Apparatus for securing articles to film-like material

An apparatus for forming an aperture in heat-sealable, film-like material and securing said material to a heat-sealable article by a seal made at least partially around said aperture comprising:

• a. a housing;
• b. a tubular, rotatable, elongated, severing means resiliently mounted vertically in said housing, said severing means having a cutting tip extending below said housing;
• c. means for rotating said severing means;
• and,
• d. heat sealing means at least partially encircling said extended cutting tip whereby upon contact with said material placed over said article rotation of said severing means will form an aperture in said material and upon further movement against said material and article said severing means retracts allowing said sealing means to seal said material to said article.

An apparatus for securing a thermoplastic snap fastener having an upright projection to a thermoplastic film comprising:

• a. means for positioning a snap fastener in upright position beneath said film;
• b. a sealing and severing head assembly mounted for vertical reciprocal motion comprising:
• i. a housing;
• ii. a tubular, rotatable, severing means resiliently mounted in said housing, said severing means having a cutting tip extending below said housing;
• iii. means for rotating said severing means;
• iv. sealing means at least partially encircling said extended cutting tip;
• and
• c. means for raising and lowering said head assembly into and out of contact with said film with said fastener positioned therebeneath whereby upon lowering said head assembly said cutting tip will stretch said film across said projection, rotation of the severing means will cut an aperture in said film, and upon further descent of said head assembly said sealing means will seal said film to said fastener at least partially around said aperture.

An apparatus for securing a thermoplastic snap fastener having an upright projection to a thermoplastic film comprising:

• a. a feed track for receiving said fastener in an upright position;
• b. a delivery track for receiving said fastener from said feed track;
• c. a plunger for advancing said fastener along said delivery track;
• d. a nest for positioning said fastener at the exit of said delivery track;
• e. a sealing and severing head assembly mounted for vertical reciprocal motion above said nest;
• f. a circular knife resiliently mounted for rotary motion in said head assembly, said knife being hollow with a duct extending through its vertical height and said knife being positioned with its circular cutting edge extending below said head assembly,
• g. means for rotating said knife;
• h. a circularly-shaped heater element located on the bottom of said head assembly, said heater at least partially encircling the extension of said knife;
• i. rocker arm means for moving said head assembly in vertical reciprocal motion into and out of contact with a snap fastener in said nest;
• j. a camshaft;
• k. means for driving said camshaft;
• l. a plurality of cams on said camshaft including first and second cams with first and second cam followers associated therewith;
• m. a plunger driving arm, return spring, and connecting rod, said arm being pivotally mounted at one end with the other end being connected to said plunger through said connecting rod, said plunger having the first cam follower disposed intermediate its length, said first cam follower being contacted by the first of said cams, said driving arm and said first cam follower being held against said first cam by said driving arm return spring whereby when said camshaft is rotated said cam will cause said driving arm and connecting rod to move said plunger away from said nest, and said return spring will cause said plunger to move toward said nest upon further rotation of said camshaft;
• n. a rocker arm and spring, said rocker arm being connected at one end to vertically reciprocate said head assembly and having the second cam follower at its other end, said second cam follower contacting the second of said cams and said second cam follower being held against said second cam by said rocker arm spring whereby rotation of said camshaft will cause the second cam to move said rocker arm and thereby lift said head assembly, and said rocker arm spring will act to lower said head assembly upon further rotation of said camshaft, the first and second cams being so oriented on said camshaft that said plunger will advance after said head assembly has been raised;
• the lowering of said assembly causing said circular knife to stretch said film across the upright projection of a fastener in said nest;
• o. means for actuating said knife rotating means when said head assembly is lowered into contact with said film and fastener in said nest thereby cutting an aperture in said film;
• and
• p. electric current supply means for said heater element and means for actuating same when said head assembly is lowered into contact with said film whereby said film is heat sealed to said fastener.