Apparatus for making reclosable bags

Claim 1

Apparatus for making an integral extruded plastic bag, comprising: means for forming a thin wall extruded flexible plastic web, and integrally on the plastic web longitudinally extending and laterally spaced complementary resiliently flexible interlocking fastener profiles having an imperforate gusset-forming web area therebetween; means for collapsably folding the gusset-forming web area into a gusset extending in one direction away from said profiles; means for folding portions of the plastic web into free terminal digitally manipulatable double thickness bag mouth pull flanges projecting to a suitable length in the opposite direction from said profiles; means for collapsing the remainder of the plastic web into bag side wall panels toward said gusset and to extend to a substantially greater length than the gusset for providing a substantial bag pouch into which the gusset projects only a limited distance; and means for securing the fastener profiles together into interlocking but releasable fastener relation; whereby the gusset provides a secure closure for the bag which closure is adapted to be broken for discharging contents from the bag, and the separable fastener profiles being then adapted for reclosing the bag.