EP2214972B1 - Slider with camming spigots - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of bags provided with complementary closure profiles actuated by a slider.

It relates more specifically to a device and a method for the establishment of a slider provided with biasing pins.

Many bags with complementary closure profiles equipped with sliders have already been proposed.

Some of the appended figures represent an example of slider according to the state of the art.

• la figure 1 A est une vue en perspective d'un tel curseur;
• la figure 2A est une vue de dessous de ce curseur;
• la figure 3A est une vue analogue à la précédente en légère perspective ;
• les figures 4A, 5A, 6A et 7A sont respectivement des vues en coupe du curseur de la figure 2A, selon les plans IV-IV, V-V, VI-VI et VII-VII de cette figure ;
• la figure 8A est une vue en bout du curseur de la figure 1 A.

More precisely :

• the figure 1 A is a perspective view of such a slider;
• the Figure 2A is a view from below of this slider;
• the figure 3A is a view similar to the preceding in slight perspective;
• the FIGS. 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A are respectively sectional views of the cursor of the Figure 2A according to plans IV-IV, VV, VI-VI and VII-VII of this figure;
• the figure 8A is an end view of the slider of the figure 1 A .

In these figures, the sections with which the cursor is intended to cooperate have been represented only in the figure 8A , so as not to weigh down the other figures unnecessarily.

Such a slider is made of molded plastic and has a generally known structure.

More precisely, this slider has an inverted "U" -shaped section, and comprises a base 10 to which two lateral wings 11 and 12 are attached, called "sidewalls". X-X ', the longitudinal axis of the slider, which corresponds to its direction of movement when it is installed on a bag with complementary profiles, has been designated. The flanks extend parallel to this axis.

In the aforementioned figures, 110 and 111 are referenced the outer and inner faces of the sidewall 11, while the inner and outer faces of the sidewall 12 bear the references 120 and 121.

Essentially for reasons of rigidity, the opposite ends of the slider 1 are shaped arches 2 and 3 of greater thickness than the rest of his body.

Of course, in an embodiment not shown, this thickness could be identical over the entire range of the cursor.

In a manner that is well known per se, the internal space of the slider contains means adapted to urge complementary closure profiles of a bag (marked respectively P ₁ , P ₂ and S at the figure 8A ), towards or away in the direction of movement of the cursor along these profiles. By the term "internal space" is meant the space delimited by the base 10 and the flanks 11 and 12.

In this case, these means comprise a longitudinal rib 13 which extends along the median plane X-X 'of the slider.

This rib 13, integral with the inner face of the base 10, separates the internal space into two corridors C ₁ and C ₂ .

As shown more specifically by the Figures 4A and 8A , the rib is extended downwards by an elongated central soleplate 14 which projects on either side of the rib 13 to form facets 140 and 141 for guiding a protuberance T ₁ , T ₂ , here in the shape of a point boom, located above an associated closure profile P ₁ , P ₂ (see figure 8A ). Each facet is turned towards the base 10. For "protuberance" means any means associated with the corresponding section, which allows the cursor to cooperate with the bag.

Furthermore, the inner faces 111 and 121 of the flanks 11 and 12 each bear, facing the sole 14, a projection 114, respectively 124, which is also provided with a facet 115, 125 respectively for guiding a protrusion.

The corridors C ₁ and C ₂ are therefore delimited by the base 10, the rib 13 and its associated sole 14, the inner faces of the sidewalls 11 and 12 and their projections 114 and 124 associated. In other words, the corridors C ₁ and C ₂ are in the form of converged-edge grooves.

As it appears to the Figures 2A and 3A corridors C ₁ and C ₂ extend only over part of the longitudinal extent of the cursor, in this case near each of its opposite ends.

Furthermore, the corridors C ₁ and C ₂ are closer to one another at a longitudinal end, so as to allow the spacing or the approximation of the profiles P ₁ , P ₂ as desired close or open the S bag in question. This feature is clearly visible on the Figures 2A and 3A , as well as comparing Figures 4A and 7A .

This is the structure of a slider according to the state of the art.

Such a slider must be placed on a bag S whose two sails are provided with complementary closure profiles.

The technique generally used for this purpose consists generally in deforming the slider so as to temporarily move its flanks 11 and 12 away from each other, to bring it closer to the profiles to "belt" the latter, and then to bring the flanks in their initial position.

In the request FR-A-2,667,225 of the present applicant, it was provided on the basis of the slider, two longitudinal ribs serving during their solicitation, to spread the flanks to open the passageways and allow the complementary engagement of the profiles.

This solution does not give complete satisfaction when the slider has a significant thickness.

Indeed, under these conditions, the lever arm generated is not important, and the sides do not deform as well as one might wish.

In addition, the bias at the opening of the flanks is made simultaneously with the push of the cursor to the profiles, which requires a perfect coordination of these operations.

In the document US-A-6,584,666 is described a slider that solves the problem described above. This slider comprises protruding lugs protruding on its sides, near the end opposite the base of the slider, to open temporarily and facilitate its engagement on profiles, when a bias is exerted on the lugs.

An object of the invention is to provide a device and a method of placing the cursor which simplifies the installation.

It is described a slider for the actuation of closure profiles, in particular for a closure assembly equipping a bag, comprising a base, two sidewalls, means adapted to respectively urge said closure profiles, moving in or out according to the direction movement of the cursor along the profiles, to move the profiles between a position in closing engagement and a separate opening position, and the biasing lugs projecting on said sidewalls, in the vicinity of the end thereof opposed to said base, to open it temporarily and facilitate its engagement on said profiles when a bias is exerted on said lugs, characterized in that said means comprise means for receiving protrusions associated with said profiles.

• les grandes faces externes desdits flancs sont légèrement convergentes en direction de leur extrémité opposée à la dite base ;
• l'angle α formé par lesdites grandes faces externes est de l'ordre de 4°;
• l'angle ß formé par ladite facette et la paroi associée de ladite nervure est inférieur à 90°;
• l'angle ß formé par ladite facette et la face interne dudit flanc est inférieur à 90° ;
• ledit angle ß est de l'ordre de 85°;
• une partie intermédiaire desdits couloirs présente un profil tel qu'ils assurent le guidage desdits profilés lors de sa mise en place du curseur sur les profilés, de sorte qu'une fois le curseur assemblé, ces profils en canal sont alors sans contact ou pratiquement sans contact avec ceux-ci;

According to other advantageous and nonlimiting features of this slider:

• the large outer faces of said flanks are slightly convergent toward their opposite end to said base;
• the angle α formed by said large external faces is of the order of 4 °;
• the angle β formed by said facet and the associated wall of said rib is less than 90 °;
• the angle β formed by said facet and the inner face of said flank is less than 90 °;
• said angle β is of the order of 85 °;
• an intermediate portion of said lanes has a profile such that they ensure the guiding of said profiles during its introduction of the cursor on the profiles, so that once the cursor assembled, these channel profiles are then without contact or virtually without contact with them;

It is also described a bag comprising a closure system with complementary profiles, provided with a slider actuating said profiles at the opening and closing according to one of the preceding characteristics.

There is also described a closure assembly with complementary profiles, provided with a slider for actuating said profiles at the opening and closing, in accordance with one of the preceding characteristics.

The invention relates to a device for setting up such a slider, to a bag with complementary closure profiles or to a closure assembly with complementary profiles, which comprises at least one retaining clip in a stable position of the profiles. .

This device is remarkable in that it also comprises means for pushing a slider towards means for temporarily spacing said flanks of the slider in order to make it cooperate with said profiles, these means for spacing comprising sloping cam paths. ascending adapted to cooperate with said lugs.

Advantageously, said cam paths have a longitudinal extent smaller than the stroke of said cursor, so that after having crossed the cam paths, the sides of said cursor return to their initial position.

Preferably, said cam paths are carried by said clamp.

• ouvrir les mâchoires de chaque pince et y engager le bord du sachet pourvu de profilés complémentaires ;
• resserrer les mâchoires pour immobiliser le sachet;
• pousser ledit curseur en direction du sachet, de manière à ce que ses ergots s'engagent sur les cames et assurent l'écartement de ses flancs, jusqu'à ce que les ergots dépassent lesdites cames et ne soient plus sollicités, ce qui provoque l'engagement du curseur sur les profilés.

Finally, the invention relates to a method of placing such a slider on a bag, by means of clamps whose facing faces carry cams with an upward slope. This method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

• open the jaws of each clamp and engage the edge of the bag provided with complementary profiles;
• tighten the jaws to immobilize the bag;
• pushing said slider towards the bag, so that its lugs engage on the cams and ensure the spacing of its flanks, until the pins protrude from said cams and are no longer stressed, which causes the Cursor engagement on the profiles.

• la figure 9 est une vue de côté d'un curseur selon l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une vue de dessus du curseur de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en bout de ce curseur ;
• la figure 12 est un schéma montrant, selon une vue en bout, le curseur des figures précédentes, en relation avec des chemins de came qui vont permettre d'en écarter les flancs ;
• les figures 13A à 13G sont des schémas montrant un dispositif pour la mise en place d'un curseur tel que celui des figures précédentes, sur un sachet à profilés de fermeture complémentaires, ces différentes figures illustrant les étapes principales de mise en place.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment. This description will be given with reference to drawings, and more specifically by referring to Figures 1B to 8B , which are analogous to Figures 1A to 8A commented on above, as well as in the additional figures 9 to 13G in which:

• the figure 9 is a side view of a slider according to the invention;
• the figure 10 is a top view of the slider of the figure 9 ;
• the figure 11 is an end view of this slider;
• the figure 12 is a diagram showing, in an end view, the cursor of the previous figures, in relation to cam paths that will allow to move the flanks;
• the Figures 13A to 13G are diagrams showing a device for the implementation of a slider such as that of the previous figures, on a bag with complementary closure profiles, these different figures illustrating the main steps of implementation.

The cursor example, which is represented in the figures announced above, has substantially the same general structure as that described above, with reference to the state of the art ( Figures 1A to 8A ).

References identical to those already used designate the same elements.

As announced, slider 1 Figures 1B to 8B, has protruding lugs 4 projecting on the sides 11 and 12, in the vicinity of the end thereof, which is opposite the base 10, to open temporarily and facilitate its engagement on complementary profiles, associated or no to a bag, when a stress is exerted on these lugs 4.

The manner in which this solicitation is exercised will be described later in the description.

More specifically, in the accompanying figures, the lugs 4 have the shape of rectangular parallelepipeds, and are integral with the cursor. They extend on the opposite edges 112 and 122 of the flanks 11 and 12, along the axis X-X '

There is a lug on the edge of each side. And these lugs are placed in the vicinity of the free end of the flanks.

Finally, and as is visible in particular in the Figure 2B , the lugs 4 have, transversely, a thickness identical to that of the edges 112 and 122. However, this thickness could be smaller or thicker.

Referring to the Figure 8B it can be seen that the large external faces 110 and 120 of the flanks 11 and 12 are slightly convergent towards their free end, opposite to the base 10. In the example illustrated here, the angle α formed by these large external faces is of the order of 4 °.

The interest of such a characteristic will be explained later.

Now considering the Figures 2B and 7B it can be seen that the corridors C ₁ and C ₂ are present over the entire longitudinal extent of the cursor.

More precisely, in the intermediate region of the profile, these corridors C ₁ and C ₂ with convergent edges have a channel profile, such that they make it possible to ensure the guidance of the complementary profiles when the cursor is placed on the profiles. . Once the cursor is assembled, these channel profiles are then without contact, or virtually without contact with the complementary profiles.

Referring now to the figure 11 it is found that the facets 115 and 140 on the one hand, and 141 and 125 on the other hand form, with the associated walls of the rib 13 and flanks 11 and 12, an angle β slightly less than 90 ° .This angle is example of the order of 85 °.

Such an orientation of the facets will constitute an attachment element and retaining the protuberances T ₁ , T ₂ associated with the profiles P ₁ , P ₂ of the bag S, thus improving the holding of the cursor on tearing.

This is particularly useful, for example, when dealing with children who grab the bag and try to pull the slider by putting it in their mouths.

For the implementation of such a slider on the complementary profiles associated or not with a bag, it will, as in the prior art, seek to remove the flanks 11 and 12, so as to "open" for a moment. corridors C ₁ and C ₂ , so as to be able to position said protuberances.

To do this and as illustrated schematically in the figure 12 , we will make use of pairs of cams 5 having external faces 50 opposing constituting cam paths with upward slope, and we will move the cursor towards these cam paths in the direction of the arrow f, so that the lugs 4 come to rely on it.

It is understood that as the displacement in the direction of the arrow f is continued, the flanks 11 and 12 deviate from each other in the direction of the arrows g, by corner effect.

The arrangement of the lugs 4 on the end of the sidewalls 11 and 12 makes it possible to implement a much greater deformation torque than that obtained with ribs conventionally placed on the top of the slider, the lever arm relative to the hinge zone. illustrated by the reference A of the figure 12 being longer. In this way, the deformation of the flanks is easier, which simplifies the laying of the cursor on a bag.

With the ribs located on the top of the sliders, their solicitation at the opening is made simultaneously with the push in translation of the slider towards the profiles.

On the contrary, according to the invention, the bias at the opening of the sliders and the thrust can be decoupled.

We will now refer to Figures 13A to 13G to illustrate the establishment of such a slider on a bag S provided with complementary profiles P ₁ and P ₂ .

It is clear that this description also applies to the introduction of a cursor on profiles P1 and P2, not yet associated with a bag. In this case, it is these sets that are moved in the direction of the arrow h.

The bag is part of a band of contiguous bags, which are moved step by step, to equip them in turn with a slider. The direction of scrolling is illustrated by the arrow h to Figures 13A and 13G .

In a conventional manner, such a device 6 comprises a pair of parallel clamps 7 whose upper jaws are referenced 70, while the lower jaws are referenced 71.

In a manner known per se, this device comprises means (not visible) slider feeding and pushing these sliders in the direction of the bag to be equipped.

In this case, these means are disposed midway between the aforementioned jaws 7.

A first step in this implementation, shown on the figure 13A is to open the jaws 70 and 71 of each clamp 7 so as to engage the edge of the bag S provided with complementary profiles P ₁ and P ₂ .

In a second step, the jaws 70 and 71 are pressed together ( Figure 13B ), so as to immobilize the bag S. Figure 13B the aforementioned cams 5 are clearly visible, which are borne by the facing faces of the jaws 70 and 71 of the clamps 7.

In a third step illustrated in figure 13C , the cursor 1 is pushed towards the bag S, so that its biasing pins 4 engage on the paths 50 of the cams 5.

The ascending configuration of these cam paths causes the flanks 11 and 12 to gradually move apart while, simultaneously, the thrust means mentioned above bring the slider 1 closer to the bag S.

This thrust movement is such that when the cursor is exactly opposite the profiles, the lugs 4 have then exceeded the cam paths 50 and are no longer solicited. They then tend to return to their original position.

This is the situation of the figure 13E . The cursor is then engaged on the profiles P ₁ and P ₂ .

In a subsequent step, the jaws 70 and 71 are moved apart from the clamps 7. This is the situation of the figure 13F .

Finally, we move the band of sachets for the establishment of a cursor on a new bag ( figure 13G ).

It will be noted that the particular orientation (angle α) of the outer faces of the flanks 11 and 12 as illustrated in FIG. figure 8 allows, when the flanks return to their original position, to compensate for the fact that this return is not made in full, the flanks tend to occupy a slightly recessed position relative to their starting position.

• ouvrir les mâchoires de chaque pince et y engager le bord du sachet pourvu de profilés complémentaires ;
• resserrer les mâchoires pour immobiliser le sachet ;
• pousser ledit curseur en direction du sachet, de manière à ce que ses ergots s'engagent sur les cames et assurent l'écartement de ses flancs, jusqu'à ce que les ergots dépassent lesdites cames et ne soient plus sollicités, ce qui provoque l'engagement du curseur sur les profilés.

In summary, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• open the jaws of each clamp and engage the edge of the bag provided with complementary profiles;
• tighten the jaws to immobilize the bag;
• pushing said slider towards the bag, so that its lugs engage on the cams and ensure the spacing of its flanks, until the pins protrude from said cams and are no longer stressed, which causes the Cursor engagement on the profiles.

Claims (4)

1. Device for placing a slider (1) for actuating closure profiles (P₁, P₂), notably for a closure assembly fitting out a bag (S), said slider comprising a base (10), two flanks (11, 12), and suitable means (13) for respectively urging said closure profiles (P₁, P₂) by bringing them closer together or by moving them apart depending on the direction of displacement of the slider along the profiles (P₁, P₂), in order to displace the profiles (P₁, P₂) between a closure engaging position and a separate opening position, as well as protruding urging spigots (4), in the direction of displacement on said flanks (11, 12) in the vicinity of the end of the latter, opposite to said base (10), in order to temporarily open it and facilitate its engagement on said profiles (P₁ and P₂) when urging is exerted on said spigots (4), on a bag (S) with mating closure profiles (P₁, P₂) or on an assembly of mating closure profiles (P₁, P₂) , characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one clamp (7) for retaining profiles (P₁, P₂) in a stable position, as well as means for pushing a slider (1) towards means (5) for temporarily moving said flanks (11, 12) away from the slider (1) in order to have it cooperate with said profiles (P₁, P₂), these means for moving them apart comprising cam paths (50) with an upward slope capable of cooperating with said spigots (4).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said cam paths (50) have a smaller longitudinal extent than the course of said slider (4), so that after having crossed the cam paths (50), the flanks (11, 12) of said slider (1) return to their initial position.
3. Device according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said cam paths (50) are borne by said clamp (7).
4. A method for placing a slider (1) on a bag (S) with mating closure profiles (P₁, P₂), this slider (5) comprising a base (10), two flanks (11, 12) and suitable means (13) for respectively urging said closure profiles (P₁, P₂) by bringing them closer or moving them apart depending on the direction of displacement of the slider along the profiles (P₁, P₂), for displacing the profiles (P₁, P₂) between a closure engaging position and a separate opening position, as well as protruding urging spigots (4) on said flanks (11, 12) in the vicinity of the end of the latter, opposite to said base (10), in order to temporarily open it and facilitate its engagement onto said profiles (P₁, P₂) when urging is exerted on said spigots (4) by means of clamps (7), the faces of which opposite the jaws bear cams (5) with an upward slope, characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of:

   - opening the jaws (70, 71) of each clamp (7) and engaging therein the edge of the bag (S) provided with mating profiles;

   - tightening the jaws (70, 71) for immobilizing the bag (S) ;

   - pushing said slider (1) towards the bag (S) so that its spigots (4) engage onto the cams (5) and ensure separation of its flanks (11; 12), until the spigots (4) jut out from said cams (5) and are no longer urged, which causes engagement of the slider (1) onto the profiles.

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