| 摘要 |
The invention provides packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals and a method and apparatus for making the same from a novel continuous web of composite packaging film (24, 32). The seal (36) has male and female portions (36A, 36B) of arrowhead shape in cross section incorporating snap detents (73), and is formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips (31) secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film (24, 32), and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine (20). The machine forms the film (32) into a bag (34) with the thermoformable strip (31) inside in ends abutting, folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, deposits the product into the bag, seals the bag, forms the reclosable interlocking seal (36), and severs the bag (34) from the next bag (25) being formed. The package reclosable seal (36) provides positive auditory and tactile indications of the closing of the reclosable seal, so that the consumer is assured that the package has been resealed even in the absence of visual package inspection. The form-fill machine (20) is provided with a novel bottom press (33) for effecting the package sealing and reclosable seal formation, and a novel fill tube forming collar (23) oriented within a particular angular range for feeding the composite film (24, 32) to the packaging machine. <IMAGE> <IMAGE> |
