Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the application of zipper segments to opposite sides of a flat, form cut cardboard, paper or plastic card using double-sided adhesive tape. The card receives double-sided tape, and then zipper profiles are secured to the double-sided tape. Alternately, the zipper profiles and double-sided tape may be joined together and then applied to the card. The card is then folded and used for the packing of pieces of chewing gum or similar applications.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/115,768 filed Nov. 18, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure pertains to the application of zipper profile segments to opposite sides of a flat, form cut cardboard, paper or plastic card using double sided tape. The card is then folded and used for the packing of pieces of chewing gum or similar applications. This disclosure can also be used for other applications of securing a zipper to packaging whenever conventional methods, such as heat sealing, are not practical or possible. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are applications in the field of packaging wherein the zipper for opening and closing the package cannot be secured to the package by heat sealing, such as when the walls are made from a paper product. One way of securing the zipper to the package is to tuck a package edge under a flap. However, this type of closure can be difficult to engage. In addition, after several openings and closing, the flap can become loose or worn and therefore not stay closed to keep the product in the package. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for attaching a zipper to a package wherein heat sealing cannot be used, such as with certain paper packages. 
         [0007]    It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for attaching a zipper to a package, thereby further providing a simple opening and closing operation by the user, as well as providing a closing method that will outlast the package or product life. 
         [0008]    These and other objects are attained by providing a method and apparatus wherein a precut, folded cardboard, paper or plastic package or card is sequentially transported on a conveyor type mechanism. Double-sided adhesive tape is unwound from a roll, applied to the card, its length measured and then cut. A stripper mechanism removes the backing paper from the tape to expose the other side of the adhesive. The zipper segment is then cut and applied to the exposed adhesive. The card is then transported to a subsequent station where it can be accumulated for subsequent operations, or can continue on and be folded, closed, and filled with product. These operations are typically performed in tandem so that each zipper segment is applied on the two sides on the card. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of a first embodiment of a manufacturing process of the present disclosure, further including plan views showing the sequential manufacturing of the product. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of a second embodiment of a manufacturing process of the present disclosure, further including plan views showing the sequential manufacturing of the product. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a third embodiment of a manufacturing process of the present disclosure, further including plan views showing the sequential manufacturing of the product. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of a fourth embodiment of a manufacturing process of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of a fifth embodiment of a manufacturing process of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a schematic of a first embodiment of the manufacturing process of the present invention. 
         [0016]    Pre-cut unfolded cardboard, paper or plastic packages (or cards)  100  (or other suitable substrate) are provided in a stack  10 , supported by plate  11 , and illustrated in plan view thereabove in  FIG. 1 . The presence of packages (or cards)  100  is sensed by sensor  12  and the data sent to a central processing unit (not shown) which controls the sequence of operations. Roller  14  is used to feed packages  100  from stack  10  to a conveyor system  16 . The passage of packages  100  is sensed or monitored by sensor  18  and the data sent to a central processing unit (not shown) which controls the sequence of operations. The package  100  arrives at a tape dispensing station  20  wherein a reel  22  of double-sided adhesive tape  24  is provided. Typically, tape dispensing station  20  is supplied in tandem so that two strips of double-sided adhesive tape  24  are supplied as shown in package  100 ′. The presence of double-sided adhesive tape  24  is sensed or monitored by sensor  26  and the data sent to a central processing unit (not shown) which controls the sequence of operations. Double-sided adhesive tape  24  is unwound from reel  22  and fed through tape transport rollers  30  which are positioned on both sides of tape cutter  32 . Double-sided adhesive tape  24  passes underneath measuring roller  34  and approaches tape fastening roller  36 . Tape fastening roller  36  is configured to adhere double-sided adhesive tape  24  to a registered edge of package  100 . As the package  100  is transported by conveyor system  16 , the double-sided adhesive tape  24  is applied to package  100  and the length of the applied segment of double-sided adhesive tape  24  is measured by measuring roller  34 . When the correct length of double-sided adhesive tape  24  has been fed, tape cutter  32  cuts the double-sided adhesive tape  24  and the feeding of double-sided adhesive tape  24  is momentarily stopped until the subsequent package  100  is detected. The transport of package  100  continues until the segment of double-sided adhesive tape  24  is applied. A stripper mechanism  40 , typically including a blade, is positioned immediately downstream of the tape fastening roller  36  to remove backing paper from the double-sided adhesive tape  24 , thereby exposing the upper adhesive side of double-sided adhesive tape  24 , resulting in the package  100 ′ illustrated within  FIG. 1 . Package  100 ′ includes two parallel strips of double-sided adhesive tape  24  with the upper adhesive surface exposed. Backing removal system  42 , typically including a vacuum, a roller, or a blower, is provided to remove the backing paper from the manufacturing area, typically placing the cut backing paper into a waste container (not shown). 
         [0017]    The package  100 ′, including the two strips of double-sided adhesive tape  24  with the upper adhesive surface exposed, is then transported by conveyor system  16  to zipper dispensing station  46 . Zipper dispensing station  46  includes reel  48  which dispenses zipper profile  50 . The presence of zipper profile  50  is sensed or monitored by sensor  54  and the data sent to a central processing unit (not shown) which controls the sequence of operations. Zipper dispensing station  46  is typically provided in tandem to provide two complementary zipper profiles  50 ,  52  as shown on package  100 ″. Complementary zipper profiles  50 ,  52  are configured to interlock with each other when card  100 ″ is folded so as to engage zipper profiles  50 ,  52  against each other. Zipper profile  50  is fed through zipper transport rollers  56  and underneath zipper profile cutter  58 , zipper profile fastening roller  60  and tamper  62 . Zipper profile  50  is unwound from reel  48  and measured, typically by zipper transport roller  56 . Zipper profile  50  is then cut to a specific length by zipper profile cutter  58 , which may be different from the length of the segment of double-sided adhesive tape  24 . The resulting segments of zipper profile  50 ,  52  are then applied to the newly exposed adhesive and tamped by tamper  62  at a selected location from the edge of the package  100 ′ thereby resulting in the configuration of illustrated package  100 ″ wherein strips of zipper profile  50 ,  52  are provided in parallel, whereby folding the package  100 ″ about the machine direction axis  101  would result in the engagement and interlocking of the segments of zipper profile  50 ,  52  with each other. The package  100 ″ is then transported to a subsequent station where it can be accumulated for the next operation or continue on and be folded, closed, and filled with product, such as, but not limited to, chewing gum. 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 2 , stack  10  and the associated components of  FIG. 1  are replaced with a strip of continuous cardboard, paper or plastic stock  64  which is provided by reel  66 . The stock is not cut at tape dispensing station  20  thereby resulting in the periodic parallel application of the segments of double-sided adhesive tape  24  and zipper profiles  50 ,  52  to stock  64  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Again, the stock is ultimately folded about the machine direction axis  101  in order to bring zipper profiles  50 ,  52  together. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 3 , the tape dispensing station  20  is arranged over the zipper dispensing station  46  whereby the zipper profile  50  is continuously applied to the double-sided adhesive tape  24 , and the resulting combination of zipper profile  50  and double-sided adhesive tape  24  is measured, cut and applied to the packages  100  resulting in the packages  100 ″, substantially identical to the package  100 ″ illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Again, a tandem configuration of stations is typically used in order to provide the two zipper profiles  50 ,  52 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  discloses an embodiment which integrates the tandem configuration by using a single zipper profile reel  48  which provides interlocked zipper profiles  50 ,  52 . The zipper profiles  50 ,  52  are separated and provided with double-sided adhesive tape  24 ,  24 ′ by tape dispensing stations  20 ,  20 ′, and the backing is removed by backing removal systems  42 ,  42 ′. The zipper profiles  50 ,  52 , with double-sided adhesive tape  24 ,  24 ′, respectively, attached thereto is applied to the cardboard container  100 , similarly to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  discloses an embodiment wherein the cutters  32 ,  58  (see  FIG. 2 ) are omitted and continuous strips of double-sided adhesive tape  24  and the zipper profiles  50 ,  52  are laid down. The stock  64  would be subsequently cut and folded to produce the final product. 
         [0022]    Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.