Horizontal form fill and seal packing method for reclosable packages

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.

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.