A system for applying a fastening material to a substrate is provided. The system may include a first material source including the substrate. The substrate may define a first length extending from a first edge to a second edge and the first material source may feed the substrate in a first direction transverse to the first length. The system may additionally include a second material source including the fastening material. The fastening material may define a second length extending from a third edge to a fourth edge, whereby the second length is substantially equal to the first length and the second material source feeds the fastening material in a second direction transverse to the second length. The system may also include an applicator system that secures the fastening material to the substrate.

A bottom-gusseted package is disclosed which includes a bottom gusset positioned transversely of a longitudinal axis of the package, and a top sleeve portion including a recloseable fastener provided at the top of the package. In the illustrated embodiment, the top sleeve portion includes a peel seal positioned above the recloseable fastener. This seal desirably acts to close the two layers of the top sleeve portion at the top of the package for a neat and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The top sleeve portion can also include a frangible region, and at least one grip strip on the interior of the top sleeve portion. The configuration of the package, and its method of formation, permit use with associated form, fill, and seal equipment.

A bag includes a bag body defining a housing space, an elongated member provided on a first face portion of two face portions forming the bag body, and a tab. The elongated member includes an elongated tearing guide piece, a belt-shaped base provided between a second face portion and the tearing guide piece along a longitudinal direction of the tearing guide piece. The tab has an outer edge defined in the first face portion by a cutting line penetrating through the belt-shaped base and the first face portion. A protector covering the tab is provided on a side of the first face portion provided with the belt-shaped base.

In order to allow a bag to be easily unsealed by sliding both sides of the bag in a longitudinal direction of a zipper tape irrespective of the rigidity of the zipper tape, a zipper-tape bag according to an aspect of the invention includes: a bag body including at least a pair of facing surfaces; and an elongated zipper tape whose cross sectional profile includes first and second bases each bonded to corresponding one of facing surfaces, and mutually engageable first and second engagement portion respectively protruded from the first and second bases, the zipper tape including an intermediate hinge at at least one point in the longitudinal direction.

A system for applying a fastening material to a substrate is provided. The system may include a first material source including the substrate. The substrate may define a first length extending from a first edge to a second edge and the first material source may feed the substrate in a first direction transverse to the first length. The system may additionally include a second material source including the fastening material. The fastening material may define a second length extending from a third edge to a fourth edge, whereby the second length is substantially equal to the first length and the second material source feeds the fastening material in a second direction transverse to the second length. The system may also include an applicator system that secures the fastening material to the substrate.

A method and apparatus for accurately performing multiple tasks on a web of material are described herein. The method and apparatus include at least a first detector for detecting a detectable feature on the web of material for performing a first operation at a first location on the web of material, and a second detector for detecting a detectable feature on the web of material for performing a second operation at a second location on the web of material. The method and apparatus further include an automated compensating device that cooperates at least indirectly with the detectors. The compensating device reduces any variations in position along the length of the web of material between at least one of said first locations and/or said second locations.

In order to successively make plastic bags each of which includes panel portions, side gusset portions and a zipper portion, a web of panel material 9 is folded and folded back along longitudinal folded lines 14, 15 and 16 and longitudinal folded back lines 17 and 18 into superposed two layers having opposite side edges at each of which a folded portion is formed. The web of panel material 9 is slit along the longitudinal folded line 16 into two divided parts after being folded and folded back. The divided parts are separated and spaced from each other. In addition, the folded portions are split at positions into sprit portions and removed at the positions partially, a body of zipper material being disposed between the sprit portions.

A reclosure, closure or zipper (40) is mounted to the top of a large format package or bag (10), which may be formed from a tube of polymeric material and comprises a first wall (12), a second wall (14), a first gusset (16) and a second gusset (18), the first and second gussets (16, 18) respectively connecting first and second side edges (20, 22) of the first and second walls. The upper corners of the package or bag include notches (24, 26) in the gussets (16, 18). The areas of the package walls around the notches are pinned, glued or sealed together and the closure is attached to the package walls (12, 14). The ends (41, 43) of the reclosure, closure or zipper are flush with the side edges or seals (20, 22) of the package or bag.

A bottom-gusseted package comprises a package body, and a bottom gusset positioned transversely of a longitudinal axis of the package body. Formation of the bottom-gusseted package is effected by positioning individual sleeves transversely of the longitudinal axis of a flexible web which forms the package body. During package formation, the flexible web is cut to form individual packages, with each individual sleeve positioned to form a bottom gusset in a respective package. Optionally, the individual sleeve portions can be configured such that when the flexible web is cut to form individual packages, and each individual sleeve is be cut to form a bottom gusset in one package, and a top sleeve portion in an adjacent package.

A flexible package having a closure device and a lap or fin seal is provided that reduces or eliminates an air gap present at the fin or lap seal portion of packages. The package can include a film with a closure applied to the film. The flexible package can include a film having a closure device applied to the film transverse to the first and second side edges of the film, with the first side edge portion extending into the fin seal such that at least a portion of the first side edge portion eliminates an air gap between the fin or lap seal and at least one of the first and second side edge portions.