U.S. patent application number 11/147559 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for method for applying soft cap to slider or zipper with mounted slider.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to David J. Anzini, Steven Ausnit, Per Bentsen, Robert G. Kobetsky, Lars Wihlborg.
Application Number | 20060277737 11/147559 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37522747 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060277737 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anzini; David J. ; et
al. |
December 14, 2006 |
Method for applying soft cap to slider or zipper with mounted
slider
Abstract
The disclosure pertains to methods for inserting a soft cap onto
a slider in order to protect the slider from damaging the package
film of a reclosable bag during high pressure pasteurization. A
first embodiment discloses manual or automated insertion of the
soft cap onto the slider, prior to inserting the slider/cap
assembly onto a length of zipper. A second embodiment discloses
automated insertion of the soft cap onto a slider which is already
mounted on a length of reclosable zipper. A third embodiment uses
an insert molding process with a first mold cavity to form the
slider and a second mold cavity to form the soft cap over the
slider. A fourth embodiment uses a dual shot molding process in a
single mold cavity to form both the slider and the soft cap
thereover.
Inventors: |
Anzini; David J.;
(Farmington, NY) ; Ausnit; Steven; (New York,
NY) ; Wihlborg; Lars; (Stratford, CT) ;
Bentsen; Per; (Suffern, NY) ; Kobetsky; Robert
G.; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITNEY HARDIN LLP;ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
|
Family ID: |
37522747 |
Appl. No.: |
11/147559 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/409 ;
29/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49783 20150115;
B29L 2005/00 20130101; Y10T 29/49782 20150115; A44B 19/42 20130101;
B29C 45/1676 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/409 ;
029/408 |
International
Class: |
B21F 45/18 20060101
B21F045/18 |
Claims
1. A method including the steps of: providing a slider; providing a
cap to protect said zipper slider during high pressure
pasteurization; and inserting said cap over said slider.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of inserting is done
manually.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of inserting is
performed by an automated device.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said automated device includes a
first vibratory bowl and a second vibratory bowl, said step of
providing a slider is performed by said first vibratory bowl and
said step of providing a soft cap is performed by said second
vibratory bowl.
5. A method comprising the steps of: providing a slider on a length
of reclosable zipper; providing a cap to protect said slider during
high pressure pasteurization; and inserting said cap over said
slider while said slider is on said length of reclosable
zipper.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing a cap is
performed by a vibratory bowl.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of inserting said cap is
performed by a reciprocating device.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said reciprocating device includes
a reciprocating rod attached to a head, said head engaging said
cap.
9. A method comprising the steps of: molding a slider in a first
mold cavity; moving said slider to a second mold cavity; molding a
cap around said slider in said second mold cavity, said cap to
protect said slider during high pressure pasteurization.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said steps of molding are
performed with injection molding.
11. A method comprising the steps of: molding a slider in a mold
cavity; molding a cap around said slider in said mold cavity, said
cap to protect said slider during high pressure pasteurization.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention pertains to methods for application of
a soft cap to protect a slider from damaging the package film
during high pressure pasteurization. The methods involve the
placement of the soft cap onto the slider either before or after
the slider is placed onto the zipper assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] High pressure pasteurization (HPP) of food-containing
packages is accomplished by placing the package in a chamber that
is typically raised to 85,000 psi for a predetermined time period.
Typical reclosable food packaging with "press to close" zippers
will survive high pressure pasteurization. However, packages
containing slider zipper assemblies have proven to be problematic.
The zippers are typically enclosed in the packaging by the top
portion of the packaging film, known as the shroud. During the high
pressure pasteurization process, the extreme pressure pushes the
shroud film onto the slider with such force as to punch holes in
the film, rendering the package useless.
[0005] Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/020,607 entitled "Sleeve Cover for Slider", filed on Dec. 23,
2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference,
discloses a semi-soft sleeve cover to shield the slider during high
pressure pasteurization. Likewise, commonly assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/103,751 entitled "Reclosable Package with
Slider Zipper Shielded for High Pressure Pasteurization", filed on
Apr. 12, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, discloses a shrouded reclosable bag wherein the slider
shield is secured to the tear-away header so that the slider shield
and the tear-away header are removed as a single piece.
[0006] While these solutions are effective for their intended
purpose, further improvements are desired with respect to the
automated placement of the soft cap onto a slider or zipper with a
mounted slider, particularly in combination with form fill and seal
methods.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide improvements in the methods relating to the manual or
automated placement of a soft cap onto a slider or zipper with a
mounted slider, in order to protect the slider from damaging the
plastic packaging film during high pressure pasteurization.
[0008] This and other objects are attained by several embodiments
of the present invention.
[0009] In the first embodiment, the soft cap is pre-formed and
placed onto the slider either manually or by a machine that
individually places the cap onto the slider. The machine method
orients the slider in a fixed position so that the soft caps can be
mounted onto the sliders in a consistent fashion. Typically,
sliders and caps are placed in separate vibratory bowls to orient
the parts into the assembly equipment. The finished slider/cap
assembly is then mounted to the zipper assembly.
[0010] In the second embodiment, the soft cap is placed by a
machine onto the slider, after the slider has been mounted onto a
zipper assembly. The machine aligns the cap over the slider and
then pushes the cap onto the slider.
[0011] In the third embodiment, the soft cap is molded over the
slider by an insert molding process, whereby the slider is molded
in a first mold cavity and then placed into a second mold cavity
where the soft cap is molded onto the slider.
[0012] In the fourth embodiment, the soft cap is molded in place by
a dual shot injection molding process, whereby the slider and the
cap are sequentially injected into a common mold cavity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and claims, and from the
accompanying drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the soft cap being
positioned near the slider prior to insertion thereon, in the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the soft cap inserted onto
the slider, in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Additionally shown are two vibratory bowls for the automated
process.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a machine inserting the
soft caps onto sliders which are mounted on a zipper, in the second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are perspective views, partially in
phantom, showing the sequential stages of an insert molding process
for a soft cap on a slider, in the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, showing
a dual shot injection molding process for slider and soft cap
formation, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the first embodiment of the
present invention. In the first embodiment, slider 100 is provided,
prior to insertion onto a zipper. Slider 100 is well-known to those
skilled in the art of zippers for reclosable bags. Likewise,
pre-formed soft cap 200 is provided. Soft cap 200 is disclosed in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/020,607 entitled "Sleeve Cover
for Slider", filed on Dec. 23, 2004, and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/103,751 entitled "Reclosable Package with Slider Zipper
Shielded for High Pressure Pasteurization", filed on Apr. 12, 2005,
the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Soft cap 200 is configured to engage slider 100.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates the soft cap 200 after it has been pushed
onto slider 100. This may be done manually, or it may be done with
an automated reciprocating insertion device 20, similar to that
shown in FIG. 3 for the second embodiment. Such a machine method
orients sliders 100 in a fixed position so that soft caps 200 can
be mounted onto the sliders 100 in a consistent manner. Typically,
sliders 100 and soft caps 200 are placed in separate vibratory
bowls 30, 32, respectively to orient the parts into the assembly
equipment. Subsequently, the finished slider/cap assembly shown in
FIG. 2 would be mounted onto a zipper assembly. The first
embodiment is advantageous in that it avoids any damage to a zipper
assembly.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present
invention wherein a reclosable zipper 300 is provided with the
sliders 100 already mounted thereon. An automated reciprocating
insertion device 20, comprising head 22 which engages the soft cap
200 and reciprocating rod 24 which moves the head 22 back and
forth, is shown. Automated reciprocating insertion device 20
further includes vibratory bowl 32 which dispatches soft caps 200
to head 22.
[0022] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate the sequence of insert
molding for the soft cap 200 on slider 100. In FIG. 4A, slider 100
is formed in a first mold cavity 400, typically by injecting
plastic through passageway 401. Those skilled in the art, after
review of this disclosure, will recognize that there are many
possible molding techniques available for this process. In FIG. 4B,
slider 100 is shown placed into second mold cavity 402. In FIG. 4C,
the material for soft cap 200, such as another plastic or silicone,
is injected through passageway 403 into second mold cavity 402 over
slider 100 thereby forming soft cap 200 over slider 100.
Subsequently, the finished slider/cap assembly shown in FIG. 4C
would be mounted onto a zipper assembly.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows dual injection mold cavity 500 wherein a first
plastic is injected through first passageway 502 to form slider
100. Thereafter, a second plastic is injected through second
passageway 504 to form soft cap 200 over slider 100. Subsequently,
the finished slider/cap assembly shown in FIG. 5 would be mounted
onto a zipper assembly.
[0024] Conventional form fill and seal methods, and other methods,
may be used to incorporate the slider/cap assembly into a finished
and filled reclosable plastic bag which is thereafter exposed to
high pressure pasteurization.
[0025] Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are
most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the
invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it
should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited
thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended
claims.
* * * * *