Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Art Malin

Michael J McMahon

Donald L Van Erden

Steve Ausnit

David J Matthews

Lawrence Share

Joel L Johnson

Michael J Mcmahon

Robert G Kobetsky

Donald L Crevier

Zdenek Machacek

James G Kohl, Jr

Eric Paul Plourde

Stanley Piotrowski

Richmond M Scott

Ronald L Ramsey

Charles Thorpe

Michael Mcmahon

James G Kohl

Methods of making slide-zippered reclosable packages are provided. In one embodiment, a pair of opposing film extensions are provided on each package between which a zipper and slider are attached. In another embodiment, sliders are inserted on to zippered packages output from a form-fill-seal machine or the like. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and then a slider is inserted on to the zipper. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and a slider is inserted on to each zipper, either before or after zipper sealing.

Methods of making slide-zippered reclosable packages on horizontal form-fill-seal machines

The vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) machine is configured to place a fitment, such as a spout, on the longitudinal fin seal of a container. The fitment dispatched from a vibratory bowl via an adjustable track. The fitment is then secured to the edges of the film by longitudinal sealing bars and the edges of the film are likewise secured to each other by the longitudinal sealing bars sealing bars thereby forming a longitudinal fin seal. Depressions are machined in the machine direction center of the sealing bars in order to accommodate the shape of the fitment. The film is drawn over an oversized collar and an undersized tube so as to create excess film in order to form gussets providing a stand-alone capability.

Method for attaching fitment at longitudinal fin seal and package resulting therefrom

A zipper strip for a reclosable bag or package includes a male interlocking profile and a female interlocking profile. The male interlocking profile includes a male interlocking member and a male web coextruded therewith. In like manner, the female interlocking profile includes a female interlocking member and a female web. The male interlocking member snappingly engages into the female interlocking member to join the profiles to one another. One of the male and female webs is wider than the other in at least one of two directions from the male and female interlocking members, the greater width being represented by at least one flange extending widthwise beyond the other web. The zipper strip is designed to be attached to thermoplastic sheet material by sealing the at least one flange thereto without sealing the male and female webs to each other. Methods for securing the zipper strip to thermoplastic sheet material, and for making packages on a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine, are also disclosed.

Zipper strip and method of positioning the strip transverse longitudinal axis

A fitment has walls with a spout aperture therebetween. Reduced wall thickness results in a reduced amount of plastic in the fitment. An alternative embodiment uses radially extending meltable fins. During installation in a sealing apparatus, a heated mandrel engages the inner diameter of the spout aperture thereby pre-heating and physically supporting the fitment during the installation process. The heated mandrel typically engages the fitment at least one cycle prior to be installed. The fitment may be canoe-shaped.

Thin wall fitment for spouted pouch

A flexible plastic fitment for providing spouts for pouches formed of sheet material. The fitment includes a pair of opposed side walls each having a center portion formed from diametrically opposed segments of a common cylinder and straight segments that blend respectively into the cylindrical segments on opposite sides of the common cylinder. The side walls are joined together at both ends thereof to form a canoe shape. A cover, which provides the only support for the side walls joins the top edges of the canoe shape and extends at both ends of the canoe shape between the cylindrical segments and the joined ends. A thin fin extends from each end of the joined side walls. A method of and apparatus for attaching the fitment by distending the side walls outwardly while urging the sheet material toward the side walls is also disclosed.

Flexible pouch fitment structure

A method is disclosed for forming reclosable packages at a form, fill and seal (FFS) apparatus by advancing a film of package making material longitudinally to form a tube while guiding opposite longitudinal edges of the film into a fin. A zipper having interlocking members and an attached flange is fed into the fin by capturing external surfaces of the interlocking members within a first guide member positioned adjacent to said fin and feeding the flanges along opposite sides of a second guide member positioned within said fin. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Form, fill and seal method and apparatus for forming reclosable bags

A reclosable fastener assembly ( ) for a reclosable plastic bag ( ) in which the fastener assembly ( ) is sealed to a single wall ( ) of the plastic bag. The fastener assembly ( ) includes various tear-openable barrier arrangements with the barrier arrangements sealing and protecting the contents of the reclosable plastic bag ( ) before being torn open.

Barrier arrangements for plastic bags

A fitment has walls with a spout aperture therebetween. Reduced wall thickness results in a reduced amount of plastic in the fitment. An alternative embodiment uses radially extending meltable fins. During installation in asealing apparatus, a heated mandrel engages the inner diameter of the spout aperture thereby pre-heating and physically supporting the fitment during the installation process. The heated mandrel typically engages the fitment at least one cycle prior to be installed. The fitment may be canoe-shaped.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing reclosable bags having slide zippers on a form-fill-seal (FFS) machine is provided. In a first embodiment a coil of sliders is fed to an insertor mechanism for applying the slider downstream of a coil of zipper. In a second embodiment a magazine of individual or connected sliders is used to feed the slider insertor mechanism. In a third embodiment bulk sliders are introduced into a vibratory feeding bowl which then orients and feeds the sliders to the slider insertor mechanism. The slider insertor mechanism may be upstream of the FFS machine or at the FFS machine upstream or downstream of the sealing bars used to seal the zipper the bag film. The zipper flanges may be provided with a peel seal layer to provide a hermetic and/or tamper evident seal for the bag.

Growing community of inventors

Northbrook, IL, United States of America

Art Malin