Method and apparatus for sealing a drawtape to a hem of a thermoplastic film structure

A method of sealing a drawtape to a hem of a thermoplastic film structure, comprising:

• providing the thermoplastic film structure, the film structure including pair of opposing panels joined along a fold, the panels including respective hems disposed opposite the fold, the film structure including drawtapes housed within the respective hems;
• conveying the film structure to a stationary heat sealer, the stationary heat sealer including a stationary heated block and a pair of hot air blowers, the heated block being disposed between and spaced from the pair of hot air blowers, one of the hems being disposed between the heated block and one of the hot air blowers, the other of the hems being disposed between the heated block and the other of the hot air blowers;
• momentarily stopping the film structure at the stationary heat sealer;
• and
• while the film structure is stopped, blowing heated air from the hot air blowers onto the respective hems to force the hems against the heated block, thereby sealing the drawtapes to the respective hems.