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CA-3162119-C - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BAG CLOSURE CLIP PRODUCTION

CA3162119CCA 3162119 CCA3162119 CCA 3162119CCA-3162119-C

Abstract

The production of bag closure clips in strip form includes printing information on each bag closure clip during such production. This contrasts with conventional methods of printing information after production and at the point of use. The described systems and methods allow for high quality printing of clips including printing in multiple colors and on either side (front or back or both) of the clips, wherein the printed indicia are carefully registered to the cut clips so that each of the printed clips is identical in a production run. A strip of clips is introduced to a printing station in the form of a free loop that is smoothly paid to the printing station at a controlled rate that can be influenced by a length of the free loop (which can be determined by sensors, for example).

Inventors

  • Mark Green
  • Trevor Wintz
  • Isaac Christopher Steele

Assignees

  • BEDFORD INDUSTRIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20210722
Priority Date
20210721

Claims (20)

  1. 17 CLAIMS 1. A system configured to produce a series of printed clips, the system including: a strip of a plurality of connected clips comprising at least a first clip and a second clip, wherein the strip is configured to pass through the system in a machine direction; a drive assembly configured to feed a free loop of the strip through a printing station at a web speed; the printing station comprising a first printer configured to print indicia on a first surface of the strip; and a curing unit configured to cure the printed indicia on the first surface of the strip.
  2. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the printing station includes a clip sensor spaced from the first printer, wherein the clip sensor is configured to send a clip location signal to the printer.
  3. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the clip sensor is disposed downstream of the first printer with respect to the machine direction.
  4. 4. The system of claim 2 or 3 comprising a platen configured to support the strip as the strip is fed through the printing station, wherein the clip sensor is located below the platen and is configured to sense the clip location through an aperture in the platen.
  5. 5. The system of any one of claims 1-4 including an encoder sensor configured to detect the web speed.
  6. 6. The system of any one of claims 1-5 including a controller configured to change operation of the drive assembly to thereby change the web speed.
  7. 7. The system of any one of claims 1-3 including a platen configured to support the strip in a channel as the strip is fed past the first printer of the printing station, wherein the channel has: a first width in a vicinity of the printer; and 18 a second width remote from the printer, the second width being greater than the first width.
  8. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the curing unit includes a vertical position slider or a horizontal position adjuster.
  9. 9. The system of any one of claims 1-8 wherein the printing station includes: the first printer configured to place a first ink deposition on the first surface; and a second printer configured to place a second ink deposition on the first surface.
  10. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the printing station includes a horizontal printer adjuster configured to change a horizontal position of both the first printer and the second printer in tandem.
  11. 11. The system of claim 9 or 10 wherein the printing station includes a vertical printer slider configured to change a vertical position of at least one of the first and second printers.
  12. 12. The system of any one of claims 1-8 wherein the printing station includes: the first printer configured to place a first ink deposition on the first surface; and a second printer configured to place a second ink deposition on a second surface of the strip that is opposite the first surface.
  13. 13. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the strip is formed from a web material configured to pass through the system in the machine direction, the system comprising: a cutting station configured to cut a first portion of the web material into at least the first clip, the cutting station configured to index the first portion after cutting to sequentially cut a second portion of the web material into at least the second clip, wherein cut portions of the web material exit the cutting station in the free loop.
  14. 14. A method for manufacturing a series of printed clips, the method including: 19 paying out a strip of a plurality of connected clips in a free loop, the strip including at least a first clip and a second clip; feeding the free loop through a printing station at a web speed; printing first indicia on a first surface of the strip; and curing the printed indicia on the first surface of the strip.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14 including printing second indicia on a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the strip.
  16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15 comprising cutting the strip from a web material, wherein cutting the strip comprises: cutting a first portion of the web material into at least the first clip; and indexing the first portion after cutting to sequentially cut a second portion of the web material into at least the second clip.
  17. 17. A system comprising a printing station configured to impart indicia on a plurality of clips formed in a strip, the printing station comprising: a first sensor configured to detect a portion of a first clip of the plurality of clips and configured to transmit a first signal to a print controller; the print controller configured to activate a first printer; and the first printer configured to dispense ink on a first surface of a second clip of the plurality of clips in response to an activation command received from the controller.
  18. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the printing station receives a free loop of the strip.
  19. 19. The system of claim 18 comprising a second sensor configured to detect a length of the free loop and transmit a second signal to a process controller.
  20. 20. The system of claim 19 comprising a feed assembly configured to control a speed of the strip relative to the first printer based on the second signal.

Description

WO 2022/020570 PCT/0S2021/042742 1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BAG CLOSURE CLIP PRODUCTION BACKGROUND [0001] Plastic closure articles commonly known as "clip tags" are well known, as described in U.S. Patent 4,026,413 to Britt and U.S. Patent 4,911,293 to Holmes, for example. Such a clip tag is commonly used to close a flexible container such as a plastic bag. An open end of the bag is typically gathered and then inserted through a slit on the tag, so that the gathered bag is frictionally held in a hole of the tag. [0002] Closure clips for bag closure applications are typically provided in a connected strip that is spooled for high volume and rapid dispensing. These clips are often used for closing plastic hags or net bags for produce or haked goods products. In order to provide inforn1ation about the packaged product (in addition to performing its bag closure function), each such bag closure clip may have information printed thereon after clip production and immediately prior to or contemporaneous with being attached to a bag and separated from its strip. Alternatively, separate labels have been affixed to each clip while in strip from, such as by a suitable adhesive, in order to provide information on that label about the packaged product in a bag once the clip has been attached thereto. SUMMARY [0003] In one aspect, a system is configured to produce a series of printed clips. The system includes a source of web material, a cutting station, a drive assembly and a printing station. The web material is configured to pass through the system in a machine direction. The cutting station is configured to cut a first portion of the weh material into at least a first clip, index the first portion after cutting, and sequentially cut a second portion of the web material into at least a second clip. Cut portions of the weh material exit the cutting station in a free loop. A drive assembly is configured to feed web material of the free loop through the printing station at a web speed. The printing station is configured to print indicia on a first surface of the cut portions of the web material. [0004] In another aspect, a method is described for manufacturing a series of printed clips. The method includes conveying a web material through a system in a machine direction; cutting a first portion of the web material into at least a first clip; indexing the first portion after cutting the first portion; cutting a second portion of the web material into at least a second clip; paying CA 03162119 2022-6-15 WO 2022/020570 PCT/0S2021/042742 2 out cul portions of the web material in a free loop; feeding web material of the free loop through a printing station at a web speed; and printing first indicia on a first surf ace of the cut portions of the web material. [0005] This summary is provided to introduce concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the disclosed or claimed subject matter and is not intended to describe each disclosed ernbodiment or every implementation of the disclosed or claimed subject matter. Specifically, features disclosed herein with respect to one embodiment may be equally applicable to another. Further, this summary is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The disclosed subject matter will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, wherein like structure or system elements are referred to by like reference numerals throughout the several views. It is contemplated that all descriptions are applicable to like and analogous structures throughout the several embodiments. [0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a strip of bag closure clips with information printed thereon. [0008] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an exemplary bag closure clip. [0009] roo101 FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary bag closure clip. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for printing a strip of bag closure clips during strip formation. [0011] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a second exemplary system for printing a strip of bag closure clips during strip formation. [0012] FIG. SA is a more detailed schematic diagram of a portion of FIG. 4A designated "5" in a first exemplary system. [0013] FIG. SB is a more detailed schematic diagram of a portion of FIG. 4A designated "5" in a second exemplary system. CA 03162119 2022-6-15 WO 2022/020570 PCT/0S2021/042742 3 [0014] FIG. SC is a more detailed schematic diagram of a portion of FIG. 4A designated "5" in a third exemplary system. [0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spooled strip of pre-printed clips. [0016] orientation. [00