Abstract:
A fixture for facilitating the loading of product onto a clip strip of the sort having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs. The fixture includes a frame having a support surface for supporting the clip strip during the mounting of the product, and a probe mounted on the frame for each perforation to be loaded. Each probe is adapted to engage and separate the tabs when extended, and in preferred alignments has a feature for temporarily supporting the product during the loading operation. A method of affixing product to a clip strip using such a fixture is also disclosed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to point-of-purchase displays employing clip strips. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fixture for rapidly loading product onto a clip strip.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A clip strip is a point-of-purchase hanger strip for holding and displaying a plurality of like articles. The articles are typically alike and held or secured by packaging having a hang or back card. The clip strips are typically conveniently formed from polymeric material and are typically provided with tabs suitable for supporting packaged articles. The packaged articles are typically pre-hung on these strips prior to shipment to a retailer.  
         [0003]     The process of attaching the articles to the clip strip typically involves interleaving the tabs on the clip strip with a pre-punched hole on the article. Traditionally, product is manually loaded onto the strip one at a time, a rather slow and costly process.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present disclosure improves on the use of clip strips by providing a method and apparatus to allow for multiple perforations to be opened at the same time while also providing support for each of the product packages until the clip strip is loaded with the desired number of products.  
         [0005]     One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a fixture for facilitating the loading of product onto a clip strip, the clip strip being of the sort having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs. A type of clip strip which is particularly suited to be used with present invention has multiple perforations that are each generally “W” shaped so as to define three separable tabs, with the center tab adapted to serve as a hook for hanging the product, and the outer tabs adapted to serve as retaining tabs for retaining the product on the hook, until manually disengaged by the consumer at the point-of-purchase.  
         [0006]     In some exemplary embodiments, the fixture includes a frame having a support surface for supporting the clip strip during the mounting of the product. The fixture can also include one or more probes mounted on the frame, each probe being adapted to engage and separate the tabs when in contact with the tabs. There can also be a mechanism for moving the probe into engagement with the clip strip when the mechanism is actuated.  
         [0007]     In an exemplary embodiment, it is convenient to build a fixture according to the present disclosure so that the clip strip is held stationary relative to the frame and the probes are moved relative to the frame by the mechanism. However, it is also contemplated that the probes can be fixed and the clip strip is moved relative to the frame instead. In some exemplary embodiments, the fixture has a number of extendable probes, and the mechanism extends or retracts all of the probes when actuated, such that each probe engages and separates the tabs defined by one of the perforations on a clip strip that has several of them.  
         [0008]     In another exemplary embodiment, each probe present has a product support feature adapted to temporarily support the product during the time while the probe is engaging the tabs. An exemplary embodiment of such a feature is a slot in the probe, oriented crosswise to the long axis of the clip strip. This type of feature is particularly suited to product that has a hang card, such as is often seen on, e.g., adhesive tape dispensers. In such exemplary embodiments, it is convenient to orient the slot at an acute angle relative to the direction of the extension imparted to the probe by the mechanism.  
         [0009]     In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method for loading product onto a clip strip, comprising:  
         [0010]     providing a clip strip having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs;  
         [0011]     providing a the fixture comprising: 
        a support surface for supporting the clip strip,     at least one probe adapted to engage and separate the tabs when extended through the perforation, wherein the probe has a feature adapted to temporarily engage the product, and     a mechanism for moving the probe into contact with the clip strip;        
 
         [0015]     placing the clip strip on the support surface and using the mechanism to move the probe and separate the tabs;  
         [0016]     positioning the product on the probe so as to engage the feature;  
         [0017]     using the mechanism to move the clip strip away from the probe, leaving the product releasably affixed to the clip strip by the interaction of the tabs.  
         [0018]     In parallel with the discussion above, in many convenient embodiments the clip strip has a plurality of perforations defining at least two opposed tabs, such that the distance between perforations along the length of the clip strip is a predetermined length. Under these circumstances, the fixture conveniently has an extendable probe for each of the perforations, and the mechanism extends and retracts all the extendable probes at once so that each extendable probe engages and separates the tabs defined by one of the perforations. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0019]     In the several figures of the attached drawing, like parts bear like reference numerals.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a portion of an exemplary clip strip for use in connection with the fixture according to the present disclosure.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fixture supporting the clip strip of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a detailed side view illustrating the deflection of the tabs on the clip strip when engaged by the extendable probes of the fixture of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a second detailed side view emphasizing how product having a hang card is temporarily supported within the extendable probes while the clip strip is being loaded;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a third detailed side view emphasizing how the hook has captured the product illustrated in  FIG. 4  and the retaining tabs after the extendable probes have been retracted  FIG. 5   a  is a view of a portion of view in  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a section view of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 - 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     As was discussed above, the process of attaching products onto a clip strip is undesirably slow, and the packaging art would be advanced if a way to more swiftly load clip strips could be discovered.  
         [0027]     Generally, the present disclosure is direct to an apparatus and methods for loading clip strips. Typically, each clip strip includes a plurality of holding portions. Each holding portion is adapted to hold a product.  
         [0028]     The apparatus includes a clip strip holder, and an engaging member that opens the holding portions of the clip strip. The clip strip holder and engaging portion can be cooperatively coupled on a mounting frame.  
         [0029]     The method generally includes temporarily securing the clip strip in the holder, opening holding portions with the engaging member, placing product in the holding portions, and disengaging the engaging member, leaving the product removably affixed to the clip strip. The clip strip, now loaded with product, can be packaged and transported to retail locations. Also, this reloading of clip strips at retail locations can be conveniently done using the same apparatus and methods.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of a portion of an exemplary clip strip  10  for use in connection with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The clip strip  10  may optionally include an enlarged upper portion  12  for the display of advertising information concerning the product to be attached to the clip strip  10 . A mounting hole  14  is often conveniently provided.  
         [0031]     An example embodiment of a holding portion or perforation  16 , having generally a “W” shape, is illustrated. Three different tabs  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c  are defined by perforation  16 ; and for the clarity of the explanation below it is convenient to think of a tab  18   c  that extends towards upper portion  12  as a hooking portion, and tabs  18   b    18   c  that extends away from upper portion  12  as a retaining tab  22  and  24 . It is conventional for clip strips  10  to be fabricated from thin sheets of polymeric material, e.g., polypropylene or the like; but they can be made from any material suitable for the conditions of use, and the material selection is within the exercise of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the type of holding portion may vary, as the needs of the clip strip dictate, and the selection of a particular holding portion is likewise within the exercise of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , perspective and section views of a fixture  30  according to the present disclosure are illustrated. The fixture  30  is illustrated supporting clip strip  10  on a supporting surface  32  on one side of the frame  34 . The clip strip  10  is constrained from slipping laterally by retaining rails  36  and  38 . Naturally, many other mechanical expedients, such as extending dowel pins, can serve to retain the clip strip  10 .  
         [0033]     The probes  40  are illustrated in an engaged state, engaging and deflecting to hook  20  and retaining tabs  22  and  24 . At the distal end  43  of extendable probe  40 , slot  42  is oriented transverse to the long axis of the clip strip  10 . As will be discussed with more particularity below, slot  42  serves as a feature for supporting product temporarily during the loading of the clip strip.  
         [0034]     A portion of the mechanism  50  for extending and retracting probes  40  is also illustrated. Many different mechanical arrangements for this mechanism will suggest themselves to the ordinary artisan. For example, levered or geared arrangements, cams, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic cylinders, solenoids and linear motion actuators are among the many expedients that could comprise mechanism  50  to move the probes into and out of engagement with the holding portion.  
         [0035]     When the probes  40  are extended by mechanism  50 , elastic forces in the clip strip  10  will naturally resist the bending of the tabs  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c.  In embodiments of the fixture  30 , a means for securing the clip strip  10  to the supporting surface  32  while the probes  40  are being extended may be provided. Among the many suitable expedients for accomplishing this, it is particularly convenient to provide a cover  52  that is pivotally mounted on the frame  34 . The cover  52  may conveniently include presser rails  54  and  56 . Holes or openings  58  in the cover  52  allow the probes  40  to extend through the cover  52 . Once the probes  40  have penetrated the tabs  18 , friction between the tabs  18  and the probes  40  take over to retain the clip strip  10 , and the cover  52  is pivoted out of the way before product is loaded onto the clip strip  10 , as described more completely below.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side view highlighting the deflection of the tabs on the clip strip when engaged by the probes  40  of the fixture of  FIG. 2  is illustrated. Three extendable probes  40  have been extended in direction “D 1 ” by mechanism  50  (not shown). The probes  40  are shown contacting hook  20  and retaining tabs  22 , and deflecting them upwards from their position. (Retaining tab  24  has also been deflected, but is hidden in this view behind retaining tab  22 .) Slot  42  can be seen; and in this preferred embodiment, it can be observed that the slot is tilted and acutely angled with respect to direction “D 1 .” This arrangement has the clips readied for loading with product.  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a second detailed side view emphasizing how product  60  having a hang card  62  is temporarily supported within the probes  40  while the clip strip  10  is being loaded by the fixture&#39;s operator or by an automatic loading mechanism. The hang cards  62  have holes or openings  64  into which hook  20  will penetrate during the retraction of the extendable probes  40 , as will be illustrated below in connection with  FIG. 5 . One of skill in the art will appreciate this better how the tilt of slot  42  exploits gravity forces to help product  60  stay in place while the operator loads product in all of the probes.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a third detailed side view emphasizing how the product, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , has been captured by the hook  20  and the retaining tab  22  after the probes  40  have been retracted by the mechanism  50 , moving the probes  40  in direction “D 2 .” During the retraction, a beveled or curved back surface  70  of probe  40  has guided  20  into hole  64 , and a beveled or curved forward surface  72  has guided the retaining tabs  22  to overlay and pin hang card  62  against clip strip  10 . This pinning action is sufficient to prevent product  60  from detaching from clip strip  10  during normal shipping and handling, but the ultimate consumer can readily detach the product.  
         [0039]     Patents, patent applications, and publications disclosed herein are hereby incorporated by reference (in their entirety) as if individually incorporated. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description without departing from the scope of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.