Apparatus and method for manufacturing flexible reclosable containers

An apparatus for forming a vertical tubular form fill reclosable package from a sheet of flexible film and a continuous strip of flexible fastener profile comprising:

• a filling spout for vertically dropping contents into a tube;
• means for guiding and wrapping the sheet of film about said spout as the film moves downwardly over said spout;
• first guide means positioned relative to the spout for bringing lateral edges of the film together in adjacent relationship to form a tube;
• feed means for feeding the continuous strip of flexible fastener profile into a space adjacent to said film edges;
• and
• attaching means for joining the continuous strip of flexible fastener profile to said film edges after forming said tube to provide a reclosable closure for access to the contents of the tube supplied through the spout.

A method of manufacturing flexible reclosable containers, comprising the steps of:

• dispensing a continuous web of flexible film;
• forming said continuous web into a tube, said tube having a seam longitudinally disposed thereon, said seam comprising lateral edges of said continuous web adjoining each other;
• dispensing continuous strips of flexible fastener profile;
• sealing said continuous strips of flexible fastener profile to said film after said forming step;
• longitudinally sealing said seam together proximate said lateral edges so as to form a longitudinal seal along said seam;
• transversely sealing said tube so as to form a bottom seal of said container;
• filling said container;
• transversely sealing said tube so as to form a top seal of said container;
• and
• severing said container from said continuous web.