Steering, joining and guiding mechanism for zippered film

In a form, fill and seal packaging machine, including means for supplying a continuous plastic bag film having interlocked reclosable fastener elements on respective opposing plies of said film, means for feeding said film through a filling station, a filling station for filling said film with product, means preceding said filling station for separating said fastener elements and guiding said film through said filling station, means for pressing said fastener elements together in an interlocking relationship, means for laterally sealing said bag film to form a bag assembly having first and second side seams, and means for severing said bag assembly from said bag film,

• the improvement wherein said means for pressing said fastener elements together in an interlocking relationship includes a pair of opposing press rolls, the longitudinal axis of each of said rolls being offset from about 2.degree. to 30.degree. from a line perpendicular to the direction of travel of said bag film and said filling station includes a portion disposed interiorly of said opposing plies of said bag film at generally the same point in the direction of travel of the bag film as said opposing press rolls, said filling station and press rolls being cooperatively positioned to permit the press rolls to pull the bag film against the filling station.