Patent ID: 7461680
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic welding assembly; a slider inserter; a fixed support frame comprising a straight rail; an indexing gripper assembly that is slidably mounted to said rail for linear motion therealong, wherein said indexing gripper assembly comprises linked mutually opposed grooved first and second gripper arms that move toward each other during a gripping operation and move away from each other during a release operation; a stationary gripper assembly that is mounted to said support frame, wherein said stationary gripper assembly comprises linked mutually opposed grooved third and fourth gripper arms that move toward each other during a gripping operation and move away from each other during a release operation; an indexing drive mechanism for causing said indexing gripper assembly to displace linearly between first and second positions along said rail, said second position being closer to said stationary gripper assembly than said first position is; and a controller programmed to control said indexing and said stationary gripper assemblies and said indexing drive mechanism so that the following events occur in the order listed: (a) said indexing gripper assembly is actuated so that said first and second gripper arms grip a first section of a length of fastener tape that is substantially straight while said indexing gripper assembly is in said first position; (b) while said first and second gripper arms are gripping said first section and said third and fourth gripper arms are not gripping any section of said length of fastener tape, said indexing drive mechanism is actuated to move said indexing gripper assembly from said first to said second position; (c) while said indexing gripper assembly is in said second position and said first and second gripper arms are gripping said first section of said length of fastener tape, said stationary gripper assembly is actuated so that said third and fourth gripper arms grip a second section of said length of fastener tape that is disposed ahead of said first section; (d) while said third and fourth gripper arms are gripping said second section of said length of fastener tape and said indexing gripper assembly is in said second position, said indexing gripper assembly is actuated so that said first and second gripper arms release said first section of said length of fastener tape; and (e) while said third and fourth gripper arms are gripping said second section and said first and second gripper arms are not gripping any section of said length of fastener tape, said indexing drive mechanism is actuated to move said indexing gripper assembly from said second to said first position, and wherein said controller is further programmed to control said ultrasonic welding assembly to deform a third section of said length of fastener tape and to control said slider inserter to insert a slider onto a fourth section of said length of fastener tape while said third and fourth gripper arms are gripping said second section; and wherein said fastener tape comprises a pair of extruded flanged zipper strips having mutually interlockable closure profiles that are received between the grooves of said first and second grooved gripper arms.