Patent ID: 8257235

Claim:
A method for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said method comprising the steps of: a) unwinding a web of material from a supply and advancing said web of material to a punch station, said web of material having a first surface and an oppositely aligned second surface, first and second sides, and a width dimension extending between said first and second sides; b) punching a predetermined pattern through said web of material; c) longitudinally folding said web of material upon itself such that said first major surface is exposed; d) bonding said first and second major surfaces together along a single longitudinal line to form a continuous tubular structure; e) forming a transverse seal across said continuous tubular structure, said seal being aligned adjacent to said predetermined pattern; f) transversely slitting said continuous tubular structure adjacent to said transverse seal to form discrete pouches; g) advancing each of said discrete pouches through a first station of a machine in a machine direction with said closed bottom leading each of said discrete pouches through said machine and with said first major surface facing upward, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge being distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed; h) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said first station to a second station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said opening/closing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and i) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said second station to a third station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.