Patent ID: 6675554
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A device for closing packages made of flexible material, wherein a portion of the flexible material is gathered to form a neck and the same is inserted into an open, substantially U-shaped closure clip with a clip base and clip legs on both sides, by placing the neck over said base and between said legs, so that one portion of said neck is directly over said base while other portions of said neck overlap said base on two sides, and forcing said overlapping portions in a direction generally perpendicular to said base and generally parallel to said legs, to hold said portion of said neck that is directly over said base against said base, whereupon the legs of the closure clip are bent around the portion of the neck so held against the base, in the form of a ring, comprising a matrix for holding the open closure clip and a punch movable towards the matrix for holding the open closure clip and a punch movable towards the matrix for bending the clip legs around the neck of the packaging material, the punch having a concave working surface, and at least one hold-down device laterally attached to the punch in axial direction of the concave working surface, the effective area of said hold-down device protruding beyond the working surface of the punch in its direction of movement.