Appeal 2006-3022
Application 10/286,434
the controller element described in Jurrius capable of sensing the
temperature of a sealing element and is it able to maintain the temperature
within a range over a plurality of sealing cycles? We answer this question in
the affirmative.
Findings of Fact
Appellants invented a sealing apparatus that detects when one or more
adjacent components to the sealing element are too hot or are becoming too
hot, and responds by reducing or terminating the heating of the sealing
element (Specification 3: 3-7).
The control board of the apparatus functions to monitor the
temperature of the sealing element during the sealing process, to determine
if the temperature of the sealing element is above or below the desired
sealing value or range of values. Specifically the Specification states:
“[w]hen the sensed temperature exceeds a predetermined value or
range of values, the control board reduces the duration of the
impulse a predetermined amount. One method for determining an
appropriate temperature above which is considered excessive,
thereby triggering the reduction of impulse current duration, is to
determine the impulse current duration time set by the operator.
From the impulse duration time selected, based on the experience
the operator can estimate the appropriate temperature of the
sealing element (based, for example, on the nature of the film and
the operating speed), and a suitable temperature above this
estimated temperature is chosen above which would be
considered excessive. A similar operation can be carried out to
determine the minimum temperature necessary to effectuate a
seal. . . . [t]he controller then can be instructed to reduce the
impulse duration by a certain amount (“AdjustBy”), e.g., 0.2
seconds, if the mounting block temperature sensed exceeds the
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Last modified: September 9, 2013