Packaging and Sealing Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A packaging and sealing apparatus and method may package and seal a product. The apparatus and method may provide a greater efficiency for packaging and sealing a product. The rate capacity or quantity of sealed product packages may be up to approximately 50 packages per minute. The apparatus may create packaged product during continuous conveying of the product for increased apparatus packaging capacity. The apparatus may create packaged product using coupled variable-length conveyors to move the sealing system with the conveyed product being packaged through a fixed-length apparatus. The apparatus and method may not require a footprint or space greater than conventional food packaging equipment. The package seals created with the apparatus may provide an improved seal and reduce or eliminate premature spoilage of the product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging and sealing apparatus, comprising:
 two variable-length conveyors provided to transport a product;   at least one traveling sealing bar provided to seal the product in a packaging while the product is being conveyed; and   a mechanical drive arranged below the one traveling sealing bar and the two variable-length conveyors to control movement of the at least one traveling sealing bar and the two variable-length conveyors.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two variable-length conveyors are coupled and provide a constant overall apparatus length. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an open frame arranged to provide access to the packaging and sealing apparatus. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one traveling sealing bar melts the packaging to create bags. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a force-sensitive drive linkage arranged proximate the at least one traveling sealing bar. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slicer provided to separate sealed product packages at a rate of up to approximately 50 packages per minute. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of sealing bars and wheels provided to seal the product in the packaging according to user needs. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein sealing is provided across a width or the packaging and at various center positions of the packaging according to a product size, user-required product groupings, or a combination of the product size and the user-required product groupings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two variable-length conveyors provide a fixed overall apparatus length to allow sealing to occur while the product is conveyed during constant motion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging and sealing apparatus provides real-time feedback to a user or an operator. 
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging and sealing a product, comprising:
 accumulating a product for processing;   grouping the product into a quantity and an arrangement desired by a user;   slicing the product as desired by the user;   finalizing a product grouping for packaging;   wrapping packaging around the product grouping;   sealing the product grouping into the packaging;   conveying the product grouping sealed into the packaging into at least one transport container; and   transporting the at least one transport container to a storage location for shipping.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 separating the product packaging as desired by the user. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein sealing the product grouping in the packaging is performed while the product is being continuously transported by two variable-length conveyors within a fixed length apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transporting the product by two variable-length conveyors allows the sealing step to be completed while the product undergoes a constant conveying motion to increase apparatus packaging capacity while maintaining an overall fixed apparatus length. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the two variable-length conveyors are coupled together. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 providing real-time feedback to a user or an operator. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 packaging the product at a rate of up to approximately 50 packages per minute.