Abstract: An apparatus for opening dual bag sets having pressure interlocking zipper profiles along the top with pull flanges extending upwardly from the profiles and a bridging pull flange joining adjacent bag pairs, dual flange gripping means for the outer pull flanges of each of the bags riding along a rib on the bag, with the gripping means mounted on pivotal handles so that after the bags are moved forwardly, they can be pulled open for filling by manually pressing the handles together with the handles provided with a return spring.

Abstract: A tubular plastic container having moisture-proof capabilities and being reclosable with a continuous longitudinal seal along a back side, with cross-seals at the ends and with a front fold along the longitudinal front center formed by confronting faces being drawn together and folded over said front center with the confronting faces having internal continuous complementary interlocking rib and groove elements wherein the fold is severable for access to the rib and groove elements.

Abstract: A system for seriatim filling and separating zipper-equipped bags supplied in a chain has a filling station in which each bag mouth is spread open to permit top filling, a closing station in which the zipper profiles of each filled bag are interlocked, and a separation station in which the filled bag is separated from the chain. A pincer action grasps each filled bag, draws the filled bag through the closing and separation stations, and releases the separated and filled bag for collection. The operation of the pincer serves to bring about indexing of the bags in the chain through the bag filling system. The result is an economical and reliable zipper equipped bag filling method and apparatus.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic film bag and the method of making the same with the bag having opposed side walls, pressure closable separable opposed rib and groove fastener elements on confronting faces of the top for closing the bag, plastic film above the fastener elements hermetically closing the bag top, lines of tear perforation through the film to tear off the top and perforation sealing strips attached to the surface of the film preventing the passage of air through the perforations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making reclosable bag material wherein a film has a longitudinal formation axis extending the length of a bag to be made therefrom and the film is incrementally advanced longitudinally, strips of extruded plastic profiled reclosable fastener strip are movable laterally axially across the film for location at one end of a bag made from the film with the profiles projecting in a direction toward the film, the strip is rotated to have the profiles facing away from the film and a strip base placed on the film and the base heat bonded to the film.

Abstract: A film tube extruded from high density polyethylene is biaxially oriented in longitudinal or machine direction as well as in cross machine diameter-increasing direction, and an extruded closure strip carried helically on one wall of the tube is correspondingly stretched as a result of the biaxial stretching to which the film of the tube is stretched. The closure-strip-carrying, biaxially oriented tube is adapted to be converted into a ribbon sheet form with the closure strip extending as individual closure strip sections across the ribbon sheet form at longitudinally spaced intervals, and adapted for making bags. A method of making the material, and apparatus for practicing the method are disclosed.

Abstract: An interlocking structure and a method of testing wherein the structure includes spaced interlocked rib and groove members with a compartment therebetween exposed to one side of each of the interlocked ribs and grooves and the ribs and grooves submerged beneath water while the compartment is pressurized with air so that any leakage past the interlocked rib and grooves will be detected by bubbles rising through the water.

Abstract: Gusseted bags are provided with extruded reclosable plastic profile strips along free upper end portions of face walls flanking a bag mouth, the fastener strips being free to separate throughout their lengths when opening the bag mouth to the full extent permitted by opposite side expanding gussets of the bag so that free access into the bag such as for inserting or removing contents such a tray loaded with products such as cookies, or the like, or for pouring contents therefrom selectively between either of the separated ends of the upper end portions of the face walls and the corresponding ends of the fastener strips is permitted. The fastener strips may have interlockable wraparound extensions. A method of making the bags is disclosed.

Abstract: A synthetic resin resiliently flexible separable fastener strip adapted for attachment to a substrate, is thermoplastically extruded in continuous strip form and provided with a base surface to which is applied during extrusion an adhesive in fluent state, with the extruded strip and adhesive carried thereby being then concurrently cured so that the fastener as formed and the adhesive in a dormant state on the strip can be rolled into a storage roll. The material of the fastener strip and the material of the adhesive are selected to permit the adhesive on the strip to be reactivated when the strip is to be adhesively bonded to a substrate, without deformably affecting the fastener strip. By extruding the strip without base webs, a plurality such as at least four, separate complementary strips can be extruded from a single die for efficiently joining sets of the profile strips into separable fastener assemblies immediately after concurrent curing of the extruded strips and the reactivatable adhesive.

Abstract: For producing a plastic film having a plastic fastener, with male and female interlockable profiles, and accessory strips, such as ribs and strips, in preparation of a reclosable plastic bag, there is provided a first forming die which extrudes the accessory strips, a separate second forming die which extrudes the fastener, a pair of nip rolls for press-bonding the accessory strips onto the surface of the film being fed in the vicinity of the first forming die, and a bonding roll for receiving the film with press-bonded accessory strips and the fastener from the second forming die placed onto the film surface such that the fastener is bonded to the surface of the film at the bonding roll by virtue of heat.

Abstract: Bags with reclosable zippers along their mouth ends and having pull flanges extending above the zippers, have attending upwardly from said pull flanges separably attached tamper evident extensions which are adhesively fixed to one another so that it is necessary to separate the tamper evident extensions from the pull flanges along lines of weakening when it is desired to gain access into the bag through the reclosable zipper. A method of and an apparatus for making the bags in linked chains and a method of and apparatus for filling the linked bags and then completing the filled bags are disclosed.

Abstract: An elongate continuous plastic fastener strip having a profile for interlocking engagement with another profile and having a web for attachment to a film with a member coextensive with the strip and attached thereto which prevents longitudinal stretching of the strip when a longitudinal force is applied thereto particularly concurrent with the application of heat to attach the strip to a plastic film. The member preventing extensibility is attached such as by coextrusion with the strip, by sandwiching between layers in the web or by attachment in the form of filaments to the web.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlled coextrusion of plastic bag making film and a reclosable fastener male profile comprising extruding the film through an orifice with which is aligned a profile orifice and one or more alignment rib orifices as well as one or more stablizing ridge orifice cooperating with the profile and/or rib orifices. The resulting extruded product provides a bag making material comprising a plastic film carrying the zipper profile and with one or more alignment ribs in spaced parallel relation to the profile, with a reinforcing ridge or ridges effecting stabilizing beam effect in respect to the alignment rib or ribs and/or the profile during the processing of the extruded product into its final bag making material form. The extrudate for the film and the extrudate for the alignment rib or ribs may be derived from separate sources so that different plastics of different density or characteristics may be supplied to the alignment rib or ribs.

Abstract: An improved reclosable bag structure such as formed out of plastic film or laminations thereof with front and back wall panels attached at their bottom and side edges and reclosable rib and groove profile fastener strips along the inner surface of the panels at the bag top with at least one of the strips secured by a layer of bonding element that has a limited area to secure the fastener strip only at its upper edge at a location above the profile or alternatively the strip uses a bond preventing element that permits only the upper edge of said strip to be secured to said panel at a location above the profile with this manner of securing accommodating outward movement of the film panel to apply a force on the strips in a shear rather than a peel mode.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for making bag material having a bag wall sheet or film folded to provide a closed folded top for each bag, a zipper strip having a web being nested within the bag top fold and having the margins of the web carrying recloseable zipper profiles, and at least one of the margins remaining unattached relative to the bag wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for making extruded film tube having joined to its inside surface a closure strip extending generally transversely, preferably helically, relative to the axis of the tube and the tube and closure strip being adapted to be converted into a ribbon sheet form with the closure strip extending as individual closure strip sections across the ribbon sheet form at longitudinally spaced intervals, and adapted for making bags.

Abstract: A dispenser for plastic bags comprises a container having a dispensing opening through which bags can be withdrawn seriatim from the container. The bags are stacked within the container and each lead bag has a trailing end connected by a line of weakened resistance to the leading end of the trailing bag so that when a lead bag is pulled through the opening, cooperating shoulders on the trailing bag at the ends of reclosable fastener assembly brake the container at the opening and cause the bags to separate at the weakened line. The separated trailing bag is disposed at the opening for subsequent convenient withdrawal. The bags may be stacked by top end-connected pairs within the container. Pressure sensitive adhesive retains the container on a support against displacement when pulling bags from the container. The container may carry a replaceable closure flap for the dispensing opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a bag chain to fill individual reclosable bags therealog with the chain having spaced rocket openings along the top including a sprocket for interengaging with the openings to draw the chain forwardly and to vertically support the chain, bag top spreader members including idler sprockets interengageable with the chain holes to vertically support the chain with pads opposite the idler sprockets to pull the bag tops open, means for controlling the distance the bag top is opened, and a common drive for pulling the bag chain forwardly and operating the bag opening means.

Abstract: A container dispenser assembly containing stacks of flat bags with their tops adjacent and releasably interconnected and held in a rectangular cardboard container having a central tear strip extending over three walls with the tear strip removable and the separated sections of the container foldable about a fourth wall. In one form a thread is anchored within the container to be drawn between the tops of the bags and separate them. When the container is folded open, the bags may be withdrawn one by one from the two halves of the container.

Abstract: A bag has a reclosable zipper between wall panels and extending between side edges at the top end of the bag, the zipper comprising a continuous length of extruded profile plastic strip folded upon itself for zipper closing interengagement of its profile parts, the profile strip portions being spot welded together at the fold in the strip which may be at one of the side edges of the bag, such as a fold in the material which provides the walls of the bags. The strip may be notched out to facilitate folding. By differential mass, or differential spacing, or tilted biasing of profile parts of the zipper strip, and provision of a lateral flange of substantial width on the strip not only is interlocking of the profile parts facilitated, but an expedient is provided for restraining opening of the zipper by internal bag pressures, while permitting relatively easy opening of the bag from the outside, i.e. the top or mouth end of the bag.