The Accusealer U compresses a plastic tube end between a fixed anvil and an ultrasonic transducer. The Accusealer uses 20 KHz ultrasonic vibration to heat weld the tube walls together. The anvil can be ordered with a lettering kit to emboss lot numbers and date codes into the end of your product container.
Accusealer U Components:
- An ultrasonic transducer that converts electrical energy into 20 kilohertz mechanical vibration. This ultrasonic energy melts the thermoplastic, welding the tube walls together.
- An electronic ultrasonic generator the delivers a high power 20 kilohertz electrical signal to the transducer.
- Air cylinders that move the transducer against the anvil pressing the tube walls together during the welding process.
- A touch screen and microprocessor that control the parameters needed to create a consistent perfect seal every time.
Ultrasonic Sealing Applications and How They Work
Ultrasonic sealing techniques create a hermetic seal between thermoplastic layers. Thermoplastic material welds together when it is subjected to ultrasonic mechanical energy. The high frequency mechanical energy heats the thermoplastic material to create a molecular bond between two layers as they are pressed together. The weld quality is affected by ultrasonic amplitude, duration and clamping pressure.
The ultrasonic sealing system consists of an anvil and an ultrasonic acoustic stack. The stack components include an electrical to mechanical converter, amplitude coupler and a sonotrode. The acoustic stack is mounted on a carriage assembly that is driven by air cylinders. The acoustic stack and anvil are driven together with enough space left for the thermoplastic material. The acoustic stack ultrasonic vibrations create localized friction heating. There is some material flow from the welding process that is trimmed off in the next step of the sealing process.
The ultrasonic process is used to seal stand-up and flat-pillow pouches, form-fill-seal bags, cartons, blister/clamshell, cups, trays and tube type applications. Successful integration of ultrasonic components is available for most horizontal and vertical form, fill and seal machines for longitudinal and cross seal projects. Ultrasonic technology is also used for cutting both food and non-food plastic bags. Fast and clean cuts are produced without the maintenance and cleaning required for older mechanical systems.
With ultrasonic tube sealing, plastic and laminate tubes are sealed by high frequency vibration of an ultrasonic sealing horn. This high frequency vibration generates intense heat at the tube wall which causes the polyethylene tube plastic to soften. The open end of the plastic tube is held closed under pressure from the sealing horn and matching sealing anvil, thus forming a strong weld. Advantages of sealing tubes with ultrasonic technology are the ease of use, no need for custom-made size parts, and ability to seal through product contamination in the seal area such as happens when overfilling a tube with product. The disadvantage however is lower tube sealing speed compared to hot-air sealing.