Abstract: A flexible bag comprising a first wall and a second wall superposed over the first wall, the walls being connected to each other along their longitudinal edges by two gussets. As per a bag formation process, successively: the bag is closed with a flap extending from one of the walls and held on the other wall to form a closed end of the bag; the first wall of the bag is gripped at a predetermined distance from the closed end with the lower grippers and the second wall by the upper grippers and the walls are separated to form a side on the gussets; the second wall is released by the upper grippers and the closed end is folded by a folding device on to the second wall, thus making the bottom.

Abstract: A paper bag bottoming mechanism having a bottoming drum having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall disposed therebetween, a bar affixed to the bottoming drum, the bar having a first end and a second end, a first guide block attached to the first end of the bar and a second guide block attached to the second end of the bar, a first slideable finger attached to the first guide block and a second slideable finger attached to the second guide block, and a first actuating mechanism communicating with the first slideable finger for actuating the first slideable finger and a second actuating mechanism communicating with the second slideable finger for actuating the second slideable finger. Also disclosed is a method for making a using a clampless bar mechanism.

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

Abstract: A method, system and article for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity. The method comprises the steps of disposing at least one material at the interface of the adhesive seal between the flap and the body portion of the envelope, which material exhibits a characteristic property when combined with an activating agent. The envelope is then sealed by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope such that the activating agent combines with the material along the sealing interface. The sealing interface is inspected to determine whether the material exhibits the characteristic property thereby confirming that a seal has been produced between the flap and body portion of the envelope. The system and article are directed to the various modules of a mailpiece fabrication system employed to produce the mailpiece including an inspection module for confirming that a seal has been formed.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for enclosing bales of materials with at least four substantially rectilinear sides in flexible sheet material tubes having one open end into which the bales are inserted leaving the tube open end projecting loosely beyond the end of the bale utilizing structure temporarily placed inside the tube open end tending to resist inward movement of said tube such that the tube end may be formed into pleats at the four corners of the end of the bale and structure external of the tube cooperating to form and fold the pleats against the bale end surface where they are affixed.

Abstract: A reusable and refoldable bag includes an integral locking mechanism that enables the bag to stay closed in a compact folded position (the folded position is about one-sixth to one-ninth of the original bag size compared to the bag when it is open and laid flat) when not in use and is easily opened when needed to carry contents. The integral locking mechanism includes a covering feature with a protected adhesive element and a flap with a mating adhesive element. In the folded position, the flap's adhesive element is placed under the covering feature and securely interlocks with the protected adhesive element. The locking mechanism can be disengaged and re-engaged for multiple reuses. The flap couples to a first side of the bag and extends outward from the bag. The covering feature couples to the first face adjacent to a top portion of the bag.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a folding apparatus for closing an end of an end loaded carton that includes leading and trailing side end flaps. The packaging machine includes a carton conveyor for transporting a carton in a flow direction along a carton path. The folding apparatus includes a lug assembly that has at least one folding lug that travels along an endless lug path. The folding lug travels in the flow direction and in parallel to the carton path along at least a portion of the lug path such that the folding lug can operate in concert with separation guide and a combination guide to fold the leading and trailing side end flaps in the desired sequence.

Abstract: An easy-open/reclosable bag includes a first wall having an outer and inner surface; a second wall having an outer and inner surface; a bottom portion connecting the first and second walls; a first and second side seal; and a bag mouth; the first wall including a first folded edge portion including a first and second segment, a fold, and a PSA between the first and second segments; the outer surface of the first wall including an easy-open sealant; the outer surface of the second wall including an easy-open or regular sealant; and the inner surface of the first and second walls each including a regular sealant. A method of making an easy-open/reclosable bag, and a package, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reclosable, flexible package for storing food products, the package including a pair of opposing panels connected via a bottom seal or fold, each having a flange opposite the bottom seal and a pair of end seals between the opposing panels that intersect the bottom seal. A pleat located in one of the panels, containing a tear strip for opening the package. A flange seal located between the flanges where one of the flanges extends beyond the flange seal to form a reclosure flap, removably secured to one panel by an adhesion surface to form a cover over the opening. Alternatively, the flanges are about equally aligned and sealed at the edges, with tear lines spaced from the edge to remove a portion of the flanges and flange seal when torn along a predetermined tear line, creating two flanges, one extending beyond the other to form a reclosure flap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bottom closure of a container employing multiple assembly lines and including a universally foldable seal fin as a part of the bottom closure. A novel blank for the container is disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging system (1) includes a telescoping platform assembly (100) having a guide mount (30) and an extension platform (40). The packaging system (1) incorporating the telescoping platform assembly (100) includes a panel (22) and a flap member (26). The flap member (26) is connected to the panel (22) along a pivot axis (27) and is adapted to move between a first position with respect to the panel (22) and a second position with respect to the panel (22). The guide mount (30) includes a guide mount slot (33) whereas the flap member (26) includes a flap guide slot (28) extending outwardly from the pivot axis (27) through the flap member (26). The extension platform (40) is mounted on the guide mount (30) and the flap member (26) and is adapted to slide between a stowed position and a deployed position along guide mount slot (33) and the flap guide slot (28).

Abstract: A reclosable packaging bag comprises a main bag body having an opening portion and at least one heat-sealed portion; and a linear fastener provided on the opening portion of the main bag body. The linear fastener is provided along the opening portion of the main bag body by an insert injection molding so as not to extend to the heat-sealed portions. A method for manufacturing the bag comprises the three steps. First, the first and second linear fastening members are formed on a prescribed position of a sheet of film material by an insert injection molding so as to be spaced from each other. These fastening members are engageable with each other to form a linear fastener. Second, the sheet of film material is folded in two so that the fastening members can engage with each other. Third, each of opposite portions of the sheet of film material thus folded is heat-sealed to form side heat-sealed portions.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming and filling a latching flip-top box uses a two part mandrel which are joined by a hinge. One of the two hinged parts has a roller thereon for following a cam track having a quarter turn spiral therein. As the roller follows the spiral causing one hinged part to move through a quarter turn causing the flip-top to fold over and be formed. A somewhat loose tab on the top edge of the bottom of the box is a latch tab which is caught when the flip-top folds over.

Abstract: A mailing machine has an envelope transport device extending longitudinally therethrough and a digital ink jet printing device located adjacent the downstream end of the transport device. Due to the criticality of the spacing between the upper surface of an envelope and the discharge nozzles of the ink jet print head, the envelopes passing through the mailing machine must have their upper surfaces registered with a fixed plane that extends in spaced relationship with the nozzles. The mailing machine includes a flap closing device having fixed and movable elements that can accommodate variations in thickness of the envelopes extending from the registration plane downwardly within a fixed range so that the flap closing device can simultaneously close the flaps of both thin and thick envelopes passing through the mailing machine in a mixed stream.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a bag or sack bottom from tubular sections of paper or plastic web. Tubular sections of web material are fed into a feeding plane where they are subsequently sealed along selected seams by a sealing means. The sections are then inverted and fed in parallel to a scoring, gluing and folding section. The tubular section is then inverted again and passed to a pressing section. The tubular sections are stacked on top of each other in a partially overlapping manner as they are passed through the pressing section. After pressing, the tubular sections are passed to a separating station for again separating them before being passed to a packaging station. The invention concerns, moreover, an apparatus for operating the above mentioned method.

Abstract: In a machine for processing a mailpiece, wherein the machine includes an elongate horizontally-extending deck, the machine includes structure for feeding a mailpiece in a downstream path of travel on the deck, the machine includes an upright mailpiece registration wall extending downstream alongside of the deck, and the machine includes a stripper blade horizontally aligned with the deck for operational engagement with a mailpiece fed thereto, an improvement for guiding a mailpiece out of operational engagement with the stripper blade, the improvement including: the deck including a horizontally-extending upstream portion; and an elongate mailpiece guide wall extending laterally from the registration wall and overhanging the upstream portion of the deck; the guide wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the guide wall inclined downwardly from the upstream to the downstream edge thereof and forming an angle of substantially ten to twenty five degrees with respect to the upstream portion off the dec

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus used in combination with an envelope feeder of the type having a frame with a generally horizontal feeder tray and a rack holding a stack of envelopes, the feeder having an endless belt supported on the feeder tray and the feeder serving to deliver envelopes from the stack onto the endless belt, the endless belt moving the envelopes to form a short-height stack at the outer end of the tray where the envelopes may be picked up by a printing press, a flap closure to close the envelope flaps so that open flaps do not interfere with the stacking process, the closure being in the form of an elongated member supported at the feeder tray outer end and having a first upper surface portion inclined upwardly in the direction away from the envelope feeder and a second horizontal upper surface spaced in a direction away from the envelope feeder, the second surface being in a plane parallel to and spaced above the plane of the endless belt.

Abstract: A flexible filter bag, the filter element of which is seamless and avoids prior leakage problems, is made by wrapping a flexible, preferably perforated, filtering fabric and a flexible nonfiltering transport material together onto a cylindrical mandrel to provide a tube. A thin metal ring is fitted into the tube, and the portion of the filtering fabric which extends beyond the edge of the transport material is folded inwardly around the ring to provide a cuff. A sleeve of a length about twice that of the tube is inserted into and pulled over the tube until the free ends of the sleeve are approximately coterminous with the ring-free end of the tube. The free ends of the sleeve and tube are gathered in the manner of a sausage casing and then subjected to pressure to form a seal, but the convolutions of the transport material terminate just short of the seal so as to avoid bunching at the seal.

Abstract: A foldable envelope blank provides an envelope structure having a closure flap presealed with a temporary bond including microencapsulated fragrance dispersed within an adhesive matrix. The adhesive material is disposed on a coplanar surface on the envelope blank at discrete areas adapted for registered alignment during the fabrication procedure. The opening of the closure flap is effective for rupturing the microcapsules and releasing fragrance.

Abstract: A tube transfer system wherein a hand of tubes is delivered to ender devices in any of four orientations, the system including a by-pass section for receiving hands when the ender devices are unable to accept tubes. The by-pass section is reversed to deliver by-passed hands to the ender devices when newly formed hands are not delivered to the system.

Abstract: An automatic envelope sealing device wherein envelopes of different sizes can be sealed without adjustment any component of the device. A size of an enveloped supplied into the device is detected by a sensor, and in response to a signal from the sensor, a movable stopper is alternatively extended into a plane in which the envelope is to be fed or retracted in order to stop the large size envelope thereat or retracted therefrom to allow the small size envelope to be fed until it is stopped by a fixed stopper. A flap of the envelope is then bent positively and paste in a controlled amount is applied to the flap whereafter the envelope is fed reversely until it is discharged outside the device. During the reverse feeding, the flap is pressed to be adhered to the envelope by cooperating rollers which act as feeding means.

Abstract: In making a tubular bag, a first band of thermosetting glue is printed across the length of a web, and a second and third band of such glue is printed on the opposite side of the web in registry with the ends of the first band. The printed glue is then dried with a heat below that of the softening temperature of the thermosetting glue. Glue is applied to a marginal edge of the web and the marginal edges are overlapped and thus glued together as a back seam. An increment of the tube is severed at said bands without heating such bands, and the web is folded along a line extending centrally through the glue bands. The bands are simultaneously clamped together and heated to fuse the bag layers together at the bands.

Abstract: A method of making bags of the automatic or self-opening satchel-bottom type having an outer sheet of paper and a plastic inner liner in which a tab portion is formed with a portion of the inner liner removed so that when the bag bottom is formed a paper surface of the tab portion can be adhered to a paper portion of a diamond fold when the bag bottom is completed.