Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine in conjunction with a product supply apparatus provides a continuous, heat sealable plastic film and zipper tape and provides separate, product filled, reclosable, top opening sealed bags. The apparatus includes a means for supplying the continuous plastic film, a means for supplying zipper tape, a means for sealing the zipper tape sections to the film, a vertical fill tube assembly, a feeding means including a film drive roll upstream, film pull belts adjacent the vertical fill tube, a vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous zippered cap strip, a horizontal sealing, perforating, and severing means for severing the plastic tube between the first and second horizontal seals, and a tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals.

Abstract: A reclosable back-seam bag having a top seal and a bottom seal, and a front wall and a back wall is disclosed. The front wall is joined to the back wall at the top seal and the bottom seal. The reclosable back-seam bag includes a reclosable fastener that includes two ends, a first continuous elongated profile strip having a front wall connecting flange and a second continuous elongated profile strip having a back wall connecting flange. The first continuous elongated profile strip includes a male interlocking profile having at least one male interlocking member, and the second continuous elongated profile strip includes a female interlocking profile having at least one female interlocking member. The male interlocking member is configured so as to cause the male interlocking profile to be separated from the female interlocking profile with a substantially equal opening force when being separated in a direction toward said top seal as when separated in a direction toward said bottom seal.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine in conjunction with a product supply apparatus provides a continuous, heat sealable plastic film and zipper tape and provides separate, product filled, reclosable, top opening sealed bags. The apparatus includes a means for supplying the continuous plastic film, a means for supplying zipper tape, a means for sealing the zipper tape sections to the film, a vertical fill tube assembly, a feeding means including a film drive roll upstream, film pull belts adjacent the vertical fill tube, a vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous zippered cap strip, a horizontal sealing, perforating, and severing means for severing the plastic tube between the first and second horizontal seals, and a tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals.

Abstract: A modular reciprocating heat seal jaw assembly is disclosed for sealing reclosable fastener strips to a web of thermoplastic film and for sealing the web of thermoplastic film into a series of reclosable bags. The jaw assembly includes first and second sealing jaws and means for slidably mounting the sealing jaws on a pair of parallel shafts near the lateral ends of the first and second sealing jaws in a horizontal configuration. A mechanical system is providing for selectively effecting reciprocal movement of the first and second sealing jaws together and apart as required. A modular frame is provided for supporting the ceiling jaws and the first and second pairs of parallel shafts and for maintaining the lateral and vertical position of the first and second sealing jaws as they are moved toward or away from each other. The modular frame and heat seal jaw assembly may be inserted into existing form-fill-seal machine to make them more efficient and accurate.

Abstract: A fastener strip comprising a reclosable portion including an elongated first backing, including a trough extending lengthwise along the first backing and an elongated second backing, including a ridge extending lengthwise along a second backing, the ridge removably insertable into the trough to essentially prevent air flow across the trough, and a generally planar portion including essentially no ridge and essentially no trough, and a plug that joins the ridge of the reclosable portion and the trough of the reclosable portion at the adjacent end of the reclosable portion to the plug in an airtight seal that prevents air from leaking from the adjacent end of the reclosable portion.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the aforementioned prior art devices and meets the afore-mentioned needs by providing an apparatus and method for accurately sealing a multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip to a web of flexible film in an airtight manner. Moreover, the inventive apparatus and method is capable of repeatedly performing the steps necessary to seal the multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip to the web of flexible film with high manufacturing throughout and low cycle times. Generally, the apparatus and method utilize the multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip having airtight splotch seals fused in a series along desired lengths of the zipper tape. The multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip is dispensed through a feeding mechanism and, when an optical sensor detects one of the splotch seal portions of the multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip, a desired length of multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip is advanced over an elevator platform.