US4190690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of sealed-end tubular thermoplastic net bagging
Assignee: Gallaher Kantlehner and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1978-09-22
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Granted: 1980-02-26
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Expires: 1998-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A tube of thermoplastic netting is drawn through a work station in a radially collapsed, condensed condition. At the work station, the netting is angularly twisted to rope-like form, to increase its bulk density and, in such condition, is drawn between the die and platen of an ultrasonic welding horn. Periodically, the die and platen momentarily bear against a succeeding short length of the twisted, condensed rope-like form making a fused seal nugget integrating all strands of the netting at that site. The resulting product may be a long length of such tubing, having such a seal every so often, or a plurality of bags formed from the intermediate product by making one transverse cut through the netting tube beside each seal nugget.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth H. Rabeneck
- 👤 Jerry R. Kantlehner
- 👤 David E. Gallaher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:59
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/526; B29C66/5261; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B65; B65D; B65D29/00; B65D29/04; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/009; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/69; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/81; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1334; Y10T428/1345; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1362; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for manufacturing sealed end unfilled tubular thermoplastic net bagging from a continuous rope-like feedstock of tubular thermoplastic net bagging material, comprising performing the following steps, repetitively, in alternation: (a) axially advancing said feedstock through a snug-fitting aperture of a twisting station, intermittantly pausing, gripping, and angularly twisting said feedstock at said twisting station, sufficiently to substantially fully radially condense said feedstock in the vicinity of said twisting station; and (b) at a sealing station which also is in the vicinity of said twisting station, following step (a), melting an axially short segment of said radially condensed feedstock into a single, massive integral seal nugget incorporating substantially all strands of said feedstock within said segment, thereby producing a converted feedstock of tubular thermoplastic net bagging having a respective said seal nugget incorporated therein every so often.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for manufacturing sealed end unfilled tubular thermoplastic net bagging from a continuous rope-like feedstock of tubular thermoplastic net bagging material, comprising performing the following steps, repetitively, in alternation: (a) axially advancing said feedstock through a snug-fitting aperture of a twisting station, intermittantly pausing, gripping, and angularly twisting said feedstock at said twisting station, sufficiently to substantially fully radially condense said feedstock in the vicinity of said twisting station; and (b) at a sealing station which also is in the vicinity of said twisting station, following step (a), melting an axially short segment of said radially condensed feedstock into a single, massive integral seal nugget incorporating substantially all strands of said feedstock within said segment, thereby producing a converted feedstock of tubular thermoplastic net bagging having a respective said seal nugget incorporated therein every so often.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the melting step is accomplished by imparting ultrasonic vibrations to said material in said segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of: (c) transversally severing said converted feedstock once beside each succeeding seal nugget to thereby change said converted feedstock into a succession of individual tubular thermoplastic netting bags, each having one open mouth, and having the opposite end thereof constituted by a respective seal nugget.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: step (b) is conducted slightly downstream of said twisting station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: during step (a) the feedstock is gripped and is angularly twisted by passing the feedstock through respective, corresponding eccentrically disposed axial openings through a rotatable two-part twisting fixture having a pulley part and a drag part, and rotating the pulley part slightly in angular advance of said drag part in order to pinch and thus grip the feedstock between the pulley part and the drag part due to resultant slight angular offsetting of said eccentrically disposed axial openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: preliminary to step (a), the continuous rope-like feedstock of tubular thermoplastic net bagging material is paid off a spool in a generally radially condensed but not significantly angularly twisted condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, simultaneously conducted on a plurality of side-by-side feedstocks including and identical with said feedstock, using the same said twisting station and sealing station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of: (c) transversally only partially severing said converted feedstock once beside each succeeding seal nugget to thereby change said converted feedstock into a further converted feedstock from which individual tubular thermoplastic netting bags may be snapped by tugging briskly enough to complete formerly partial severing beside a respective seal nugget.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
Further converted feedstock produced by the process of claim 8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, comprising coiling the converted feedstock without even transversally partially severing the converted feedstock beside the respective seal nuggets to provide a product from which individual bags may later be cut by cutting across the converted feedstock beside respective seal nuggets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
Coiled, converted feedstock produced by the process of claim 10.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 2, comprising: leading the feedstock through a support fixture having an intermediate slot through which said segment is externally accessible; advancing an ultrasonic welding horn into the slot and into contact with said segment and imparting ultrasonic vibrations to said material via said ultrasonic welding horn, while said segment remains confined between said support fixture and said ultrasonic welding horn, then withdrawing the ultrasonic welding horn free of the thus-converted feedstock.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: generally cylindrically concavely hollowing out the slot centrally thereof across the full thickness of the slot to provide a molding cavity flanked by shoulders, so that when the ultrasonic welding horn is inserted into contact with said segment, most of said segment is forced into said molding cavity and the shoulders are available as positive stops to prevent the ultrasonic welding horn from squeezing and melting said feedstock in two while forming said seal nugget.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising: using at least one of said ultrasonic sealing horn and said molding cavity, by applying superficial logo in reverse relief thereon, to moldingly form the corresponding right-reading logo on each seal nugget as each seal nugget is being formed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 including simultaneously forming indicia on said seal nugget as said seal nugget is formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method of claim 15.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-25 | 1983-08-27 | 1984-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-25 | 1987-08-27 | 1988-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-25 | 1991-08-27 | 1992-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |