초록 ▼

Packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals and a method and apparatus for making the same from a novel continuous web of composite packaging film, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the

Packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals and a method and apparatus for making the same from a novel continuous web of composite packaging film, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed. The package reclosable seal provides positive auditory and tactile indications of the closing of the reclosable seal so that the consumer is assured that the package has been resealed even in the absence of visual package inspection. The form-fill apparatus is provided with a novel bottom press for effecting the the package sealing and reclosable seal formation, and a novel fill tube forming collar oriented within a particular angular range for feeding the composite film to the packaging machine,

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a flexible package formed from a continuous web of substantially constant thickness packaging material, a repeatably openable and reclosable interlocking seal operative to open and close said package body to provide and prevent respectively access to the package interior, comprising in combina

1. In a flexible package formed from a continuous web of substantially constant thickness packaging material, a repeatably openable and reclosable interlocking seal operative to open and close said package body to provide and prevent respectively access to the package interior, comprising in combination, inner and outer interlocking portions, each of said inner and outer portions of said seal comprising one thickness of said flexible packaging material secured to one thickness of a discrete strip of substantially constant thickness flexible material, said strip having length and width, said strip width defining the strip ends, said strip length having top and bottom edges and being substantially greater than said strip width, said strip being secured to said packaging material along the strip top edge and being substantially unsecured along its bottom edge.