Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Nigel Dean Knight

Stanley Piotrowski

Donald L Crevier

John H Schneider

Michael J McMahon

Lawrence Share

David J Matthews

Patricia I Norek

Jeffrey Griffin

Michael A Pollack

Jose Manuel Septien Rojas

The present disclosure relates to a plastic or polymeric container () with reclosable zippers or reclosures () which make the package child-resistant. In one typical embodiment, this is achieved by a zipper or reclosure () including a first profile () with a first lower interlocking element () and a first upper interlocking element (), wherein the first profile () is severed through the first upper interlocking element () to form a lower first profile (') and an upper first profile (&#x2033;). This severing forms at least one tab () extending from an upper edge of the lower first profile (&#x2032;) and including a portion of the first upper interlocking element (&#x2032;). The second profile () includes a second web portion () with a second lower interlocking element () and a second upper interlocking element ().

Four-flange child-resistant zipper and bag

A reclosable plastic bag () having a fin seal () which provides a weakness area () that extends into at least one side of the fin seal (). Perforation axes () for opening the reclosable plastic bag () may be aligned with the weakness area (). A method of making the bag is also disclosed.

Easy open feature for reclosable bags having a longitudinal fin seal

A side-gusseted bag having a slider-operated zipper. The zipper parts are joined only at one end, the free ends of the zipper parts being separable to allow the associated side gusset of the bag to be inverted to form a pouring spout. The zipper flanges at the joined ends of the zipper are inserted in a corner formed by one gusset panel and an opposing portion of the bag wall. The other gusset panel is sealed to the other bag wall at the elevation of the zipper flanges.

Gusseted reclosable package with slider-operated zipper

An ultrasonic welding assembly comprising a horn, an anvil and an anvil cover. The horn comprises a generally T-shaped flattening surface and a rail projecting forward of the flattening surface. The rail is shaped to serve as a dam for flowing thermoplastic zipper material during stomping of slider end stops. The horn further comprises a plurality of vertical energy directors designed to direct ultrasonic energy into the mass of zipper material and deflect flowing zipper material toward the dam. The horn further comprises first and second recesses located on opposite sides of a stem of the T-shaped flattening surface. The anvil cover overlies opposing portions of the anvil and comprises a T-shaped cutout. The T-shaped flattening surface of the horn fits in the T-shaped cutout of the anvil cover. The resulting zipper has slider end stops located at opposing ends. Each end stop comprises flattened zipper material having a plurality of spaced indentations, the indentations being formed by the energy directors during stomping. The zipper can be pre-heated prior to ultrasonic stomping. A flange of the zipper can be cooled by fluid during ultrasonic stomping of the zipper parts.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonically stomping slider end stops on zipper

A horizontal form, fill and seal machine has a hollow forming box into which a continuous film is longitudinally fed from a packaging film supply. The forming box has a top, sides and open inlet and outlet ends. A pair of guide bars extend from the outlet end of the forming box adjacent the forming box sides and extending away from the inlet end. The forming box transforms the flat packaging film into a film envelope that extends about the guide bars and has a product-receiving surface that rests on a conveyor between the guide bars. Sealing bars are provided to join the longitudinal edges of the packaging film together and to form seals across the envelope at package length intervals after each deposit of product onto the product-receiving surface. A zipper attaching mechanism applies zipper to the film upstream of the forming box.

Horizontal form, fill and seal machine for loose fitting packages

An apparatus and method for engaging both profiles () of an interlocked zipper () as the zipper or fastener strip is guided onto a supply of thermoplastic film () used to make a reclosable bag. A first interlocked profile () of the zipper is engaged by at least one roller () of the roller-type applicator (). A disc () mechanically attached to an end section of at least one of the rollers engages a web () of the second interlocked profile () that extends beyond the width of a web of the first profile (). By their attachment, the disc () and the roller move the profiles () at the same speed so that the profiles remain aligned as they are moved through the zipper guide (). The zipper () is then attached to a surface of the thermoplastic film () used to make the reclosable bag.

Zipper applicator

An apparatus for closing a slider-operated zipper on a moving filled package, comprising means for performing the following steps: conveying a package forward in a straight line; guiding a slider on a zippered portion of the package through a channel as the package moves forward; blocking forward movement of the slider at a predetermined position inside the channel as the package continues to move forward; and releasing the slider when the force being exerted by the slider in the forward direction reaches a level substantially equal to a predetermined threshold. This apparatus can be employed in association with a continuous band sealing apparatus. The means for blocking forward movement of the slider at a predetermined position inside the channel are a pair of spring-loaded plungers, e.g., ball plungers. If the slider end stop is weak, the slider will be pulled off the advancing package and will fall onto an ejection ramp.

Method for closing slider-operated zipper on filled reclosable pouch

A method of making a reclosable plastic bag () having a fin seal () which provides a weakness area () that extends into at least one side of the fin seal (). Perforation axes () for opening the reclosable plastic bag () may be aligned with the weakness area (). A reclosable bag () made in accordance with the method is also disclosed.

Device for closing slider-operated zipper on filled reclosable pouch

Flexible zippers having sculpted slider end stops and reclosable packages incorporating such slider-operated zippers. In one embodiment, the flexible zipper comprises a joined end and a slider end stop that projects laterally beyond a side surface of the major portion of the zipper. The slider end stop is integrally formed with an adjoining portion of the joined end. In another embodiment, the flexible zipper comprises a joined end and a slider end stop that projects upward to an elevation higher than an elevation of a top surface of the major portion of the zipper and is laterally offset relative to a vertical midplane of the zipper. This slider end stop is also integrally formed with an adjoining portion of the joined end. These structures can be combined to form an end stop that projects upward and laterally outward. Each end stop is asymmetric relative to a vertical midplane of the zipper.

Growing community of inventors

Kankakee, IL, United States of America

Nigel Dean Knight