S.c. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.

S. C. Johnson Son, Inc.

Dow Brands Inc.

Jeffrey S Hoffman

Clark M Woody

Clark Woody

Bryan L Ackerman

Robert R Turvey

Stephen P Gangler

James C Pawloski

Heath A Doty

Melvin Joshua Leedle

Robert J Nestle

P Gregory Velez

Marissa Ak Schultz

Philip G Velez

Stephen Gangler

Phillip G Velez

A method of severing and sealing a film formed of a thermoplastic material includes heating a cutting edge implement to a temperature sufficient to melt but not to burn the thermoplastic material, feeding a plurality of layers of the film between the cutting edge implement and an opposing surface, and moving the cutting edge implement, which is preferably a supported hot wire, and the opposing surface relative to one another to pinch the plurality of layers of film therebetween. Thereafter, any relative lateral movement between the cutting edge implement, the film, and the opposing surface is suspended, while the cutting edge implement and the opposing surface are relatively biased together with the plurality of layers of film pinched therebetween, until the cutting edge implement cuts through the plurality of layers of film, contacts the opposing surface, and seals the plurality of layers of film together.

Apparatus for and method of severing and sealing thermoplastic film

A closure assembly includes a slider for opening and/or closing an elongate closure mechanism including a pair of opposing closure members. The slider includes a first separator finger and a second separator finger, each of which is articulably connected to a hinge member. The first and second separator fingers extend between the closure members and may be articulated between a closing position, in which the separator fingers are adjacent each other, and an opening position, in which the separator fingers are laterally spaced from each other. In the opening position, the separator fingers urge the members apart. Closing bars and retention members may also be included to facilitate re-closing the closure members and retaining the slider in an operative position thereon.

Closure assembly and slider therefore

An apparatus used in the manufacture of a thermoplastic zipper having a slider mounted thereon includes a pair of clamp arms disposed on opposing sides of a path of the zipper. The clamp arms are movable in directions substantially perpendicular to the zipper path so as to clamp the thermoplastic zipper to fuse a length thereof. A pair of fingers is disposed on opposing sides of the zipper path. The fingers are movable in directions substantially perpendicular to the zipper path and in directions substantially parallel with the zipper path relative to the clamp arms. The fingers push the slider along the zipper.

Apparatus for and method of positioning a slider on mating zipper elements

A pouch production apparatus includes a pouch forming apparatus operable to form pouches from an elongate web of material and zipper tape and an extrusion apparatus responsive to operation of the pouch forming apparatus and operable to extrude zipper tape. A pneumatic transport apparatus is operable to transport the zipper tape from the extrusion apparatus to the pouch forming apparatus during operation of the pouch forming apparatus. A method of producing a pouch using such apparatus is also disclosed.

Pouch production apparatus and method

A manufacturing apparatus, for moving sliders for opening and closing mating zipper elements along the mating zipper elements, includes a roller and a projection. The roller rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular with a path of a film including the mating zipper elements and contacts the film as the film moves in the film path at a speed equal to the speed of rotation of the roller. The projection rotates about an axis at a speed different than the rotational speed of the roller, with the projection rotating into proximity to the moving film along predetermined lengths of the film so as to be contactable with sliders mounted thereon. The projection comes into contact with sliders positioned along the mating zipper elements of the predetermined lengths of film and pushes those sliders along the mating zipper elements to respective registered positions.

Apparatus for and method of moving a slider along mating zipper elements

An apparatus for and method of stacking flexible articles of a non-uniform thickness involves the use of a stacking table including separately movable first and second support surfaces. An actuator moves the stacking table through a range of motion relative to a stationary cam plate. A cam follower is mechanically coupled to the second support surface and engages the cam surface when the stacking table is moved through at least part of the range of motion. When the actuator moves the stacking table and the cam follower engages the cam surface, the second surface is displaced relative to the first support surface. Preferably, the cam plate is repositionable to vary a distance by which the second support surface is displaced relative to the first support surface.

Apparatus for and method of stacking articles

An apparatus for transferring stacks of flexible products is disclosed including a flat plate base support structure having a top and bottom; at least a first pair of clamping means releasably attached to the top of the support structure for clamping a first stack of flexible products; and an actuating means releasably attached to said first pair of clamping means; said actuating means adapted for substantially simultaneously actuating the at least first pair of clamping means.

Growing community of inventors

Linwood, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey S Hoffman