Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Clifton Ronald Howell

David C Wallace

Steven Ausnit

David J Anzini

Rusty Koenigkramer

Eric Paul Plourde

Kenny E McCracken

Kevin Owen

Adam N Caplan

Lars G Wihlborg

Christopher J Ludwig

Robert E Hogan

Victor Delisle

Marion Johnson

Jose Septien

Marco Aguilar

A hinged zipper assembly includes first and second zipper members each having a facing side, an opposite side, an upper edge, and an opposite lower edge. Each of the zipper members has a profile protrusion that extends from the facing sides and are located between the upper and lower edges. The profile protrusions mesh with each other to interlock with each other. A living hinge is formed in the first zipper member and/or the second zipper member between the lower edge and the profile protrusion. The zipper members are formed with flanges that extend from the lower edges. The flanges are configured to be affixed to panels of an enclosure that is closed by meshing of the profile protrusions of the first and second zipper members with each other.

Hinged zipper assembly of a resealable enclosure

The present disclosure relates to a valve, a method for forming a valve, and a package. The valve is made of at least three layers&#x2014;a first exterior layer (i.e., a base layer), at least one interior layer (i.e., a bubble layer), and a second exterior layer (i.e., a channel layer)&#x2014;and an attachment section located on each of at least two of the at least three layers. A bubble is formed between two of the first exterior layer and the at least one interior layer, and the bubble includes an enclosed material. A channel is formed between two of the second exterior layer, the at least two interior layers, and the first exterior layer, and the channel includes an inlet and an outlet. A physical characteristic of the bubble biases the channel towards a closed position that restricts flow of contents from the inlet to the outlet.

Bubble valve for flexible packaging

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.

Carton with plastic reclosable header

The present disclosure relates to an end clip for a closure for a reclosable package or similar apparatus. The end clip includes any of a variety of inwardly extending engagement elements to engage portions of a closure held therebetween, particularly the flanges of the closure. The end clip is ultrasonically welded or similarly bonded to itself through the closure flanges.

End clip with snap on and weld installation

The disclosure relates to a conveyor for unfolding a flat, folded rigid or semi-rigid container blank into a container. The conveyor includes two opposing lugged chain conveyor assemblies which are separated at a sufficient distance at the entry end to receive and engage a folded blank between opposed notches in the two lugged chain conveyor assemblies. As the folded blank progresses in the machine direction, the two opposing lugged chain conveyor assemblies become closer to each other so as to unfold the blank into a container with a storage volume therewithin.

Forming conveyor for a carton

End clip for a plastic zipper or closure

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.

Method of producing high burst zipper assemblies for large reclosable packages

A device is provided for feeding horizontally oriented packages or bags at a regular interval to a zipper profile attaching device. The loose packages or bags are placed onto a servo-driven lugged chain conveyor wherein the lugs are evenly spaced at the nominal desired center-to-center spacing of the packages or bags. The servo-driven lugged chain conveyor feeds the packages or bags to be captured between upper and lower secondary constant velocity conveyors. The lower secondary constant velocity conveyor includes an encoder which is used to slave the servo of the servo-driven lugged chain conveyor, with an adjustable programmable ratio. This achieves a consistent center-to-center distance of the horizontally oriented packages or bags which are then fed to a zipper profile attaching device.

Method and apparatus for feeding large packages or bags into a reclosable zipper profile attaching device

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the attachment of a zipper to a reclosable package or bag, particular packages or bags of relatively larger sizes. Pinch rollers separate the flanges of the zipper so that the interior walls of the flanges are pointing upward, then hot-melt adhesive is sprayed downwardly onto the flanges. The zipper is then guided over the edge of the horizontally-oriented package or bag by a tube with a longitudinal slot. The package or bag, with the zipper attached, is engaged between a driven-belt apparatus with a nip formed between opposed belts, thereby applying consistent and even pressure to the zipper flanges and assuring that the hot-melt adhesive forms a bond which is consistent, reliable and strong.

Method and apparatus for applying hot-melt adhesive to zipper flanges and applying zipper to packages

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) continuously advancing a web of bag making material at a first rate; (b) continuously joining portions of a downstream portion of a fastener tape to respective portions of the continuously advancing web of bag making material; (c) intermittently advancing an upstream portion of the fastener tape while the downstream portion is advancing continuously, the upstream portion of the fastener tape being stationary during a respective dwell time of each work cycle and advancing during the remainder of each work cycle at a second rate faster than the first rate; (d) accumulating a portion of the fastener tape disposed between the upstream and downstream portions to compensate for the difference in the first and second rates during the aforementioned remainder of each work cycle; and (e) deforming a respective section of the upstream portion of the fastener tape during each dwell time.

Registration of intermittently moved fastener tape with continuously moving web

A method of manufacture comprises the following steps: (a) advancing a fastener tape made of flexible thermoplastic material along a process pathway during an indexing portion of a work cycle, the fastener tape not advancing during a dwell time of the work cycle; (b) during each dwell time, deforming the fastener tape at a first fixed station situated along the process pathway; (c) transmitting light toward the fastener tape at a second fixed station while the fastener tape is advancing; and (d) photodetecting a portions of the transmitted light after some or all of the transmitted light has passed the fastener tape, the photodetected portions of the transmitted light being converted into electrical signals; wherein the distance of the fastener tape advanced in step (a) is determined in accordance with an algorithm that takes into account characteristics of electrical signals acquired in step (d) during earlier work cycles.

Methods for sensing features on moving fastener tape during automated production

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) continuously advancing a web of bag making material at a first rate; (b) continuously joining portions of a downstream portion of a fastener tape to respective portions of the continuously advancing web of bag making material; (c) intermittently advancing an upstream portion of the fastener tape while the downstream portion is advancing continuously, the halt at the end of each intermittent advance being the start of the next work cycle, the upstream portion of the fastener tape being stationary during a respective dwell time of each work cycle and advancing during the remainder of each work cycle at a second rate faster than the first rate; (d) accumulating a portion of the fastener tape disposed between the upstream and downstream portions to compensate for the difference in the first and second rates during the aforementioned remainder of each work cycle; and (e) inserting a respective slider onto the upstream portion of the fastener tape during each dwell time.

Growing community of inventors

Buford, GA, United States of America

Clifton Ronald Howell