Bag Sealers and Supplies

Terminology explanation:
Bag Sealers are also referred to as heat sealers, hand sealers, impulse sealers and foot petal sealers. These terms are used interchangeably but all refer to the same general type of sealer which uses heat to seal plastic material.

• Hand Sealers

Standard hand sealers are typically used for sealing poly bags, poly tubing or other polyethylene or polypropylene material up to 6 mil. The heat sealers, or impulse sealers, have a solid-state electric timer and provide instant heat. Standard hand sealers have a seal width of 2 mm. which provides an air and water tight seal. The hand operated bag sealer sits on a table top and is lightweight yet still sturdy which allows the user to transport the sealer easily. Impulse bag sealers may be purchased with a built in cutter blade which is ideal for making custom sized bags from poly tubing or sealing and then cutting off excess material from a regular bag. There will be approximately ¼” of material above the seal. Standard heat sealers may also be purchased with a trim and seal element which both seals and trims off excess bag. There will then be no excess material above the seal. The trim and seal impulse hand sealer is not typically used with tubing instead the user would want a hand sealer with built in cutter. The standard hand sealer, hand sealer with cutter and hand sealer with trim and seal come standard with 110 volt but are available for purchase with 220 volt.

These bag sealers are also called impulse heat sealers because they only use power and get hot when the handle is depressed giving only an “impulse of heat” in order to seal the desired material. The solid state timer is adjustable from .3 to 1.2 seconds which allows the bag sealer to seal materials of different thicknesses (Max. 6 mil. for polyethylene and Max. 4 mil for polypropylene). When the handle of the bag sealer is depressed and held for the time set on the timer, heat is distributed evenly throughout the heating element and then the heat sealer will “beep” to indicate the seal has been completed.

Hand Operated Bag Sealers have consumable parts that will need to be replaced depending on the usage of the machine. There is one heating element, one upper Teflon cover and one lower Teflon tape that will need replacement as they “burn out” over the life of the bag sealer. These are the pieces that are included in our Heat Sealer Maintenance Kits. Generally, you should get about 10,000 seals out of the consumable parts before they will need to be replaced. Replacement of these impulse heat sealer consumable parts is simple and easy. See below:

HOW TO CHANGE THE HEATING ELEMENT AND TEFLON COVERS ON YOUR HAND HELD BAG SEALER:

Be sure that the heat sealer is unplugged!

Loosen (do not remove) the side plate screws. This will allow you to remove the Teflon cover by sliding it out from under the side plates. The element can be removed by compressing the bow spring and slipping it off the top (you will need to remove a screw at the front end on the MP-4 and MP-8 models). The Teflon insulator will peel off of the seal bed.

To replace, remove the blue backing from the insulator exposing the adhesive and apply to the seal bed, being sure to leave ¼” to ½” hanging over each end to prevent arcing. Reverse the above steps for the element and Teflon cover.

• Foot Petal Sealers

Foot Petal Heat Sealers are typically used for sealing polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) bags up to 8 mil in thickness. These sealers are not recommended for poly tubing. The foot operated heat sealers, or impulse sealers, have a solid-state electric timer and provide instant heat. Foot Petal Heat Sealers have a seal width of 2 mm. which provides an air and water tight seal. A foot petal heat sealer with 5 mm seal is available for purchase for a bag with a very heavy load. The foot petal heat sealer is mounted on a pedestal and is operated by foot so the user has both hands free. This is especially useful for high production jobs because it allows for faster sealing. It includes a convenient work table for ease of use. Foot Petal Heat Sealers may also be purchased with a trim and seal element which both seals and trims off excess bag. There will then be no excess material above the seal. The trim and seal foot petal sealer is not used for poly tubing. The Foot Petal Heat Sealer, Foot Petal Sealer with trim and seal and Foot Petal Sealer with 5 mm seal come standard with 110 volt but are available for purchase with 220 volt.

The Foot Petal Heat Sealers are classified as an impulse heat sealer because they only use power and get hot when the jaw is depressed giving only an “impulse of heat” in order to seal the desired material. The solid state timer is adjustable from .3 to 1.2 seconds which allows the bag sealer to seal materials of different thicknesses (Max. 8 mil.). When the jaw of the foot petal bag sealer is depressed for the time set on the timer, heat is distributed evenly throughout the heating element and then the heat sealer will “beep” to indicate the seal has been completed.

Foot Petal Operated Bag Sealers have consumable parts that will need to be replaced depending on the usage of the machine. There is one heating element, one upper Teflon cover and one lower Teflon tape that will need replacement as they “burn out” over the life of the bag sealer. These are the pieces that are included in our Foot Petal Sealer Maintenance Kits. Generally, you should get about 10,000 seals out of the consumable parts before they will need to be replaced. Replacement of these impulse heat sealer consumable parts is simple and easy. See below:

HOW TO CHANGE THE HEATING ELEMENT AND TEFLON COVERS ON YOUR FOOT PETAL HEAT SEALER:

Be sure that the heat sealer is unplugged!

Loosen (do not remove) the side plate screws. This will allow you to remove the Teflon cover by sliding it out from under the side plates. The element can be removed by compressing the bow spring and slipping it off the top (you will need to remove a screw at the front end on the MP-4 and MP-8 models). The Teflon insulator will peel off of the seal bed.

To replace, remove the blue backing from the insulator exposing the adhesive and apply to the seal bed, being sure to leave ¼” to ½” hanging over each end to prevent arcing. Reverse the above steps for the element and Teflon cover.

• Constant Heat Sealers

Constant Heat Sealers are best used for sealing cellophane, foil, metalized, mylar, coated PP and other “exotic” materials. They are not recommended for use on PE or PP bags less than 8 mil. as it will burn right through the material. The temperature is thermostatically controlled and can range from 50-300 degrees Celsius. Because of the wide range of temperature controls, the Constant Heat Sealers can accommodate many different materials of different thicknesses. Heat is distributed evenly and heat is provided constantly (it gets hot when the power is turned on and stays hot until the power is turned off). The seal is “saw-toothed” and ½” wide, which produces an excellent air and water tight seal. The constant heat sealers are mounted on a pedestal and are operated by foot which allows the user to have both hands free. They also have a height-adjustable work table provided for further ease of use. The constant Heat Sealers come standard with 110 volt.

• Double Heat Sealers

Double Heat Sealers are best used for sealing very thick PE or PP bags or some “exotic” materials. Unlike most impulse heat sealers, the double impulse heat sealers have a heating element on both the top and the bottom jaws, which provides impulse heat to each side of the heavy material used at the same time. Double heat sealers feature a solid-state timer that controls the length of heat time, which the user determines by the thickness and type of material being used. The double heat sealers are mounted on a pedestal and are operated by foot which allows the user to have both hands free. A 5 mm seal width on the double heat sealers allows for very heavy bag loads.

• Automatic Heat Sealers

Automatic Table Top Impulse heat sealers are used for sealing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials up to 10 mil in thickness. These impulse sealers are ideal for high production jobs as they are extremely sturdy and fully automatic. The automatic sealers feature three separate controls that control clamp, seal time and seal interval which allows full automatic operation. The automatic impulse sealers can also be used with a foot petal operated switch to allow for semi-automatic operation, if desired. The Automatic Heat Sealer comes standard with a 2 mm seal but is also available for purchase with a 5 mm seal if desired for a heavy bag load.

Automatic Heat Sealers have consumable parts that will need to be replaced depending on the usage of the machine. There is one heating element, one upper Teflon cover and one lower Teflon tape that will need replacement as they “burn out” over the life of the bag sealer. These are the pieces that are included in our Automatic Heat Sealer Maintenance Kits. Generally, you should get about 10,000 seals out of the consumable parts before they will need to be replaced. Replacement of these impulse heat sealer consumable parts is simple and easy. See below:

HOW TO CHANGE THE HEATING ELEMENT AND TEFLON COVERS ON YOUR AUTOMATIC HEAT SEALER:

Be sure that the heat sealer is unplugged!

Loosen (do not remove) the side plate screws. This will allow you to remove the Teflon cover by sliding it out from under the side plates. The element can be removed by compressing the bow spring and slipping it off the top (you will need to remove a screw at the front end on the MP-4 and MP-8 models). The Teflon insulator will peel off of the seal bed.

To replace, remove the blue backing from the insulator exposing the adhesive and apply to the seal bed, being sure to leave ¼” to ½” hanging over each end to prevent arcing. Reverse the above steps for the element and Teflon cover.

• Hand Held Sealers

Hand Held Heat Sealers are designed specifically for lighter production, small jobs. There are three models available depending on the type of material used. One is for sealing poly bags smaller than 6 inches wide, one is for sealing cellophane bags smaller than 6 inches wide and one for sealing clamshells. The hand held heat sealers provide constant heat and have two settings for sealing different thicknesses (high and low).

Which type of sealer should I use?

One of the main deviations in heat sealers is between an impulse heat and a constant heat sealer. An impulse bag sealer distributes heat depending on the length of time that is set on the timer of the machine. The heat sealer only heats up when the handle is depressed and cools almost immediately once finished with the seal. A constant bag sealer stays heated constantly as long as the machine is turned on and the temperature is controlled thermostatically. An impulse bag sealer is the one that is most commonly used and comes in many different types depending on your application.

• Hand Sealers are used for sealing material of different thicknesses (up to 6 mil for PE and up to 4 mil for PP). When the handle of the bag sealer is depressed and held for the time set on the timer, heat is distributed evenly throughout the heating element and then the heat sealer will “beep” to indicate the seal has been completed. The table top hand sealer can be purchased standard, with a built in cutter or with a trim and seal element. A bag sealer with a built in cutter is best used for someone who wants to make custom sized bags from poly tubing or who wants to seal and then cut off excess material from a regular bag. There will be approximately ¼” of material above the seal. A bag sealer with trim and seal is best used for someone who wants to seal a poly bag and then trim off excess bag. There will then be no material above the seal. These three types of table top hand sealers are placed on a table top, are lightweight yet sturdy, can be moved easily and are operated by hand.

• Foot Petal Sealers are used for polyethylene and polypropylene materials up to 8 mil in thickness. These impulse bag sealers are best used for higher production jobs and are not recommended for use with poly tubing. The foot petal bag sealers are mounted on a pedestal and are operated by foot to allow the user to have both hands free to handle material in turn resulting in faster sealing. Foot petal bag sealers include a convenient work table for ease of use.

• Automatic Impulse heat sealers are used for sealing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials up to 10 mil in thickness. These impulse sealers are ideal for high production jobs as they are extremely sturdy and fully automatic. The automatic sealers feature three separate controls that control clamp, seal time and seal interval which allows full automatic operation. The automatic impulse sealers can also be used with a foot petal operated switch to allow for semi-automatic operation, if desired. These sealers are placed on a table top but may be too heavy to transport easily and quickly.

• Double Heat Sealers are best used for sealing very thick PE or PP bags or some “exotic” materials. Unlike most impulse heat sealers, the double impulse heat sealers have a heating element on both the top and the bottom jaws. The double heat sealers are mounted on a pedestal and are operated by foot which allows the user to have both hands free. A 5 mm seal width on the double heat sealers allows for very heavy bag loads.

• Constant Heat Sealers are best used for sealing cellophane, foil, metalized, mylar, coated PP and other “exotic” materials. They are not recommended for use on PE or PP bags. Since the temperature is thermostatically controlled on these constant heat sealers, they can accommodate many different materials of different thicknesses. Heat is distributed evenly and heat is provided constantly (it gets hot when the power is turned on and stays hot until the power is turned off). The seal is “saw-toothed” and ½” wide, which produces an excellent air and water tight seal. The constant heat sealers are mounted on a pedestal and are operated by foot which allows the user to have both hands free.

• Hand Held Heat Sealers are designed specifically for lighter production, small jobs. There are three models available depending on the type of material used. One is for sealing poly bags smaller than 6 inches wide, one is for sealing cellophane bags smaller than 6 inches wide and one for sealing clamshells. The hand held heat sealers provide constant heat and have two settings for sealing different thicknesses (high and low).

Maintenance of your Impulse Heat Sealer

Important Note: To maximize the life of your consumable parts, it is important to set your heat sealer to the lowest possible setting which provides a good seal.

There are three consumable parts on your Midwest Pacific Brand impulse heat sealer. The heating element, upper Teflon cover and the lower Teflon tape will all eventually wear out due to normal use.

• The upper Teflon cover (covering the heating element) will burn through and must be replaced. This prevents the heating element from coming in contact with the bag being sealed and/or the silicone rubber in the handle.
• The heating element eventually breaks (after much use), the sealer will no longer seal and the heating element must be replaced.
• The lower Teflon insulator tape will burn through. It is absolutely essential that it be replaced to prevent the heating element from coming into direct contact with the metal seal bed of the heat sealing machine. If the heating element touches metal anywhere except at the ends (connectors), it will ground out and break quickly.

Tips and Troubleshooting

“I just got my new heat sealer and it does not work!”

• Be sure that the impulse heat sealer is plugged into a live outlet. This can be easily checked with a lamp or other 110 volt device.
• Is the light on the fron of the heat sealer coming on when the handle of the sealer is depressed? In rare instances, the switch will get out of adjustment or a wire will come loose in shipping. Listen for a click when you depress the handle.
• Impulse sealers do not “warm up” when plugged in. They only get hot (and seal) when the handle or foot petal is depressed.

“Heating elements on my heat sealer seem to burn out quickly”

• Are you using quality Midwest Pacific elements? There are cheaper, inferior elements on the market which will not last as long as an element should.
• Is the sealer set at the lowest setting possible to provide a good seal? The higher the setting, the shorter the element life. Setting the heat sealer too high will not only shorten the life of your element, but will actually produce a poor seal.
• Check the Teflon insulator (tape) under the element. Even a small burn hole in the tape will allow the element to ground and cause premature breakage.

“The red light stays on and the impulse heat sealer stays hot as long as the handle or foot petal is depressed”

• The timer is bad and must be replaced

“The red light comes on, but the machine doesn’t seal”

• Check for loose wires at the bow springs and white connector at the timer.
• The timer could be bad.
• In rare instances, corrosion will build up on the back of the bow springs breaking the connection with the heating element. Clean the back side of the bow spring where it presses against the element with a piece of steel wool or fine sandpaper.

“The red light doesn’t come on and the heat sealer will not seal when the handle is depressed”

Depress the handle slowly, listening for a faint click from inside the machine. If you do not hear a click and the light doesn’t come on:

• The actuato spring may have broken. Remove the bottom of the sealer (4 phillips screws on the rubber feet) and look to the hinge end by the micro switch. There should be a silver metal tab in front of the switch which trips it when the handle is depressed. If it is broken, it must be replaced.
• The switch trip lever could be out of adjustment. The set screw should depress the actuator just enough to trip the switch. Depressing the actuator too far will bend it past the side of the switch and cause premature breakage. If the lever does not move close enough to the switch, the attached screw will not rip the actuator. Adjust the screw until it moves the actuator enough to trip the switch.
• The micro switch itself could be bad. Manually depress the button on the switch to see if you hear a click. If the switch is silent when you depress the button, the switch is bad and must be replaced.

If you do hear a click when depressing the handle:

• Check for loose connections. Possibly a wire has come loose.
• Check the power cord with a ohmmeter. A wire could have broken inside the power cord, cutting power to the machine.
• The timer could be bad.

TIPS

When replacing the insulator tape underneath the heating element, the customer should always let approximately ¼” of tape hang over each end of the flat surface of the machine to prevent the current from the heating element from arcing to the ground. Some customers want to trim the tape to fit to “make it look neat”. It is ½” longer than the seal bed that it adheres to for a reason.

When replacing the Teflon fabric over the heating element, be sure to center the fabric between the end terminals on the heating element so that all the ribbon wire is covered with fabric. The purpose of the upper Teflon fabric is to prevent the heating element from coming into direct contact with either the bag being sealed or the silicone rubber pressure bar pad in the handle of the machine. Direct contact of the heating element with the silicone rubber will burn and pit it-resulting in a poor seal of any portion of the plastic bag at the pit site.