Abstract: A plurality of discrete packages (100) are manufactured from an indefinite length of gusseted packaging material (1). Each package (100) has an insert (9) inserted through an incision (8) in the packaging (1) which in use maintains a desired footprint of the package. Gaps (17) in welds (15) joining the bottom of the insert (9) to the packaging material (1) allow air to vent from between the insert (9) and the packaging material (1). Flaps (23) toward the rear of each package (100) join a leading package (100) to a following package (100a) by means of longitudinal welds (21) which allow gaps (22) for air to vent during the roll-up process.

Abstract: A perforation device for making roll of plastic bag with an opening and a perforation line on each bag, comprising a cutting unit, an anvil unit and a expanding board, wherein, the cutting unit involves a main unit whereto are fitted with a toothed blade and a specified number of compressing blocks, the expanding board serving to expanding the material bag, the toothed blade on the cutting unit serving to cut and punch a surface of the material bag, making a roll of plastic bags each having an opening on one side, thereby fully automated packaging can be achieved by installing the present invention on an automatic weighing and packaging machine or a in conveyor packaging line for convenient packaging process, to reduce labor cost and enhance packaging efficiency.

Abstract: A system for creating and dispensing cushioning dunnage is small and permits flexible installation configuration options for a single or multiple packing stations. A compact apparatus of the system is capable of being pivotally mounted as a unit on a stand and includes a motor and a material feeding arrangement driven by the motor for pulling material from a supply roll of the material supported on a stand of the system, and feeding it through the apparatus. A plurality of material shaping members upstream of the feeding arrangement shape the material in the apparatus to convert it into a continuous strip of cushioning product.

Abstract: In a method for working an elongate web of material, use is made of a machine which comprises a feeding device for feeding the web at a given speed and a cutting device for making cuts in the web. The cutting device comprises a rotary backing roll and a rotary cutting roll with a projecting cutting means. The cutting roll is adapted to move, during a first part of its revolution, the cutting means into engagement with the backing roll to form the cuts in the web and, during a second part of its revolution, define with the backing roll a gap through which the web moves essentially unimpededly. A control means is adapted to control, preferably in an infinitely variable manner, the speed of rotation of the cutting roll relative to the speed of the web during the second part of the revolution for optional adjustment of the distance between succeeding cuts in the web.

Abstract: A system for creating and dispensing cushioning dunnage is small and permits flexible installation configuration options for a single or for multiple packing stations. A compact apparatus of the system is capable of being pivotally mounted as a unit on a stand and includes a motor and a material feeding arrangement driven by the motor for pulling material from a supply roll of the material supported on a stand of the system, and feeding it through the apparatus. A plurality of material shaping members upstream of the feeding arrangement shape the material in the apparatus to convert it into a continuous strip of cushioning product. A perforator driven by the motor perforates the material at spaced locations along the length of the material to allow an operator to manually rip a desired length of cushioning product from the material being dispensed from the apparatus.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine, method and product characterized by a connecting assembly that provides a mechanical interlock between overlapped portions of sheet-like stock material to prevent “unzippering” of a low density cushioning product produced by the cushioning conversion machine. The connecting assembly comprises a pair of rotatable stitching members, a first one having a plurality of radially outwardly extending projections, or teeth, around the circumference thereof, with the projections having at least two axially spaced apart segments defining a recess therebetween. The second stitching member includes at least one axial punch segment which includes a peripheral edge portion dimensioned to be received in the recess in the first stitching member during rotation of the stitching members.

Abstract: A process of serially dispensing and opening a bag from a bundle of bags includes providing a bundle of bags having at least a leading bag and a plurality of trailing bags. Tabs at the top of the bags fasten to a support and sever under a first force. A fastening adjacent the top of the rear bag wall of a leading bag joins to the top of the front bag wall of a trailing bag, this fastening severing under a second force. Pulling on the front bag wall of the leading bag to sever the front support tab of the leading bag from the support; continued pulling on the front bag wall of the leading bag severs the rear support tab of the leading bag. The front support tab of the trailing bag from the support is also severed. The rear support tab of the leading bag pulls on the front support tab of the trailing bag to sever both the rear support tab of the leading bag and the front support tab of the trailing bag from the support.

Abstract: A cushioning product having plural layers of a sheet-like stock material folded upon themselves to form a pillow-like portion. The lateral edges of the outer layer of the stock material are overlapped and connected together to maintain the geometry of the pillow-like portion. The lateral edges of the outer layers are connected together (for example, they are mechanically interlocked) separate from the central portion of the outer layer. The overlapped edges of the outer layer may form a tab portion projecting from the pillow-like portion. Alternatively, the overlapped lateral edges of the outer layer may be generally coplanar with adjacent unoverlapped portions of the outer layer. Preferably, the stock material comprises layers of paper, more preferably biodegradable, recyclable and reusable paper, and even more preferably Kraft paper.

Abstract: A method for forming and using a mailpiece requiring special services is provided. The method includes providing a mailpiece having an integral document section requiring special service mailing that includes folding the sheet along fold lines and sealing the mailpiece to enclose the integral document section. The method further includes providing a removably attached section which, after the system is folded and sealed, forms a return postcard and at least one form. The return postcard and the form are integrally formed, but removably attached. The method includes removing the return postcard when the mailpiece is received by the addressee.

Abstract: An improved top opening, rectangular flexible bag for containing a stack of highly compressed flexible articles. The bag has front and back panels, two side panels and top and bottom panels, all of which are connected together to form an internal compartment for containing the stack under high compression. The stack is arranged within the bag in such a way that the side panels are under tension. The line of weakness defines the entire top portion of the bag which can be easily removed, thus exposing the entire contents of the bag for easy removal. The improvement to the bag is that the line of weakness is applied to the front and back panel of the bag simultaneously, thus providing perfect alignment of the lines of weakness where they intersect the side seals of the bag. The bag is further improved with a notch where the line of weakness intersects the side seal, thus significantly reducing the force to initiate the tear through the bead of plastic created by the side seal.

Abstract: A system for dampening deflections which occur in an elongate rotating fly-knife includes camming elements along the length of the beam carrying the fly-knife. A second beam spaced from the knife is also mounted for rotation and includes spaced apart camming elements adapted to rotate and contact the fly-knife camming elements at that point during the rotational cycle when the fly-knife will cut and/or perforate the material with which the apparatus of the present invention is employed. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the system is used to perforate, slit or cut plastic film, e.g., in the manufacture of bags. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the system is used with a coversheet winding machine. The rotating beams of the invention are preferably driven by a single motor to maintain registration of the knife camming elements with the support beam camming elements.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a web of interconnected bags from a semitubular web of material, in which pockets are formed at a first side of the web and a second side of the web adjacent a first of two longitudinal outer edges of the web. At least one continuous strip is inserted into the pockets before separation of the bags. The strips are cut to predetermined lengths, and their ends are fastened together. The web is welded together along transverse lines substantially perpendicular to the pockets for producing one bag at a time, which is conveyed transversely substantially perpendicular to the direction motion of the web. The pockets project at one of the two sides of the web beyond the pockets on the other side of the web substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the web. Each bag is welded and conveyed substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the web.

Abstract: A method of producing a reusable, fabric-covered, heat exchange bag is provided which includes the steps of providing thermoplastic stock including waterproof film and a fabric-like material. The fabric-like material is folded along a fold line so as to contain a substantial portion of the waterproof film. This fold line represents a first edge of the reusable heat exchange bag whenthe bag is in a flattened condition. The waterproof film and the fabric-like material are heat sealed to form a closure with the fold line and to provide a tear initiation site for facilitating the severing of the reusable heat exchange bag from the thermoplastic stock.

Abstract: Method for forming an envelope having a tear strip or a tear-off flap portion for aiding in opening the envelope, comprising the steps of providing an envelope blank formed of a material capable of being weakened by the application of ultrasonic frequencies, forming the blank into a finished envelope, and applying ultrasonic energy to the finished envelope to form either a pair of closely-spaced, elongate distress lines or a single, straight distress line at which the fibers forming the material are weakened, thus defining a tear strip or a tear-off flap portion capable of manual separation form the remainder of the envelope. An envelope formed according to the above method comprises a body portion having a front panel, a back panel, and a seal flap extending outwardly from and formed integrally with a side of the front panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a band at a predetermined speed V to a station for pre-marking two folding lines which define a central panel of each pleat and then subjecting the band over a short distance to abrupt deceleration to a speed V' such that V'/V=1/L, where L is the length of each pleat in the fully extended state and 1 is the length of the pleat after folding so as to form a pocket, the last two panels of each pleat being inserted beneath the first panel prior to folding-back and maintaining the pocket in a flat position on the band.

Abstract: The invention comprises a continuous paper strip scored and cut to form a recurring series of alternating panels and associated edge strips, said panels and edge strips being folded upon and secured to one another to produce a series of prefabricated envelopes detachably connected to each other, suitable for feeding to a printer by means of tractor feeding apparatus.

Abstract: In the inventive method mailing bags are manufactured in an appropriately constructed flat- and lateral folding back machine. A tube fabricated from a web is provided in the region of its longitudinal borders with two triangularly-shaped and punched cut-outs, through which there are defined subsequent separating lines for separating individual tubular pieces from the tube. One or an upper panel of the tube is obtained by two separating cuts spaced parallel from, and at a distance from one another, while the lower panel is obtained by a separating cut positioned between the afore-described separating cuts for the upper panel. The bottom closure and the closure cap of the mailing bag are formed by these cuts.

Abstract: A chain of bags is disclosed, with each having first and second panels and gusseted sides. The chain of bags is provided with a transverse bottom seal which in the central portion seals together the front and rear panels, and also seals together the inner portion of the gussets as well as the front and rear panels for four thicknesses being sealed. At the outer portions, there are only two thicknesses sealed together, namely, the front gussets are sealed to the front panel and the rear gussets are sealed to the rear panel. This establishes a chain of bags which may be supplied to a bag filling machine whereat conveyor belts form a nip and grip only the outer portion of the rear gussets where attached to the rear panel. By this means, the bags of a chain may readily be opened to practically full capacity and then filled. When the bag is closed and sealed, it forms a rectangular bag with square ends which may readily be palletized to form a secure and stable pallet load.

Abstract: A stack of interlocked detachable bags, preferably formed from a thermoplastic foil strip, and each comprising two walls, a front wall and a back wall, preferably at least one handle-shaped incision positioned on one of said walls adjacent an upper filling opening, wherein the individual bags each have an interlock piece and are attached together with the aid of at least one interlock means engaging their interlock pieces, and by means of a row of perforations forming an edge of the interlock piece the individual bags are detachable from the interlocked stack by tearing off. On one of the walls of each bag adjacent an upper filling opening edge of that bag a reinforcing piece, preferably of plastic foil, with the interlock piece is attached so that the interlock piece protrudes above the filling opening edge. Advantageously the inside of the back wall is provided with the protruding interlock and reinforcing pieces.

Abstract: A method for preparing flat bottom thermoplastic sacks comprising process steps for forming a tube of thermoplastic film, collapsing said tube while forming two oppositely disposed gussets therein, forming two pairs of diagonal sealed seams in the gussets, forming two pairs of diagonal preweakened lines parallel to said diagonal seals, forming a transverse sealed seam across the tube along a line which includes the inboard ends of the diagonal seams and forming preweakened transverse lines closely adjacent and parallel to said transverse sealed seam or forming a severing line along this line, removing the four double triangular regions bounded by the diagonal preweakened lines, the transverse preweakened lines and the side edges of the tube and collecting the resulting structures either while still interconnected or stacking the severed structures and then removing the triangular regions. The final structure can have handles or it can be handleless.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic bags, such as trash or garbage bags, includes a rotary sealing drum of variable diameter, the drum including one or more sealing bars for cross-sealing a flattened plastic film tube passing through the machine. A blanket tensioning system surrounds the drum and is adjustable to compensate for different drum diameters. The sealed film passes over a chill roll after leaving the drum-blanket assembly and is drawn over folding boards by pull rolls. The sealed and folded film is then perforated by a fly knife and is preferably also cut on the sides to produce a connected series of bags which may easily be separated from one another to make the bags suitable for easy dispensing packages. A variator assembly may also be provided to insure a proper skirt length between the cut-perforation and the bag seal.

Abstract: A miniature flexible magnetic disk assembly having integrally formed motion limit stop projections along the length dimension of the disk assembly enclosure. The projections are formed from either side of the facing major wall portions of the enclosure by intruding a first and second pair of opposed major wall portion projections inwardly of the enclosure. Each projection has a concave outer surface, a convex inner surface and an abutment edge extending into the interior of the enclosure from each end of a progressive cut formed through the major wall portion a sufficient distance to provide an abutment edge forming an interference obstacle to the outer edge of the contained flexible disk.

Abstract: A continuous web of paper has a longitudinally extending marginal part folded over onto an adjacent longitudinally extending second part of the web. The web is in tension, and the second web part has a transverse slit. During the folding step, the marginal part is folded out of the plane of the web thereby increasing the tension on the second web part. A ribbon of flexible material is disposed beneath, and conformed to the contours of, the second web part during the folding step, to absorb some of the tension on the second part so as to prevent transverse tearing from the transverse slit across the second part of the web.

Abstract: A plurality of expandable bags are serially connected lengthwise in roll form. Each bag is of substantially long length and has an expandable gusset near one end thereof and traversely of the length. The gusset end of each bag is respectively connected to the filling or open end of the next bag by perforated or weakened structure. Various modifications of the position of the opening are incorporated. Also, the bags are rolled into serial form in a compact package for distribution and use with the gusset and opening portions of each bag being rolled inwardly to the inside of the roll, or outwardly to the outside of the roll. The method of making these serially connected bags in roll form is also included.