The invention relates to improvements of a heating means particularly in a vertical flow-wrapper.

An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, which comprises a control unit having a process parameter generator designed to determine specific process parameters for a production process of the packaging machine. The control unit of the packaging machine also comprises a recipe generator for an adjustment process of the packaging machine preceding the production process or can be connected to a recipe generator of the apparatus, which generator is designed as a separate unit. The respective recipe generator comprises a set of rules for determining recipe variables for the adjustment process of the packaging machine and is designed to generate the recipe variables with reference to a plurality of data and to form therefrom a recipe data set for the adjustment process of the packaging machine. A method for using the apparatus is also included.

A sealing system (100) for sealing a packaging material is disclosed comprising an independently movable sealing device (101) being movably mounted on a track (102), a power generator (105) in communication with the sealing device (101) to supply a power signal (p1) at a frequency for said sealing over a power communication line (106), the sealing device (101) comprising a housing (107), a detection device (108) arranged in the housing (107) to register detection data of an environment therein and/or of sealing parameters associated with said sealing, and a transmitter (109) connected to the detection device (108), the transmitter comprising an encoder (110) to convert the detection data to at least one frequency pulse (p2), whereby the transmitter (109) communicates the at least one frequency pulse as a detection signal to a receiver (111) over the power communication line (106).

An ultrasonic sealing device including a sonotrode for sealing a packaging material, including a piezoelectric transducer to generate ultrasonic acoustic vibrations for the sealing, a housing, a power circuit connected to the piezoelectric transducer. The power circuit is enclosed in the housing, and an absorbent arranged in the housing to absorb moisture in an atmosphere therein to lower humidity. A method of controlling humidity in an ultrasonic sealing device is also described.

A packaging machine comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different process. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and to the measuring devices. The measuring devices may detect actual process values at the respective working units and forwarding these values to the control unit for monitoring the respective working units. The control unit may create a specific program sequence for each of the individual working units and/or a program sequence coordinated with respect to the working units, by comparing the actual process values from the respective measuring devices with associated target process values from a memory. The individual working units may function according to this program sequence, depending on the actual process values detected at these working units, and/or the working units are coordinated with one another based on the actual process values.

An ultrasonic sealing device including a sonotrode for sealing a packaging material, including a piezoelectric transducer to generate ultrasonic acoustic vibrations for the sealing, a housing, a power circuit connected to the piezoelectric transducer. The power circuit is enclosed in the housing, and an absorbent arranged in the housing to absorb moisture in an atmosphere therein to lower humidity. A method of controlling humidity in an ultrasonic sealing device is also described.

A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different processes. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and the measuring devices. A work cycle at the packaging machine comprises at least a first functional process and a second functional process at one or at different working units, the second functional process starting later than the first functional process. The control unit may execute an early start for the second functional process of a working unit, when an actual process value of the preceding first functional process of the program sequence of one of the working units has not yet reached the respective target process value. The control unit may control the early start of the second functional process based on an approximation method for predetermining the temporal end of the first functional process.

A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, at least one measurement device and a plurality of work units for different processes. One of the work units is designed as a sealing station which comprises at least one moisture sensor designed as the measurement device which is functionally connected to the control unit and is designed to detect moisture within the sealing station as a time-dependent measured variable during a program sequence of the sealing station. The program sequence may comprise an evacuation process, wherein the control unit is designed to calculate a rate of change in the moisture during the evacuation process of the sealing station. The control unit may abort the evacuation process performed on the sealing station, based on the rate of change, before reaching a target vacuum pressure within the sealing station, immediately or after a specified delay time elapses.

A moisture detecting bleeder material includes a fiberglass material and a moisture absorption indicator material. The moisture absorption indicator material undergoes a color change from a first color to a second color when exposed to moisture. The color change thermally irreversible a temperature of 450 F.

The invention relates to improvements of a heating means particularly in a vertical flow-wrapper.