Filing Information

Inventor(s)	James Goodwin ·
Assignee(s)	Molins PLC ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP ·
Primary Examiner	John Sipos ·
Assistant Examiner	Louis Huynh ·
Application Number	US9661374
Filing date	09/13/2000
Issue date	11/04/2003
Predicted expiration date	11/17/2020
Patent term adjustment	65
U.S. Classifications	531/334  · 493/214  · 493/213  · 531/392  · 156/66  · 531/333  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B1
International Classifications	493927 · 493210 · 493212 · 493213 · 493214 · 53412 · 531333 · 531334 · 531392 · 156 66 ·
Foreign Priority	GB9922747 - 09/24/1999 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

An apparatus (50) for securing a fastening strip (58) to a web (18) of packaging material comprises an anvil (100) which defines a support surface for the web. The support surface has an elongate recess (104) for receiving the fastening strip. There is a moveable sealing device (116) disposed opposite and below the support surface and a retractable support element (130) disposed between the support surface and sealing device. A feeding arrangement feeds the fastening strip along the recess and between the support element and the support surface arrangement. Suction is applied via a vacuum chamber (102) to hold the fastening strip in the recess and permit the support element to be retracted to a position which permits the sealing device to move the web into engagement with the support surface and the fastening strip with the fastening strip received in the recess to permit sealing of the fastening strip to the web.

Independent Claims | See all claims (16)

1. 1. Apparatus for securing a fastening strip to a web of packaging material, said apparatus comprising a member disposed above a feed path of the web, said member having an elongate recess for receiving said fastening strip, a sealer movable against said member, a retractable strip support disposed opposite said member, a feed arrangement for feeding said fastening strip in a lengthways direction of said recess and between said strip support and said member, a holding mechanism for holding said fastening strip in said recess, and a mechanism for retracting said strip support from a position between the feed path of the web and said recess to a position which permits said sealer to move said web into engagement with said member and said fastening strip with said fastening strip received in said recess, said holding mechanism being actuated to hold said fastening strip when said strip support is retracted.
2. 7. Apparatus for securing a fastening strip to a web of packaging material, said apparatus comprising: a feed arrangement for feeding said fastening strip over said web such that said fastening strip is disposed transverse to a lengthways direction of said web; a sealer for sealing said fastening strip to the web; a retractable support for said fastening strip having a support position disposed between said fastening strip and said web for supporting said fastening strip relative to said web; a releaseable gripper arranged to grip said fastening strip over said web; and a retractor operatively connected with said retractable support, the arrangement being such that said releaseable gripper is operable to grip said fastening strip over said web and said retractor is synchronously operable to retract said retractable support from said support position to permit said sealer to seal said fastening strip to said web.
3. 11. In combination, a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and apparatus for securing a fastening strip to a planar web of packaging material in said packaging machine, said machine comprising: a web feeder for feeding said web; a former for causing said planar web to adopt a generally tubular configuration; a first sealer for forming a continuous seal in a lengthways direction of said tubular configuration web for sealing respective lengthways extending edges of said web in adjacent relationship; a second sealer for forming transverse seals at spaced intervals along said tubular configuration web; and said apparatus being disposed upstream of said former and comprising: a feeding arrangement for feeding said fastening strip over said web such that said fastening strip is disposed transverse to a lengthways direction of said web; a sealer for sealing said fastening strip to the web; a retractable support for said fastening strip having a support position disposed between said fastening strip and said web for supporting said fastening strip relative to said web; a releasable gripper arranged to grip said fastening strip over said web; and a retractor operatively connected with said retractable support, the arrangement being such that said gripper is operable to grip said fastening strip over said web and said retractor is synchronously retract said retractable support to permit said sealer from said support position to seal said fastening strip to said web.