PROCEDURE TO FIX A CLOSED ZIPPER-STRIPE INSIDE A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER DURING ITS PACKAGING

Abstract: A procedure to apply a portion of closed zipper inside a container of flexible material, consisting in the fact that during the packaging a segment of closed zipper-stripe (1), before being cut by a device (3) into portions (11) of smaller length than the inner width of the container (10), is applied by the device (5) upon the inner side of the film of flexible material (4), in such a position that it will not interfere with the following zones of the transversal sealings (12) that will constitute the flanks of the resulting containers (10).

Description: PROCEDURE TO FIX A CLOSED ZIPPER-STRIPE INSIDE A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER DURING ITS PACKAGING. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention concerns the packaging technology of flexible containers, specially those provided with a zipper-stripe working as an opening and closing device for the packages. This technical field concerns the International Classification B65b. STATE OF PRIOR ART The following related patent documents have already been issued: EP 0223125, EP 0 276554, EP 03020144, EP 0319995, EP 0339324, EP 0371402, EP 0423456, EP 0528721, WO 91/17086, US 4756629, USA 4876842 and USA 5024537. From the evaluation of the patent literature above one will gather the problem of the transversal sealing of the containers inside which the zipper-stripe is attached. Indeed, said zipper-stripe upon the transversal sealings of the packaging creates troubles for the proper performing of the sealing operations. The European Patent 0667228 illustrates a machine that copes with the mentioned problem by cutting a small stripe of closed zipper before sealing it onto the inside walls of the container in the packaging process. The former procedure, however, does not completely ensure that the portion of zipper is applied to the inner sides of the container in such a position that it won't interfere with the side sealing zones, that will work as flanks for the container. This invention also employs a device that adjusts and verifies the position of the zipper portion as related to the following transversal sealings. Furthermore, the zipper portion, after being cut in a continuous stripe, is abandoned and advances only by adhering to the inner sides of the flexible material film. The problem to be solved is to realize a procedure that would ensure the exact positioning of the zipper-stripe as to not have it interfere with the sealing sideways zones, that will eventually work as flanks for the completed containers. The solution hereinafter described is able to solve in a simple and reliable fashion the problem illustrated above. DESCRIPTION The invention is now illustrated in details with reference to the figures in the drawings attached as not limiting example. Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the fixing process of the closed small zipper- stripe upon the longitudinal sealing in a packaging machine for flexible containers. In this figure one can notice that all the operative devices (3, 5, 7, 9 and 13) are open and that the feeding devices (2) of the small stripe and the dragging one (8) of the film of flexible material are still. Figure 2 shows the phase during which the device (5) intervenes to perform the fixing of the small zipper-stripe onto the inner walls of the tape of flexible material, before the said portion is cut by the cutting device (3). In this figure is also illustrated the operation of the device (7) that completes the fixing of the zipper portion. Figure 3 shows the phase during which the device (3) operates to perform the cut of the small zipper-stripe. In the figures 2 and 3 one will observe the operation of the devices (13 and 9) that perform respectively the longitudinal sealing and the transversal operations of sealing and cut of the container. In the figures 1, 2 and 3 it can be noticed that both the dragging devices (2 and 8) don't intervene. Figure 4 shows the phase during which, after the opening of the devices (3, 5, 7, 9 and 13), the dragging device (8) performs the forwarding of the film (4, while the feeding device (2) of the zipper is still on stand-by. Figure 5 shows the feeding phase of the small zipper-stripe as performed by the dragging device (2). It can be noticed that the performing of said device is independent by the operation of device 8, therefore their intervention can occur on different phases. Figure 6 illustrates in perspective the phase showed by figure 3 to highlight that the sliding of the closed zipper occurs on special guides. Said guides are composed by two separate parts, the one upstream of the cutting device (3) being indicated by the number 6, the one below by 6'. One will observe that the guide 6' is extended up to the all length of the device (7), in order to allow the proper fixing of the zipper portion on both the inner walls of the container. In the same figure 6 it can also be noticed that the upper edges of the guides (6') feature special outlines (6") that facilitate the inserting of the lower edge of the zipper-stripe. Figure 7 is a section made in correspondence the device 7 that performs the fixing of the zipper portion onto the inner walls of the film of flexible material (4). One will notice that the presence of the guides (6') inside the outline of the zipper allows it to be fixed upon the film (4) without sealing the two separate parts that make the zipper. Figure 8 is a front view of a completed container. It can be noticed that the portion of zipper (11) is fixed inside the container, this way preventing that its edges will interfere with the zones of transversal sealing (12). All the figures illustrate a film of transparent flexible material, in order to better highlight the working procedure. In the figures each single detail is marked as follows: 1 is the closed zipper-stripe. 2 is the feeding device of the stripe. 3 is the cutting device of the stripe. 4 is the film of flexible material. 5 is the fixing device of the film stripe. 6 indicates the sliding guides of the zipper-stripe upstream of the cut 6' indicates the sliding guides of the zipper-stripe after the cut. 6" indicates the outlines that facilitate the inserting of the zipper along the guides 6'. 7 is the device that completes the fixing of the zipper portions. 8 is the film dragging device. 9 is the transversal device for the containers cut and sealing. 10 is a completed container. 11 is the zipper portion. 12 indicates the transversal sealing zones that constitute the flanks of Hie container. 13 is the longitudinal sealing device of the container. 14 is the central joint zone between the two parts of the closed zipper. 15 is longitudinal sealing of the container. The clearness of the figures illustrates the simplicity of the procedure, the trustworthiness of the operation and the easy practical realization. The invention of course allows several variations of realization as relative to the structural proportioning of the different organs and to the application of technological components and performing cinematic motions. The procedure as subject matter of this invention can be realized either upon vertically oriented machines or upon machines with different structural architecture. All the procedure to apply a closed portion of zipper inside a container, realized according to the characteristics as basically described, illustrated and hereinafter claimed will be included in the protection sphere of the present patent application.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) Procedure to apply a portion of closed zipper inside a container of flexible material, while if s being packaged, characterized by the fact that a small and closed zipper-stripe (1), before being cut by a device (3) into portions (11) of smaller length than the inner width of the container (10), is applied by the device (5) upon the inner side of the film of flexible material (4), in such a position that it won't interfere with the following zones of the transversal sealings (12) that will constitute the flanks of the resulting container (10). 2) Procedure, as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the position (11) for the portion to be applied upon the inner side of the flexible material film, and the length of the very portion can be adjusted accordingly to the length of the packaged containers (10). 3) Procedure, as in claim 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the portions of closed zipper (11) are applied on both sides of the container without being opened once. 4) Procedure, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the small stripe (1) and the portions of closed zipper (11) slide on special positioning guides (6, 6'), that also work as to prevent the sealing of the inner sides of the zipper during its fixing upon the film of flexible material (4). 5) Procedure, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the guides (6') downstream of the cutting device, in order to allow a smooth way-in of the zipper's cut edges, feature ends with an arrow-like outline whose tips (6") plug in by the central joint zone(14) between the two parts of the closed zipper.

Inventors: RAPPARINI GINO, RAPPARINI, GINO
Applicants: ICA SPA, RAPPARINI GINO, ICA S.P.A., RAPPARINI, GINO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65B9
IPC codes: B31B19, B65B9