Abstract: A sealing and severing apparatus is disclosed for sealing plastic bags formed in succession from stock plastic film material and then severing the sealed bags from one another. The bags are filled with a foamable composition while they are being formed so that when the formed and filled bags are placed in a container, the foamable composition fills the bag with foam to thereby produce a customized foam cushion for any objects in the container.

Abstract: A heated film die for the fabrication of plastic containers such as bags, envelopes, balloons, bladders, etc.. The die is an integrated sectionalized structure having independent, adjacent, electrically heated, temperature regulated, die sections which are maintained at different temperatures, for performing, simultaneously, two or more of operations such as, cutting, staking and forming, in plastic container fabrication. A lower temperature heat sink between adjacent die sections provides thermal isolation between the die sections.

Abstract: A bag making machine for producing thermosplastic resin film bags including rollers for intermittently advancing a flat tubular web of thermoplastic resin film, a sealing assembly positioned downstream from the roller, a heated cutting bar having a sharp edge for providing efficient cutting and concomitantly preventing build-up of carbon by-product, roller elements for reversing the direction of advancement of the resin film, first drive elements for controllably driving the rollers in first and second directions and second drive elements for transversely driving the sealing and heated cutting bar toward and away from the flat web of thermoplastic resin film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming diagonal splices in flexible, fusible material and the material spliced accordingly. The splice is formed by overlapping the material, tensioning the material at the area to be spliced, and heating a strip of the material under tension to its fusion temperature, thereby fusing and separating the material at the strip. The splice is nearly undetectable to the untrained eye.

Abstract: A heat sealing element, for sealing and simultaneously cutting through at least two layers of thermoplastic film is disclosed. It is particularly adapted for use with a vertical form, fill and seal machine for packaging flowable materials, e.g. chocolate fudge sundae topping, in a lap seamed pouch. The heat sealing element has a portion, which has a greater electrical resistance than the remainder of the element, at the position where the lap seal is to be formed. The portion which has a greater electrical resistance is preferably a portion which is narrower than the remainder of the element, preferably 83 to 94% of the width of the remainder of the element.

Abstract: A heat sealing assembly, for sealing through at least two layers of thermoplastic film is disclosed. It is particularly adapted for use with a vertical form, fill and seal machine for packaging flowable materials. The heat sealing assembly comprises two jaws, resilient clamping elements and a heat sealing element, at least one of the jaws being capable of transverse motion and adapted to collapse a tubular film made from the thermoplastic film and passing between the jaws, each of said jaws having said element mounted thereon, said clamping elements being adapted to grip thermoplastic film which passes therebetween and urge said gripped film towards said jaws when the jaws close and to release said film when the jaws open. Clamping is accomplished without an activating device other than the jaws themselves. Preferably there are clamping elements on both sides of the jaws. Preferably the clamping elements are made of a flexible rubber.

Abstract: A seal wire heat control system adapted to record in memory the immediate history of the operation of the seal wire and to adjust the time duration of the application of voltage to the seal wire in accordance with a predetermined program. The application of heat is controlled according to the running history of the machine. At start up, a relatively long pulse of power is sent through the wire to make a seal for a predetermined number of times. When the count is reached, an intermediate pulse is provided to the wire for a predetermined number of times. When this count is reached, a short pulse is provided to the wire. A reset timer monitors idle time. If no seal is executed after a predetermined time, the entire system, including counters, resets to prepare for delivery of a long pulse to the wire. A safety timer is also provided for limiting the duration of power to the wire within the wire's safety threshold value.

Abstract: An improved process for cutting and simultaneously sealing the cut edges of holographic materials comprising cutting with a hot cutting tool. Suitable cutting tools include a steel rule die, a hot tipped cutter, and a laser. The resulting product can be attached easily to a substrate and will resist delamination even when attached to a substrate such as a textile material that will be subjected to ordinary washing and drying.

Abstract: A device for selectively connecting and disconnecting plastic tubes includes a welder. A carriage is located in the welder for conveying a heated wafer through the welder. A pair of arms is mounted in the welder with each arm having a tube holding pocket which extends across its respective arm. The arms are movably mounted to generally align the pockets with a gap therebetween. Each of the arms has a clamp for selectively clamping a tube in its pocket. A wafer removal station is in the welder downstream from the arms. The carriage is driven to the wafer removal station so that the wafer first passes through the gap to contact the tubes and then the wafer passes into the removal station so that it may be removed from the carriage and the carriage may be returned to its starting location. The welder includes a computer for controlling the operation and synchronizing the timing of the carriage and the arms to automate the welder.

Abstract: A heat seal bar used in a plastic film packaging machine for cutting and sealing plastic films about wrapped products is provided with an insert having sealing surfaces and a knife cutting edge which is removably mounted to the seal bar. A first rectangular portion of the insert is adapted to be received within an elongate slot formed in a bottom surface of the seal bar for mounting the insert to the bar with screws. A second portion of semicircular cross section extends along the bottom of the first portion and thereby projects downwardly from the seal bar. A knife blade detachably mounted in the insert has a cutting edge extending below the seal bar. The cutting edge is defined by a pair of converging knife surfaces formed on the knife blade. Convex surfaces of the second portion formed respectively on opposite sides of the knife define the sealing surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus prints the necessary attribute on an identity tag immediately before a cut wiring cable is inserted thereinto, and automatically attaching the printed identity tag to the wiring cable. An identity tag attaching apparatus attaches an identity tag which represents the attribute of a cable to the cable.

Abstract: A tool carriage includes a main beam along which a subcarriage carrying the tool travels and is supported above a supporting table by two end parts each associated with opposite ends of the main beam. The main beam has a length sufficient to straddle the widest width of conventional supporting tables and is adjustable at one of the two end parts to accommodate different table widths. The end parts have rollers which support the carriage above the table support surface and against lateral displacement on the table. The lateral rollers on one end of the carriage are capable of being adjusted relative to horizontal and vertically extending directions allowing either end of the carriage to be generically adaptable to any table edge configuration.

Abstract: A sterile containment welding device for plastic tubes comprises a pair of side by side spaced tube holders. Each of the tube holders includes a clamp base and a clamp lid. A pocket is provided in each clamp base extending completely across the clamp base so that a plastic tube could be inserted into the pocket and clamped in the holder when its clamp lid is moved to a closed position. Pockets of the side by side tube holders are alignable with each other to permit a plastic tube in one of the holders to be welded to the plastic tube in the other of the holders. A tube locating member is movably mounted at the end of each pocket in the space between the holders. The tube locating member has a wall disposed in the space beyond the pocket for positioning its plastic tube in the proper position for the later welding step when its tube is moved into contact with the walls.

Abstract: A pair of hollow plastic tubes are welded together by mounting each tube in the clamp jaws of a holder in a bent condition to form the U-shape. A structural element is utilized to create a space between the bight of the U-shape and the holder. The bent tubes are disposed toward each other. A tube section separating member is moved into contact with the bent tubes and through the space between each bight and its holder to create a set of two tube sections from each bent tube. A tube section from one set is aligned with a tube section from the other set and the aligned sections are welded together. The structural element may be a weld seam resulting from a prior welding.

Abstract: Waistband interlinings are made by ultrasonically cutting a fabric having warp yarns and fill yarns of a thermoplastics material along lines parallel to the warp threads. An acrylic finish on the fabric permits it to undergo the ultrasonic cutting, will retard the development of brittleness in the fused fibres, and keep the resulting fused edge intact. The fabric should have at least 30 fill yarns per inch but no more than 42 warp yarns per inch. The fabric is cut by passing it between a stationary pressing element, or knife, and the horn of an ultrasonic generator. The fill yarns melt as they pass between the knife and the horn and fuse into adjacent fill threads to form a continuous edge along the length of the cut fabric. The resulting waistband material has a smooth edge formed from fill, or weft, fibres fused to each other and to not more than one warp thread. The waistband interlining finds use in a waistband assembly for slacks and pants.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is used for forming airlaid articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins and the like. The apparatus includes an anvil drum with die cavities formed therein. The die cavities have foraminous bottom walls for drawing a stream of air-entrained fibrous fluff therethrough. A first material layer is laid on the anvil drum for covering some of the die cavities and is then deformed into the cavities. After a belt with opening corresponding to the die cavities has been laid on the first layer for protecting the sealing areas from fluff, an air stream with fibrous fluff is drawn through the first layer and through the foraminous bottom walls, thus pulling the first layer into the die cavities and causing the fluff to be deposited in the cavities. A second material layer is placed on the deposited fluff and glued or crimped to the first layer. A die-cutting roller then cuts the airlaid articles into the desired shape before the articles are removed from the anvil drum.

Abstract: A plastic tube is cut into two sections which are sealed closed by a sterile method wherein the tube is loaded into two clamping jaws which flatten the tube. The tube is cut through the flattened section and the cut ends are heated to their molten state. A wafer having wings is located between the cut ends with the wings penetrating the lumens to create an internal plug as the wings force the molten material inwardly. The plugs add to the strength of the resultant seal. If desired, the molten ends are pressed into a cavity which is cooled to a temperature below the molten temperature to seal the ends. The tubes are then removed from the cavity. When it is desired to connect individual tube sections the two tube sections are placed in clamp members in axial alignment slightly spaced from each other. The ends of the tube sections are melted by a melt/wipe process and the tube sections are then pressed into contact with each other to be welded into an integral tube.

Abstract: A heat sealing bar assembly is disclosed that is intended to avoid distortion of the heat sealing edge due to thermal expansion of the heated sealing bar with respect to the unheated support beam to which it is mounted. The mounting means include a fixed center support, end supports that permit axial sliding of the ends of the heated seal bar with respect to the support beam, and a series of jacking screws between the center support and the end support for adjusting the shape of the heated sealing bar.

Abstract: Plastic tubes are welded by placing a pair of tubes in a pair of aligned holders with each tube folded toward itself. A wafer is movably mounted in the gap between the tubes and is heated to cause the ends of the tubes to melt without actually cutting through the tubes. The melted ends of opposed tubes can be pressed into contact with each other to form a welded connection. In a variation a pair of cutting blades cut the folded ends of the tubes and the cut ends are then melted by a wafer and subsequently pressed into contact with each other.

Abstract: Plastic tubes are welded together by placing each tube in a nest which includes a pair of grooves and an anvil centrally located between the grooves. Each tube is positioned in the grooves around the anvil for being juxtaposed the other tube. A wafer of movably mounted to move to the gap between the anvils so as to heat the ends of the tubes and melt the tubes without actually cutting through the tubes. The melted ends are then joined together so that the two tubes are thereby connected with one section of each tube being in flow communication with a corresponding section of the other tube.

Abstract: A housing supports a pair of insulating posts carrying electrical conductors connected a battery set located in the housing. A nonconductive base carries an exposed electric heating wire on the upper surface thereof, opposite ends of the heating wire being connected to electrically conductive side plates connected on the base, a spring biases the base upwardly so that the side plates are normally spaced from the conductors and the upper part of the base carrying the exposed heating wire extends through a hole in a cover supported by the housing. A press bar is pivoted to the housing and can be moved downwardly to engage an object to be sealed supported on the upper part of the base in contact with the exposed heating wire to urge the base downwardly and cause the side plates to engage the conductors and heat the heating wire.

Abstract: A process for sterile entry/exit into a closed system permits safe addition of reagent/nutrient/process modules, etc., removal of biological samples or depleted process modules such as filters, etc. all without exposing the operator to possibly dangerous materials such as blood and without endangering the contents of the system such as in cell-culturing. A novel welder and process is disclosed to illustrate the process.

Abstract: An electrical impulse hot hole punch apparatus is presented herein for making a tear-resistant hole in a sheet of thermoplastic film. The apparatus includes an electric heating element which is supported for selective reciprocal movement transverse to a sheet of film between a first position, remote from the film, and a film melt position at which the heating element is positioned proximate to the film. An impulse generating circuit is operative in response to the heating element being moved to its film melt position for purposes of supplying an electric current pulse to the heating element. The current pulse has a time duration on the order of one half cycle of an AC voltage pulse and is of a magnitude sufficient to heat the heating element to a temperature in excess of the melting point of the film.

Abstract: A sealing jaw apparatus for a plastic film wrapping machine has essentially spaced heated sealing jaws with a reciprocal knife located therebetween. The jaws operate against a heated elastomeric bed that has a longitudinal slot to receive the knife during the cutting operation. The arrangement provides a sealing of thermoplastic film and a severing thereof at a considerably lower temperature then the melting point of the film.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding webs of synthetic thermoplastic material as they move around a deflecting roller comprises an elongate housing, which is movable toward the deflecting roller to assume a position in which said housing is approximately concentric to said roller and closely surrounds said roller around a part of its periphery, and said housing is provided with at least one longitudinally extending hot-air duct, which is curved in the same sense as the housing and is provided with an inlet for receiving flowing hot air and is formed with a plurality of outlet bores or gaps in that wall of the housing which faces the deflecting roller.

Abstract: A weaving machine includes a guide device for a woven material web. The guide device is arranged downstream of a filling thread set-up edge. The weaving machine further includes a ribbon cutting device for cutting the woven material web into ribbons and for melting on the cut edges. The cutting device is arranged between the guide device and a breast beam. The weaving machine also includes a thermal fixing device mounted independently of the cutting device. The guide device and the cutting device are arranged independently of one another and the fixing device is arranged on a take-up roller arranged downstream of the breast beam and/or on a guide roller immediately following the take-up roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat-bonding blade and a heat-bonding apparatus capable of heat-bonding thermoplastic resin sheets, in particular non-woven cloth sheets of thermoplastic resin, with or without heat-cutting these sheets. A first-type heat-bonding blade intended for heat-cutting/bonding has pressing members provided on both sides of the blade. The distance between the lower end of each pressing member and the edge of the blade is determined such that the pressing members lightly press the sheets of the thermoplastic resins when the edge of the blade has pressed into the sheets.A second-type heat-bonding blade intended only for heat-bonding the sheets is provided with a contact surface on the edge thereof. The contact surface is embossed so as to have a multiplicity of emboss projections. This type of heat-bonding blade may be formed by removing the pressing members from the blade of the first type and providing an embossed contact surface on the edge of the same.

Abstract: The device for cutting textile material and sealing the edges of the cut material comprises a heated resistance wire of round cross section supported in a supporting means. The wire forms a flattened central portion shaped to form a semi-circular bow having a symmetrical shape with a curved outer edge ground to a feather cutting edge, an inner edge and two lateral flat faces parallel to each other along which the edges of the textile material are moved after being cut by combined mechanical and thermal action of the wire. The edges of the textile material are sealed thereby. Since the temperature of the wire can be kept relatively low, no ridges of melted material are formed along the edges of the textile material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for fabricating storage bags that have complementary sealing ribs out of stock material which may be a tubular extruded stock. When produced according to this apparatus and method, the storage bags have open mouths, that is, the sealing ribs are not engaged. The apparatus includes a separator bar to separate and disengage the sealing ribs prior to transversely joining the tube to form the side edges of the bag. Guide plates and a platen maintain alignment of the separated sealing ribs when the side edges are formed. The formed bags are then sequentially cut from the tube.

Abstract: A process for producing interior vehicular trim, comprising covering the surfaces of a substrate to which a nap-raised ornamental member has been applied, and removing the synthetic resin surface material at the part thereof covering the nap-raised ornamental member along a weld line. The synthetic resin surface material is welded and melt-cut on the peripheral edge of the ornamental member by carrying out the welding while the synthetic resin surface material is lifted up by force from the surface of the nap-raised ornamental member over the part thereof covering the ornamental member. An apparatus for producing interior vehicular trim, comprises an upper platen disposed to oppose matchably to a lower platen for supporting the substrate to which the nap-raised ornamental member has been partly applied, to effect welding of the synthetic resin surface material which was applied over the surface of the substrate, the welding being carried out along the peripheral edge of the ornamental member.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a plurality of plies of a thermoplastic material and sealing the severed margins thereof is provided. The apparatus comprises a hot-wire element proximate the thermoplastic material for severing and sealing the thermoplastic material. The apparatus further comprises a chamber or manifold for enveloping the hot-wire element in an inert atmosphere which impinges on a proximal portion of the thermoplastic material to be severed and sealed. The apparatus further comprises an actuating mechanism, associated with the hot-wire element, for translating the hot-wire element toward the proximal portion of the thermoplastic material. As a result, the hot-wire element severs the plurality of plies and seals the severed margins thereof so that the severed margins are enveloped by the inert atmosphere impinging on the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and sealing the cut edges of semipermeable and at least partially thermoplastic fabric material is disclosed as having a support to position the material for cutting and sealing, a vacuum system to secure the material to the support to immobilize the material while the latter is being cut and sealed, an ultrasonic cutter to cut the material and to seal cut edges to prevent raveling thereof, and a guide to direct the cutter to cut the material in a desired configuration. The apparatus may be particularly adapted to cut and seal cut edges of automotive safety air bag material.

Abstract: In a process for the welding of plastic films lying flat, one on top of the other, the plastic films are brought into contact with a heated cutting edge and hot-tool welded. Two-layered or multilayered composite films of different chemical composition are used for the welding; for example, one composite film can be an opaque, colored or uncolored layer, on which there is arranged a transparent sealing layer comprised of a propylene-ethylene copolymer or a propylene-ethylene blend. The sealing layer of the opaque composite film is welded directly to a sealing layer of a second, transparent composite film.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a preferably multi-ply web of synthetic thermoplastics comprises a pair of feed rolls, which define a feeding nip and each of which is formed with annular grooves, and two scraping rakes, which are secured in the frame and have tines extending through the annular grooves, wherein at least one of said rakes is movably mounted and arranged to actuate a switch for stopping the drive for the rolls when the scraping rake is moved out of its normal position by the web because it is bulged. It is intended so to improve such an apparatus that the switch will be operated even by relatively small bulges formed in the web. That object is accomplished in that each scraping rake is guided to be movable in the direction of travel of the web. A scraping rake for actuating the switch can be moved by a much weaker force if the rake is displaced in the direction of travel of the web rather than being pivotally moved.

Abstract: A die for use in heat welding a plastic motif to a textile base as a first welding ledge extending along a first, substantially planar face of the die, the welding ledge having a coplanar welding surface lying at least 4 mm. above the die face and having a cutting edge projecting above the welding surface to a height of at least 0.3 mm. The width of the welding surface is not less than 0.5 mm and is preferably between 1.5 mm and 3 mm. The die also has further welding ledges on which the welding surface extends the full width of the ledge. Each welding surface serves to weld the plastic material to the textile while the cutting edge severs excess material from the plastic motif along a welded line.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for seaming and joining overlaid sheets such as to form seams on adjacent bags by applying heated pressure sealing jaws to opposite sides of the overlaid sheets with the pressure being applied decreasingly inwardly away from the edges of the seam and cutting the seaming areas between them to separate the seamed portions so as to form edges of adjacent bags with the bags preferably having rib and groove upper fasteners extending outwardly to the edge of the seam.

Abstract: In a L-sealer for heat-sealing center-folded thermoplastic film, wherein a pair of relatively movable clamping jaws grip and heat seal the facing film webs along an L-shaped seal line, a series of perforating pins are mounted to one clamping jaw to perforate the film webs closely adjacent the seal line. The perforations allow escape of air when the film is subsequently shrunk, the close spacing of the perforations to the seal line insuring that the perforations are disposed at the side of the packaged article when the film is shrunk to minimize entry of dirt and the like.

Abstract: A machine including a control system having a timer for producing bags made from thermoplastic resin films of varying thickness. A pair of feed rollers intermittently feeds a continuous flat tubular web of thermoplastic resin between an upper heat sealing bar and a lower sealing surface. The sealing bar, which approaches but does not contact the web, is heated to effect a weld bead on the web, a cutting edge severs the web adjacent the bead, and the feed rollers advance the web as the sealing bar and cutting edge are withdrawn. A sequencer provides timed control of a motor that operates the rollers and another motor that operates the sealing bar and cutting edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and heat sealing a pair of overlying heat-sealable panels together comprises a conveyer for moving a pair of superimposed webs of panel material along a linear path and into a cutting and sealing station. A combined cutting and sealing die assembly includes a cutting die for cutting the panels out of the webs and a sealing die for sealing peripheral edges of the superimposed panels together. A heater element is mounted on each of the dies to heat them to their respective cutting and sealing temperatures with the dies being thermally insulated to prevent heat transfer therebetween. A plurality of spring clips attach the dies together to permit thermal expansion of the cutting die relative to the sealing die.

Abstract: A bag making machine sealer slitter apparatus for transversely sealing together and severing two layers of a tubular web of thermoplastic resin film, thereby forming a bag wherein the sealer slitter apparatus essentially comprising a sealing mans having two opposing seal bars equipped with heaters and a severing means including a retractable, superheated cutting edge.

Abstract: The device comprises two paddles 1 each one of them being connected to a bar 3, the extremities of which are placed within a cam track. The cam track is formed in the surface turned towards the working zone of support 18 which is located corresponding to both the lateral extremities of the device. The motion of the bars 3 and therefore of the paddles 1 along the cam track 8 which has a rectilinear section 8' and a section of circular sector 8", is determined for each bar by a pair of connecting rods 7 which has a slit 7. The two ends of the bars 3 close to the extremities are placed in the slit. The four connecting rods 7 rotate synchronously, the rods corresponding to the same paddle being in the same direction, the rods corresponding to the same side of the device being opposite to the other.

Abstract: A heat sealing apparatus includes a pair of sealing jaws and means for closing the jaws, the first of said jaws having an electrical impulse sealing element mounted thereon, covered with a release sheet, and the second of said jaws having a resilient pad mounted thereon, covered with a release sheet, wherein a heat dispersing foil is between the resilient pad and the release sheet which covers the pad.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a tape of folded textile fabric containing a continuous strip of fusible material into segments suitable for sewing to a garment as belt loops.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing and severing a web of film. The apparatus includes a first jaw located on one side of the web of film and a second jaw located on a second side of the web of film. The first and second jaws cooperate to grip the web of film. Located within the first jaw is a heater member for sealing and severing the web of film. The heater member is secured so that the time and/or pressure at which the heater member engages the web of film may be varied independent of the first jaw.

Abstract: A preheater assembly for softening a selected portion of plastic stock material prior to severing and edge sealing is disclosed. The preheater assembly includes a pair of opposed preheaters, each having a heater tip connected to a source of heated air. The air flows through the tip to maintain it at a preselected temperature. The preheaters are mounted on opposite sides of the stock material for motion toward the material to engage it on opposite sides to heat and soften it, and away from the material to release it. Clamp elements engage the stock material during the heating and softening process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an automobile sunvisor, wherein a pair of overcoatings for the sunvisor, the rear surface of which is respectively covered with a layer of thermoplastic resin, is pressure-welded between an upper electrode member and a lower electrode member and cut at the same position without displacement, thus forming no protruding welded portion in the periphery of the sunvisor. Moreover, the pair of the overcoatings can be securely welded to each other without any particular portion for welding prepared in the overcoatings because the thermoplastic resin is melted inside the sealed portion of the pair of overcoatings during the pressure-welding.

Abstract: The continuously formed wrapping material tube traversing a horizontal wrapping machine, and containing articles to be wrapped therein, is sequentially passed between a first pair of opposed, counter-rotating heat sealing bar sets, and then between a second pair of opposed, counter-rotating combination heat sealing and cutting bar sets, to heat seal and cut spaced apart longitudinal sections of the tube, each positioned between an adjacent pair of articles, to form individual, article-containing packages. As each of these longitudinal tube sections passes through the first bar set, corrugated outer ends of two bars therein mesh to compress and heat seal the tube section along a corrugated heat seal area whose ridges and valleys extend transversely to the tube length.

Abstract: The invention consists of a device for welding and perforating a thermoplastic film folded back on itself. The device consists of a support for supporting two electrically heated welding strips and a perforation device. The perforation device is movably supported between the welding strips. The support is transversely movable with respect to the film. The welding strips consists of a non-heating portion and a heating portion. The non-heating portion is at least equal in length to the heating portion.

Abstract: An absorbent dressing comprising, a transparent backing sheet having a relatively high water vapor permeability, a front sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on a front surface thereof for facing a wound with the front sheet and adhesive having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and an absorbent layer intermediate the front sheet and backing sheet having a plurality of openings in register with the apertures of the front sheet, with the openings of the layer being at least as large as the apertures of the front sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for making bags or sacks from a continuous tubular film of thermoplastic material. The continuous tubular film is moved intermittently in a downward direction to a welding device, a cutter below the welding device, and a turret-like rotary conveyor below the cutter. A bag length is received by grippers on the rotary conveyor before it is welded and cut. When thus received the bag length is welded and cut, and the conveyor indexed by one step to present succeeding grippers to the tube. The tube is then advanced another bag length so that the succeeding bag is received in the succeeding pair of grippers. The process is repeated with succeeding bags. The bags on the conveyor are successively delivered to a transfer station where the grippers are opened to release the bags.