Patent ID: 6453967
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B31B,B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for applying twist-ties to flexible packages, each package comprising a front panel including an exterior surface, each of the twist-ties comprising a strip of material having a first and a second opposed faces, said apparatus comprising a glue applicator, a supply of twist-tie material, a carrier, and a package support, said package support being arranged to hold the package at a first station in an orientation whereupon the front panel of the package is oriented in a vertical plane, said carrier having a twist-tie receiving face and being arranged to be oriented in a first position wherein said twist-tie receiving face is in a horizontal plane, said supply of twist-tie material being arranged to sequentially provide respective twist-ties to said twist-tie receiving face of said carrier so that said first face of each respective twist-tie is facing upward, said glue applicator being disposed over said carrier and arranged for applying glue downward onto said first face of each respective twist-tie, said carrier being pivotable to a second position after the glue is applied to the first face of the twist-tie, wherein the first face of the twist-tie is oriented in a vertical plane facing the exterior surface of the front panel of the package on said package support at the first station, said carrier being movable in a horizontal direction to carry the twist-tie with the glue on its first face into engagement with the exterior surface of the front panel of the package to fixedly secure the twist-tie thereon.