Abstract:
A reclosable package includes a pouch of flexible material defining a pocket with an openable mouth, and a reclosable, resealable closure attached to the flexible material and positioned to secure and seal the mouth of the pocket. The closure includes opposing, parallel strips of foam material secured to respective portions of the flexible material and having outer faces arranged to engage one another when the mouth of the pocket is in a closed state. The outer faces of the foam strips each carry an exposed, self-adhesive layer for securing and sealing the mouth of the pocket in its closed state. Such closures are also provided in strip form, and methods of making bags having such closures are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §120, to PCT/US01/30327, filed Sep. 28, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. Application Serial No. 60/236,949, filed on Sep. 29, 2000. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates to self-adhesive closures for packages.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    In some instances, it is desirable to provide disposable articles with reclosable fasteners. For example, plastic bags for use in storing food (e.g., sandwich bags and similar bags of other sizes) are often provided with a reclosable closure strip. Such closure strips may be formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive, a “tongue and groove” type closure (e.g., “ZIP-LOC” closures), or a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., a “VELCRO” fastener).  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,536 discloses a repositionable low tack or tack free adhesive including a blend of an elastomeric block copolymer with a tackifying material, and mentions that one of the applications of such a material is in resealable bags.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    The invention features self-adhesive closures, and products including self-adhesive closures. Generally, the self-adhesive closures include opposed cooperating fastener elements, each fastener element having a self-adhesive surface. The term “self-adhesive”, as used herein, refers to a surface that exhibits adhesion to itself (e.g., when the surface is folded over on itself) and to surfaces having similar self-adhesive properties (e.g., when the surface is pressed against a cooperating fastener element), while exhibiting relatively weaker adhesion to dissimilar surfaces and contaminants. Preferred self-adhesive closures exhibit no significant adhesion to dissimilar surfaces and contaminants, and are thus substantially tack-free.  
           [0006]    In one aspect, the invention features a package that includes a flexible bag defining an open end, and, positioned to seal the open end, a closure strip including a self-adhesive closure. The flexible bag is formed of a relatively non-self-adhesive material.  
           [0007]    In some preferred packages, the self-adhesive closure includes a foam layer. The foam layer provides resiliency to enable the closure to seal around contaminants, such as particulate matter. Moreover, the foam allows for some lateral distortion of the closure without stressing the bond layer. When the closure is flexed, the foam layer can undergo shear distortion through its thickness (i.e., the inner and outer surfaces of the foam layer can be displaced laterally relative to one another) and thus reduce the shear load applied to the bond layer.  
           [0008]    Some implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features: The self-adhesive closure includes a pair of opposed fastener elements, each fastener element having a self-adhesive surface. Each fastener element includes a layer of flexible sheet-form material, a flexible foam layer bonded thereto, and a self-adhesive layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the flexible foam layer. The self-adhesive layer includes a thermoset elastomer. The foam is closed cell foam. The self-adhesive closure is constructed to provide a watertight seal. The package further includes a second closure strip. The second closure strip includes a hook and loop fastener, or, alternatively, a non-reclosable shelf-seal. The second closure strip is positioned adjacent the self-adhesive closure, e.g., extending substantially parallel to the self-adhesive closure. The package further includes a third closure strip. The self-adhesive closure is positioned between the second and third closure strips. The flexible bag includes a flap constructed to fold over the open end. The closure strip is positioned to seal the flap against an outer surface of the bag. The edges of the flexible bag at the open end lie in the same plane.  
           [0009]    In a further aspect, the invention features a closure strip including cooperating fastener elements of a self-adhesive closure, each fastener element being provided in the form of an elongated strip, and including a self-adhesive surface constructed for cooperative engagement with an opposed self-adhesive surface of the other fastener element.  
           [0010]    Implementations of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Each fastener element includes a layer of flexible sheet-form material, a flexible foam layer bonded thereto, and a self-adhesive layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the flexible foam layer. The self-adhesive layer includes a thermoset elastomer. The foam is closed cell foam. The self-adhesive closure is constructed to provide a watertight seal.  
           [0011]    The invention also features methods of making bags including self-adhesive closures.  
           [0012]    Some preferred self-adhesive closures include a pair of opposed, cooperating self-adhesive fastener elements, each fastener element including a laminate of a flexible sheet material, a flexible foam layer bonded to the flexible sheet material, and a self-adhesive layer coated on an exposed surface of the flexible foam layer.  
           [0013]    Note, however, that the flexible sheet material may be supplied as a portion of bag film or other flexible material to which the closure is applied in the packaging application, with the closure itself consisting essentially of a pair of foam strips with self-adhesive layers which are applied to the bag film or other flexible packaging material to provide a releasable closure. Such closures are provided, in some instances, with a heat-sealable bonding layer on the sides of the foam strips opposite the self-adhesive layers, for bonding the closure strips to the packaging material. Such closures can be readily rolled and stored as continuous strip products, to be cut to desired lengths and bonded during a bag-making operation, for example.  
           [0014]    Suitable flexible sheet materials include flexible plastic films, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, NYLON, and other flexible sheet materials such as fabrics, non-woven materials and papers. The flexible material should generally have sufficient tear strength so that, when the flexible material is bonded to a selected foam layer, the fastener will resist tearing and permanent deformation during normal use.  
           [0015]    Suitable foams are those that have sufficient flexibility and strength to be used in a given application without tearing or interfering with proper operation of the fastener. Suitable foams will also provide the closure with resiliency, to allow the closure strip to seal around contaminants and to allow lateral distortion of the closure strip without stressing of the bond. Preferably, the foam layer is formed of closed cell foam to provide a watertight seal. However, for applications in which ventilation is desired, the foam layer may be advantageously formed of an open cell foam. The thickness of the foam layer will depend upon the application in which the fastener is used. Thinner foam layers (e.g., with a thickness of 0.020 to 0.050 inch or 0.5 to 1.3 millimeters) are more readily run through conventional packaging equipment, and may be more suited for use in premade bags to facilitate dense stacking of the bags. Thicker foam layers (e.g., with a thickness of 0.050 to 0.125 inch or 1.3 to 3.2 millimeters) may be required for applications in which larger grains of particulate matter are to be contained, or for closures that are to be subjected to sharp distortions. Generally, it is preferable that the foam be at least 0.5 times as thick as the largest anticipated grain diameter, preferably as thick. Narrower foam strips (e.g., strips with a width of about {fraction (3/16)} to ⅜ inch or 5 to 10 millimeters) tend to be easier to open but are less able to seal about particulate matter. Wider foam strips (e.g., strips with a width of about ⅜ to ¾ inch or 10 to 20 millimeters) can be harder to open but provide more compliance to seal about grains. Suitable foams include polypropylene, polyethylene and polyurethane, among others. The foam layer may be applied to the flexible sheet material in any desired manner, e.g., by lamination, adhesion, or co-extrusion.  
           [0016]    The self-adhesive layer is formed of a material that provides a desired degree of self-adhesion, combined with minimal adhesion to dissimilar surfaces and contaminants. Generally, the self-adhesive layer is an elastomer that has been modified to provide self-adhesive properties. Suitable self-adhesive elastomers are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,791,024, 4,956,228 and 4,985,299, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. For many bag closure applications, particularly those configured with interior anti-peel flaps, the optimum peel strength required of the closure is very low, such as about 0.2 to 0.4 pounds per lineal inch (0.35 to 0.7 Newtons per lineal centimeter), for easy opening. Such peel strength is provided, in some embodiments, by the engagement of the self-adhesive layers, and in other embodiments by a combination of the self-adhesive engagement and the engagement of a primary, mechanical or adhesive fastener. The thickness of the self-adhesive layer will depend upon the properties required of the fastener, and the elastomer selected.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the self-adhesive elastomer is a thermoset material, particularly for applications which may be subjected to elevated temperatures during storage or use, or which require particularly good dimensional stability. For the self-adhesive material to be suitable for repeated engagement cycles, the cohesive strength of the material (as well as the adhesion of the material to its carrier material, such as the foam layer) must be less than the force required to separate the two engaged layers of self-adhesive material. Furthermore, for a “tack-free” characteristic as regards adhering to other materials, the self-adhesive material should provide little to no adhesion (preferably, no measurable adhesion) to materials other than a contacting layer of similar material. As discussed in the reference patents incorporated above, a suitable adhesive material is an elastomer such as natural rubber dissolved in a solvent such as heptane (with a proportion, for example, of 15% natural rubber and 55% heptane). Another suitable adhesive is a mixture of elastomeric materials, such as natural rubber and butadiene-styrene rubber.  
           [0018]    For some applications in which the natural characteristics of a thermoset material are not required, a self-adhering adhesive in the form of a thermoplastic block copolymer, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,536 (hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), may be employed to advantage.  
           [0019]    The self-adhesive layer may be applied to the foam layer using any suitable coating method, e.g., roll-coating or spraying.  
           [0020]    The phrase “hook and loop fastener”, as used herein, refers to reclosable fasteners that include a male fastener component having a plurality of male fastener elements (e.g., hooks or mushrooms), and a female fastener component constructed for cooperative engagement with the male fastener component. This phrase also refers to reclosable “self-engaging” touch fasteners having an array of male-type fastener elements adapted to engage a similar array of male-type fastener elements to form a releasable closure.  
           [0021]    The contents of the following applications are all incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: PCT/US01/30327, filed Sep. 28, 2001 and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/240,288, filed Sep. 29, 2000.  
           [0022]    Advantageously, preferred closures of the invention are resealable, repositionable, relatively easy to open and close, provide a watertight seal when closed, and are relatively resistant to contamination, e.g., by dust or larger particulate matter. A closure strip including a self-adhesive closure of the invention can advantageously be used to seal flexible, reclosable packages, such as plastic sandwich and storage bags. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    FIGS.  1 - 7  are schematic perspective views of bags including self-adhesive closures.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 illustrates a second vertical form/fill bagging apparatus, configured to accommodate the closure strip of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the means for joining the closure strip to the bag web in FIG. 8, with portions removed to show the configuration of the insulator rail and sealing jaws.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  9 - 9  in FIG. 8.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 shows a first inverted horizontal form/fill packaging apparatus and method, with the closure strip fed into the fin seal between the web flanges.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  10 A- 10 A of FIG. 10.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 shows a second inverted horizontal form/fill packaging configuration, with the closure strip wrapped about the web flanges.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  11 A- 11 A of FIG. 11.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  12 A- 12 C illustrate three sample self-adhesive closure constructions.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 13 shows an apparatus and method for forming bags to be filled from an open end opposite their closures.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  14 - 14  in FIG. 13.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of area  15  in FIG. 13, showing the configuration of the closure as applied to the web.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 16 shows another method for forming pouches, in which the closure strip is bonded to the edges of a sheet of bag film as the film is folded.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 17 illustrates making reclosable bags from two parallel plastic webs and a closure strip.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17A shows a bag made by the process of FIG. 17. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]    Referring to FIG. 1, an envelope style package  10  is shown. Package  10  includes a body  12  and a flap  14  that extends over upper edge  16  of body  12 . Two closures  18 ,  20 , are provided to seal package  10 . Each closure includes two opposed, strip-form fastener elements  18   a,    18   b  and  20   a,    20   b.  Closure  18  is a self-adhesive, reclosable closure, while closure  20  is a non-reclosable, primary, shelf seal. Thus, closure  20  provides supplemental sealing and tamper evidence of the package during storage and prior to use, and does not provide any closure function once opened. Closure  20  may be, for example, a peel seal of an adhesive heat seal material containing additives selected to cause the peel seal to peel apart at a peel load lower than would be required to fail the underlying package film. Alternatively, closure  20  may be a permanent joint between opposing faces of packaging film  12 , the package including a perforation  28  to allow the user to open the package without breaking the closure strip  20 . Closure  18 , on the other hand, is reclosable, meaning that it retains its engageable nature after opening to provide a reclosable seal. Closure  18  contains the self-adhesive material featured in the above invention summary.  
         [0039]    A face-to-face closing package  30  is shown in FIG. 2. Package  30  includes a body  32  and, at its open end  34 , edges  36   a,    36   b  which generally lie in the same plane. Like package  10 , package  30  includes a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  and a shelf seal closure  20 . Package  30  also includes perforations  28   a,    28   b  that are constructed to allow a user to easily tear off the shelf seal closure  20 . (If desired, the perforation may be provided on one side only, as in a “pinch and pull” type package openable by tearing through a broad face of the package.)  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 3 and 3A show a roll top package  40  in its open and closed configurations, respectively. Roll top package  40  includes a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  including fastener elements  18   a,    18   b.    
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 4, 4A and  4 B show various envelope-style packages that include both a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  and a hook and loop closure  44 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, package  50  includes a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  interposed between two associated hook and loop closures  44   a,    44   b.  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  is positioned parallel to a hook and loop closure  44 , with the hook and loop closure being positioned closer to the edge  46  of flap  14 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, a reclosable self-adhesive closure  18  is positioned parallel to a hook and loop closure strip  44 , with the repositionable self-adhesive closure being positioned closer to the edge  46  of flap  14 . In each of the hybrid configurations shown, the hook and loop closure provides mechanical strength (i.e., peel and shear strength) to the closure, while the self-adhesive closure  18  gives the hybrid closure combination a desired degree of watertightness.  
         [0042]    As shown in FIGS.  5 - 7 , either the self-adhesive closure  18  (FIG. 5) or one of the sides of a combination closure (FIGS. 6 and 7) may be constructed or attached to the packaging film  12  to form an interior “anti-peel” flap of the package, as is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,260, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if entirely set forth.  
         [0043]    FIGS.  8 - 16 A illustrate examples of processes and equipment that are used to apply closure strips to flexible plastic sheet material to form reclosable bags.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 8 illustrates a vertical form and fill (VFF) machine configuration for continuously securing the above-described closure strip to a flow of bag-forming web during the forming and filling of individual bags. The bag-forming web consists of a thin sheet of thermoplastic film  254  which is shaped into a tube by being fed over a filling tube  256 , which has an upper funnel end  258  through which contents are discharged to fall into individual bags formed of the film. Film  254  is fed from a roll (not shown) over an attitude roller  260 , and guided onto the fill tube by curved guide forms  262 . In some cases, the film is advanced continuously and the transverse sealing jaws  264  (described below) reciprocate vertically, traveling with the film during the sealing/cutting process (as indicated by arrows  265 ); in other cases the film is advanced incrementally and the transverse jaws remain within the same horizontal plane.  
         [0045]    As film  254  is formed into a tube, its two longitudinal edges  268  form flanges extending generally radially from the tube, between which a continuous length of closure strip  266  is fed in a folded condition, such that the edge regions of the web film lie at least partially against the outer sides of the closure strip in face-to-face relation, but do not overlap the folded edge of the closure strip. Guide rollers  270  above the closure sealing bars  272  maintain the adjacency of the sides of the closure strip and the film edges. Closure strip  266  is fed over a pair of counter-rotatable, parallel rollers  273  to separate the mated self-adhesive strips without applying any shearing force, and then over a bisected insulating rail  274  extending longitudinally along the fill tube from above guide rollers  270  to below closure sealing bars  272 . As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9, bisected insulating rail  274  consists of an outer rail  274   a  hanging from a supporting rib attaching rail  274   a  at its upper end to fill tube  256  just below rollers  273 , and an inner rail  274   b  extending radially from tube  256 . These twin, parallel rail sections are separated along their length to form a space for accommodating the separated self-adhesive strips to avoid crushing the foam layers of the strips as sealing bars  272  permanently heat seal the closure strip to the edges of the bag film. The spacing of the rail sections  274   a,    274   b  also helps to guide the closure strip through the sealing process. Outer rail  274   a  also has a notch extending along its distal end, for accommodating a middle grasp rib  132  of the closure strip, if such is provided on the closure strip as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,260, mentioned above. The primary purpose of insulating rail  274  is to inhibit undesired welding of the inner sides of the closure strip together as the edges of the bag film are welded to the outer surfaces of the closure strip by closure sealing bars  272 , and the primary purpose of the longitudinal space between rail sections  274   a  and  274   b  is to avoid sliding contact against the self-adhesive surfaces of the closure strip during processing. Other insulating rail constructions are also envisioned for avoiding sliding contact of the self-adhesive material, such as a twin, parallel endless belt arrangement (not shown) to form outer insulating rail sides that contact the self-adhesive surfaces of the closure strip but move along with the closure through the sealing process.  
         [0046]    Closure strip  266  may either be spooled from roll  276  over guide roll  278  in a folded condition, as shown with its self-adhesive strips  18   a,    18   b  engaged, and then pulled over rollers  273  to peel apart the self-adhesive strips, or the closure strip may be spooled flat and then folded onto the insulating rail, thereby avoiding having to disengage the self-adhesive sections in the process.  
         [0047]    Closure sealing jaws  272  each have a longitudinal groove adjacent the self-adhesive portions of closure strip  266 , such that the heated sealing jaws slidingly contact the film edge regions only on either side of the self-adhesive bands of the closure strip, sealing the film to the closure strip in two discrete bands. Sealing jaws  272  have appropriate, embedded heating elements (not shown) to maintain their sealing surfaces at a predetermined, elevated temperature. To leave the inner edge of one side of the closure strip free from the film to form an anti-peel flap, the sealing jaw  272  on that side of the closure may be at least partially recessed, as shown, to avoid bonding the inner edge of that side of the closure strip to the bag film. To form an even wider anti-peel flap, the sealing jaw  272  on one side of the closure may be configured to contact the bag film only outboard of its self-adhesive region.  
         [0048]    Immediately below the lower edges of sealing jaws  272 , insulating rail  274  terminates and the self-adhesive bands of the closure strip are pressed together between a pair of rollers  280 , just above the lower end of fill tube  256 .  
         [0049]    After a selected amount of contents have discharged through the lower end of the fill tube, transverse sealing jaws  264  come together about the bag film and closure strip and form two parallel, transverse seals  284 , each of which will form the sealed edge of a bag. As jaws  264  travel with the advancing film, a cutting knife  282  within the jaws severs the film and closure strip between the transverse seals  284 . When jaws  264  open at the end of the sealing cycle, a fully formed, filled and severed bag  286  is complete.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate two examples of horizontal form/fill (HFF) machines and processes featuring the above-described closure strips. Referring first to FIG. 10, a bag film  254  is continuously fed from roll  294  over attitude roller  296  and into a forming head  298  shaped to form the film into a rectangular tube  300 . As with the VFF method described above, the edges of the film are brought together to form a perpendicular fin  302  extending from one side of the tube. In this case, closure strip  100  is fed from roll  304 , folded to engage the hook and loop bands, passed about angled roller  306 , and fed into the nip between heated fin seal rollers  308  between the edges of the bag film. Meanwhile individual products  310  to be packaged (e.g., trays of cookies) are fed through the forming head and into film tube  300  at a predetermined spacing and rate corresponding to the speed of the bag film.  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 10A, the outer surfaces of folded closure strip  100  are permanently welded to the extending film flanges forming the perpendicular fin  302  of the film tube in the nip between fin seal rollers  308 . No insulating rail is needed between the inner surfaces of the closure strip in this case because the outer surfaces of rollers  308  are relieved in a region corresponding to the middle portion of self-adhesive closure  18  so as to not apply excessive heat or pressure to the middle portion of the closure, and the edge regions of closure  18  are coated with a non-heat-sealable material  309  to prevent permanent sealing of closure  18 . With proper adjustment of the temperature and pressure of rollers  308 , which depends on the type of resin employed and the line speed, among other things, at most only a small amount of permanent bonding will occur between the engaged faces of closure  18 . This small amount of bonding can advantageously increase the amount of peel force required to initially open the package, leaving a sufficient proportion of undamaged self-adhesive surface to provide adequate engagement upon reclosure.  
         [0052]    The self-adhesive strip construction  400  of FIG. 12A has a foam layer  402  applied to a thermoplastic base  404  of the closure, a layer of self-adhesive or cohesive material  406  covering the upper surface of the foam layer, and two narrow strips of high melt temperature or heat barrier material  309  (e.g., MYLAR, NYLON or paper) covering the longitudinal edge regions of the cohesive material to prevent permanent face bonding of the closure if processed as shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 12B shows a strip of adhesive-coated foam  408  applied to base  404  between two longitudinal ribs  410  disposed on either side of foam layer  402  to limit the facial compression of the foam layer during processing or during engagement in use. Both mating strips of a self-adhesive closure can be provided with such ribs integrally molded with their bases  404 , such that the ribs of each strip interfere with the ribs of the other strip as the two closure strips are pressed together. FIG. 12C illustrates that foam layer  402  can be applied over ribs  410 , such that the ribs are encased by the foam and limit compression of the edge regions of the foam while allowing sufficient compression of the center region to accommodate particulate contamination.  
         [0053]    Referring back to FIG. 10, diagonal offset folding rollers (not shown) fold over the fin seal, and a pair of offset rollers  312  carrying a heated seal bar and cutting blade seal the ends of the bags and sever the bags from each other.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 11 shows a similar HFF process, in which the closure strip  100  is folded over on the outside of both the bag film flanges and a fin seal insulating rail  314  that extends to just downstream of heated fin sealing rollers  308 . Passed around angled roller  306 , closure strip  100  is folded within a guide channel  316  such that the edges of the closure strip overlap the edges of the bag film, as shown in FIG. 11A. These overlapped regions are welded together on either side of insulating rail  314  by fin sealing rollers  308   a , permanently bonding the closure strip to the bag film.  
         [0055]    Other fin sealing arrangements will now also be apparent for attaching hybrid or combination closures, such as those featured in FIGS.  4 - 4 B, to bag film edges. The hook and loop closure portions of such closures can be arranged to be disposed between the fin sealing rollers, for example, with their self-adhesive portions positioned within the fin seal and outboard of the fin sealing rollers as in FIG. 11A. Alternatively, the self-adhesive portion may be positioned between the fin sealing rollers as in FIG. 10A, with a hook and loop portion disposed outboard of the self-adhesive portion.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 13 shows another application of our closure strip in a bag-making process. Closure strip  318  contains a pull cord  320  (FIG. 15) embedded along its central rib  132 . The pull cord is configured to tear through the closure strip and bag film longitudinally between the self-adhesive bands when pulled transverse to the closure strip, and therefore must be of sufficient tensile strength to tear through the closure strip resin without breaking. Suitable pull cord materials include drawn nylons, such as fishing line, for example. The pull cord is embedded within the resin of the center closure strip rib by being continuously fed into the rib-forming channel of the mold roll prior to the introduction of the rib-forming resin during molding of the closure strip base.  
         [0057]    Closure strip  318  is passed around a guide roller  324  to travel with bag film  254  onto a folding collar  326  where it is permanently bonded to the film under heat and pressure by a sealing shoe  328 . As shown in FIG. 14, sealing shoe  328  slidingly engages the closure strip along three bands, forming three continuous welds  330  between the closure strip and bag film  254 . Collar  326  supports the bag film against the light pressure applied by the sealing shoe. The channels  332  and  334  in the sealing shoe accommodate a self-adhesive band  18   a  and center rib of the closure strip, respectively, and maintain the transverse location of the closure strip during bonding. The exposed outer edge of the closure strip is not welded to the bag film in this instance, to provide an internal anti-peel flap in the finished bag, as shown in FIG. 15. Other bonding configurations are employed for various applications.  
         [0058]    Once welded together, bag film  254  and closure strip  318  are folded along their longitudinal centerline and passed between two drive rollers  336  that press the cohesive bands of the closure strip together and ensure an appropriate crease along the spine of the closure strip. The folding of the bag film and closure strip is effected by collar  326  and a creasing idler  338  that runs along the center of the closure strip and defines a rim groove  340  for receiving the center rib  132  of the closure strip during folding.  
         [0059]    The folded bag film next passes between a pair of reciprocating sealing/cutting jaws  342  which close against the outer surfaces of the bag film to seal the two sides of the folded bag film and the folded closure strip together to form a series of individual pouches, each pouch sealed on three sides and having a single open end  344  for subsequent filling. Jaws  342  may be configured to also sever the pouches from each other during sealing, or to leave the pouches connected in the form of a string of pouches that is readily pulled through an adjacent filling/closing station (not shown).  
         [0060]    In the bag-forming method shown in FIG. 16, closure strip  318 , already folded in half, is fed across an angled roller  356  and between the longitudinal edges  358  of bag film  254  as the film is folded within collar  326 . A pair of grooved and heated sealing rollers  360  continuously seals the edge regions of the bag film to the overlapping closure strip. No insulating rail is necessary as the self-adhesive bands of the closure strip are configured as shown in FIG. 12A and the rollers are contoured so as to not bear upon the center region of the foam layers. After passing through edge sealing jaws  342 , the folded edge  362  of the bag film is trimmed away along line  364 , leaving the ends of the pouches opposite the closure strip open for receiving materials to be packaged. The series of pouches may then be spooled into a roll for sale or later filling.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 17 shows a method of making bags from two separate sheets of bag film and the above-described bag closure strip. Upper and lower plastic films  368  and  370 , respectively, are unspooled continuously, with either a pre-folded closure strip, or pre-engaged self-adhesive strips  372 , fed between them as shown. The closure strips are each permanently welded to respective inner sides of the plastic films between two rotary sealing rolls  376  (only the upper roll is shown). The parallel films and closure strips are then welded together at spaced intervals by transverse heated sealing jaws  378 , forming side seals between adjacent bags which are then filled from their open ends (not shown) and closed by upper and lower sets of sealing jaws  380 . This process is also useful, for instance, for forming a series of pre-made bags to be rolled or stacked for later filling.  
         [0062]    The bag  382  formed by this process has four side seals  384 , as shown in FIG. 17A, along with closure  372 . The side seal  384  adjacent and parallel to closure  372  is ripped off to open the bag and expose the closure. In another embodiment (not shown) the side seal  384  adjacent and parallel to closure  372  is omitted, along with the upper set of sealing jaws  380  in FIG. 17, and a folded closure strip is inserted in place of separate strips  372 , with the fold of the closure strip pointing outward toward the adjacent side of the continuous films.  
         [0063]    Other embodiments are within the scope of the invention and the following claims.