Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for wrapping a load conforming generally to a rectangular solid, such as a cotton bale. Lengths of wrapping film from two rolls are welded to form a predraped wall of such film, into which the load is conveyed to cover its front face and its lateral faces, whereupon the welded lengths are welded again behind the bale and are severed from such rolls. As the load is conveyed, a length of wrapping film from a third roll is wrapped in a spiral pattern so as to cover the upper, lower, and lateral faces of the load. Moreover, generally V-shaped perforations pointing toward the front face are formed in the lateral faces, by means of perforating mechanisms. Each mechanism comprises a pivotal arm biased toward the load, a wheel rotatable on the arm, and perforating cutters extending radially from the wheel, in two circumferential arrays.

Abstract: A workpiece for use in forming a carrier tape cover strip is provided with a substantially tubular shaped member having a pair of opposed surfaces. A pair of opposed sidewalls depend from, extend between and connect the opposed surfaces and a longitudinally extending hump is provided on each of the opposed surfaces. The humps comprise identical dovetail configurations in cross section.

Abstract: Plural strips of package making sheet material are directed toward a forming and filling tube in a form, fill and seal machine for making packages, and the strips are guided into cooperative relation along the tube for joining of the strips into tubular form about the tube. In a preferred arrangement, the strips are derived by slitting a continuous single sheet of package making material, provided with complementary zipper profiles along the slit margins of the strips. A three-bar guidance system is provided for guiding each of the strips cooperatively to the forming and filling tube.

Abstract: Sealing jaw structure and method for securing zippered package making foil or film material, comprising sealing jaws, one of which carries a pair of spaced material engaging ribs for not only sealing but also tightening the material between the ribs during sealing cooperation of the jaws. The tightening facilitates cutting of the material being engaged between the jaws by a knife carried reciprocably by the jaw that carries the ribs.

Abstract: Zippered material for packages comprising a zipper strip having longitudinally extending complementary reclosable interlockable zipper profiles with a web separating the profiles. In one aspect, the strip is notched out to the web from opposite sides at package section intervals and with limited respective areas of the web providing links connecting the sections of the strip at the notches, the links being sealed and flattened onto package making sheet material. In another aspect, the web and the material have matching lines of weakening, the web is hermetically bonded to the material and at least the line of weakening of the web is hermetically sealed to prevent leakage through the lines of weakening, but enabling tear-open separation along the lines of weakening.

Abstract: Zippered film which is spirally wound on a non-oscillating rotary spool is guided to a constant point of infeed by running the zippered film from the spool to such infeed point through an oscillating guide device.

Abstract: A method and a mechanism for making plastic film bags having a reclosable zipper including wrapping a continuous supply of film over a forming tube to form a seam joining the edges of the film and cross-seaming the film, supporting the supply roll of film with the film doubled and a zipper at the doubled edge; guiding the location of the zipper in the film so that the film is properly positioned as it is fed forwardly to be wrapped over the forming tube and means unfolding the film as it is fed forwardly to open the doubled film to be fed to the forming tube as a flat sheet.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic film for a bag and the method and mechanism for making the same. The film may be employed for making various types of bags, but in each case the arrangement provides for a tear strip wherein a series of perforations are placed in the film extending parallel to the fastener profiles, and a sealing cap layer is placed over the perforations which cap layer is grain oriented and sufficiently frangible so that as the film is torn along the line of perforations, the cap layer will tear, providing sealing until tearing occurs. A method and apparatus are provided wherein a completed film for a bag may be constructed in a single pass with the film first being perforated, the cap layer laid over the film while molten, and the profiles then attached to the film oriented relative to the location of the perforations.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for seaming and joining overlaid sheets such as to form seams on adjacent bags by applying heated pressure sealing jaws to opposite sides of the overlaid sheets with the pressure being applied decreasingly inwardly away from the edges of the seam and cutting the seaming areas between them to separate the seamed portions so as to form edges of adjacent bags with the bags preferably having rib and groove upper fasteners extending outwardly to the edge of the seam.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing reclosable thermoplastic containers which eliminates the need for spot-sealing zipper closures or zipper closure elements to a web of thermoplastic film prior to forming side seals and zipper end seals is provided. Opposing seal jaws provide increased heat and pressure to zipper closures in a manner which results in improved hermetic and fluid-tight side seals and zipper end seals.

Abstract: A support is provided for filled bags in a form, fill and seal package or bag making machine to avoid stretch stress damage to the thermosealed top edge of the filled bag during the cross-sealing and pull-down action of cross-sealing and pull-down bars functioning below the lower or discharge end of the forming and filling tube of the associated form, fill and seal machine. The supoprt may comprise a supporting constant force spring biased finger or a platform plate similarly supported.

Abstract: Thermoplastic film bag making material is processed between a hotseal jaw and cutoff knife assembly. The apparatus has complementary first and second jaws between which the material is received for sealing bag side edge areas of the bag making material. The first jaw has a groove and the second jaw has a cutoff knife for extension into the groove for separating the material into individual bags. A rubber anvil block is in a groove underlying a zipper of the bag material and the knife thrusts into the block and attains substantially straight edges in the bag cutoff. Improved end sealing of the zipper also results.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bags from a thin plastic film in a tube form fill operation wherein plastic film is fed over the outer surface of the tube and the edges of the film are joined to provide a bag tube and an antistatic friction reduction surface treatment is provided on the outer surface of the tube for encouraging sliding movement of the film and insuring uniform feed with the friction reducing and electrically insulating material in the form of a plastic coating or ribs to produce the desired result.

Abstract: An improved carrier tape is provided comprising a cover strip and a base strip formed of a plastic material and designed to mechanically interlock with each other. The cover strip includes a top surface from which opposed sidewalls extend downwardly. The spacing between at least portions of the sidewalls is substantially equal to the width of the base strip so as to engage the sidewalls of the base strip in a mechanical interlock. At least one of the sidewalls includes a segment extending outwardly away from the other sidewall so as to define a camming surface to which a force may conveniently be applied to urge the sidewalls apart and thereby facilitate the application of or removal of the cover strip from the base strip. The cover strip may further be provided with a hump which, in cross section, has a dovetail configuration.A method for forming the cover strip and work piece used in practicing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tray for foodstuffs or the like having a continuous edge rim and a flexible cover placed over the top of the tray and sealed to the rim with an elongate continuous interlockable separate rib and groove profile on strips sealed to the surface of the cover wherein upstanding pull flanges above the rib and groove profiles may be pulled apart and the cover severed between the profiles for access to the contents so that the cover may be opened and closed.

Abstract: A method of making reclosable bag material and bags made therefrom, wherein the bag making film providing bag walls is provided with an extruded plastic profile reclosable fastener strip across a portion of the longitudinal formation axis of the film and bag walls to be located at the open end of the bag and the strip having a base web for attachment to the film, and bonding the base web of the fastener strip to the film so that on one wall of the bag the base web is attached above and below the profile structure on the strip and on the other wall of the bag the base web is bonded to the film at a location only above the centerline of the profile structure on the strip.

Abstract: A bag has wall panels defining a receptacle space and providing a bag mouth arrangement between upper end portions of the wall panels. A tamper evident, and if desired hermetic seal, non-reclosable closure adjacent to a reclosable zipper and located adjacently below upper end portions of the wall panels is accessible to be opened when the zipper is open. The zipper is arranged for intermittent opening and closing of the bag and its opposite ends are sealed into the side edges of the bag. The non-reclosable closure may be a peel seal or a rupturable connection.

Abstract: A tray for foodstuffs or the like having a continuous edge rim and a flexible cover placed over the top of the tray and sealed to the rim with an elongate continuous interlockable separate rib and groove profile on strips sealed to the surface of the cover wherein upstanding pull flanges above the rib and groove profiles may be pulled apart and the cover severed between the profiles for access to the contents so that the cover may be opened and closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bags such as in a form, fill and seal machine wherein the bags are formed by drawing film downwardly over a filling tube and cross-sealing the bag tube and applying a lateral stretching force to the bag tube at the location of cross-sealing preventing wrinkles at the location of the seam formed by the cross-sealing with the stretching force applied at the extreme lateral edge of the film preferably by opposed cam surfaces at each of the bag edge which contact each other at a point just outside of the bag edges and progressively walk into the edge of the bag with the point of contact shifting in an outward direction while it progresses inwardly on the bag to apply a stretching force to the film of the bag for smoothing the entire width.

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.