Methods of Making and/or Filling Reclosable Bags

Abstract

Methods of forming and/or filling recloseable bags are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include attaching a bag closure strip along one longitudinal edge of a length of bag film, and forming from the length of bag film, a bag having an open end, two broad, opposing faces and a flap. In certain embodiments, the flap is attached to an edge of one of the broad faces along the open end and extending between sealed edges of the bag.

1 . A method of forming fillable, reclosable bags, the method comprising 
 attaching a bag closure strip along one longitudinal edge of a length of bag film; and    forming from the length of bag film, a bag having an open end, two broad, opposing faces, and a flap with an inwardly-extending fold, the flap attached to an edge of one of the broad faces along the open end and extending between sealed edges of the bag, the open end of the bag defining a fill opening between the closure strip and the other of the broad faces of the bag.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the closure strip comprises an elongated strip-form base with two spaced-apart, parallel, mating bands of fastener elements disposed on a common face of the base, the base folded along its length between the bands of fastener elements to maintain the fastener elements in engagement while the bag is being formed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein one of the mating bands of fastener elements comprises hooks, and the other of the mating bands of fastener elements comprises hook-engageable fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the band with fibers comprises a non-woven web of fiber.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming the bag comprises folding the length of bag film to form both broad face panels and the flap.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bag is formed after the closure strip is attached to the bag film.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the closure strip extends across the bag between the sealed edges of the bag.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming the bag comprises cutting the length of film and the bag closure strip to selected lengths after the bag closure strip is attached, and sealing cut ends of the film and closure strip to form the sealed edges of the bag.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 filling the bag with a quantity of contents; and    forming a seal along the open end of the filled bag along the closure strip, with the flap forming an expandable gusset of the filled bag.    
   
   
       10 . A method of filling and sealing a reclosable bag, the method comprising providing a bag comprising 
 a body having an open end, two opposing, broad face panels defining a volume therebetween for holding a quantity of contents, and a flap attached to one of the broad face panels along the open end, the flap having an inwardly-facing fold for forming an expandable gusset between the broad face panels after the open end is sealed; and    a reclosable bag closure secured to a free edge of the flap and having an exposed side defining one side of a fill opening at the open end of the bag;    filling the bag with contents through the fill opening; and    sealing the exposed side of the closure strip to the other of the broad face panels of the bag, to permanently close the fill opening.    
   
   
       11 . A method of vertically forming, filling and sealing recloseable bags, the method comprising 
 attaching a bag closure strip along one longitudinal edge of a length of bag film;    forming from the length of bag film a bag having, two broad, opposing faces and an expandable gusset between the broad faces adjacent the closure strip;    filling the bag with a quantity of contents; and    forming a seal along an edge of the bag between the broad faces and crossing the closure strip at one end of the expandable gusset, to seal the filled bag.