquid to cool the heat-sealed film as the heat-sealed film travels toward the clippers.   
     
     
         15 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A retrofit kit for a multi-clipper rotating packaging system, comprising:
 a reservoir body comprising at least one liquid inlet in fluid communication with at least one liquid cavity, wherein the reservoir body also includes a partition extending between the at least one liquid cavity and the holding compartment, and wherein the partition comprises at least one aperture that is configured to distribute liquid from the liquid cavity over a longitudinally extending length of the holding compartment; and   at least one compressible applicator pad configured to be releasably held by the reservoir body in the holding compartment so that an outer surface thereof extends a distance below the holding compartment outside bounds of the reservoir body.   
     
     
         31 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of cooling a heat-seal of a container material, comprising:
 forming a length of flat roll-stock packaging material into a tubular shape;   heat-sealing a seam of the tubular shaped packaging material;   contacting the heat-sealed seam with an applicator pad comprising liquid as the tubular packaging material is continuously pulled thereunder at a production rate; and   applying liquid from the applicator pad to the heat-sealed seam in response to the contacting step to thereby cool the seam as the heat-sealed seam travels away from the applicator pad.   
     
     
         51 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 - 73 . (canceled)