Adhesively resealable package, method and apparatus

Abstract

The package and system according to the invention utilize a novel converter device mounted adjacent to standard packaging apparatus for forming a composite packaging film and feeding it to the packaging apparatus to form a finished package with an adhesively resealable closure structure oriented in the consumer desired direction extending transversely to the long dimension of the package. Alternatively, the composite packaging film made according to the invention may be wound on a spool and stored for future use if there is a substantial difference between the rate of production of the composite packaging film and the production rate of the packaging machinery. The converter and the composite film made by it function with both horizontal and vertical form/fill/seal wrapping machines and with overwrap packagers. The composite packaging film is formed by the converter by unwinding the plastic packaging film from a storage roll where the film is first transversely slotted at package length intervals and then has a strip from the roll of adhesively coated film pressed onto it covering and overlapping the previously cut slot, the composite film being then either transported into a packaging machine where product packaging takes place, or being wound onto a takeup roll for future use. The converter apparatus includes computer controlled timing devices to properly time and coordinate the slotting of the film and the applying of the adhesively coated film strip thereto, as well as holding and then removing the slotted out pieces of film, and slitting strips of the adhesively coated film from its supply roll. A variety of packaging films may be used, such as polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, high and medium density polyethylene, and various film laminations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.