Clifton Ronald Howell

US Patent:

7172545, Feb 6, 2007

Filed:

Mar 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/081368

Inventors:

Clifton Ronald Howell - Buford GA, US
David C. Wallace - Lilburn GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/90
B65B 61/18

US Classification:

493213, 493379, 493381, 493927, 53412

Abstract:

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) continuously advancing a web of bag making material at a first rate; (b) continuously joining portions of a downstream portion of a fastener tape to respective portions of the continuously advancing web of bag making material; (c) intermittently advancing an upstream portion of the fastener tape while the downstream portion is advancing continuously, the halt at the end of each intermittent advance being the start of the next work cycle, the upstream portion of the fastener tape being stationary during a respective dwell time of each work cycle and advancing during the remainder of each work cycle at a second rate faster than the first rate; (d) accumulating a portion of the fastener tape disposed between the upstream and downstream portions to compensate for the difference in the first and second rates during the aforementioned remainder of each work cycle; and (e) inserting a respective slider onto the upstream portion of the fastener tape during each dwell time.

US Patent:

7303518, Dec 4, 2007

Filed:

Feb 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/702701

Inventors:

Clifton Ronald Howell - Buford GA, US
David C. Wallace - Lilburn GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/90
B65B 61/18

US Classification:

493213, 493379, 493927, 5313341

Abstract:

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) continuously advancing a web of bag making material at a first rate; (b) continuously joining portions of a downstream portion of a fastener tape to respective portions of the continuously advancing web of bag making material; (c) intermittently advancing an upstream portion of the fastener tape while the downstream portion is advancing continuously, the halt at the end of each intermittent advance being the start of the next work cycle, the upstream portion of the fastener tape being stationary during a respective dwell time of each work cycle and advancing during the remainder of each work cycle at a second rate faster than the first rate; (d) accumulating a portion of the fastener tape disposed between the upstream and downstream portions to compensate for the difference in the first and second rates during the aforementioned remainder of each work cycle; and (e) inserting a respective slider onto the upstream portion of the fastener tape during each dwell time.

US Patent:

7311647, Dec 25, 2007

Filed:

May 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/125755

Inventors:

Victor Delisle - Roswell GA, US
Clifton Ronald Howell - Buford GA, US
Kevin Owen - Flowery Branch GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/00
B31B 1/84
B65B 51/04

US Classification:

493 10, 493 19, 493213, 493394, 493927, 531334, 531392

Abstract:

A method of manufacture comprises the following steps: (a) advancing a fastener tape made of flexible thermoplastic material along a process pathway during an indexing portion of a work cycle, the fastener tape not advancing during a dwell time of the work cycle; (b) during each dwell time, deforming the fastener tape at a first fixed station situated along the process pathway; (c) transmitting light toward the fastener tape at a second fixed station while the fastener tape is advancing; and (d) photodetecting a portions of the transmitted light after some or all of the transmitted light has passed the fastener tape, the photodetected portions of the transmitted light being converted into electrical signals; wherein the distance of the fastener tape advanced in step (a) is determined in accordance with an algorithm that takes into account characteristics of electrical signals acquired in step (d) during earlier work cycles.

US Patent:

7513858, Apr 7, 2009

Filed:

Dec 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/999202

Inventors:

Clifton Ronald Howell - Buford GA, US
David C. Wallace - Lilburn GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/90
B65B 61/18

US Classification:

493213, 493379, 493381, 493927, 53412

Abstract:

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) continuously advancing a web of bag making material at a first rate; (b) continuously joining portions of a downstream portion of a fastener tape to respective portions of the continuously advancing web of bag making material; (c) intermittently advancing an upstream portion of the fastener tape while the downstream portion is advancing continuously, the upstream portion of the fastener tape being stationary during a respective dwell time of each work cycle and advancing during the remainder of each work cycle at a second rate faster than the first rate; (d) accumulating a portion of the fastener tape disposed between the upstream and downstream portions to compensate for the difference in the first and second rates during the aforementioned remainder of each work cycle; and (e) deforming a respective section of the upstream portion of the fastener tape during each dwell time.

US Patent:

7621105, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Mar 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/728405

Inventors:

David J. Anzini - Middletown NY, US
Rusty Koenigkramer - Nanuet NY, US
Clifton R. Howell - Buford GA, US
Steven Ausnit - New York NY, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B65B 61/18

US Classification:

53412, 531334, 531392, 493212, 493213, 493927

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.

US Patent:

7674220, Mar 9, 2010

Filed:

Aug 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/891217

Inventors:

Clifton R. Howell - Buford GA, US
David C. Wallace - Lilbum GA, US
Adam N. Caplan - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/92

US Classification:

493215, 493381, 493382, 493212, 493213, 493214, 493335

Abstract:

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the attachment of a zipper to a reclosable package or bag, particular packages or bags of relatively larger sizes. Pinch rollers separate the flanges of the zipper so that the interior walls of the flanges are pointing upward, then hot-melt adhesive is sprayed downwardly onto the flanges. The zipper is then guided over the edge of the horizontally-oriented package or bag by a tube with a longitudinal slot. The package or bag, with the zipper attached, is engaged between a driven-belt apparatus with a nip formed between opposed belts, thereby applying consistent and even pressure to the zipper flanges and assuring that the hot-melt adhesive forms a bond which is consistent, reliable and strong.

US Patent:

7882684, Feb 8, 2011

Filed:

Jun 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/490489

Inventors:

David J. Anzini - Middletown NY, US
Rusty Koenigkramer - Nanuet NY, US
Clifton R. Howell - Buford GA, US
Steven Ausnit - New York NY, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B65B 61/18

US Classification:

53412, 531334, 531392, 493212, 493927

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.

US Patent:

7909750, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Aug 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/891697

Inventors:

Clifton R. Howell - Buford GA, US
David C. Wallace - Lilburn GA, US
Adam N. Caplan - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B31B 1/90
B65H 5/16
B65H 5/02
B65G 43/10

US Classification:

493213, 1984611, 198576, 198577, 198579, 271271, 271272, 493214

Abstract:

A device is provided for feeding horizontally oriented packages or bags at a regular interval to a zipper profile attaching device. The loose packages or bags are placed onto a servo-driven lugged chain conveyor wherein the lugs are evenly spaced at the nominal desired center-to-center spacing of the packages or bags. The servo-driven lugged chain conveyor feeds the packages or bags to be captured between upper and lower secondary constant velocity conveyors. The lower secondary constant velocity conveyor includes an encoder which is used to slave the servo of the servo-driven lugged chain conveyor, with an adjustable programmable ratio. This achieves a consistent center-to-center distance of the horizontally oriented packages or bags which are then fed to a zipper profile attaching device.