A duplex packaging machine comprising a packaging film roll structured to feed package film;a folding board structured to fold said package film into a folded web;a zipper profile roll structured to feed a zipper profile;a rotary slider applicator including a programmable servo motor that synchronizes the application of a plurality of sliders to said zipper profile;substantially transverse sealing jaws structured to seal edges of said folded web in order to form a pair of adjacent pouches;a filling station including a pair of product hoppers structured to supply product for filling said adjacent pouches two at a time;sealing bars structured to seal said adjacent pouches proximate a third edge thereof;package separators structured to separate a series of said adjacent pouches, in order to form individual packages;a processor; anda memory, said memory storing one or more programmable functions executable by said processor, said one or more functions being adapted to feed and fold said package film in order to form said folded web,feed said zipper profile,secure said zipper profile to said zipper profile,apply said plurality of sliders to said zipper profile sequentially as said zipper profile is moving,couple said zipper profile to said folded web,seal two edges of said folded web in order to form adjacent pouches each having one of said plurality of sliders,fill said adjacent pouches,seal said adjacent pouches proximate a third side thereof, andseparate said adjacent pouches in order to form individual packages.

The duplex packaging machine of claim 1wherein said servo motor is programmable through said processor in order to execute the function of controlling the speed of said rotary slider applicator in order that said plurality of sliders are applied to said zipper profile at a spacing of a package width apart from one another; and wherein said rotary slider applicator synchronizes the application of said plurality of sliders with said duplex machine as it completes one or more form, fill, seal and separate packaging functions, two at a time.

The duplex packing machine of claim 2 wherein said rotary slider applicator includes a slider supply and a wheel member having a plurality of extendable spokes with projections structured to engage said plurality of sliders supplied by said slider supply and apply them to said moving zipper profile.

The duplex packaging machine of claim 3 wherein said slider applicator further includes an expander track adjacent the location of said zipper profile; wherein each of said plurality of sliders has a pair of opposing foot portions; and wherein said function of applying said plurality of sliders to said zipper profile includes said projections of said wheel member engaging said sliders and guiding them through said expander track in order to spread said opposing foot portions thereof apart as said sliders are applied to said moving zipper profile.

The duplex packaging machine of claim 1 wherein said folding board is a generally V-shaped folding board.

The duplex packaging machine of claim 1 wherein said substantially transverse sealing jaws are two pairs of opposing heater bars; and wherein said sealing bars are a pair of generally horizontal, double-wide opposing heater bars.

The duplex packaging machine of claim 1 wherein said package separators are a pair of cutters which cut and separate said filled and sealed individual packages, two at a tune.

Abstract

A method of making and filling reclosable packages using a duplex machine includes the steps of providing a zipper profile, package film and a plurality of sliders; feeding the zipper profile; applying the sliders to the zipper profile; coupling the zipper profile to the folded web; sealing two edges of the folded web to form adjacent pouches; filling the pouches; sealing the pouches proximate a third edge thereof; and separating the pouches in order to form individual packages. The method employs a single rotating slider applicator having a programmable servo motor which is programmed in order to synchronize the application of the sliders to the moving zipper profile with the two at a time form, fill, seal and separate packaging operations of the duplex machine. A duplex machine is also disclosed.