Method and apparatus for making a reclosable package
AssigneeW. R. Grace & Co.
InventorPhilip A. Sanborn, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making a reclosable package from a forming web, a covering web and a closure strip. The closure strip is indented at desired intervals and sealed at its lower surface to the forming web. A cavity is formed in the forming web after which a product is placed therein and covered with the covering web. After evacuating the space therebetween the covering and forming webs are sealed together with longitudinal and transverse seals which enclose the product and the closure strip. The upper surface of the closure strip is sealed to the covering web so that when the package is severed between the closure strip and an adjacent longitudinal seal, the closure strip may be opened for access to the product.
Claims12
A method for making a reclosable package from thermoplastic materials comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a formable web, a covering web, and a closure strip;
- (b) indenting a portion of said closure strip at intervals spaced apart by approximately the desired length of the package;
- (c) advancing the forming web and closure strip towards each other;
- (d) sealing the lower surface of the closure strip to the forming web longitudinally in the direction of travel of the forming web;
- (e) forming a cavity with a peripheral flange in said forming web so that said closure strip remains on a portion of said peripheral flange;
- (f) placing a product in said cavity;
- (g) covering said product with said covering web;
- (h) evacuating the space between said webs;
- (i) sealing the webs together with longitudinal and transverse seals, one longitudinal seal being adjacent and parallel to but spaced apart from the closure strip with the closure strip within the periphery of the seals, and the transverse seals being made across the closure strip where a portion of the strip had been indented;
- and
- (j) sealing the upper surface of the closure strip to the covering web.
An apparatus for making reclosable packages comprising:
- (a) separate means for holding a supply of and for advancing a forming web, covering web, and closure strip each toward the other;
- (b) means for removing a portion of said closure strip;
- (c) means for sealing the lower surface of said closure strip to said forming web;
- (d) means for forming a product-receiving cavity in said forming web so that the forming web retains a peripheral flange;
- (e) means for covering the cavity in the forming web with the covering webs;
- (f) means for evacuating the space between the forming and covering webs;
- (g) means for sealing the covering and forming webs together with longitudinal and transverse peripheral seals enclosing a product and the closure strip, the closure strip being positioned so that the transverse seal is made across the space where a portion of the strip has been removed;
- and,
- (h) means integral with the longitudinal sealing means to seal the upper surface of the closure strip to the covering web whereby when the package is severed between the closure strip and the adjacent longitudinal seal, the closure strip may be opened for access to the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.