Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing shell-shaped packages, in particular flower sleeves, in which two superposed bands of synthetic material are supplied and machined through die cutting, in such a manner that at least one edge of each package, defining the wide opening, is formed along an ornamental line, whereafter the material bands are cut in transverse direction into separate package portions, the discrete package portions being joined together at the cut edges so as to form the package, wherein, during the die cutting of the longitudinal edges of the material bands, both material bands are perforated through and through in one die cutting operation so as to form suspension portions joined to the package portions via perforated lines extending along an ornamental contour, the suspension portion, formed by the perforation, of one of the two material bands being removed. The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method, and to the package obtained by the method.

Abstract: The present invention features a high-speed registration system for the manufacture of plastic bags. The system has a registration apparatus that senses the leading and trailing edge of each sinusoidally-shaped tie pattern from a continuous web. Each sinusoidally-shaped tie is associated with an individual bag entity and, therefore, represents a midway point for each bag to be cut from the continuous web. The leading and trailing edge of each sinusoidally-shaped tie, therefore, is used to determine the center line of each bag. A plurality of center line determinations are averaged upstream of the sizing apparatus.

Abstract: A container strip in the form of a chain of interconnected preopened bags with openings having longitudinal dimensions of at least about 1/32 inch is disclosed. The container strip provides greatly enhanced facility for bag registration and opening during packaging operations utilizing the improved container strip. A process of forming a chain of pre-opened bags is also disclosed. Face and back plastic webs are independently fed along individual paths of travel to a common path. The webs are differentially tensioned while in their independent paths by stretching the face web more than the back web such that the face web will retract longitudinally more than the back web upon release of the web tension. While so tensioned edge seals are formed between the webs to convert the webs into a tube and longitudinally spaced transverse seals are formed between the webs to delineate bottoms of bags.

Abstract: Twin compartment packets, e.g. tea bags, are formed with the compartments connected at the heads of the packet and optionally at the tails. The packets are produced from a pair of compartmented tubular webs that are brought together with the compartments in register, the webs then being interconnected at the compartment end seals and severed at those seals to form the separate packets. Apparatus for performing the process deposits doses of tea at spaced intervals onto the two separate webs before forming them into the tubular compartmented webs, brings the compartments of the two webs into register, interconnects the registered compartments, and separates the interconnected compartments into individual packets while the web advances continously through the apparatus. The process is capable of high production rates because the webs are able to move through the successive stages at a uniform speed.

Abstract: To make blocks of bags having blocked stubs, which are joined by perforation lines substantially only to the lower opening-defining edge of each block, which lower edge is separated by a substantially continuous slit from the upper opening-defining edge, a tubular web of synthetic thermoplastic material is formed in partial regions with perforation lines extending through both plies. Only the upper ply is cut to form separating slits extending substantially throughout the width of that upper ply. The bags are then separated from the tubular web by hot-wire welding and are stacked.

Abstract: An in-line machine for attaching elongated, flexible closure tie elements to the individual bag portions of a laterally folded plastic film web being continuously discharged from a bag forming station, and being forcibly captured by a winder mechanism, engages and drives the moving web toward the winder mechanism by means of mutually spaced inlet, central and outlet drive rollers. During operation of the machine, first and second slack portions of the film web are respectively positioned between the inlet and central rollers, and between the central and outlet rollers. These slack portions are held in vertically looped configurations by a downwardly directed, yielding vacuum force applied thereto. The inlet and outlet rollers are driven at identical speeds corresponding to the constant linear film web output speed from the bag forming station.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process and apparatus for producing highly specialized individual product pouches with high efficiency and simplicity at production speeds that are easily obtainable with present day forming machines, particularly, horizontal-type form-fill-seal machines. The subject process and apparatus advantageously form pouches from a continuous supply of flexible web material by folding the flexible web material into two side walls and a bottom gusset and performing one or more forming operations on only one of the gusset portion and lower side wall combinations at one time. Such forming operations may include any operation which physically or perspectively alters the appearance or nature of the pouches. After at least one such forming operation is conducted, a plurality of side seals are provided to define at least one specialized pouch.

Abstract: A series of bags are fabricated using a continuous, high-speed bag-forming process in which an elongated section of flattened film tubing is longitudinally conveyed toward a receiving station in which the formed bags are suitable packaged. As the flattened tube is moved toward the receiving station, elongated plastic film tie elements are sequentially formed and welded along relatively large area end portions thereof to at least two layers of a side edge portion of the flattened tube at longitudinally spaced locations thereon adjacent the upper end locations of the individual bags, the resulting free end portions of the tie elements overlying the flattened tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing air-cushion dispatch packages, the apparatus comprising an unwinding mechanism for paper webs and air-cushion foil webs. The apparatus introduces air-cushion foil webs between the paper webs and seals each paper web to a foil web over a large area. Transverse and longitudinal sealers seal the edges of the packages. After each sealing operation, the webs are subsequently cooled. Pulling rollers press the paper webs in the edge regions of the packages and advance the webs. Cutters cut the dispatch packages to the desired format. Web controllers correct deviation of the paper webs. A cycle controller is included.

Abstract: A method for producing a serialized bundle of thermoplastic T-shirt grocery bags which serially open upon being dispensed. Specifically, a bag being removed from the serialized bundle of thermoplastic T-shirt grocery bags mounted on a dispensing rack automatically opens an immediately following and trailing bag. The bags of the serialized bundle are coextruded to have at least two layers, an inside layer having a low coefficient of friction and an outside layer having a high coefficient of friction. A relatively low coefficient of friction between two inside layers allows each bag to easily open; a relatively high coefficient of friction between the outside layers allows a leading bag to entrain a trailing bag. Entraining structures are provided into and between the respective bags which permit the bags to be keyed together at their high friction outside layers and separate at their low friction inside layers.

Abstract: A method for the production of packing bags which can be stacked on a wicket and unfolded while being filled, and for that purpose are provided at the bottom end of the bag with exposed wicket perforations disposed in a wicket tab. The bag is made from an outspread web which first is assembled to an open-sided tube and then into a flat-folded tube and bonded. The outspread web is severed in the area of the bag-length boundaries which set the bag lengths apart from one another, by means of a cut made transversely of the web, which produces a castellated outline. The bottom area and top area of two bag lengths lie adjacent one another and yield interfitting tabs and notches. The tabs in the top area can be laid one on the other to form a handle section and at least one tab in the bottom area is used as a wicket tab. Unneeded web material between the tabs is cut away.

Abstract: A process for the production of bags from thermoplastic synthetic resin sheeting with a bottom seam and/or a lateral seam fashioned as a cutoff weld seam obtained by severing tubular film sheets in the bottom zone, wherein there is produced by heat contact welding, at a station upstream of a transverse seam cutoff welding of the bottom seam or lateral seam, a wide flush weld seam over the entire width of the tubular film sheet and/or of the bag bottom to be produced, and subsequently the transverse cutoff weld seam is formed over the flush weld seam, extending within the flush weld seam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic manufacture of flat bottom bags from a substantially continuous supply of a sealable material whereby the material is formed as a bag having a reinforced sealed flat bottom formed by an interior bag forming assembly that is cooperable with a relatively movable folder assembly that folds the bottom of the bag and removes it from the bag former assembly after a length of the bag is severed from the remainder of the material.

Abstract: A self-service check-out counter for cashier-unattended use and operation includes an laser scanner for automated reading of product identification codes borne by articles to be purchased, a keyboard for manual entry of article-identifying information, a variety of indicators and signalling devices for instructing actions by the customer, devices for preventing pilferage, fraud and inadvertent errors and an integral bag forming apparatus for manufacturing custom-formed bags on-site at the counter and on demand and, preferably, custom-sized to conform to the volume of articles to be packed in the bags. A customer individually scans articles to be purchased and the scanned data is verified through comparison with stored product identifying information. Following verification of each article, customer placement of the article into the bag forming apparatus in enabled and a bag preferably conforming to the volume of articles purchased in manufactured within the check-out counter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the paired manufacture of carry bags from synthetic resin sheeting with lateral weld seams and an approximately sinusoidal load-bearing rim with punched-in handle openings, wherein a laid-flat tubular film is cut open in wave shape, and the two cut-apart semitubular sheets (1a, 1b) are pulled apart transversely to the conveying direction, the wave crests are folded over at least in part in parallel to the folding edges (3) in each case either toward the outside or toward the inside, then the semitubular sheets are again united in order to compensate for at least a portion of the gap S produced by folding over the flaps, and after achieving a synchronous run of the folded over flaps (51, 52), the latter are welded to the lower and upper sheet layers (10a, 10b) of the semitubular sheets (1a, 1b) in the area (15) surrounding the subsequent handle opening (4), the wave crests, prior to being folded over, being electrically discharged and, after having been fold

Abstract: The present invention is a method of continuously making thermoplastic film bags having one-side-free for separation from an opposite side. The method includes providing a continuous tube of thermoplastic film for formation of the bag, such tube having a continuous surface which forms opposing sides of the bags. The tube is directed to a bag forming means which continuously flattens the tube into at least the opposing sides of the bag. The tube must intermittently be partially severed on one of the opposing sides at intervals corresponding to single bag lengths, such severance being made at a location for providing detachable separation of the one wall from the opposing wall. Next a sealed seam is formed across the tube at intervals which provide bottoms to each of the bags, and the bags are then collected in a stack where they are substantially aligned followed by fusing the stack of substantially aligned bags adjacent the severance in the one side for separating the bags from stack one side at a time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming draw tape bags wherein the bag material moves continuously during the manufacture, except for the last step. The apparatus may be used with an in-line system wherein a tube is extruded and a side gusset is formed to create a hem; or the apparatus may be used with an off-line system wherein folded bag material is used, and a continuous hemmer is provided to turn the loose edges. In the off-line system a constant tension dancer precedes the hemmer to maintain constant tension on the web regardless of the size of the supply roll. The web continues to move, and a cutter is actuated to move through a circle and engage the web to punch finger holes in the hem. A reel of a strip of material is continuously fed, the strip being slit longitudinally to provide the draw tapes which are inserted into the hems. A tape guide tensions the tape and assures that the tape is well within the hem, the hems are sealed, and the bags are side welded.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking flat articles which in an intermediate portion are formed with locating holes and preferably consist of double bags having opening-defining edges disposed adjacent to their center line. The bags are fed by a wicketer and deposited in a stacking station on an endless stack conveyor and meedled onto raised upstanding stacking pins to form stacks. The stacking pins are operated to be lowered to release the needled stack which then advances to a succeeding severing station provided with a heated knife, which severs the stacks along a center line extending in the direction of stack travel. Additional conveyor belts are provided for retaining the separated stacks on the stack conveyor.

Abstract: A bag making machine having a combination of a first dancer with multiple-rolls and a second dancer with a single roll for accumulating a web of flattened tubular thermoplastic material between constant and intermittent web feed sections of the bag making machine.

Abstract: Bags are manufactured from a tubular web of thermoplastic film. An air injector periodically inflates the film whereupon it contacts cooperating vacuum plates. One of the plates has a cutting die which cuts a tab in the film which in turn provides an ingress for the injected air. The film is then sealed and severed to form the bags, which are then formed into a block. The tab then serves as an opening to facilitate the removal of individual bags from the block.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: Disclosed is stacking arrangement for accumulating a plurality web segments of substantially identical dimensions on sharpened pins projecting upwardly from a support plate located at a stacking station. As each web segment is produced, it is firmly held or grasped on opposite sides of its medial area and impalled on and penetrated in the medial area by the sharpened pins. Release of the segment from the grasping force occurs after the segment has been penetrated by the pins.

Abstract: Draw tape bags are made with folding surfaces which decrease in width to the final bag height. One edge of each side of a moving web of film is tucked onto a side of a surface to produce a hem in each edge of the moving web. Rollers, which are canted with respect to the direction of movement of the web, pull the hem of the film tight against the surface to insure that the web is at the final bag length when the web leaves the surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism, associated with a thermoplastic bag making machine, for preparing a strip of thermoplastic to produce bags having the upper edges of the bag mouth formed in a sinusodial shape such that the peak of such shape is substantially equi-distant relative to the side edges of the bag. While the disclosed bag machine is of the type that advances the web strip incrementally, shaping of the web strip in the sinusodial shape occurs while a portion of the web strip is advanced at substantially constant velocity. A mechanism is provided for maintaining constant tension in the web despite the constant and intermittent feeding of the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing thermoplastic bags from an elongate web. Apparatus for feeding the web includes devices for producing mounting holes and perforations along a circular path surrounding the holes. The web is severed and sealed to produce sheets containing a mounting hole encircled by the perforations. A selected number of successive sheets are impaled on a post projecting through the holes. A stack having a selected number of sheets is accumulated on a post fixed to a support supporting a medial zone of the sheets which are combined by a heated punch penetrating the sheets in the area enclosed by the perforations.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: A machine for making a unitized stack of vest type bags from a tubular plastic web comprising, essentially, a horizontal frame (1) adjoining at one end a unit for unwinding the plastic film (2) in an intermediate portion supporting transversal rollers (3) and a cutter unit (4), the former for pulling the film (2) and the latter for cutting out the straps of the bags. At the opposite extremity of the frame (1) there is provided a sealing and cutter unit (5) at the outlet of which there is disposed a bundling and ejector unit (6) to accomplish the bundling of various bags for forming and ejecting blocks of bags. The bundling and ejector unit (6) has a sealing table (7) interposed between a tilting vane (8) and a tilting table (9). Sealing electrodes in the shape of pins (12) perform the sealing of various bags making up a block and alongside of which are needles (13) to stabilize the bags on the table (7).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for slitting a continuous strip of thermoplastic web by a knife heated to a temperature below the melting or fusing temperature of the web. By heating the knife the cutting force is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A web of interconnected plastic bags with gusset folds. Each bag is provided with first fold part seals (8, 9, 10, 11) and with second fold part seals (13, 14, 15, 16). Additional seals (36) extend parallel to fold edges of the foil and are connected with subsequent first and second fold part seals. The additional seals (30) are in the region between inner (4, 4a) and outer (2, 3 and 2a, 3a) fold edges.

Abstract: The bag making apparatus may have a bonding means for making bonded seams between webs of thermoplastic material. The bonding means includes first, second, and optionally third, sets of cooperating rotary or reciprocating, bonding members for making transverse and longitudinal seams. The apparatus includes seaming interrupting means which cooperates with one of the bonding means. The bonding means and interrupting means are arranged to cooperate together to form bags from the webs of thermoplastic material so that each bag has a sealed or sealable compartment for containing or containing a material for mixing, a pocket for measuring, and having a mouth opening between the interrupted seams, and a frangible barrier between the compartment and the pocket.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making plastics carrier bags from a web of tubular film of thermoplastic material, a feeding mechanism intermittently conveys the webs by one bag width and a severing mechanism cuts the web into half tubes along an undulating curve. A carriage displaceable in the machine frame transversely to the feeding direction of the web is reciprocated by a drive derived from a first rotating control cam through gearing. A cutting knife pivotable in the carriage about its longitudinal axis passes through the plane of the tube about an axis perpendicular thereto and is so controlled by an oscillating drive derived from a second rotating control cam that its edge is substantially tangential to the undulating curve at the cutting point. A detour assembly retards one of the half tubes to bring the bag side edge zones into phase and each half tube is formed into bags by a transverse sever-sealing device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bag making machine for producing wave top bags from an elongate strip of plastic web material. The disclosure relates to various improvements in the bag making machine such as the apparatus for spreading cut web material in directions transverse to the direction of elongation of web material.

Abstract: Apparatus for making bags from a folded web of thermoplastic material includes a rotating drum to which the web is continuously applied. As the drum rotates through a given arc length, the web is tucked outwardly from the periphery of the drum in progressively deeper folds wherein the depth of tuck determines the width of the bag. A cam, controlling the depth of tuck is movable in a rectilinear radial direction for adjusting the depth of tuck, thereby controlling the bag width.

Abstract: The stacker provided in the stacking station immediately downstream of the cutting station of the bag making apparatus includes a transversely reciprocal needle bar provided with a plurality of needles including at least one heated blocking needle and a transversely reciprocal stripper bar through which the needles engaged. The upstream end of each bag blank is pierced by the needles as it is cut off the tube, with the downstream portion of each bag blank lying on one of the conveyor platforms. Periodically the stripper bar is moved upwardly to strip an entire stack of bag blanks off the needles. A flattening device having flattening elements engages each of the bag blanks as it cut free from the tube and presses it flatly down against the stack on the platform.

Abstract: A method of making multiple reclosable bag material, which comprises advancing from a supply source bag wall film in continuous strip form and providing confronting colinear wall panel portions with surfaces facing toward one another, feeding separable fastener assembly in continuous strip form from a supply source into corunning relation between the wall panel portions, and permanently securing to the wall panel portion surfaces oppositely facing base surfaces of the fastener assembly. The material thus formed is adapted to be split longitudinally into a plurality of bag material strip sections adapted to be sealed across at spaced intervals into bag units.

Abstract: A flat bottom plastic film bag includes triangular gusset portions formed by a plurality of parallel heat welds which fuse portions of opposed pleats together and cooperate with a transverse central bottom seam to form a flat bottom bag from a seamed or seamless plastic film tube. The longitudinal side and end walls of the bag are provided with heat embossed corrugations which enhance the freestanding characteristics of the bag and a transverse crease is formed along the fold line between the sidewalls of the bag and the bottom wall to enhance the bottom forming characteristics of the bag when it is snapped from a folded position to an opened position.

Abstract: A continuous film sheet having a width in a horizontal direction is unwound from a film roll with its axis being substantially horizontally kept. The direction of extension of the film sheet is changed so as to have its width in a vertical direction before the film sheet is slit along its center line into two continuous strips. The two continuous strips are superposed on each other and heat-sealed in lengthwise and transverse directions to form a plurality of rectangular sections defined by heat-sealed sides. The heat-sealed sheet is then slit and cut into separated envelopes having their respective three heat-sealed edges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for production of continuous bags of thin material with each of the bags having an opening on the side is disclosed.

Abstract: A bag-making machine is disclosed for producing bags from thermoplastic web material. A device (86) for grasping and transferring web segments in an arcuate path for reception by an accumulating device (88) serves to grasp adjacent opposed edges and transfers them through an arc to an accumulating device which includes posts (90).Accumulation of web segments occurs on a bag stack accumulating and transporting device located between laterally spaced radially projected arms of the web transfer device and it includes an indexing system (94) for translating the stacking posts away from the stacking station. The web segments are subsequently cut and/or joined along a line located centrally of the web segments at a station (102) to thereby produce two individual stacks of bags.This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing thermoplastic bags.

Abstract: An apparatus for segmenting a continuous running web into a stream of discrete articles by cutting the web transversely at uniformly longitudinally spaced intervals; and which apparatus may also effect U-folding of each of the discrete articles. The apparatus is of the type which includes a flight of longitudinally spaced, web engaging friction plates which provide cutter access to the web through spaces intermediate adjacent friction plates. The apparatus further includes a constant clearance infeed nip which is formed in part by the spaced friction plates of the flight passing over a circumferential portion of an infeed roll having circumferentially spaced, radially extending lugs, and which lugs are configured and disposed to engage the web by extending through the spaces intermediate the spaced friction plates. Alternatively, the flight of friction plates may be integrated into a unitary apertured conveyor belt; and the cutter may be integrated into such a constant clearance nip.

Abstract: Bags are made from an elongated synthetic-resin tube by an apparatus having an endless conveyor having a transport path extending from an upstream cutting/welding station through a stacking station and a flattening station to a downstream punching station. This conveyor has a plurality of platforms having predetermined lengths in the transport direction and spaced apart by gaps. The tube is fed continuously in the transport direction to the upstream cutting/welding station that periodically transversely cuts through the tube and simultaneously forms upstream of each cut a transversely weld for subdividing the tube into a succession of bag blanks. The stacker includes a transversely reciprocal needle bar including at least one heated blocking needle and a transversely reciprocal stripper bar. The upstream end of each bag blank is pierced by the needles as it is cut off the tube, with the downstream portion of each bag blank lying on one of the conveyor platforms.

Abstract: Disposable receptacles for storing articles in sterile condition and having breather means integral with the walls thereof, as well as apparatus and methods for making such receptacles and the materials therefor, are disclosed. The receptacles are fabricated of a laminate comprising a layer of breathable barrier material such as paper and a layer of thermoplastic, polymeric material such as polyethylene. The breather means may be made by heat sealing the thermoplastic layers of a pair of laminated sheets together at small, selected areas and then separating the sheets causing localized delamination of the layers and the formation of ruptured, blister-like projections in the thermoplastic layers at the heat seal positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for producing handle bags made of thermoplastic web material by transporting segments of gusseted web to a cutting device that removes a generally rectangular portion of material to produce at least one style of a bag with handle portions that can be either gripped by hand or receive a forearm of a user. Moreover, there is disclosed apparatus for folding and collecting the bags so produced.

Abstract: Handle bags are made from an elongated synthetic-resin tube having two longitudinal rows of indicia spaced apart in each row by a bag width and with the indicia of one row staggered equidistant between the indicia of the other row. The tube is passed step-wise over a cutting drum formed with an endless circumferentially extending and undulating cutting groove in which a blade engaged inwardly so that an undulating cut is formed longitudinally along the tube separating it into two tube halves which are then passed through a closeable transverse welder. One of the halves is deflected between the drum and the welder through detours dimensioned to put the flaps of the two bag halves in exact transverse alignment with one another. Each transport step is ended when the center of the indicia immediately upstream of the welder is spaced from the welder by a distance equal to half of the bag width and at this time the welder is closed on the tube to form bag-edge seams.

Abstract: This invention is a novel plastic bag and method of making it with a handle that extends upward through a folded-back top compartment, and the end of a front of the bag has a pocket with a similar folded-over top edge of the back of the bag. The bags of this invention are made from a continuous sheet, preferably a roll of plastic web that has its opposite side edges folded inwardly along opposite edges of the web to make the folded edges at the front and back sides of the bag. The web is then folded along its longitudinal center region with a gusset that forms the bottom of each bag. The bags have surfaces that are welded together to join areas of the front and of the back where necessary to weld plastic areas together, and certain areas do not weld where the plastic sheet is coated on areas that prevent heat applied to the plastic from fusing together.

Abstract: An improved method of simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of envelope assemblies of the type used to affix an insert such as a shipping label to a container. A plurality of separate strips of plastic material are arranged side-by-side on a single backing sheet of plastic material. Separate layers of adhesive are affixed to portions of the backing sheet extending on either side of each strip of plastic, with a separate, removable covering strip applied to each layer of adhesive until used. Each of the separate strips of plastic material is heat sealed to the backing sheet to create an envelope and slits are cut through portions of each plastic strip to provide entry into and exit from the respective envelopes. Finally, the plastic strips and backing sheet are cut to separate the envelopes from one another.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing successive sections, such as carrier bag blanks, severed from the leading end of a web of superposed film layers fed through a transverse welding and severing station comprises nozzles for holding said leading end taut by means of an air jet, revolving suckers for engaging said leading end, and holding means to which said leading end is transferred by the suckers after each section has been severed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for forming and separating the side edges of plastic bags of the type which have opposed interlocking closure strips, an intermittent transport device transports a half-tube of thermoplastic sheeting to a welding device. The sheeting is stopped while welding is performed. At a milling station upstream of the welding device, a milling apparatus is actuated while the half-tube is stopped to mill off a short length of each of the opposed closure strips at a position which coincides with the position at which welding will later be performed.

Abstract: A plurality of multi-walled bags of flexible plastic material is formed by taking a longitudinally folded flat web of a first flexible plastic film; at least partially separating the superposed plies of said first flexible plastic film at the edge opposite the fold line and moving the film past a corona discharge electrode between the separated plies of the film to pre-treat at least a part of the inwardly facing surface of each of said two plies; taking a longitudinally folded flat web of a second flexible plastic film; corona discharge-treating the outwardly facing surfaces of the two plies of said second flexible plastic film; passing the pre-treated web of said second flexible plastic film over a diverter guide into the space between the two at least partially separated plies of said first flexible plastic film to bring the fold lines of the first and second flexible plastic film webs substantially into register with the two webs moving synchronously in a single direction; and sealing the composite of the

Abstract: This invention relates to method and apparatus for making plastic tubular preforms for assemblying bottles or other containers into individual mutli-unit packages. The bottles for an integral multi-container package are arranged in a tightly-assembled group and the tubular preform is placed around the group. The tubular preform is formed from a lengthy sheet of flexible heat-shrinkable thermoplastic material which preferably is comprised of a composite foam and film laminate with the preform having a thermal fusion seal extending in an axial direction. The preform is flat-folded with a pair of axial pleated folds in diametrically opposite sides and then double-folded centrally for use in multiple unit packaging of like containers. The preforms has a primary orientation in a circumferential direction and a secondary orientation in an axial direction making it particularly useful when fully opened for heat shrinking around a group of like containers.