Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; after creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A polymeric woven bag has a first panel and a second panel and an open end of the bag to be pinched closed. A first layer of heat activated adhesive material is on a portion of the bag to form an adhesive-to-adhesive seal by contact with a second layer of heat activated adhesive material on a portion of the bag. second panel, wherein a chemical family of the adhesive layers comprises, distillates, petroleum and ethanamine or naphthene components, and wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric bag material.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a gusseted flexible bag In one embodiment, the flexible bag of the present invention is formed from the tube of material having a front side and a rear side. A pair of laterally disposed opposing gusset folds are formed in the tube along its sides. Each of the folds has a longitudinal crease. The bag further has a rear side flap extending from the rear side of the bag across the width of the tube which is folded over onto and hot air sealed to the front side of the tube of material. The gussets each have a slit approximate a first end of the tube thereby forming a front side flap. A front side flap may also be manufactured, if desired, which is then folded over when the rear side flap is folded so that the front side flat rests under the rear side flap. The rear side flap is hot air sealed to the front side of the bag with the front side flap being sealed therebetween.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bag with one or more easy open features, which in certain embodiments are reclosable. Methods of making such bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; after creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bag making includes an input section, a sealing section and an output section. The sealing section includes a seal bar having a heat pipe with a relief zone, through which pressure is relieved. The heat pipe is preferably disposed in or near the seal bar. The relief zone can be a valve that opens and closes, or other reusable devices, or it can be a destructive relief zone. The heat pipe is preferably a generally closed cylindrical shape with the relief zone located on one end. The heat pipe can have a second relief zone, possibly located at the other end of the heat pipe. Fluid may be in the heat pipe. The invention can be implemented as a bag machine with a seal bar, or a seal bar with a heat pipe, or solely as a heat pipe.

Abstract: An article for packaging food is provided in which the article comprising a triangularly shaped top layer of a first flexible material, such as aluminum foil, having two sealing edges and one opening edge, and a triangularly shaped bottom layer of a second flexible material having two sealing edges and one opening edge, wherein the sealing edges of the top layer are secured to the sealing edges of the bottom layer, thereby forming a conical pouch between the top layer and the bottom layer. The pouch has an opening between the opening edges into which food items can be inserted and then the opening edges folded together to close the pouch. The top layer preferably includes perforations that facilitate tearing open the top layer, for example, during or following reheating of the food item.

Abstract: A smoothing device includes guide surface sections for a flat printing material whose leading edge is pulled in a direction of travel over the guide surface sections. The guide surface sections have openings which communicate with throttling ducts that are pressurized with compressed air during operation. The guide surface sections form a smoothing notch and have air passage openings which communicate with a flow duct. The air passage openings are configured to cause pressure conditions when there is an air throughflow during operation such that the flat printing material forms a bead projecting into the smoothing notch.

Abstract: A method for making recessed tray liners for storing objects in a storage container is disclosed. The first step in the method is to size a structural thermoplastic foam liner to fit within a tray. The foam liner is preferably a foamed polyethylene plastic. After the tray is lined with the foam liner, the object or objects to be held in the tray are then heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic foam. The temperature of the heated object is selected to be above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic foam, but below the melting temperature of the foam. After the object or objects have reached the appropriate temperature, the heated object is pressed into the foam lining to form a cavity. The heated foam will flow such that the cavity will conform to the contours of the object being pressed into the foam. After the object is sufficiently pressed into the foam, it is rapidly cooled to a temperature below the softening temperature of the foam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a drawtape to a hem of a thermoplastic film structure is disclosed. The thermoplastic film structure includes a panel, the hem, and the drawtape. The hem is formed along one end of the panel, and the drawtape is housed within the hem. In the method, the film structure is conveyed to a stationary heat sealer that includes a stationary heated block and a hot air blower spaced from the heated block. The film structure is momentarily stopped at the stationary heat sealer with hem disposed between the heated block and the hot air blower. While the film structure is stopped, the hot air blower blows heated air onto the hem to force the hem against the heated block, thereby sealing the drawtape to the hem.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which a heated longitudinal seam sealer continuously forms a longitudinal lap seam along lapped edges of the tube being formed. This longitudinal lap seam sealer can be used in machines having conventional cross sealing jaws as well as in machines in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the cross sealing operation. The heated longitudinal seam sealer includes a wafer thin internal hot air dispenser that discharges hot air from both surfaces on the surfaces to be fused together. The heated longitudinal seam sealer also includes an external hot air dispenser that includes a plurality of hot air discharge jets through which hot air is discharges on the outer surface of one of the overlapped edges that not only provides necessary heat to cause fusion but also exerts sufficient pressure on the overlapped edge to insure proper sealing.

Abstract: To prevent an end of a filled container, upon heating by a hot air for subsequent welding of edges thereof, from coming into contact and sticking to a retainer, a centering gas such as, for example, air is supplied from an external source to the container end. Edges of the filling opening of the container are heated by a hot gas for a subsequent closing of the same through a nozzle introducible into the filling opening of the container end. A centering fluid is directed at the end of the container with a component of flow of the centering in an axial direction of the container to provide for a contact-free centering of the container end.

Abstract: A draw tape bag is formed from a plastic web. An edge folding unit, a notching unit, a tape inserting unit, a heat sealing unit and a web folding unit form a compact continuous line in a rectangular path. The hem folder includes a L-shaped plate within the hem to receive a draw tape. The plate is pivotally mounted the tape within the hem. A wheel is rotatably and pivotally mounted for pulling the hem onto the plate. A single strap on a roll has a width equal to both tapes. The roll is driven and the strap passes over a knife to sever the strap from the tapes. A tension control roll is coupled to moving the strap and controls the strap feed to hold a constant tape tension. A folding board includes spaced edge channels in a V-shape for folding the flat web. An air layer is interposed between the web and the folding channels to provide a low friction movement.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing draw tape bags from a web of plastic material are disclosed. The apparatus and methods relate to draw tape bags in which a hem seal, enclosing the draw tape, is formed in the bag without stopping the movement of the web through the hem sealing station.

Abstract: A draw tape bag apparatus passes a web of plastic material having edge notched hems in the opposite edges to receive closing tapes. A hem sealer unit seals the folded layers of the web longitudinally of the folded edge to form the hem. The sealer unit includes a drum unit rotatably mounted on a shaft. The drum unit includes first and second drum parts having coaxial peripheral surfaces. A heat concentrating and release tape is secured to each drum part. The adjacent intermediate ends of the drum parts have telescoping and mating fingers and receses. Separate adjustment screws are coupled to the machine frame adjacent each drum part. Each screw is coupled to the outer race of a ball bearing secured to the adjacent outer end wall of the drum part. The setting of the screw accurately locates the heat concentrating tape axially of the drum. Hot air nozzles are mounted externally to the drum parts in alignment with the tapes and heat the web passing over the tapes to heat seal the web layers in the hem.

Abstract: An arrangement for welding multi-ply staggered bags has two guiding elements for guiding a multi-ply material so that the inner ply is staggered with itself and one part of the inner ply is staggered on another part thereof, a heating aggregate which supplies hot air for welding, and a bending member arranged to bend the staggered parts of the inner ply so that they partially separate from one another and form a gap into which the hot air from the heating aggregate is supplied.

Abstract: A method for dividing an extruded tube into a plurality of smaller tubes is disclosed. The method includes the steps of flattening the tube into a web, sealing one or more longitudinal strips, or paths, along the web, and cutting generally the middle of the paths to separate the different smaller pieces. The apparatus includes a roll having a raised platen circumferentially thereof, and an air distributor to direct heated air against the web on the platen to effect a seal in the area of the platen. The web, with the sealed strips, is moved past a knife that severs the strip, and the knife is heated to prevent the accumulation of material thereon.