Abstract: A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags that includes a zipper and at least one slider. The zipper includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track has a first profile and the second track has a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. At least one slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is adapted to engage and disengage the first and second profiles in response to movement along the zipper. The second track may have one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the second profile. The spaced primary notches of the second track are generally aligned to respective ones of the primary notches of the first track. At least one slider is inserted onto the aligned pairs of primary notches via a respective one of the generally aligned notches.

Abstract: An assembly of sliders for zippers for plastic bags and the like and the accumulation of the sliders for use in form, fill and seal machines is disclosed. The sliders are oriented and mechanically or adhesively joined into chains. Mechanical assembly of sliders may be accomplished by snapping sliders together or slideably mounting sliders on a strip. Sliders may be adhesively assembled together by taping, welding, gluing, or melting the sliders. Sliders and chains of sliders are accumulated in cartridges, carriers, coreless rolls, spools or trays which are then connected to form, fill and seal machines for attachment of the sliders to a zipper and attachment of the zipper with a slider to bags.

Abstract: An assembly of sliders for zippers for plastic bags and the like and the accumulation of the sliders for use in form, fill and seal machines is disclosed. The sliders are oriented and mechanically or adhesively joined into chains. Mechanical assembly of sliders may be accomplished by snapping sliders together or slideably mounting sliders on a strip. Sliders may be adhesively assembled together by taping, welding, gluing, or melting the sliders. Sliders and chains of sliders are accumulated in cartridges, carriers, coreless rolls, spools or trays which are then connected to form, fill and seal machines for attachment of the sliders to a zipper and attachment of the zipper with a slider to bags.

Abstract: A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags that includes a zipper and at least one slider. The zipper includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track has a first profile and the second track has a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. At least one slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is adapted to engage and disengage the first and second profiles in response to movement along the zipper. The second track may have one or more to spaced primary notches interrupting the second profile. The spaced primary notches of the second track are generally aligned to respective ones of the primary notches of the first track. At least one slider is inserted onto the aligned pairs of primary notches via a respective one of the generally aligned notches.

Abstract: A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags that includes a zipper and at least one slider. The zipper includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track has a first profile and the second track has a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. At least one slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is adapted to engage and disengage the first and second profiles in response to movement along the zipper. The second track may have one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the second profile. The spaced primary notches of the second track are generally aligned to respective ones of the primary notches of the first track. At least one slider is inserted onto the aligned pairs of primary notches via a respective one of the generally aligned notches.

Abstract: A bottom-fillable, bottom-gusseted bag including a bag-forming structure having first and second opposing body panels joined along a pair of opposing transverse seals and an offset bottom-gusset extending between the transverse seals. The bag-forming structure includes an open end opposite the offset gusset. The offset gusset includes first and second gusset panels foldably connected to each other and foldably connected to the respective first and second body panels. The second gusset panel extends beyond the first gusset panel to provide a protruding trim portion. A zipper is attached between the first and second body panels along the open end. A slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for opening and closing the zipper. A transverse slit is disposed proximate to a fold line foldably connecting the second gusset panel to the second body panel and provides a fill opening through which a product can be inserted into the bag-forming structure.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic bag comprises first and second opposing panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The bag is provided with a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite the sealed bottom. The zipper includes a male track with a male profile and a female track with a female profile. A slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The male and female profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position. The male and female profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To prevent tampering with the contents of the plastic bag prior to being initially opened, the slider is initially parked in the closed position at one end of the zipper, and upper edges of the male and female profiles are detachably connected to each other, except at the one end of the zipper supporting the parked slider.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically counting and stacking articles, comprising: a conveyor for conveying a plurality of articles to at least one fixed stack position; and at least one stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism comprising: an article carriage peripherally disposed about the fixed stack position, the carriage extending substantially perpendicular to the fixed stack position, wherein the carriage has at least one stacking dog for engaging and suspending articles above the fixed stack position; an article pusher located below the fixed stack position, the pusher capable of projecting an article positioned at the fixed stack position at a distance effective to engage the article with the stacking dogs and suspend the article therefrom; an article pullback mechanism positioned upstream of the article pusher for retaining subsequently conveyed articles in a queued relation; and a counter for counting articles suspended above the fixed stack position.

Abstract: Method of sequentially removing articles from a stack of nested articles and for controlling their movement to a location remote from the stack. The method is particularly suited for denesting and feeding large multiple cell cartons such as eighteen cell cartons to a conveyor for subsequent printing. The cartons are placed in a vertical stack and the stack of nested cartons is supported by a set of rotary brushes on opposite sides at the bottom of the stack. The cartons are preseparated and sequentially fed by a second set of rotary brushes from the bottom of the stack to a denesting station. The height of the stack of cartons at the denesting station is sensed by a photoelectric eye for controlling the rotation of the sets of brushes and the feed of cartons to the denesting station. A pair of counter-rotating feed screws having multiple operating sections denest the cartons at the denesting station and sequentially feed them to a conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially removing articles from a stack of nested articles and for controlling their movement to a location remote from the stack. The apparatus is particularly suited for denesting and feeding large multiple cell cartons such as eighteen cell cartons to a conveyor for subsequent printing. The cartons are placed in a vertical stack and the stack of nested cartons is supported by a set of rotary brushes on opposite sides at the bottom of the stack. The cartons are preseparated and sequentially fed by a second set of rotary brushes from the bottom of the stack to a denesting station. The height of the stack of cartons at the denesting station is sensed by a photoelectric eye for controlling the rotation of the sets of brushes and the feed of cartons to the denesting station. A pair of counter-rotating feed screws having multiple operating sections denest the cartons at the denesting station and sequentially feed them to a conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially removing articles from a stack of nested articles and for controlling their movement to a location remote from the stack. The apparatus is particularly suited for denesting and feeding large multiple cell cartons such as eighteen cell cartons to a conveyor for subsequent printing. The cartons are placed in a vertical stack and the stack of nested cartons is supported by a set of rotary brushes on opposite sides at the bottom of the stack. The cartons are preseparated and sequentially fed by a second set of rotary brushes from the bottom of the stack to a denesting station. The height of the stack of cartons at the denesting station is sensed by a photoelectric eye for controlling the rotation of the sets of brushes and the feed of cartons to the denesting station. A pair of counter-rotating feed screws having multiple operating sections denest the cartons at the denesting station and sequentially feed them to a conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially removing articles from a stack of nested articles and for controlling their movement to a location remote from the attack. The apparatus is particularly suited for denesting and feeding large multiple cell cartons such as eighteen cell cartons to a conveyor for subsequent printing. The cartons are placed in a vertical stack and the stack of nested cartons is supported by a set of rotary brushes on opposite sides at the bottom of the stack. The cartons are preseparated and sequentially fed by a second set of rotary brushes from the bottom of the stack to a denesting station. The height of the stack of cartons at the denesting station is sensed by a photoelectric eye for controlling the rotation of the sets of brushes and the feed of cartons to the denesting station. A pair of counter-rotating feed screws having multiple operating sections denest the cartons at the denesting station and sequentially feed them to a conveyor.

Abstract: A bag holding arrangement which facilitates the loading or products, such as groceries or general merchandise, into upwardly opening bags incorporating handle loops spaced about the mouth of the bag. The arrangement enables plastic bags of different sizes; in effect, possessing different bag lengths and loading capacities, to have their handle loops selectively mounted on tabs arranged at different locations on the structure in conformance with the size of the bag which is desired to be utilized.

Abstract: A holder for facilitating loading of articles in a plastic bag removed from a stack of bags, each of the bags having an open mouth and upwardly extendable handle loops, the loops are placed on spaced tabs, the bag is loaded, and the loaded bag is removed from the holder by lifting the loops from the tabs. The holder avoids the use of welds where the holder is subjected to twisting or rocking forces. Specifically, eye form joints are provided to permit some flexing of the rack under stress when the bags are being loaded in the holder.