Dual inserter applicator

• US 6,932,544 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Crevier, Donald L., Piotrowski, Stanley, McMahon, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US10/818,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20040191006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 406/3, 406/19, 406/197
• US Class Current: 406/197
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/267 for slide fasteners with edges of stringers having uniform section throughout the length thereof for sacks or bags B65D33/2508
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/62 Assembling sliders in position on stringer tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1421 Vibratory movement
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/02 Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for feeding sliders (31) from a source of sliders to the slider insertion area (27) of at least two slider insertion devices (18, 19). A sensor (30, 52) on a sender track (20, 21) detects a lack of sliders (31) in the sender track. A signal is sent from the sensor (30, 52) to actuate a vibratory bowl (14) of sliders (31) and a plunger (35) to open a passage, thereby releasing the sliders (31) to a sender track (20, 21). When a sensor (46, 56) detects a lack of sliders (31) in a loading rack (25, 26) or a slider insertion area (27), the sensor (46, 56) signals a plunger (44, 58) and a pneumatic valve (48, 60) to open a passage to provide an air blast, thereby launching the sliders (31) onto the slider insertion area (27) of each slider insertion device (18, 19). A directional gate (33) sends the sliders (31) to either sender track (20, 21) prior to launching to either slider insertion device (18, 19), or a directional gate (79) sends the sliders (31) to either slider insertion device (18, 19) after launching of the sliders (31).

Claims

1. A method of feeding sliders from a supply of sliders to a plurality of areas for inserting sliders onto a zipper, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a sender track from a plurality of sender tracks, said identification based on a quantity of sliders in said sender track;

releasing the sliders from the supply of sliders to the identified sender track; and

feeding the sliders from said sender track to one of the slider insertion areas.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sliders are fed from said identified sender track by a source of pressurized air.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said area for inserting sliders onto a zipper is on a slider loading rack, said method comprising the step of controlling the flow of sliders to said area for inserting sliders in response to a quantity of sliders on the slider loading rack.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, said method comprising the further step of controlling a supply of pressurized air to said loading rack from said source of pressurized air in response to a detected number of sliders at said slider insertion area.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2 comprising the further step of controlling the flow of sliders into said area for inserting sliders onto a zipper in response to a detected number of sliders at said area for inserting sliders onto a zipper.