Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Eric Joseph Fenzl

Basil Carl Linton

Gregory H Crunkleton

Ronald Cortigiano, Sr

Robert E Hogan

John H Schneider

Robert C Stolmeier

Matthew W Nysted

Charles Shultz

The present disclosure relates to a reclosable package or bag with a slider zipper, and further including a first gusset with a perforated line or similar line of weakness formed between the slider zipper profiles in order to provide tamper evidence and a second gusset formed below one zipper profile in order to allow the filled packaged to stand up for display purposes. This package or bag is typically bottom filled, but then displayed to the customer in the orientation with the bottom in the upper position and the zipper in the lower position. One alternative embodiment substitutes a press-to-close-zipper for the slider zipper. A further alternative embodiment omits the perforated line and provides for a separation in the web between the zipper profiles to form a mouth for the package or bag.

Double gusseted slider package

The present invention includes a method and apparatus wherein webless zipper is provided with concave seal bridges. These concave seal bridges are complementary in shape to convex sealing bars. This captures or positions the seal bridges of the zipper profiles resulting in improved alignment of the profiles and improved performance of the manufacturing apparatus.

Method of sealing a zipper with concave bridges or bases using convex sealing bars

A slider-zipper assembly in which the slider has a design lending itself to economical manufacture using an injection molding process. The slider comprises a frame that straddles the zipper, a plow supported by the frame and separating respective sections of two interlockable profiled zipper parts, and a plurality of projections that latch under the zipper parts to retain the slider on the zipper. The frame has three bridging members, a first opening disposed between the first and second bridging members, and a second opening disposed between the second and third bridging members, the plow being connected to and depending downward from the second bridging member. First and second retaining projections are disposed entirely under the first opening with no portion of the first and second bridging members overhanging any portion thereof, and third and fourth retaining projections are disposed entirely under the second opening with no portion of the second and third bridging members overhanging any portion thereof.

Molded sliders for actuating zippers in reclosable packages

A reclosable package or bag having a slider-operated string zipper. The respective parts of the string zipper comprise a respective base strip and a respective set of profiled closure elements projecting from a front side of the base strip. The upper margins of the respective bag walls are joined to the backs of the respective base strips. The slider rides on the string zipper with the upper margins of the bag film being disposed between the zipper and the slider.

Reclosable packaging having slider-operated string zipper

Methods and apparatus for low-cost manufacture of reclosable packages having slider-operated zippers. One method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) joining film material to a back side of a first flangeless zipper strip having a first closure profile on its front side; (b) joining film material to a back side of a second flangeless zipper strip having a second closure profile on its front side, the first and second closure profiles of the first and second zipper strips being interlockable to form a string zipper assembly; and (c) loading a slider comprising a plow onto an open section of the string zipper assembly with the plow being inserted between the first and second flangeless zipper strips. Respective portions of the first and second portions of film are respectively disposed between the slider and the string zipper assembly when the slider is loaded. This method further comprises the step of trimming a marginal portion of the film material that extends beyond the portion of film material joined to the back side of either of the first flangeless zipper strip.

Method and apparatus for inserting sliders during automated manufacture of reclosable bags

The apparatus and method uses grooved rollers and a grooved guide plate to position zipper segments on a web. The web is subsequently formed into a cylinder in a form fill and seal apparatus and seal bar assemblies form the bottom transverse seal, the web is indexed and the cylinder is filled, and the seal bar assemblies form the top transverse seal simultaneously with the bottom transverse seal of a subsequent bag. A zipper seal bar completes the sealing of the zipper segment to a second side of the web and a knife extends from a slot in a seal bar assembly to separate the completed bag from the web. This apparatus and method is particularly adapted to narrow zipper segments.

Growing community of inventors

Loganville, GA, United States of America

Eric Joseph Fenzl