US20090255215A1 - Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder - Google Patents
Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090255215A1 US20090255215A1 US12/290,596 US29059608A US2009255215A1 US 20090255215 A1 US20090255215 A1 US 20090255215A1 US 29059608 A US29059608 A US 29059608A US 2009255215 A1 US2009255215 A1 US 2009255215A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- length
- zipper
- film
- zipper material
- eye
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B70/00—Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B70/00—Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
- B31B70/74—Auxiliary operations
- B31B70/81—Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
- B31B70/813—Applying closures
- B31B70/8131—Making bags having interengaging closure elements
- B31B70/8132—Applying the closure elements in the machine direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31B2160/00—Shape of flexible containers
- B31B2160/10—Shape of flexible containers rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents
Definitions
- This invention relates to the manufacture of reclosable packaging and pertains to a method for improving registration when inserting a zipper with slider clips into packaging film, by use of an eye-mark and an encoder.
- a method and apparatus which uses a servo motor and an accumulator dancer arm to buffer a stop-start motion of film, with the zipper and clips (or sliders) already attached, in the zipper-sealing machine.
- the servo drives the film to an eye-mark and then stops the film. Downstream of the servo motor, film,runs out of an accumulator to the vertical or horizontal bagger. Upstream of the servo motor, the film and zipper stops so that the zipper can be processed, typically by an ultrasonic crush application and a clip application.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic of the zipper sealing portion of the apparatus of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic of the zipper insertion portion of the apparatus of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic of the eye-mark sensor and accumulator portion of the apparatus of the present invention.
- the apparatus 10 includes spool 12 which serves as a source of zipper 100 .
- Zipper 100 passes over a first accumulator (or unwind dancer) 14 which includes idler wheels 16 , 18 with fixed axes of rotation and unwind dancer arm 20 which moves vertically (in the illustrated orientation) to accommodate differences in speed between the zipper 100 being fed from spool 12 and the zipper I 00 being fed through the downstream stations—first ultrasonic crush station 22 , second ultrasonic crush station 24 , first clip insertion station 26 and second clip insertion station 28 .
- First and second ultrasonic crush stations 22 , 24 apply ultrasonic energy to create the ends of the zipper segments, while first and second clip insertion stations 26 , 28 insert the clips (alternately referred to as sliders) which allow the consumer or user to open and close the resulting zipper segments by separating and interlocking, respectively, the zipper profiles.
- Film 200 includes periodic eye-marks 202 , such as, but not limited to, small rectangular ink marks positioned toward the outer edge of film 200 .
- the eye-marks 202 are positioned a specific distance apart (such as, but not limited to, a package width).
- film 200 (with zipper 100 attached) is scanned by eye-mark sensor 34 and driven by servo motor 36 (and associated drive mechanism 38 ). Film 200 is then fed through second accumulator 40 which includes idler wheels 42 , 44 with fixed axes of rotation and an accumulator dancer arm 46 which moves vertically (in the illustrated orientation) to accommodate differences in speed between the film 200 being fed from the zipper insertion arm 30 and being fed to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown), particularly to provide a substantially constant speed of feeding to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown).
- second accumulator 40 which includes idler wheels 42 , 44 with fixed axes of rotation and an accumulator dancer arm 46 which moves vertically (in the illustrated orientation) to accommodate differences in speed between the film 200 being fed from the zipper insertion arm 30 and being fed to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown), particularly to provide a substantially constant speed of feeding to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown).
- the eye-mark sensor 34 signals servo motor 36 to momentarily stop film 200 upstream of servo motor 36 .
- Zipper 100 is likewise stopped upstream as it passes through first and second ultrasonic crush stations 22 , 24 and first and second clip insertion stations 26 , 28 thereby permitting the crush and clip insertion operations to be performed on a momentarily stationary zipper.
- the operation of the second accumulator 40 allows the film 200 (with zipper 100 attached) to continuously feed the bagger/wrapper apparatus at a substantially constant speed.
- the servo motor 36 drives zipper 100 and film 200 at a rate fast enough to replenish the second accumulator 40 .
- the process then repeats itself, thereby allowing for intermittent motion of the zipper 100 and film 200 while providing a continuous feed at a substantially constant speed from second accumulator 40 to the bagger/wrapper apparatus.
Landscapes
- Making Paper Articles (AREA)
- Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
The apparatus uses a servo motor and an accumulator dancer arm to buffer the motion of film, with zipper and clips or sliders already inserted, in a zipper-sealing machine. The servo drives the film to an eye-mark and then stops the film. Upstream of the servo motor, the film and zipper stop so that the zipper can be processed, such as by ultrasonic crush stations and clip insertion stations. Downstream of the servo motor, the film runs out of an accumulator to the bagger/wrapper apparatus.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 61/044,563 filed on Apr. 14, 2008, entitled “Zipper Registration Using Eye-Mark Encoder”.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to the manufacture of reclosable packaging and pertains to a method for improving registration when inserting a zipper with slider clips into packaging film, by use of an eye-mark and an encoder.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- The prior art of zipper registration in the manufacture of reclosable packages and bags is well-developed for its intended purposes. For example, commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,545 entitled “Registration of Intermittently Moved Fastener Tape With Continuously Moving Web” issued on Feb. 6, 2007 to Howell and Wallace discloses an apparatus and method using continuous film motion through the zipper-sealing machine and only the zipper has intermittent motion (stop-starts) with the aid of an accumulation assembly. Related art is disclosed in US 2006/0207727 entitled “Apparatus for Repeatedly Advancing Fastener Tape a Predetermined Distance” filed on Mar. 16, 2005 by Cortigiano and US 2008/0134632 entitled “Method of Registering Zipper for Reclosable Package”, filed on Dec. 6, 2006 by Howell.
- Other prior art devices utilize a similar method to accumulate film. The machine jogs the film and attached zipper using a servo to eye-mark and stop it. Upstream of the stop, an ultrasonic unit stomps the zipper but no clip is inserted. Downstream of the stop, the film with the zipper attached is fed out of an accumulator to the bagger.
- However, further improvements are sought in the registration of the zipper, particularly when inserting zipper with clips into packaging film.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the registration of a zipper in the manufacture of reclosable packages, particularly when inserting zipper with clips into packaging film.
- It is therefore a further object of the present invention to allow a continuous motion bagger/wrapper to be coupled with an intermittent motion zipper-sealing machine.
- These and other objects are attained by a method and apparatus which uses a servo motor and an accumulator dancer arm to buffer a stop-start motion of film, with the zipper and clips (or sliders) already attached, in the zipper-sealing machine. The servo drives the film to an eye-mark and then stops the film. Downstream of the servo motor, film,runs out of an accumulator to the vertical or horizontal bagger. Upstream of the servo motor, the film and zipper stops so that the zipper can be processed, typically by an ultrasonic crush application and a clip application.
- Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic of the zipper sealing portion of the apparatus of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic of the zipper insertion portion of the apparatus of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic of the eye-mark sensor and accumulator portion of the apparatus of the present invention. - Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees from
FIG. 1 that theapparatus 10 includesspool 12 which serves as a source ofzipper 100. Zipper 100 passes over a first accumulator (or unwind dancer) 14 which includesidler wheels 16, 18 with fixed axes of rotation andunwind dancer arm 20 which moves vertically (in the illustrated orientation) to accommodate differences in speed between thezipper 100 being fed fromspool 12 and the zipper I 00 being fed through the downstream stations—firstultrasonic crush station 22, secondultrasonic crush station 24, firstclip insertion station 26 and secondclip insertion station 28. First and secondultrasonic crush stations clip insertion stations - As shown in
FIG. 2 ,zipper 100 is then captured byzipper insertion arm 30 and sealed to polymeric web orfilm 200.Film 200 includes periodic eye-marks 202, such as, but not limited to, small rectangular ink marks positioned toward the outer edge offilm 200. The eye-marks 202 are positioned a specific distance apart (such as, but not limited to, a package width). - As shown in
FIG. 3 , film 200 (withzipper 100 attached) is scanned by eye-mark sensor 34 and driven by servo motor 36 (and associated drive mechanism 38).Film 200 is then fed throughsecond accumulator 40 which includesidler wheels accumulator dancer arm 46 which moves vertically (in the illustrated orientation) to accommodate differences in speed between thefilm 200 being fed from thezipper insertion arm 30 and being fed to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown), particularly to provide a substantially constant speed of feeding to the bagger/wrapper apparatus (not shown). - As
film 200 passes in front of eye-mark sensor 34 and an eye-mark 202 is detected, the eye-mark sensor 34signals servo motor 36 to momentarily stopfilm 200 upstream ofservo motor 36. Zipper 100 is likewise stopped upstream as it passes through first and secondultrasonic crush stations clip insertion stations second accumulator 40 allows the film 200 (withzipper 100 attached) to continuously feed the bagger/wrapper apparatus at a substantially constant speed. After the operations onstationary zipper 100 atstations servo motor 36 driveszipper 100 andfilm 200 at a rate fast enough to replenish thesecond accumulator 40. The process then repeats itself, thereby allowing for intermittent motion of thezipper 100 andfilm 200 while providing a continuous feed at a substantially constant speed fromsecond accumulator 40 to the bagger/wrapper apparatus. - 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.
Claims (20)
1. A process of manufacturing at least a portion of a reclosable package including the steps of:
providing a length of zipper material;
providing a station for inserting clips onto the length of zipper material;
providing a length of film;
sealing the length of zipper material to the length of film;
scanning the film for an eye-mark; and
upon detecting the eye-mark, momentarily stopping the length of zipper material and the length of film and activating the station for inserting clips onto the length of zipper material.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein motion of the film and the zipper is momentarily resumed after clips have been inserted on the length of zipper material.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein the step of providing a length of zipper material is performed by a spool.
4. The process of claim 3 further including the step of providing a first accumulator downstream of the spool whereby the spool can continue to provide the length of zipper material during the step of momentarily stopping the length of zipper material.
5. The process of claim 4 further including the step of providing a crush station for performing periodic crush operations on the length of zipper.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein the periodic crush operations are performed during the momentary stopping of the length of zipper material.
7. The process of claim 6 further including the step of driving the film with a servo motor.
8. The process of claim 7 wherein the step of driving the film with a servo motor and the step of momentarily stopping the zipper are responsive to the step of scanning the film for eye-mark.
9. The process of claim 8 further including the step of providing a second accumulator downstream of the servo motor.
10. The process of claim 9 wherein speed of the film and zipper from the second accumulator remains substantially constant.
11. An apparatus for manufacturing at least a portion of a reclosable package including:
a source of a length of zipper material;
a station for inserting clips onto the length of zipper material;
a source of a length of film;
a sealer for sealing the length of zipper material to the length of film;
a scanner for scanning the film for an eye-mark; and
wherein upon the scanner detecting the eye-mark, the length of zipper material and the length of film are momentarily stopped and station inserts clips onto the length of zipper material.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein motion of the film and the zipper is momentarily resumed after clips have been inserted on the length of zipper material.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the source of a length of zipper material is a spool.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a first accumulator downstream of the spool whereby the spool can continue to provide the length of zipper material while the length of zipper material is momentarily stopped.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a crush station for performing periodic crush operations on the length of zipper.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the periodic crush operations are performed while the length of zipper material is momentarily stopped.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a servo motor to drive the film.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the servo motor is responsive to the scanner.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further including a second accumulator downstream of the servo motor.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein speed of the film and zipper from the second accumulator remains substantially constant.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/290,596 US20090255215A1 (en) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-30 | Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder |
PCT/US2009/035069 WO2009128986A1 (en) | 2008-04-14 | 2009-02-25 | Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US4456308P | 2008-04-14 | 2008-04-14 | |
US12/290,596 US20090255215A1 (en) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-30 | Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/060,637 Continuation-In-Part US8022020B2 (en) | 2005-01-18 | 2008-04-01 | Universal synthetic penetrating lubricant, method and product-by-process |
PCT/US2008/087449 A-371-Of-International WO2009085967A1 (en) | 2005-01-18 | 2008-12-18 | Universal synthetic penetrating lubricant, method and product-by-process |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/060,637 Continuation-In-Part US8022020B2 (en) | 2005-01-18 | 2008-04-01 | Universal synthetic penetrating lubricant, method and product-by-process |
US74723610A Continuation-In-Part | 2005-01-18 | 2010-06-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090255215A1 true US20090255215A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 |
Family
ID=41162839
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/290,596 Abandoned US20090255215A1 (en) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-30 | Zipper registration using eye-mark encoder |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090255215A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009128986A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016139056A1 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2016-09-09 | Pfm Iberica Packaging Machinery S.A. | Device for continuous compensation of stretching of film during drawing applicable on packaging machines |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5092102A (en) * | 1991-02-07 | 1992-03-03 | Hayssen Manufacturing Company | Escapement system particularly for packaging apparatus |
US5956924A (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 1999-09-28 | Rcl Corporation | Method and apparatus for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container |
US5983594A (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 1999-11-16 | Forman; Harold M | Adhesively resealable package, method and apparatus |
US20050281490A1 (en) * | 2004-06-17 | 2005-12-22 | Schneider John H | Header end tack seal for reclosable package |
US20060207727A1 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2006-09-21 | Cortigiano Ronald Sr | Apparatus for repeatedly advancing fastener tape a predetermined distance |
US7172545B2 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2007-02-06 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Registration of intermittently moved fastener tape with continuously moving web |
US20080134632A1 (en) * | 2006-12-06 | 2008-06-12 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Method of registering zipper for reclosable package |
-
2008
- 2008-10-30 US US12/290,596 patent/US20090255215A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2009
- 2009-02-25 WO PCT/US2009/035069 patent/WO2009128986A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5092102A (en) * | 1991-02-07 | 1992-03-03 | Hayssen Manufacturing Company | Escapement system particularly for packaging apparatus |
US5983594A (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 1999-11-16 | Forman; Harold M | Adhesively resealable package, method and apparatus |
US5956924A (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 1999-09-28 | Rcl Corporation | Method and apparatus for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container |
US6209287B1 (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 2001-04-03 | Huntsman Kcl Corporation | Method and apparatus for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container |
US20050281490A1 (en) * | 2004-06-17 | 2005-12-22 | Schneider John H | Header end tack seal for reclosable package |
US20060207727A1 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2006-09-21 | Cortigiano Ronald Sr | Apparatus for repeatedly advancing fastener tape a predetermined distance |
US7172545B2 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2007-02-06 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Registration of intermittently moved fastener tape with continuously moving web |
US20080134632A1 (en) * | 2006-12-06 | 2008-06-12 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Method of registering zipper for reclosable package |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016139056A1 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2016-09-09 | Pfm Iberica Packaging Machinery S.A. | Device for continuous compensation of stretching of film during drawing applicable on packaging machines |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2009128986A1 (en) | 2009-10-22 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CAPLAN, ADAM N.;WALLACE, DAVID C.;REEL/FRAME:021841/0453;SIGNING DATES FROM 20081028 TO 20081029 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- AFTER EXAMINER'S ANSWER OR BOARD OF APPEALS DECISION |