Claims
- 1. A method for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container, comprising:feeding a web of flexible film; feeding a supply of tamper evident seals; feeding a supply of interlockable fastener strips; orienting a slider to a predetermined orientation; placing the slider on the fastener strips; attaching the fastener strips to the web of flexible film; attaching the tamper evident seals to one of the flexible web or the fastener strips; and placing a product within the web.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tamper evident seal extends over the exterior of the fastener strips.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tamper evident seal is located between the fastener strips.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeding the web is generally continuous.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally tubular shape.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially vertical orientation.
- 7. The method of claim 1 which further comprises stopping the web of flexible film before said placing a product.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said placing the slider is during said stopping the web.
- 9. The method of claim 7 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally folded shape.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
- 11. The method of claim 1 which further comprises moving the slider relative to the fastener strips before said placing a product.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said placing the slider is by a rotable selector wheel.
- 13. The method of claim 1 which further comprises spreading apart the feet of the slider said before said placing the slider.
- 14. The method of claim 1 which further comprises dividing the web into a plurality of containers by forming a seal generally across the film.
- 15. The method of claim 1 which further comprises spreading apart a closure element of the fastener strips.
- 16. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally tubular shape.
- 17. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally folded shape.
- 18. The method of claim 1 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially vertical orientation.
- 19. The method of claim 1 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
- 20. A method for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container, comprising:feeding a web of flexible film; feeding a supply of interlockable fastener strips; orienting a slider to a predetermined orientation; spreading apart the feet of the slider; placing the slider on the fastener strips; attaching the fastener strips to the web of flexible film; dividing the web into a plurality of containers by forming a seal generally across the film; and placing a product within a container.
- 21. The method of claim 20 which further comprises feeding a supply of tamper evident seals and attaching the seals to one of the flexible web or the fastener strips.
- 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the tamper evident seal extends over the exterior of the fastener strips.
- 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the tamper evident seal is located between the fastener strips.
- 24. The method of claim 21 wherein said feeding the web is generally continuous.
- 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said feeding includes a forming the web in a generally tubular shape.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially vertical orientation.
- 27. The method of claim 21 which further comprises stopping the web of flexible film before said placing a product.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally folded shape.
- 29. The method of claim 28 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
- 30. The method of claim 20 wherein said feeding the web is generally continuous.
- 31. The method of claim 20 which further comprises stopping the web of flexible film before said placing a product.
- 32. The method of claim 20 wherein said placing the slider is during said stopping the web.
- 33. The method of claim 20 which further comprises moving the slider relative to the fastener strips before said placing a product.
- 34. The method of claim 20 wherein said placing the slider is by a rotatable selector wheel.
- 35. The method of claim 20 which further comprises spreading apart a closure element of the fastener strips.
- 36. The method of claim 20 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally tubular shape.
- 37. The method of claim 20 wherein said feeding includes forming the web in a generally folded shape.
- 38. The method of claim 20 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
- 39. The method of claim 20 wherein during said placing a product the container is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
- 40. An apparatus for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container, comprising:means for feeding a web of flexible film and a supply of fastener strips; a slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips, said slider having feet, said slider having a predetermined orientation; means for placing said slider on the fastener strips, said placing means including a rotatable selector wheel, said placing means spreading said feet apart before placing said slider on said fastener strips; a sealing mechanism for forming at least a partial seal across the film, said sealing mechanism dividing said flexible film into a plurality of containers; and means for placing a product within one of said plurality of containers.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 40 which further comprises means for moving the slider relative to the fastener strips such that the fastener strips are generally closed.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 40 which further comprises a guide for orienting the fastener strips to accept said slider.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said means for feeding stops the web when said selector wheel rotates to place said slider on the fastener strips.
- 44. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said means for feeding forms the flexible film into a generally tubular shape.
- 45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for placing places the product within the web in a generally vertical manner.
- 46. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said means for feeding forms the flexible film into a generally folded shape.
- 47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said means for placing places the product within the web in a substantially vertical orientation.
- 48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said means for placing places the product within the web in a substantially horizontal orientation.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/796,262, filed Feb. 28, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/370,053, filed Aug. 6, 1999 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,287 on Apr. 3, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/965,722, filed Nov. 7, 1997 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,924 on Sep. 28, 1999, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Continuations (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/796262 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/022451 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/370053 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/796262 |
|
US |
Parent |
08/965722 |
Nov 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/370053 |
|
US |