INFRARED PREHEATING FOR CARTON MATERIAL SEALING

摘要

An infrared preheater preheats the first and second surfaces of an edge-proximate portion of a package that is formed from a polymeric material. The first and second surfaces on opposing sides of a sheet of material in which the surfaces are sealed to one another or to another element at the edge-proximate portion. The preheater includes an infrared energy emitting element disposed to emit infrared energy directly toward the first surface of the edge-proximate portion to preheat the first surface of the edge-proximate portion. An energy reflective element is disposed in opposing relation to the energy emitting element. The energy reflective element is positioned such that at least a portion of the energy that is emitted from the emitting element that does not strike the first surface of the package strikes the energy reflective element and is reflected back to the second surface to preheat the second surface of the edge-proximate portion. A method for preheating the first and second surfaces of the edge-proximate area is also disclosed.