Zipper-lock bag chain adapter for automatic loading and heat seal closing

Claim 1

A chain of reclosable plastic bags comprising in combination: a series of bags of extruded plastic material having front and rear walls and upper and lower ends, with reclosable pressure interlocking rib and groove elements on confronting faces at said lower end which will form the bag top when the bag is disassociated from the chain; seams forming side edges of the bags with the bag walls being unattached along said upper end so that each bag may be filled by inserting contents between said edges; a stiffening rib extruded integrally with said plastic material and projecting outwardly on each of said walls and extending in parallel relation adjacent to said unattached edges; each of said ribs being of such a size and shape that they will cooperate to act as guides and supporting means during a bag filling operation; said ribs being aligned along the bag chain but being discontinuous from one another at said seams; each of said ribs providing a downwardly facing shoulder along its lower side for supporting and guiding the associated bag along upwardly facing shoulder means associated with means for filling the bags; and interconnecting means in the form of a frangible link separably interconnecting adjacent bags at the location of said side seams and being aligned with the ribs, said link transmitting forces so that the tension on the rib is transmitted between adjacent bags.