Pactiv Corporation

Mobil Oil Corporation

Other

Tenneco Packaging Inc.

Alexander R Provan

Toby R Thomas

Craig E Cappel

Thomas L Coomber

Nathan A Kolovich

David G Vanderlee

Gerald R Winiecki

Larry E Benedict

Timothy W Pistner

David V Dobreski

Eric A St Phillips

Ian J Barclay

Aaron Strand

Michael W McManus

Edward W Forman

Ronald R Schmieder

A unit operation station for use in a web processing machine comprising: a shuttle system including an input roller for receiving a web and an attached zipper, an output roller and a the connecting element for maintaining the input roller and the output roller in a fixed position relative to each other; a plurality of stations performing distinct operations for mechanically altering the attached zipper, one of the plurality of stations including a slider-insertion mechanism for placing a slider onto the zipper; a web path located beyond the input roller and including the plurality of stations; a driver for providing reciprocating movement to the shuttle system to cause intermittent movement of the web and the attached zipper along the web path; wherein the output roller releases the web and the attached zipper at a rate substantially equal to a continuous input feed rate of the web and the attached zipper, and wherein the shuttle system moves at a speed substantially equal to the continuous input/output feed rate of the web as it enters and exits the plurality of stations.

Unit operations on a web with attached zipper and method of performing the same

Methods are provided for making slider-operated fasteners for use in reclosable plastic bags using at least a double index and dual unit operations. The methods involve forming two preseals, forming two notches within the preseals, applying two sliders into the previously formed notches, and applying two end stops proximate the previously applied sliders by having the various stations perform their respective functions, either simultaneously or at generally the same time, on different parts of the fastener spaced approximately at a double index. Also provided are methods of producing finished bags by applying the slider-operated fastener to a flat web of plastic film and conveying the web to a vertical or a horizontal form-fill-seal machine.

Methods for applying sliders to reclosable plastic bags

The present invention relates to a process used for packaging a product in a web of material that has a zipper attached thereto. The process includes providing a web of material having first and second edges and a zipper including first and second interlocking members. The first and second interlocking members of the zipper are interlocked together. The first interlocking member of the zipper is attached to the web at an intermediate portion of the web between the first and second edges of the web. The second interlocking member has an attachment region that is facing away from the web. One edge of the web is folded away from the zipper and toward the other edge of the web. Unit operations are performed on the zipper to create zipper segments from the zipper while the zipper is exposed. Each of the zipper segments is associated with an individual food package made from the web.

Process for making a recloseable package

Machine for processing web of material

Process for attaching slider operated closure on form-fill-seal packaging machinery

Process for attaching slider-operated closure on form-fill-seal packaging machinery

A slider-operated fastener comprises first and second opposing tracks including respective first and second interlocking profiles and respective first and second fins extending downward from the respective first and second profiles. The first and second fins are sealed to each other by a plurality of spaced preseals. After generating each preseal, a notch is formed in the profiles and upper portions of the fins at the generated preseal. To install a slider onto the fastener, the slider is initially positioned within the respective notch and then threaded onto the fastener in response to relative movement of the slider and the fastener. Either before or after the steps of forming each preseal and respective notch and installing the respective slider, the fastener is attached to a moving web of plastic film. The fastener-carrying web is later folded and sealed to form individual plastic bags. The preseals are advantageous in that they allow the fastener to be controlled during such downstream operations as notch formation and slider installation and when the fastener is tensioned by various rollers in the bag making machine. The preseals keep the interlocked profiles together and prevent them from moving longitudinally relative to each other. In addition, the preseals generally encompass the respective notches to assist in providing a leakproof barrier to entry into an interior of the fastener between the fins via the notches. This leakproof barrier is effective in the ultimately formed plastic bags.

Slider-operated fastener with spaced notches and associated preseals

A method of applying a slider to a fastener-carrying web of plastic film. The fastener includes interlockable profiles and fins depending from the respective profiles. One of the fins is attached to the web of plastic film such that the profiles are immediately adjacent to the web. The fastener is folded away from the web about the attached fin such that the profiles and proximate portions of the fins are oriented at an angle, preferably about 90 degrees, relative the web. Because the profiles and proximate fin portions are oriented at an angle relative to the web, they can be easily accessed and controlled for applying the slider to the profiles and performing other fastener-related operations.

Method of applying a slider to a fastener-carrying plastic web

Method of making a fasteners arrangement with notches at spaced preseals

A reclosable plastic bag comprises first and second opposing body panels, a zipper, a slider, and a grab tab. The opposing body panels are joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The zipper extends along a mouth formed opposite the bottom. The slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. Movement of the slider is effectuated using a grab tab extending upward from the slider. In one embodiment, first and second upstanding panels extend upwardly from the respective first and second body panels and form a pocket containing the zipper and the slider. The grab tab on the slider extends upwardly toward or above an upper end of the pocket so as to be easily graspable.

Zipper slider with grab tab

A machine and method for forming, filling and sealing bags includes a slitter for slitting a web of film into first and second web portions. a first folding board is included for folding the first web portion to a vertical position. a zipper track is fed adjacent to and sealed to the vertical first web portion by a first zipper sealer. a second folding board folds the second web portion to a position adjacent the first web portion and the zipper track is sealed to the second web portion by a second zipper sealer. another sealer forms side seals in the first and second web portions and the web portions are cut along the side seals to form individual bags.

Zipper bag form, fill and seal machine and method

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.

Zipper and zipper arrangements and methods of manufacturing the same

Growing community of inventors

Canandaigua, NY, United States of America

Alexander R Provan