The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2005
Ronald Cortigiano, Sr., Toccoa, GA (US);
Ronald Cortigiano, Sr., Toccoa, GA (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding slider-zipper assemblies to a station where the slider-zipper assemblies can be attached to bag material, such as thermoplastic film. The apparatus includes a slider guide having a channel running the length thereof. The channel has a cross section that allows passage therethrough of sliders slidably mounted to a tape of connected slider-zipper assemblies. A tape drive mechanism is located at the outlet of the slider guide. The tape drive mechanism includes a pair of rollers that form a nip therebetween. The zipper flanges of the tape are threaded through the nip. The rollers have respective grooves that form a space for passage of the sliders as the tape is advanced by the rollers. The zipper tape with sliders exits the tape drive mechanism and is drawn into a zipper flange sealing position by a tape transfer assembly comprising a bank of drive rollers having silicone surfaces in contact with the zipper tape. The drive rollers have peripheral grooves that oppose a longitudinal groove in a shelf, the zipper profile being captured between the opposing grooves.