Reclosable package with zipper and slider in the fin seal

Abstract

The reclosable package or bag, typically formed by a horizontal form-fill-and-seal method wherein a single sheet of web forms a bottom wall and two side walls, includes a notched zipper so that the interlocking elements are not sealed within the side seals. Furthermore, the method to manufacture the package or bag uses a driven band, band sealer to decrease the drag induced to the film by the zipper. An encoder is used to send a signal to the stepper motors to match the film speed. Band sealers are used to seal the zipper onto a continuously moving web. The band prevents the film from sticking to the seal bars.

1 . A reclosable package or bag, comprising:
 a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall;   a first side seal formed by sealing first side edges of the bottom wall, the first side wall and the second side wall to each other, and a second side seal formed by sealing side second edges of the bottom wall, the first side wall and the second side wall to each other;   a zipper, sealed to the first side wall and the second side wall, including a first profile and a second profile, the first profile including a first interlocking element and a first flange, the second profile including a second interlocking element and a second flange;   wherein first and second ends of the zipper include respective first and second notches wherein respective first and second portions of the interlocking elements are removed, wherein first and second portions of the flanges remain below the respective first and second notches; and   wherein the first portion of the flanges is sealed in the first side seal and the second portion of the flanges is sealed in the second side seal.   
   
   
       2 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second side seals are free of the first and second interlocking elements. 
   
   
       3 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second side walls extend from the bottom wall. 
   
   
       4 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 3  wherein the bottom wall and first and second side walls are formed from a single sheet of web and wherein folds are formed between the first side wall and the bottom wall and between the second side wall and the bottom wall. 
   
   
       5 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 4  wherein the single sheet of web is formed from polymeric material. 
   
   
       6 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 4  wherein the zipper includes a slider. 
   
   
       7 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 5  wherein the first flange is sealed to an interior of the first side wall and the second flange is sealed to an interior of the second side wall. 
   
   
       8 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 7  wherein the upper edge of the first side wall and the upper edge of the second side wall are sealed together in an upper seal thereby forming a header encompassing the zipper, and wherein the header includes at least one line of weakness for removing the header. 
   
   
       9 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 8  wherein the upper seal is a fin seal. 
   
   
       10 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 8  wherein the first flange is sealed to the second flange along a first internal seal line along an edge of the first notch inwardly adjacent from the first side seal and along a second internal seal line along an edge of the second notch inwardly adjacent from the second side seal. 
   
   
       11 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 10  wherein the first and second internal seal lines terminate in respective first and second endstops which limit travel of the slider. 
   
   
       12 . A reclosable package or bag, comprising:
 a wall structure;   a first side seal and a second side seal formed in the wall structure;   a zipper including a first profile and a second profile, the first profile including a first interlocking element and a first flange, the second profile including a second interlocking element and a second flange;   wherein first and second ends of the zipper include respective first and second notches wherein respective first and second portions of the interlocking elements are removed, wherein first and second portions of the flanges remain below the respective first and second notches; and   wherein the first portion of the flanges is sealed in the first side seal and the second portion of the flanges is sealed in the second side seal.   
   
   
       13 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 12  wherein the first and second side seals are free of the first and second interlocking elements. 
   
   
       14 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 12  wherein the wall structure is formed from a single sheet of web forming a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. 
   
   
       15 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  wherein the single sheet of web is formed from polymeric material. 
   
   
       16 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  wherein the zipper includes a slider. 
   
   
       17 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 15  wherein the first and second flanges are sealed to an interior of the wall structure. 
   
   
       18 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 17  wherein the wall structure includes a header encompassing the zipper, and wherein the header includes at least one line of weakness for removing the header. 
   
   
       19 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 18  wherein the first flange is sealed to the second flange along a first internal seal line along an edge of the first notch inwardly adjacent from the first side seal and along a second internal seal line along an edge of the second notch inwardly adjacent from the second side seal. 
   
   
       20 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 19  wherein the first and second internal seal lines terminate in respective first and second endstops which limit travel of the slider.