Method and apparatus for forming a reclosable package
First Claim
1. An apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element to a packaging film in a form, fill and seal packaging operation comprising:
- (a) a central member having an upper section and a lower section, said upper section including means for forming a longitudinally extending web of packaging film with marginal edges into a tube about a perimeter of said upper section, said lower section having an outer perimeter less than the tube forming perimeter of said upper section;
(b) means for generating a loop in the packaging film, said loop running generally parallel to the axis of the tube, and said loop utilizing packaging film in excess of the portion of the tube required to conform the tube to the outer perimeter of the lower section;
(c) means for threading a reclosable profile element into said loop of packaging film; and
(d) means for adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop of packaging film.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element to a packaging film is disclosed. Packaging film is formed into a tubular form about a forming tube. The tubular shaped packaging film is advanced along the length of the forming tube and over a product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of the forming tube. The packaging film is deformed to conform to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube. Excess packaging film, made available due to the differences in outer perimeters of the forming tube and product fill tube, is formed into a loop. A reclosable profile element is guided into the loop and adhered to the inner surface of the loop.
172 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element to a packaging film in a form, fill and seal packaging operation comprising:
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(a) a central member having an upper section and a lower section, said upper section including means for forming a longitudinally extending web of packaging film with marginal edges into a tube about a perimeter of said upper section, said lower section having an outer perimeter less than the tube forming perimeter of said upper section; (b) means for generating a loop in the packaging film, said loop running generally parallel to the axis of the tube, and said loop utilizing packaging film in excess of the portion of the tube required to conform the tube to the outer perimeter of the lower section; (c) means for threading a reclosable profile element into said loop of packaging film; and (d) means for adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop of packaging film. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for applying reclosable profile elements to a packaging film comprising:
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(a) a forming shoulder positioned to shape a web of packaging film into a tubular shape; (b) a product fill tube, said product fill tube located inside said tubular packaging film and extending beyond the bottom end of the forming shoulder, said product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the perimeter of said tubular packaging film; (c) means for advancing said tubular shaped packaging film along the length of the fill tube; (d) means adjacent said product fill tube and below the bottom end of the forming shoulder for i) conforming said tubular packaging film to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube; and ii) forming the excess packaging film, made available due to the differences in the outer perimeter of the product fill tube and the perimeter of the tubular packaging film, into a loop; (e) means for guiding a reclosable profile element into said loop; and (f) means for adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for forming packages from packaging film and providing the packages with a pair of reclosable profile strips each comprising interlocking elements supported on profile flanges, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a forming tube having an outer perimeter over which packaging film advances; (b) a forming shoulder shaped and positioned to guide flat packaging film with marginal edges into a tubular shape about said forming tube; (c) a means for joining the marginal edges of the packaging film to form said tubular shape; (d) a product fill tube located inside said forming tube and extending beyond the bottom end of the forming tube, said product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than said outer perimeter of said forming tube; (e) means for advancing said packaging film over said forming shoulder and along the length of the forming tube; (f) means for guiding the packaging film to conform to said outer perimeter of said product fill tube and thereby forming a loop of packaging film from the excess of film making up the tubular shape but not used to surround the product fill tube; (g) means for guiding a reclosable profile element between the inside of the forming tube and the outside of the product fill tube and into said loop; (h) a sealing guide, located adjacent to said product fill tube and having at least one vertical member positioned such that the flanges of said profile element are separated from one another by said vertical member; (i) a profile sealer having a means for adhering said profile flanges to said inner surface of said loop of packaging film; and (j) means for forming cross seals and severing the tubular material between the cross seals to form individual packages.
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25. A method of applying a reclosable profile element to a packaging film comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a web of packaging film over a shoulder and into a tubular shape about a central member having an upper section and a lower section; (b) joining marginal edges of the packaging film to form the film into a tube having a perimeter larger than the outer perimeter of the lower section; (c) advancing said tube of packaging film along the length of said central member; (d) forming a longitudinally extending loop in the packaging film from an excess of packaging film made available by conforming the tubular packing film to follow the outer perimeter of the lower section as the packaging film is advanced along the length of the central member; (e) threading a reclosable profile element along the length of the central member and into said loop; and (f) adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for applying reclosable profile elements to a packaging film comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a packaging film over a forming shoulder and into a tubular shape about a forming tube; (b) advancing said tubular shaped packaging film along the length of said forming tube and over a product fill tube located inside said forming tube and extending beyond the bottom end of the forming tube, said product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of said forming tube; (c) deforming the tubular shape of the packaging film to create a loop, said loop being formed from an excess of packaging film made available as the packaging film is advanced between conforming to the outer perimeter of the forming tube and conforming to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube; (d) guiding a reclosable profile element along the length of the product fill tube and into said loop; (e) adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop.
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29. A method for producing product filled packages having reclosable profile elements for reclosing the package once the package is opened, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a flat packaging film over a forming shoulder and into a tubular shape about a central member having an outer tube and an internal tube, said internal tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of said outer tube, said internal tube extending beyond the bottom end of said outer tube; (b) advancing the packaging film vertically downward along the length of the central member; (c) threading a reclosable profile element along the length of the internal tube and inside the tubular shape of said packaging film; (d) deforming the tubular packaging film to form a longitudinally extending loop of packaging film, said loop being formed from the packaging film made available as the packaging film is advanced between contacting the outer perimeter of the outer tube to contacting the outer perimeter of the internal tube extending beyond the bottom end of the outer tube; (e) guiding the reclosable profile element along the vertical length of the internal tube of the central member and into said loop; (f) adhering said reclosable profile element to the inner surface of said loop of packaging film. (g) forming a cross seal in the tubular packaging film to form the bottom of the package; (h) introducing product contents into the tubular packaging film above the cross seal; (i) forming a second cross seal in the tubular packaging film to form the top of the package; and (j) severing the package from the tubular packaging film.
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Specification