Machine for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch

• US 20100285942A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CMD Corporation
• Original Assignee: CMD Corporation
• Inventors: Moran, Daniel J., Grasse, Scott R., Hunnicutt, Peter T., Mikulsky, Lawrence D., Dytchkowskyj, David Z.
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/213
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2155/00 Flexible containers made from webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2155/0012 having their openings facing in the direction of movement
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/10 rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/00 Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/8133 Applying the closure elements in the cross direction

Abstract

A machine is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The machine includes first, second and third stations. The first station is capable of advancing discrete pouches and lifting and folding a portion of a first major surface of each pouch upon itself to form a lip, and exposing an inner surface of a second major surface. The second station is capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes a track having first and second legs each having an outer surface. The first and second legs are joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a movable member capable of being moved back and forth. The third station is located downstream from the second station and is capable of unfolding the lip and securing opposite ends of the lip to the outer surface of the second leg.

Claims

1. A machine for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said machine comprising:

a) a first station capable of receiving and advancing discrete pouches in a machine direction, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge is distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;

b) a second station located downstream from said first station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said opening/closing mechanism can be opened and closed; and

c) a third station located downstream from said second station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said closed bottom leads said discrete pouch through said machine.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said open top leads said discrete pouch through said machine.

4. The machine of claim 1 wherein said opposite ends of said lip are secured to said outer surface of said second leg.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said opposite ends of said lip are secured to both said outer surface of said second leg and to a portion of said exposed inner surface, by using heat and pressure.

6. The machine of claim 4 wherein said opposite ends of said lip are secured to said outer surface of said second leg by using a double sided tape.

7. The machine of claim 4 wherein said opposite ends of said lip are secured to both said outer surface of said second leg and to a portion of said exposed inner surface, by using an ultrasonic bond.

8. The machine of claim 1 wherein said discrete pouch progresses through said first station on a movable conveyor belt.

9. The machine of claim 1 wherein a vacuum is applied against said second major surface of said discrete pouch to maintain said discrete pouch in a predetermined orientation while advancing through said first station in said machine direction.

10. A machine for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said machine comprising:

a) a first station capable of receiving and advancing said discrete pouch in a machine direction, said closed bottom leading said pouch through said machine, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said lip being aligned approximately perpendicular to said machine direction, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge is distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;

b) a second station located downstream from said first station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said opening/closing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and

c) a third station located downstream from said second station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein a vacuum is applied against said second major surface of said discrete pouch to maintain said discrete pouch in a predetermined orientation while advancing through said first station in said machine direction.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said discrete pouch is advanced through said first station on a movable conveyor belt and said vacuum prevents said discrete pouch from becoming skewed on said conveyor belt while said lip is being folded.

13. The machine of claim 10 wherein said outer surface of said first leg is secured to said exposed inner surface by an intermittent bond.

14. The machine of claim 10 wherein said outer surface of said first leg is secured to said exposed inner surface by a continuous bond.

15. The machine of claim 10 wherein a removal mechanism is located downstream from said third station, said removal mechanism capable of removing said discrete pouch with said closure system secured thereto at a speed greater than said speed at which said discrete pouch travels through said third station.

16. A machine for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said machine comprising:

a) an unwind station capable of unwinding material from a supply roll and advancing said material in a machine direction, said material having a first surface and an oppositely aligned second surface, first and second sides, and a width dimension extending between said first and second sides;

b) a punch station located downstream from said unwind station, said punch station capable of punching a predetermined pattern through said material;

c) a folding station located downstream from said punch station, said folding station capable of longitudinally folding said material upon itself such that said first surface is exposed;

d) a bonding station located downstream from said folding station, said bonding station capable of bonding said first and second surfaces together along a single longitudinal line to form a continuous tubular structure;

e) a sealing station located downstream from said bonding station, said sealing station capable of forming a transverse seal across said continuous tubular structure which is spaced adjacent to said predetermined pattern;

f) a slitting station located downstream from said sealing station, said slitting station capable of transversely slitting said continuous tubular structure adjacent to said transverse seal to form discrete articles;

g) a first station capable of receiving and advancing each of said discrete articles in a machine direction, said closed bottom leading each of said discrete articles through said machine, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge is distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;

h) a second station located downstream from said first station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said opening/closing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and

i) a third station located downstream from said second station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg to form said discrete pouches.

17. The machine of claim 16 wherein said outer surface of said first leg contains a heat activated substance which enables said outer surface of said first leg to be thermally bonded to said first surface of said material.

18. The machine of claim 16 wherein said first surface of said material is printed and said second surface of said material is void of print.

19. The machine of claim 16 wherein a dancer is located between said unwind station and said punch station, said dancer functioning to allow said advancing material to go from continuous motion at said unwind station to an intermittent motion at said punch station.

20. The machine of claim 16 wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a pair of spaced apart, approximately C-shaped configurations, each of said pair of approximately C-shaped configurations being aligned along a common centerline which is aligned perpendicular to said machine direction, each of said pair of approximately C-shaped configurations having a base member with two legs extending outward from said base member, and said two legs being aligned approximately parallel to said machine direction and situated downstream from said base member.