Method and apparatus for forming reclosable packages

Abstract

A payout coil of tape for forming substantially instantly openable and reclosable package closures over the flattened mouths of packages in mechanized packaging operations. The tape is a unified structure having a layer of solid non-tacky thermoplastic polymeric material. Optionally, the only layer of a tape may be a polymeric layer; and the polymeric layer may exhibit adhesive properties. Tapes with a backing are preferred, as are tapes which include a layer of adhesive activatable to tackiness at elevated temperatures and remaining tacky at temperatures lower than those at which the polymeric layer exhibits tackiness. The adhesive layer may be separately applied as a hot melt at the time of adhesively fixing the tape to a package. A tearstrip structure is integrally conjoined with and preferably embedded in the polymeric layer, and at least one deformable deadfold strip is also embedded in the polymeric layer. In the method and apparatus, tape is drawn from a coil toward a spaced alignment of flattened mouths of packages and adhesive is activated to tackiness before the tape is applied and bonded to the flattened mouths, whether the adhesive is a part of the tape or is separate from the coil of tape. The resulting package article is easily opened by the tearstrip and reclosed by deadfolding the projecting tape ends of the package.