Patent ID: 6029428
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B29C,B29L,B65B

Abstract:
In a vertical, form, fill and seal apparatus of the type that operates in conjunction with a product supply apparatus providing product in discreet quantities and that forms a continuous, heat sealable, plastic film and zipped cap strip into separate, product-filled, reclosable, sealed bags, including means for storing and supplying the continuous plastic film, means for storing and supplying the continuous, plastic, zippered cap strip, a generally vertical fill tube assembly including a vertical fill tube around which the continuous film is wrapped and formed, feeding means for feeding the continuous, zippered cap strip and plastic film along the length of the vertical fill tube in bag length increments with edges of the continuous film in overlapping relationship with edges of the zippered cap strip, the feeding means including a pair of film pull belts and zipper drive rollers, vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous, zippered cap strip to form a flexible, plastic tube, horizontal sealing and severing means downstream of the vertical fill tube for forming upper and lower horizontal seals across the flexible, plastic tube and for severing the plastic tube, and tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible, plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals, the improvement comprising:a zipper drive roller quick drive disconnect disc and pin arrangement including a pair of spaced discs, one including a plurality of spaced through holes and the other including a plurality of corresponding pins adapted to be received in said through holes.