Sealing Over Extra Layers of Film at the End Seal – part 4 of 4: Optimizing Crimper & Sealing Jaw Design

Matt Wojtech parts solutions, sealing January 15, 2018crimpers, downtime, Dura-Therm, Easy Seal, flexible sealing face, flow wrapper, fractured end seal, heat, leakers, mooning, packaging film, pressure, projects, sealing jaws, sealing theory, vertical bagger

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the design of crimpers and sealing jaws on horizontal flow wrappers and vertical baggers; they should be specified according to the packaging film, products, and conditions of your packaging operation.

This post, the last in our four-part series, reviews design options for crimpers and jaws. The optimal combination of serration patterns, materials, and special features can dramatically improve seal quality and productivity when sealing across extra film layers at the end seal.

Transitions on the end seal between varying thicknesses of film created by the fin seal, lap seal, gussets, and wrinkles make it more difficult to maintain the operating window necessary for quality seals:

Too little pressure leaves gaps, or leakers, at these transition zones.
Excess pressure can easily crush or split the end seal.
Overheating distorts the seal and can cause poor hot tack, where the film springs back open at transition zones or “moons,” before the seal can set.

Package Quality Issues_vertical baggers_Greener Corp

The end results can be packages that fail to protect the product or have little appeal to consumers, as well as lost production time spent attempting to meet package quality standards.

Crimper and Sealing Jaw Design Options

Troubleshooting Extra Layers of Film at the End Seal – Part 2 of 4

Andrew Dennis forming, parts solutions, people solutions, process solutions, sealing April 24, 2017forming set, forming tube, leakers, mooning, packaging film, productivity, seal quality, vertical bagger, wrinkles & creases

Refining and Eliminating Wrinkles and Creases on Vertical Baggers

Varying thicknesses of film at the end seal can cause sealing problems, especially at the transition points of multiple film layers created by the fin or lap seal, gussets, wrinkles, creases, and at the corners. Applications of pressure and heat must be great enough to cause the sealant layer to flow into and seal off these voids. However, excess pressure can easily crush or split the end seal, while overheating distorts the seal and can cause poor hot tack, where the film springs back open, or “moons,” before the seal can set.

Package Quality Issues_vertical baggers_Greener Corp

The operating window for creating quality seals can be elusive, resulting in packages that leak, are distorted, and have little appeal to consumers.

An important step in troubleshooting these issues is to eliminate unintended wrinkles and creases. This post, the second in a four-part series, will examine this process on vertical baggers; Part 1 covered these issues on horizontal flow wrappers.

Any impediment that disturbs the even flow of film can distort packages and create leakers; a combination of factors is often to blame. To find the causes of these problems and fix them we recommend a comprehensive analysis of design, condition, and adjustment, beginning with the film roll and following along sequentially as the film is unwound, formed, filled, and sealed.

Film Contact with the Forming Collar

The wing of the forming collar should completely and evenly support the film as the flat web is formed into a tube. Too much, too little, or uneven tension can cause wrinkles and creases.

Troubleshooting Extra Layers of Film at the End Seal – Part 1 of 4

Matt Wojtech people solutions, process solutions February 14, 2017crimpers, fin seal wheels, flow wrapper, heat, leakers, packaging film, pressure, seal quality, serrations, wrinkles & creases

Refining and Eliminating Wrinkles and Creases on Horizontal Flow Wrappers

Varying thicknesses of film at the end seal can cause sealing problems, especially at the transition point between two and four layers created by the fin seal, gussets, wrinkles and creases, as well at the corners. Applications of pressure and heat (if applicable) must be great enough to cause the sealant layer to flow into and seal off these voids. Excess pressure can easily crush or split the end seal, while overheating distorts the seal and can cause poor hot tack, where the film springs back open, or “moons,” before the seal can set.

Package Quality Issues_Greener Corporation

The operating window for creating quality seals can be elusive, resulting in packages that leak, are distorted, and have little appeal to consumers.

An important step in troubleshooting these issues is to eliminate unintended wrinkles and creases. This post, the first in a four-part series, will examine this process on horizontal flow wrappers; Part 2 considers these issues on vertical baggers.

Case Study: Packaging Material Cost Reduction

Matt Wojtech case studies, cutting, parts solutions, people solutions, process solutions, sealing January 1, 2016anvil, collaboration, crimpers, Easy Seal, flow wrapper, fractured end seal, knife, packaging film, productivity, projects, seal quality, seal reduction profile

Project Goals

The corporate engineering department at a large, international company commenced a project to reduce material costs for a variety of products that are individually packaged on horizontal flow wrappers. Greener Corporation was invited to participate in a series of meetings that defined the project’s initial goals: