Method of registering zipper for reclosable package

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for the manufacture of reclosable packages or bags. A drag sealer is upstream of the form fill and seal apparatus and is used to seal a continuous length of zipper to web or film. Upstream from the drag sealer, a zipper clamp is used to hold the zipper in place during slider insertion and end stomping, as regulated by a film encoder. A zipper accumulator configured as a dancer and a zipper de-accumulator are used to compensate for the intermittent motion of the continuous length of zipper.

1 . An apparatus for providing zipper to a reclosable package making apparatus comprising:
 a supply of continuous length of zipper;   a device for intermittently maintaining a portion of the continuous length of zipper in a stationary position;   a device for inserting a slider onto the portion of continuous length of zipper in a stationary position;   a device for placing an end stomp onto the portion of continuous length of zipper in a stationary position;   a supply of web;   an encoder for regulating the feeding of web from the supply of web;   a sensor for sensing the end stomps or the sliders on the continuous length of zipper; and   a drag sealer for sealing the zipper to a web from the supply of web.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the device for intermittently maintaining a portion of the continuous length of zipper is a clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the device for placing an end stomp onto the portion of continuous length of zipper uses ultrasonic apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further including an accumulator device to allow feeding the continuous length of zipper from the supply while a portion of the continuous length of zipper is in a stationary position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the accumulator device includes first and second rollers with stationary axes of rotation, and a third roller with an axis of rotation which moves away from the first and second rollers to accumulate the continuous length of zipper and which moves toward a position between the first and second rollers to de-accumulate the continuous length of zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further including a de-accumulator device to allow feeding the continuous length of zipper to the drag sealer while a portion of the continuous length of zipper is in a stationary position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the de-accumulator device includes first and second rollers with stationary axes of rotation, and a third roller with an axis of rotation which moves away from the first and second rollers to accumulate the continuous length of zipper and which moves toward a position between the first and second rollers to de-accumulate the continuous length of zipper. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a package making apparatus receiving the web with zipper sealed thereto from the drag sealer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the package making apparatus is a form fill and seal apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the form fill and seal apparatus includes rollers to pull the web with zipper sealed thereto from the drag sealer to the form fill seal apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is optical. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drag sealer includes at least one pair of opposed sealing bars. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drag sealer includes at least two pairs of opposed sealing bars. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  where the drag sealer includes two loops of material which travel between the sealing bars and the zipper being sealed to the web. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the two loops of material are comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the supply of continuous length of zipper includes a first spool. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the supply of web includes a second spool.