Abstract: A sealing-cutting mechanism for use in a bag-making machine for manufacturing bags from thermoplastic material of tubular, flexible stock comprising an elongated heated sealing bar and an elongated heated blade mounted in side-by-side relation for independent reciprocal travel onto a support for sequentially cutting and sealing said thermoplastic material while supported under tension. This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 729,228 filed Oct. 4, 1976, now abandoned.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a novel rectangular, flat-bottomed bag from a sheet of thermoplastic material in which the sheet is folded, a gusset formed at the fold line and a portion of the gusset turned upon an adjacent bag wall to form an outer planar bottom wall and side gusset. The formed sheet is then heat sealed by one or two operations at the planar bottom wall to form an X-weld across the bottom wall, triangular portions of the bottom wall defined by the X-weld severed and removed, and the sheet transversely welded and severed along a line intersecting the center of the X-weld.

Abstract: An improved discharge apparatus for facilitating the removal and stacking of finished bags from a bag-making machine. An adjustable speed control means is operable to impart selective rotational velocity to a pair of opposed stacking wheels between which bags are travelling as they are discharged from the machine. Timing means operatively connected to the stacking wheels cause the speed control means to operate for a fraction only of the time interval of discharge of each bag.