Patent ID: 8353147

Claim:
An apparatus for attaching a reclosable zipper-type fastener to a flexible material primarily intended for use with a host form, fill, seal and separate packaging machine to form a top-opening reclosable container, said apparatus comprising: a means for supplying a flexible material to said apparatus; a programmable motor and a function controller operatively connected to each other for driving said apparatus; means for guiding said flexible material along a first path through said apparatus; a means for supplying a plurality of reclosable zipper-type fasteners to said apparatus, each one of said plurality having fused opposed distal ends and being joined to an adjacent one of said plurality at said fused opposed distal ends; means for guiding said fasteners along a second path through said apparatus; means for making at least one cut between said fasteners to produce individual ones of said fasteners; means for transferring individual ones of said fasteners from said second path to a position substantially adjacent said first path, said means for transferring being disposed along said second path and being driven by said motor; means for sealing said one fastener to said flexible material in overlying relation to said cut in response to a signal received from said controller; means for sealing said zipper tape to both a front wall and a back wall of said container so as to form a top seal at the top of each of said containers; and means for horizontally perforating said film above said zipper tape in said container and below said top seal; wherein said means for transferring is disposed along said second path downstream from said pusher and comprises a separator for detaching an individual one of said fused fastener strips from said supply of fasteners and a transfer drum including a perimeter surface having at least one detached strip receiver formed on said surface and being disposed in receiving relation to said detached fused fastener strip.