MXPA00007372A - Zip closure packing - Google Patents

Abstract

It is disclosed a method and apparatus disposing a zip equipped with a slider of a bag in a formation/filling/sealing operation. In the present invention, it is employed a folding slider, which moves from an open configuration to a close configuration for the zip strips installment in the bag. There are disposed preferably stops at the end of the zip strips by means of applying heat and pressure in order to form a protrusion at one side and a corresponding recess at the other, without the need of additional material. It is disposed preferably a removably hermetic closure under the zip strips. The slider is preferably applied to the zip strips immediately before or immediately after the filling, or immediately after the formation of the removably hermetic closure. There are provided means to change the slider position in order to close the zip. The slider can include means to fasten it in position by means of a mechanic closure mechanism, such as a snap adjustment engagement, or the slider can be welded in a close position by means of applying heat or by means of ultrasonic welding. It can be employed a vacuum engagement mechanism to separate the bag walls into a predetermined position, one towards the other while the slider is closed and placed.

Description

CONTAINER WITH ZIPPER CLOSURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates in general to packages for food products, and more particularly to reclosable bags equipped with a zipper and to methods and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing such bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In facilitating a container that is equipped with a zipper, which is feasible to eat, among the considerations to be faced are the ease of use and the economics of manufacturing. It is desirable that the package be capable of forming, filling and sealing at high production rates. In addition, the in-vase must be durable to withstand the efforts of the forming / filling / sealing operation and subsequent shipping and handling without damage and without deterioration of appearance. When handling products composed of numerous small pieces, such as ground cheese, cereals, etc., the package can be partially formed in the form of an open bag at the top, and the product can be dispensed to the partially opened bag through the the upper part open.

One method is to employ a vertical form-ion / fill / seal system, of which an example is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,874,257, the zipper being arranged vertically along one side of the container being formed, and filling the bag by dropping product induced by gravity from a filling spout. U.S. Patent No. 5,519,982 illustrates another method, in that the bags advance horizontally as they form, fill and seal. In containers equipped with a rack, when the ends of the racks extend to the sealing areas, it may be difficult to dispose of hermetic closures at high production speeds, due to the greater thickness of the sealing area at the ends of the rack. Another problem is that the opening and closing of the zippers can be difficult for the consumer, although grip buttons are arranged, as and explained, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,519,982. To face this last problem, a slide can be arranged in conjunction with the zipper strips. Slides that can be linearly moved to join or separate the profiles are known in the art. However, the installation of the slide complicates the manufacturing process. In addition, the slide may tend to separate the joint between the container walls at the ends of the rack track, requiring the provision of stops, which further complicates the manufacturing process. Various top designs are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,833,791; No. 5,405,478; No. 5,067,208; No. 5,448,807 and No. 5,442,837. U.S. Patent No. 5,211,482 describes the post-filling application of a slide fastener that includes a slide. The need for improved packaging of the type described above, and improved form-A / filling / sealing operations of such packages that take into account Adias considerations while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art is continuing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a new method and apparatus for arranging a slide fastener equipped with a slide in a bag in a forming / filling / sealing operation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a collapsible slide is employed, and is moved from a configuration-Open to a closed configuration during installation in the zipper strips in the bag. Integral forms are preferably formed from the zipper material by the application of heat and pressure to the ends of the creel-llera, without requiring installation of separate components dis-? challenges A peelable seal is preferably disposed below the zipper strips. The slide is preferably applied to the zipper strips immediately before or immediately after filling, or immediately after formation of the peelable seal.The slide may include means for securing it in closed position on the rack strips by a Mechanical closing mechanism such as a snap adjustment hitch, or the slide can be welded in closed position by means of heat application, or by ultrasonic welding. An opening mechanism can be employed to separate the walls of the bag at a predetermined position relative to one another while the slide is placed and closed. The opening mechanism can use suction cups to hook the walls of the bag. The zipper strips are in an open position when the slide is installed. After installation of the slide on the zipper, the slide can be slit along the zipper to close the zipper. The method and apparatus of the invention can be employed in conjunction with the packaging of various food products, including, but not limited to, for example, cheese products in crushed, sliced or shredded form, sliced meats, and other food products. packaged for retail sale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a method and apparatus according to a preferred embodiment < -r- the invention. Figure la is a diagrammatic perspective view partially illustrating a second embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus for placing and closing the slider in the apparatus of 1 to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view in plant of the apparatus to form stops at the ends of the zipper strips in the apparatus of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is generally carried out in a method and apparatus. to form, fill and seal a bag that has reclosable, complementary, interenganchable zipper strips, equipped with a slide to facilitate the opening and closing of the zipper strips. With reference to Figure 1, the apparatus 10 preferably includes a sheet 12 of film material for the walls of the container, including first and second wall elements 14 and 16. Each of the wall elements is oriented in a standing position, generally vertically, and the wall elements are joined at the bottom by a seal or a fold 18. In the preferred embodiment, the film material is intermittently advanced. In other embodiments, the film material can be continuously advanced. Rack strips are inserted between the walls next to their upper ends when the wall material is advanced. The zipper strips can include a single roll ^? of interlocking strips 22, as shown in Figure 1, or 'the separate rolls 24 and 26 having zipper strips; -e-stops 28 and 30, as shown in figure la. The rack material is preferably of conventional configuration, the strips having complementary, inter-recessed profiles, so that the zipper strips can be interlocked with each other, and tabs or base portions to be welded to the film as required. along its upper edge, the profiles projecting slightly above the upper edges of the film material. A rack camera 32 receives the cream-Liter strips and aligns them to join them to the film. A series of tension / guide rollers can be arranged to control the rack strips when advancing towards the rack chamber. In the embodiment of Figure 1, where the zipper strips 22 are supplied in a single roll in a bonded or locked configuration, the zipper chamber 32 separates them before aligning them to join them to the wall material. The rack camera is positioned adjacent to the upper edges of the wall material and has a central longitudinal slot 34 for receiving the zipper strips and the upper portions of the walls.

The zipper strips are attached to the film at a bonding station 36. The bonding station illustrated includes a pair of sealing bars 38 positioned on opposite sides of the upper portions of the container walls, together with the zipper material, and a central dividing plate that holds the zipper components apart while the tabs of the zipper strips are attached to the film, for example, by heat application or ultrasonic welding. The sealing rods 38 may alternate transverse-or may be stationary during operation. After attaching the zipper strips to the film, lateral seals 40 are formed to define a bag or cavity 42 for receiving product. The side seals 40, in the illustrated embodiment, are substantially vertical, and the desired width of the bag is separated from one another. The side seals can be formed by a pair of alternating alternating heat seal bars 43, or by another suitable sealing device. To separate the bags 42 from the sheet 12 and from one another, a vertical slit or cut is formed along the center of each side seal. The slit can be formed simultaneously with the formation of the lateral hermetic closure, or in a next step, as shown, by a blade 44. The blade can be placed in one of several different points, for example , before the I read, immediately after filling, after the application of the slide, or in any other desired position. To provide stops to limit the travel of the co-? Zipper rack on the zipper in the finished container, the ends of the zipper strips are preferably flattened or molded to form a projection on one side and a recess on the other, without adding material. Heat and pressure are preferably applied to the ends of the cream-Llera strips to achieve the formation of stops. The formation of the stops is preferably carried out in two steps. In the first step, a first pair of dies 46 engages the zipper strips in a position co-t responsive to an end portion of the zipper strips, to apply heat and pressure for a period of predetermined time to crush one end. of the zipper and deforming the ends of the zipper strips to approximately the desired configuration. In the second step, the upper portions 48 of the heat seal bars 43 complete the formation of the stops when the side seals are formed. In other embodiments of the invention, the formation of stops may consist of a one-step operation, or may involve more than two steps. In addition, the application of heat and erosion specifically to the end zone of the zipper can be carried out before, during or after the formation of the side seals. In addition, each step can be carried out on two or more rack ends simultaneously. During the formation of the stops, the film is guided by wheels that follow the track of the film at the base of the zipper. The filling of the bags preferably consists of dispensing products down to the bags to a predetermined level. In the illustrated embodiment, to gain access to the filling spout, the bag is opened using suction devices, such as suction cups 50, applied to the exterior of each wall. In other embodiments, other mechanisms (not shown) can be used to open the upper part of the bag, for example, by hooking the upper edges of the container walls.

In order to avoid product retention by means of the zipper strips, the filling spout can be vertically mobile, so that it can be moved downwards so that it enters the bag slightly during filling. In the illustrated embodiment, the slide 52 is installed in the zipper in an installation station immediately after filling the bag. At the installation station, the slides descend through a dispensing chute 56, are placed in position on the rack, and then fixed on the rack. The slides are pre-supplied to the bulk installation station in an open position, and lots of slides are fed to a conventional cavity feeding device that uses a combination of channel design, vibratory movement. and centrifugal force to orient and unload the slides in a single row to the dispensing chute Detect devices detect the presence or absence of the key slides in the dispensing chute In case the supply of slides is interrupted. , the detector device can send a signal to stop the timeline-1 e.A gate controls the dispensing of the slides,? a dosing device.The dosing device serves to place the slides, one at a time, in a centered position. in relation to the zipper strips In the preferred embodiment, an opening device 64 is used to arrange between the zipper strips Use a 5-inch width that is wide enough to allow room for a central hanging fin on the slide to fit between the zipper strips. The illustrated opening device employs suction cups, applied to the exterior of each wall. In other embodiments, other mechanisms can be used to open the upper part of the bag, for example, by engaging the upper edges of the container walls. The dosing device 62 includes an allergen mechanism: moving a detachable end portion 66 of the dispensing chute from a first position 70, illustrated with dashed lines in Figure 3, to a second position 72, illustrated with solid lines on the 3, where a sweeper 68 pushes the slide of the end portion of the channel against a stop 74, at which point the slide is in position to be fixed on the rack. The slide 0 is then closed by an end effector / gripper assembly 76 which is lowered into engagement with the slide. The end effector 78 in the illustrated embodiment is configured to push the slide to its closed position. Mechanical closing means, such as a snap-fit assembly, may be provided in the slide to lock it in the closed position. In other embodiments, the end effector may include an apparatus for welding or sealing the slide in its closed position using, for example, heat or ultrasonic welding techniques. While the slide is being fixed in position, the dosing device 62 is moved back to its first position, and the gate 60 is opened so that the next slide can be moved to the removable end portion 66 of the chute, and the process. The sweeper 68 in the illustrated embodiment includes a single elongate element that can be rotated about one (ie its ends) and is moved intermirently by a rotary actuator 80 in timed relation to the reciprocating movement of the dosing device. production rates, multiple slider application stations can be arranged on the line After the slide installation, the bag passes to a slide fastener station 80, where the rack is engaged by a device of closure 82 and moved longitudinally in relation to the bag to close the zipper The closure can be performed by means of a rodless Are roller with a pneumatic actuator that lowers around the slide and moves the slide to its closed position. A removable seal is provided under the zipper In the preferred embodiment, a removable seal is applied. The releasable seal can be formed between flange portions or base of the zipper strips by means of heat sealing bars 84 or other suitable apparatus. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for the application of recessible zippers to the packaging of food products in forming / filling / sealing operations, where a slide is incorporated in the rack rack receivers. feasible in an economically and commercially viable method and apparatus. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, nor to any other particular embodiment. For example, although the slider is installed on the zipper strips after filling and prior to the formation of the peelable seal in the illustrated embodiment, the slider could be applied prior to filling or after the formation of the peelable seal in other embodiments. Furthermore, although the illustrated embodiment shows bars for heat sealing to perform the joining or sealing steps, and contemplates that said steps may alternatively involve another apparatus or an additional apparatus for effecting the sealing joint using, for example, ultrasonic welding, -1 _ado por RE, or through the use of adhesives. In addition, the marking bails can be stationary or transversally alternating, or they can be arranged on wheels or belts so as to have a component of longitudinal movement, so that the joining or sealing can be performed without intermittent vance or continuous of the movie. The invention is better described and disclosed in the following claims.

Claims (20)

Claims
1. A method of forming, filling and sealing a bag for food products, including: arranging wall material defining a pair of vertical side walls attached to each other at their lower ends and having complementary interengagable zipper strips extending between them walls in their upper portions; forming a pair of substantially vertical seals connecting said walls so as to define a product receiving pocket having a width determined by the distance between said vertical seals; dispense product down = > said product receiving bag for filling said bag to a predetermined level, sealing the bag, arranging a folding slider having a position, and a closed position, placing said slide over said bag in contact with the bag. said complementary interengagable zipper strips, closing said slide on said zipper strips; And cut the bag of wall material.
2. 2 . A method according to claim 1, wherein sealing said bag includes forming a peelable seal beneath said zipper strips.
3. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is sealed before placing the slider in contact with said complementary interengagable slide strips.
4. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said bowl is sealed after placing the slide in contact with Achas complementary interenganchable zipper strips.
5. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said slider is closed on the zipper strips before filling.
6. 6. A method according to claim 1, further including moving the position of the slide to close the zipper.
7. 7. A method according to claim 1, further including forming stops at the ends of the zipper strips by applying heat and pressure to them to form a projection on one side and a recess on the other without adding material.
8. 3. A method according to claim 1, further including welding the slide in the closed position.
9. 9. A method according to claim 1, further including fixing the slide in closed position providing a jump adjustment.
10. 10. A method according to claim 1, further including applying vacuum to separate the walls of said cavity at a predetermined position relative to one another while the slide is placed and closed.
11. 11. Apparatus for forming, filling and sealing a bag for food products, including: a supply of wall material defining a pair of vertical side walls joined to each other at their lower ends and having complementary mterengancha-Aes zipper strips that extend between said walls in the upper portions; a first sealing station placed next to the wall material and having components on its opposite sides to form a pair of side seals that join said walls so as to define a product receiving bag having a width determined by the distance between them. said lateral sealings; a dispenser positioned above said cavity to eject product downwardly to said product receiving bag to fill said bag to a predetermined level; second sealing station disposed at least par- ically below said zipper strips to form a leak-tight seal below said zipper strips; a receptacle containing a plurality of collapsible slides, each having a position open and a closed position, a dispenser placed adjacent to and at least partially above said zipper strips for placing said slides individually above said bag in contact with said complementary inter-engaging slide strips; less partially above said zipper strips to close said slider on said zipper strips, and a cutting station with cut-off instruments (• speak with said wall material to separate the pouch from the sheet of wall material.
12. 12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second sealing station forms a removable seal below said zipper strips.
13. L3. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second sealing station is positioned to seal each bag prior to the positioning of the slide in contact with said complementary interengagable zipper strips of the bag.
14. 14. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bol-: < a is sealed after the positioning of the slide in conjunction with said interengagable zipper strips cornil-mentarementations.
15. 15. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said shuttle is closed on the zipper strips before filling.
16. 16. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for moving the position of the slide to close the rack.
17. 17. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for forming stops at the ends of the zipper strips by applying heat and pressure to them to form a projection on one side and a recess on the other without adding material.
18. 18. Apparatus according to claim 10, further including means for welding the slide in the closed position.
19. 19. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising sanding the slide in the closed position providing a jump adjustment.
20. 20. Apparatus according to claim 10, further including applying vacuum to separate the walls of said cavity at a predetermined position relative to one another while the slide is being placed and closed.