Patent ID: 6994663

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a slider to a zippered bag, wherein the slider has a back wall and two cantilevered side walls, the apparatus comprising a bag machine configured to move a zippered bag in a substantially linear direction to present the zippered bag to a slider pusher, a slider sorter configured to align the slider in a desired orientation, a track configured to maintain the alignment of the slider while transporting the slider away from the slider sorter, a slider pusher configured to receive the slider from the track and move the slider substantially perpendicular to the substantially linear direction and toward the zippered bag, a splitter comprising separate blades configured to spread the cantilevered side walls of the slider and allow the back wall to pass between the blades as the slider is moved into engagement with the zippered bag, and a bag machine configured to present the zippered bag to the slider pusher, the apparatus being configured to apply the slider while the zippered bag is in motion.