A Tech Bite from Greener Technical Service Specialist Chris Stawasz
Sealing jaw carbon impressions are a vital diagnostic tool for solving cutting and sealing problems on flow wrappers and vertical baggers, and they also play a vital role in preventative maintenance.
This Greener Tech Bite outlines five opportunities where sealing jaw carbon impressions help you prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
Take Sealing Jaw Carbon Impressions
Whether solving problems or preventing them, always label your impression with the date, line and machine, direction arrow, and sealing jaw pair number so you can compare results over time and track changes.
We use “carbon impression” as a general term, but in practice make sure you use the correct paper for your application.
Carbon paper works best with unheated rotary sealing jaws and with reciprocating jaws at lower temperatures.
Use carbonless paper, also known as NCR paper, with heated rotary jaws and with reciprocating jaws at higher temperatures.
1. When You Install New Sealing Jaws
When you install new sealing jaws, bring them to operating temperature and use carbon impressions to evaluate your setup.
Clearance
For rotary jaws, use carbon impressions to ensure that the clearance between the upper and lower shafts is properly set and parallel.
Phasing
A carbon impression will also indicate if the phasing between the shafts is synchronized.
Alignment
For both rotary and reciprocating jaws, carbon impressions indicate if the serrations are misaligned.
Pressure
And carbon impressions will help you adjust sealing pressure so that it is even from side to side and across the length of the jaws.
2. Before You Install New Knives and Anvils
When knives and anvils on flow wrappers need to be replaced, remove the worn parts, make sure jaw temperatures are set correctly, and take a carbon impression before you install new knives and anvils. This quick, easy test will indicate if readjustments are needed to restore your standard setup and prevent future problems.
3. After You Clean the Sealing Jaws
A pause in production for cleaning provides another opportunity. After you clean the jaws, check your temperature settings and run a carbon impression to determine if spring pressure, alignment, or other settings have changed and need to be readjusted.
4. When You Run New Flexible Packaging Materials
Carbon impressions also provide vital feedback when you test and run new flexible packaging materials. Before you run a new material, bring your sealing jaws to operating temperature and run a carbon impression to ensure that your adjustments are at standard levels.
Take additional impressions as you test the new material; your new structure may have a different heat seal range, thickness, stiffness, or other characteristics that require refinements to your sealing jaw and knife setup.
5. Every Week and During Downtime
Systematic carbon impressions provide the feedback you need to prevent packaging problems. Schedule weekly carbon impressions from each flow wrapper and vertical bagger, and take additional impressions when opportunities arise during product changeovers and other downtime.
If you’d like help diagnosing your carbon impressions, send us a photo at custserv@greenercorp.com. We’ll help you identify adjustments that improve packaging performance.
Greener Corporation provides integrated parts and technical service solutions worldwide.
