Horizontal form fill and seal packing method for reclosable packages

Abstract

In a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine ( 10 ), a continuous length of packaging film ( 12 ) is folded lengthwise over a consumer product ( 35 ) to be packaged. The consumer product ( 35 ) is placed on the packaging film ( 12 ) with a zipper ( 26 ) disposed between a lengthwise fold ( 29 ) and the consumer product ( 35 ). The longitudinal edges ( 40, 42 ) of the packaging film ( 12 ) are aligned and sealed to one another with the zipper ( 26 ) sealed to the folded packaging film ( 12 ). Side seals ( 46, 48 ) are produced in a conventional manner to form a completed bag ( 55 ) while also separating the completed bag ( 55 ) from the bags being formed. Weakness areas ( 62, 63, 64 ) and an aperture ( 64 ) for opening the completed bag ( 55 ) and accessing an attached slider ( 27 ) are provided at the lengthwise fold ( 29 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A horizontal form-fill and seal machine for packaging consumer products, said horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine comprising: 
 means for providing a continuous length of packaging film having two longitudinal edges;    means for placing said consumer products to be packaged at intervals along a longitudinal half of said continuous length of packaging film;    means for feeding a continuous supply of zippers between a center of said continuous length of packaging film and said consumer products;    means for folding said continuous length of packaging film down the center thereof and over upon said consumer products and said continuous supply of zippers;    means for sealing said continuous supply of zippers to said folded continuous length of packaging film;    means for sealing said longitudinal edges of said folded continuous length of packaging film to one another opposite to said film fold; and    means for sealing said folded continuous length of packaging film crosswise at intervals between said consumer products to create individual packages.    
     
     
         2 . The horizontal form-fill-and seal-machine of  claim 1 , wherein said zipper feeding means feeds said continuous supply of zippers proximal to said film fold.  
     
     
         3 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 1 , further including means for forming a weakness area proximal to the folded continuous length of packaging film thereby providing an area for opening the package.  
     
     
         4 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 3 , further including means for forming a notch within the cross-sealed area of said packaging film thereby facilitating a removal of the packaging film along the weakness area.  
     
     
         5 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 1 , wherein said continuous supply of zippers further includes attached sliders.  
     
     
         6 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 5 , further including a means for providing a pair of end stops spaced at zipper lengths conforming to said individual packages such that the end stops retain the sliders on the zipper.  
     
     
         7 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 6 , further comprising means for creating an aperture in the folded continuous length of packaging film exposing at least a slider portion of said zipper.  
     
     
         8 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 4  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of scored lines.  
     
     
         9 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 4  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of dimples.  
     
     
         10 . The horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine of  claim 4  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of perforations.  
     
     
         11 . A method for packaging consumer products on a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine comprising: 
 providing a continuous length of packaging film having two longitudinal edges;    placing said consumer products to be packaged at intervals along one half of said continuous length of packaging film;    feeding a continuous supply of zippers between the center of said continuous length of packaging film and said consumer products;    folding said continuous length of packaging film continuously down the center thereof and over said consumer products and said continuous supply of zippers;    sealing said continuous supply of zippers to said folded continuous length of packaging film;    sealing said longitudinal edges of folded continuous length of packaging film to one another;    sealing said folded continuous length of packaging film crosswise at intervals between said consumer products to create individual packages.    
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said continuous supply of zippers is fed proximal to said film fold.  
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  further including the step of forming a weakness area proximal to the folded continuous length of packaging film thereby providing an area for opening the package.  
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , further including the step of forming a notch within the cross-sealed area of said packaging film thereby facilitating a removal of the packaging film along the weakness area.  
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said continuous supply of zippers further includes attached sliders.  
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , further including the step of placing a pair of end stops at zipper lengths conforming to said individual packages such that the end stops retain the attached sliders on the zippers.  
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , further including the step of creating an aperture in the folded continuous length of packaging film exposing at least a slider portion of said zipper.  
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of scored lines.  
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of dimples.  
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said weakness area is a plurality of perforations.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for packaging consumer products, said apparatus comprising: 
 a packaging film dispenser wherein said packaging dispenser provides a continuous length of packaging film from a packaging film supply;    a product dispenser wherein said product dispenser places consumer products to be packaged at intervals along a longitudinal half of said continuous length of packaging film;    a zipper supplier wherein said zipper supplier feeds a continuous supply of zippers between a center of said continuous length of packaging film and said consumer products;    a fold-guide wherein said fold-guide folds said continuous length of packaging film down the center thereof upon said consumer products and said continuous supply of zippers;    a first sealing bar wherein said sealing bar seals the longitudinal edges of said folded continuous length of packaging film to one another opposite to said film fold;    a second sealing bar wherein said second sealing bar seals said continuous supply of zippers to packaging film; and    a heated cutter wherein said heated cutter seals said folded continuous length of packaging film crosswise at intervals between said consumer products while separating an individual package from the apparatus.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said zipper supplier feeds said continuous supply of zippers proximal to said film-fold.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 21 , further comprising a weakening mechanism wherein said weakening mechanism forms a weakness area proximal to the folded continuous length of packaging film.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said heated cutter forms a notch within the cross-sealed area of said packaging film thereby facilitating removal of the packaging film along the weakness area.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said continuous supply of zippers further includes attached sliders.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 25 , further including an end stop inserter for providing a pair of end stops spaced at zipper lengths conforming to said individual packages such that the end stops retain the sliders on the zipper.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising a cutting lip wherein said cutting lip creates an aperture in the folded continuous length of packaging film exposing at least a slider portion of said zipper.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of scored lines.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of dimples.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said weakness area is a plurality of perforations.