Abstract: A filling nozzle for use in filling a valve bag eliminates sifting of product during and after the filling operation. A body member, adapted for insertion into the valve sleeve, has a material passage therethrough adapted to direct a stream of product emerging therefrom through the valve. A vent is provided, connected to a first conduit, for continuously drawing a low vacuum between the nozzle and the sleeve, both during and after the filling operation, to remove any product particles there present. A second conduit is provided for introducing a high pressure blast of air into the material passage to remove any product remaining therein after a bag has been filled. Finally, a third conduit is provided for drawing a high vacuum in the material passage to remove any particles remaining therein after the filling operation has been completed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in filling a valve bag eliminates sifting of product during the filling process. A filling nozzle is inserted into the valve of a bag to be filled. A flow of particulate material is provided through the filling nozzle and into the bag. When the bag is full, the flow of particulate material is terminated. A blast of high pressure air is then introduced into the nozzle in order to clear the nozzle of any residual particulate material therein. A low pressure blast of air is introduced between the nozzle and the filling valve to suspend any particles present in the filling valve after the nozzle has been cleared by the high pressure blast. A vacuum is introduced into the nozzle to suck any suspended particles out of the filling valve after the low pressure blast has been introduced. A boot can be inflated around the nozzle to seal the nozzle within the bag valve before filling the bag.

Abstract: Bags having a filling valve sleeve which are adapted for containing pulverulent material are filled by inserting a filler nozzle into the sleeve and blowing the material through the nozzle and then through an entry port in the sleeve into the bags. The filler nozzle has a transversely flattened configuration which conforms to the shape of the valve sleeve. The valve sleeve has an inner end which is closed and formed devoid of deep corners and the filler nozzle has a nose portion which is formed so as to conform in profile to the inner end of the sleeve. The entry port of the sleeve is disposed in the bottom wall thereof and the filler nozzle has a delivery port in its bottom wall which registers with the sleeve entry port. The valve sleeve has an inner plastic film lining, and the filler nozzle has a groove which surrounds the nozzle delivery port to which groove a vacuum is applied so as to draw the plastic lining into sealing engagement with the filler nozzle.

Abstract: An improved easy opening pinch bottom or gusset bag is provided. The bag includes opposed front and back panels and opposed pairs of front and rear gusset panels foldably connected to one another. The rear gusset panels and the rear panel are of a sufficient dimension to fold over the front panel to close the bag. A tear strip is secured to the front panel at a location to be overlapped by the rear gusset panels and the rear panel when the bag is closed. The portions of the rear gusset panels and the rear panel that will lie adjacent the tear strip in the closed condition of the bag are provided with short perforation lines to facilitate the initial advancement of the tear strip through the rear gusset panels and the rear panel. These perforation lines extend only a short distance so that the overall strength of the bag is not adversely affected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in filling a valve bag eliminates sifting of product during the filling process. A filling nozzle is inserted into the valve of a bag to be filled. A flow of particulate material is provided through the filling nozzle and into the bag. When the bag is full, the flow of particulate material is terminated. A blast of high pressure air is then introduced into the nozzle in order to clear the nozzle of any residual particulate material therein. A low pressure blast of air is introduced between the nozzle and the filling valve to suspend any particles present in the filling valve after the nozzle has been cleard by the high pressure blast. A vacuum is introduced into the nozzle to suck any suspended particles out of the filling valve after the low pressure blast has been introduced. A boot can be inflated around the nozzle to seal the nozzle within the bag valve before filling the bag.

Abstract: A multiwall gussetted bag of the type having pinch bottom and pinch top closures is provided with a seamless plastic liner. The liner is gussetted and one-half of each of the gussets of the liner nests inside of the corresponding gusset half of the remaining bag layers, while the other half of each of the gussets extends inwardly toward the middle of the bag and does not nest with the corresponding gusset half of the remainder of the bag. This condition is present while the bag is empty. When the bag is filled, the non-nesting liner gusset halves are expanded by internal pressure resulting from filling the bag with the product into nesting relationship with the corresponding gusset halves on the remainder of the bag.

Abstract: A bag for containing a flowable product comprises a plurality of panels hingedly coupled along fold lines, an opening at one end of the bag, and a flap hingedly coupled to one panel along a fold line for overlapping an opposite panel and closing the opening. An adhesive layer extends across the entire width of the flap to seal the flap to the opposite panel. The adhesive layer seal has a reduced bonding strength adjacent one end of the flap to facilitate opening of the flap at the reduced bond strength section. The reduced bonding strength is provided by an adhesive coating comprising kaolin clay. This arrangement is particularly useful in heavy weight bags which are sealed by a hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in filling a valve bag eliminates sifting of product during the filling process. A filling nozzle is inserted into the valve of a bag to be filled. A flow of particulate material is provided through the filling nozzle and into the bag. When the bag is full, the flow of particulate material is terminated. A blast of high pressure air is then introduced into the nozzle in order to clear the nozzle of any residual particulate material therein. A low pressure blast of air is introduced between the nozzle and the filling valve to suspend any particles present in the filling valve after the nozzle has been cleared by the high pressure blast. A vacuum is introduced into the nozzle to suck any suspended particles out of the filling valve after the low pressure blast has been introduced. A boot can be inflated around the nozzle to seal the nozzle within the bag valve before filling the bag.

Abstract: A bag for containing a flowable product comprises a plurality of panels hingedly coupled along fold lines, an opening at one end of the bag, and a flap hingedly coupled to one panel along a fold line for overlapping an opposite panel and closing the opening. An adhesive layer extends across the entire width of the flap to seal the flap to the opposite panel. The adhesive layer seal has a reduced bonding strength adjacent one end of the flap to facilitate opening of the flap at the reduced bond strength section. The flap after being sealed to the opposite panel, is reversely bent 180.degree. along with the sealed opposite panel about a lower fold line and portions of the fold extending inwardly from opposed distal ends of the bag are either adhesively tacked or stapled to the one panel to form a finger grip handle therebetween for carrying the bag and its contents.

Abstract: A filling nozzle for use in filling a valve bag eliminates sifting of product during the filling process. The nozzle has an air conduit that supplies high pressure air to clear the nozzle of product after a bag has been filled. An air conduit for low pressure air is provided to introduce air between the nozzle and the bag's valve sleeve for suspending any particles remaining in the valve sleeve after the bag has been filled. A vacuum suction passage is provided to withdraw the suspended particles from the valve sleeve. The nozzle can be used in conjunction with a slitted valve sleeve. The discharge end of the nozzle directs the flow of product downwardly through the slit in the valve sleeve and into the interior of the bag.

Abstract: A bag for containing a flowable product comprises a plurality of panels hingedly coupled along fold lines, an opening at one end of the bag, and a flap hingedly coupled to one panel along a fold line for overlapping an opposite panel and closing the opening. An adhesive layer extends across the entire width of the flap to seal the flap to the opposite panel which is provided with an adhesive coating comprising kaolin clay, to facilitate opening of the bag, but which provides sufficient bond strength during shipment and handling to preclude inadvertent opening of the bag.

Abstract: An elongated, plastic resealing clip is provided for a bag containing a flowable product and comprising a plurality of panels hingedly coupled along fold lines, an opening at one end of the bag, and a flap hingedly coupled to one panel along a fold line for overlapping an opposite panel and closing the opening. The clip is U-shaped in transverse cross section with a bight for engaging the flap fold line and depending legs for pressing the flap against the opposite panel. An adhesive layer extends across the entire width of the flap to seal the flap to the opposite panel. The adhesive layer seal can have a reduced bonding strength adjacent one end of the flap to facilitate opening of the flap at the reduced bond strength section. The reduced bonding strength is provided by an adhesive coating comprising kaolin clay. This arrangement is particularly useful in heavy weight bags which are sealed by a hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: A resealable bag for containing a flowable product comprises a plurality of panels hingedly coupled along fold lines, an opening at one end of the bag, a flap hingedly coupled to one panel along a fold line for overlapping an opposite panel and closing the opening, and a strip of adhesive tape for opening and resealing the flap. An adhesive layer extends across the entire width of the flap to seal the flap to the opposite panel. The adhesive layer seal can have a reduced bonding strength adjacent one end of the flap to facilitate opening of the flap at the reduced bond strength section. The reduced bonding strength is provided by an abhesive coating comprising kaolin clay. This arrangement is particularly useful in heavy weight bags which are sealed by a hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: In a bag adapted to contain a flowable product therein, the bag having first and second opposed closed ends, one of said ends having a self-sealing sleeve formed therein through which flowable product may be delivered into the bag, an improved self-sealing sleeve comprising a first generally tubular sleeve extending into said bag at one side of said one end, a second generally tubular sleeve located inside of and being attached to first sleeve and extending beyond the first sleeve into the bag and a third generally tubular sleeve located inside of and being attached to the second sleeve and extending beyond the second sleeve into said bag.

Abstract: A filler spout for attachment to an automatic bag filling machine whereby freely flowable material is forceably driven through the spout into the interior of the bag. The spout is inserted through an entry opening in the side of the bag during the filling operation. During the filling operation both ends of the bag are sealed. The spout comprises an outer shroud portion inside of which a material delivery tube is disposed. The end of the shroud which is inserted into the bag is closed with a blunt curvilinear contour for easy insertion. An opening is disposed in the side of the shroud adjacent the closed blunt end, and the bore of the delivery tube communicates with the opening in the side of the shroud. The delivery tube has a curvilinear axis so that material fed through the delivery tube is deflected down into the interior of the bag toward one of the sealed ends so as to minimize damage to the side walls.

Abstract: A flexible paper bag suited for containing granular products includes an improved valve in a corner of one end thereof which is adapted to receive a filler spout of a product dispensing machine therein. The valve comprises a tubular plastic sleeve interposed in an opening between opposing, hinged bottom flaps of the bag. The bottom flaps shift about their hinges toward each other under weight of product within the bag to collapse the sides of the sleeve valve, thereby closing the latter. One extremity of the sleeve valve, which extends into and is freely suspended within the bag, acts as a self sealing valve while the bag is being filled. Shifting of the product within the bag after filling thereof folds the sleeve over onto itself, thereby positively closing the sleeve valve.

Abstract: A collapsible handle is secured to the bottom edge of a flexible bag made of a multi-wall construction, with the handle being located in such manner as to not interfere during the normal bag filling operation. The handle includes two generally rectangular portions, each including a support portion that is adhesively bonded to one side of the bottom edge of the bag, and a second pivotally connected handle portion including a central aperture. The apertures of the handle portions are aligned to facilitate grasping of the handle by the user for carrying of the bag.