U.S. patent application number 11/634454 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for method of registering zipper for reclosable package.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Clifton R. Howell.
Application Number | 20080134632 11/634454 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39496357 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080134632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howell; Clifton R. |
June 12, 2008 |
Method of registering zipper for reclosable package
Abstract
An apparatus and method is disclosed for the manufacture of
reclosable packages or bags. A drag sealer is upstream of the form
fill and seal apparatus and is used to seal a continuous length of
zipper to web or film. Upstream from the drag sealer, a zipper
clamp is used to hold the zipper in place during slider insertion
and end stomping, as regulated by a film encoder. A zipper
accumulator configured as a dancer and a zipper de-accumulator are
used to compensate for the intermittent motion of the continuous
length of zipper.
Inventors: |
Howell; Clifton R.; (Buford,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAY PITNEY LLP;ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
|
Family ID: |
39496357 |
Appl. No.: |
11/634454 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/133.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 66/00441 20130101;
B29C 66/0242 20130101; B29C 66/8122 20130101; B65B 61/188 20130101;
B31B 70/8132 20170801; B29C 66/0242 20130101; B29C 66/8122
20130101; B29C 66/83423 20130101; B65B 9/20 20130101; B29K 2827/18
20130101; B29C 65/18 20130101; B29C 65/00 20130101; B29L 2005/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/133.4 |
International
Class: |
B65B 61/00 20060101
B65B061/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing zipper to a reclosable package making
apparatus comprising: a supply of continuous length of zipper; a
device for intermittently maintaining a portion of the continuous
length of zipper in a stationary position; a device for inserting a
slider onto the portion of continuous length of zipper in a
stationary position; a device for placing an end stomp onto the
portion of continuous length of zipper in a stationary position; a
supply of web; an encoder for regulating the feeding of web from
the supply of web; a sensor for sensing the end stomps or the
sliders on the continuous length of zipper; and a drag sealer for
sealing the zipper to a web from the supply of web.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device for intermittently
maintaining a portion of the continuous length of zipper is a
clamp.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the device for placing an end
stomp onto the portion of continuous length of zipper uses
ultrasonic apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including an accumulator device
to allow feeding the continuous length of zipper from the supply
while a portion of the continuous length of zipper is in a
stationary position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the accumulator device includes
first and second rollers with stationary axes of rotation, and a
third roller with an axis of rotation which moves away from the
first and second rollers to accumulate the continuous length of
zipper and which moves toward a position between the first and
second rollers to de-accumulate the continuous length of
zipper.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a de-accumulator
device to allow feeding the continuous length of zipper to the drag
sealer while a portion of the continuous length of zipper is in a
stationary position.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the de-accumulator device
includes first and second rollers with stationary axes of rotation,
and a third roller with an axis of rotation which moves away from
the first and second rollers to accumulate the continuous length of
zipper and which moves toward a position between the first and
second rollers to de-accumulate the continuous length of
zipper.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a package making
apparatus receiving the web with zipper sealed thereto from the
drag sealer.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the package making apparatus is
a form fill and seal apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the form fill and seal
apparatus includes rollers to pull the web with zipper sealed
thereto from the drag sealer to the form fill seal apparatus.
11. (canceled)
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is optical.
13-14. (canceled)
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drag sealer includes at
least one pair of opposed sealing bars.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drag sealer includes at
least two pairs of opposed sealing bars.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 where the drag sealer includes two
loops of material which travel between the sealing bars and the
zipper being sealed to the web.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the two loops of material are
comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the supply of continuous
length of zipper includes a first spool.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the supply of web includes a
second spool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
the manufacture of reclosable packages or bags, wherein a drag
sealer is used to apply the processed zipper to the film web, then
a form fill and seal (FFS) machine is used to finish the package or
bag.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prior art of the manufacture of reclosable packages,
particularly, form fill and seal processes, it is known to use an
eye mark printed on the film in order to register the film, and to
start the end stomp and slider insertion. However, such a
configuration requires a separate step or previous manufacturing
process to print the eye marks and the resulting printed film
cannot easily be shifted to a manufacturing process wherein
different dimensions are required.
[0005] Similar prior art manufacturing processes have typically
included a drag sealer such as is disclosed in U.S. published
patent application serial no. 2006/0207727, entitled "Apparatus for
Repeatedly Advancing Fastener Tape a Predetermined Distance",
wherein the fastener tape is joined to the sides of a folded web of
packaging material.
[0006] While these prior art manufacturing processes have been
satisfactory for their intended purposes, further improvements are
sought, such as eliminating the requirement for printed eye marks
on the web.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus for the manufacture of reclosable
packages or bags wherein the requirement for a printed eye mark is
eliminated.
[0008] It is therefore a further object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus for the manufacture of reclosable
packages or bags wherein the drag sealer is used to fasten the
zipper tape to the film prior to the form fill and seal
manufacturing steps.
[0009] These and other objects are attained by a method and
apparatus for the manufacture of reclosable packages or bags
wherein the drag sealer is upstream of the form fill and seal
apparatus. This method and apparatus further uses an encoder count
on the film to start the end stomp and slider insertion. A zipper
clamp is used to hold the zipper in place during slider insertion
and end stomping. A zipper de-accumulator is used to feed the
continuous motion drag sealer. When the insertion and stomp process
is complete the zipper clamp is opened and the de-accumulator is
forced to its extended position. The continuous motion of the drag
sealer and the extension of the de-accumulator pulls the zipper
through the slider inserter and end stomp units. The film encoder
count then starts the process again. The bag machine then uses the
slider or zipper end stomp for registration using a light or
mechanical sensor.
[0010] A form fill and seal step is subsequently performed to
complete the reclosable package or bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the apparatus and method of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic of a drag sealer as used in the
apparatus and method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIG. 1 is a schematic of the apparatus 10 and method of
the present invention.
[0015] Apparatus 10 includes spool 12 from which a continuous
length of zipper 14 is fed. Zipper accumulator 16 is comprised of
rollers 18, 22 with stationary axes of rotation and roller 20 which
has an axis of rotation which moves away from rollers 18, 22 to
accumulate the continuous length of zipper 14 and which moves
toward a position between rollers 18, 22 to de-accumulate the
continuous length of zipper 14. Zipper accumulator 16 is thereby
configured as an unwind dancer to accumulate zipper 14 from spool
12 while downstream portions of zipper 14 are intermittently
clamped into stationary position. Zipper accumulator 16 can also
isolate downstream apparatus components from irregularities in the
rotation of spool 12. End stomper 26 uses ultrasonic apparatus to
place end stomps on the zipper 14. Likewise, inserter 28 places the
zipper sliders on the zipper 14. End stomper 26 and inserter 28
operate while zipper clamp 30 holds zipper 14 in stationary
position. Likewise, zipper de-accumulator 32, is comprised of
rollers 34, 38, with stationary axes of rotation and roller 36
which has an axis of rotation which moves away from rollers 34, 38
to accumulate the continuous length of zipper 14 and which moves
toward a position between rollers 34, 38 to de-accumulate the
continuous length of zipper 14. Zipper de-accumulator 32 thereby
operates to provide a continuous feed of zipper 14 (including end
stomps and sliders) to drag sealer 40 notwithstanding the
intermittent motion of zipper 14 due to the upstream clamping of
zipper 14 by clamp 30. More particularly, when clamp 30 is released
or opened after the operation of end stomper 26 and inserter 28,
zipper de-accumulator 32 is forced to its extended position thereby
allowing accumulating zipper 14 to provide continuous feeding
during the next clamping operation. Zipper 14 along with web 52 as
fed from web spool 50 is fed to drag sealer 40. The continuous
motion of the drag sealer 40 and the extension of the
de-accumulator 32 pulls the zipper 14 through the end stomper 26
and the slider inserter 28. Moreover, the movement of web 52 from
web spool is monitored by encoder 53.
[0016] Web or film 52 is sealed to zipper 14 by drag sealer 40.
Optical sensor 54 senses either the slider or the end stomp placed
on the zipper 14 so as to provide the form fill and seal apparatus
60 with information regarding the registration of the zipper 14 as
the web 52 with zipper 14 sealed thereto is fed to form fill and
seal apparatus 60 for the formation of a reclosable package or
bag.
[0017] Drag sealer 40 is shown in further detail in FIG. 2. Web 52
and zipper 14 are pulled through the nip formed between first and
second endless barrier strips 60, 62 and are sealed to each other
by first pair of reciprocating sealing bars 64, 66 and second pair
of reciprocating sealing bars 68, 70. The sealing is accomplished
by electrically heating the sealing bars 64, 66, 68, 70, the heat
being conducted through the first and second endless barrier strips
60, 62 made of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) or a similar
material, which circulate on respective first set of rollers 72,
73, 74, 75 and second set of rollers 76, 77, 78, 79. Additionally,
the endless barrier strips 60, 62 and the web 52 with zipper 14
pass between first pair of guide rollers 80, 81 prior to first set
of sealing bars 64, 66; second pair of guide rollers 82, 83 between
first set of sealing bars 64, 66 and second set of sealing bars 68,
70; and third pair of guide rollers 84, 85 after second set of
sealing bars 68, 70. Optional guide roller 86 may be used to
redirect web 52 with zipper 14 sealed thereto if necessary.
[0018] Pinch rollers 88, 90 pull the web 52 with the zipper 14
sealed thereto through drag sealer 40 and are typically part of
form fill and seal apparatus 60. As stated previously, form fill
and seal apparatus 60, which may be any of the numerous such
devices known in the prior art, completes the reclosable
package.
[0019] 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.
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