CUTTING ASSEMBLY AND SEAL INTEGRITY MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A FILLING AND HEAT SEALING LINE

摘要

A cutting assembly and seal integrity monitoring system for a filling and heat sealing line is disclosed which has a continuous conveyor (12) which moves containers (15) past a filling station, a heat seal station (20), a seal integrity monitoring system (26) and a cutting station (28). The cutting station (28) includes a carriage plate (50) and a cutting member (60), (190) mounted on the carriage plate (50). A drive belt (138) is connected to the carriage (50) for driving the carriage (50) on linear bearings (44) and a lifting ram (78), (238) is provided for raising the cutting assembly (60) so that the cutting assembly (60) can be raised and lowered to perform a cutting operation. A seal integrity monitoring system includes cameras (310) which monitor the seal area of a container and supply information to a processor (320). The processor (320) analyses the data received by the cameras by determining the grey intensity of light received and comparing the grey intensity with predetermined intensities so as to determine whether the seal is intact or broken.