Non-contact laser sealing of thin polyester food packaging films

被引：12

作者：

Brown, Neil ^{[1
]}

Kerr, David ^{[1
]}

Parkin, Robert M. ^{[1
]}

Jackson, Michael R. ^{[1
]}

Shi, Fangmin ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Loughborough, Mechatron Res Grp, Wolfson Sch Mech & Mfg Engn, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leics, England

来源：

OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING | 2012年 / 50卷 / 10期

基金：

英国工程与自然科学研究理事会;

关键词：

Laser; Welding; Packaging; Polymer; Films;

D O I：

10.1016/j.optlaseng.2012.04.001

中图分类号：

O43 [光学];

学科分类号：

070207 ; 0803 ;

摘要：

We describe a laser-based, non-contact sealing technique for thin, polyester-based lidding films, used in PET containers for food packaging. The method uses a beam-steered laser to seal the container, thereby enabling virtually instant changeover from one product line to another. Unlike conventional sealing PET film processes, no bespoke tooling is required to hold the package components in close proximity and under pressure whilst the seal is formed. This greatly reduces sealing machine tooling costs and potential downtime at product changeovers. Results are presented that show that the process is able to produce seals of higher strength using thin (26 mu m) polyester film than those from the conventional thermal/mechanical process. This provides a potential for increased production flexibility, reduction in product wastage, and for reducing the cost and embodied energy in construction of a less massive sealing machine. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

引用

页码：1466 / 1473

页数：8

共 21 条

[1] A novel approach for quality control system using sensor fusion of infrared and visual image processing for laser sealing of food containers [J].