Slider insertion apparatus and methods

A method of mounting a slider onto a notchless recloseable plastic zipper closure having interlocking tracks, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a notchless recloseable plastic zipper closure with interlocking tracks, the tracks having top edges and bottom shoulders;
• (b) providing a slider having a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member;
• the legs having opposing hooks;
• the slider being constructed and arranged to release and interlock the interlocking tracks, as the slider is moved relative to the zipper closure;
• (c) moving the slider from an initial position toward the zipper closure at least 150° along a curved path by using a rotor having an outer periphery and at least one slider-engaging shoulder extending from the outer periphery and adjacent to a pocket accommodating the slider to push the slider from the initial position toward the zipper closure;
• (d) while moving the slider, flexing apart the legs of the slider;
• (e) while the legs are flexed apart, mounting the slider onto the zipper closure so that the legs straddle the tracks and the top member is oriented on the top edges of the tracks;
• and
• (f) allowing the legs to return to a pre-flexed position so that the hooks on the legs engage the bottom shoulders of the tracks.

A method of mounting a slider onto a recloseable plastic zipper closure having interlocking tracks, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a recloseable plastic zipper closure with interlocking tracks, the tracks having top edges and bottom shoulders;
• (b) providing a slider from a loading rack;
• the slider having a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member;
• the legs having opposing hooks;
• the slider being constructed and arranged to release and interlock the interlocking tracks, as the slider is moved relative to the zipper closure;
• (c) turning the slider from an upright position, with the top member oriented over the legs, to a side position by moving the slider along a holding chute in the loading rack;
• (d) automatically moving the slider from an initial position toward the zipper closure along a curved path by using a rotating rotor having an outer periphery and at least one slider-engaging shoulder extending from the outer periphery and adjacent to a pocket accommodating the slider to push the slider from the initial position toward the zipper closure;
• (e) while moving the slider, flexing apart the legs of the slider;
• (f) while the legs are flexed apart, mounting the slider onto the zipper closure so that the legs straddle the tracks and the top member is oriented on the top edges of the tracks;
• and
• (g) allowing the legs to return to a pre-flexed position so that the hooks on the legs engage the bottom shoulders of the tracks.

A method of mounting a slider onto a recloseable plastic zipper closure having interlocking tracks, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a recloseable plastic zipper closure with interlocking tracks, the tracks having top edges and bottom shoulders;
• (b) providing a slider from a loading rack;
• the slider having a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member;
• the legs having opposing hooks;
• the slider being constructed and arranged to release and interlock the interlocking tracks, as the slider is moved relative to the zipper closure;
• (c) allowing the slider to fall by gravity from the loading rack into the insertion pocket of the rotor, the insertion pocket formed by an outer contour of a rotor and a pair of walls on opposite sides of the rotor;
• (d) moving the slider from an initial position toward the zipper closure along a curved path by using a rotating rotor having an outer periphery and at least one slider-engaging shoulder extending from the outer periphery and adjacent to a pocket accommodating the slider to push the slider from the initial position toward the zipper closure;
• (e) while moving the slider, flexing apart the legs of the slider;
• (f) while the legs are flexed apart, mounting the slider onto the zipper closure so that the legs straddle the tracks and the top member is oriented on the top edges of the tracks;
• and
• (g) allowing the legs to return to a pre-flexed position so that the hooks on the legs engage the bottom shoulders of the tracks.