CA1083872A - Method of making a pad of stacked bags - Google Patents
Method of making a pad of stacked bagsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1083872A CA1083872A CA306,762A CA306762A CA1083872A CA 1083872 A CA1083872 A CA 1083872A CA 306762 A CA306762 A CA 306762A CA 1083872 A CA1083872 A CA 1083872A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- bags
- bag
- aperture
- lip
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Bag Frames (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Polyethylene bags, such as used for food at a carry-out counter of a restaurant, are formed as a pad or tablet from which individual bags are torn. The pad has a pair of apertures at one end receptive of support means at the place of use. The bags are joined together in pad-form by directing hot air through enpty pre-cut apertures to enable the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag.
Polyethylene bags, such as used for food at a carry-out counter of a restaurant, are formed as a pad or tablet from which individual bags are torn. The pad has a pair of apertures at one end receptive of support means at the place of use. The bags are joined together in pad-form by directing hot air through enpty pre-cut apertures to enable the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag.
Description
SPECIFICATIOM
This invention pertains to a method by which stacked bags are joined together as a pad.
Polyethylene bags made of thin plastic sheet are difficult to handle due to their limp and clinging nature. When such bags are to be oriented as a stack for use, packers have encountered difficulty in aligning the bags and the resulting pack is therefore irregular. To lessen this problem, certain bag-making machines have pre-punched a pair of holes in the lips of the bags so that they can be impaled on two pins as they are discharged from the bag-making machine. Such bags are transferred to a metal U-shaped rod called a "wicket" which is positioned in a place of use, and then bags are torn from the wicket as an incident to loading the bags.
At times it is necessary that the supply of bags be held in a vertical position. It has been most common heretofore to stack a desired number of bags and to staple such stack to a cardboard backing. If the bags are made on a machine so that they are delivered in "shingled" fashion, they must be picked up and held urrler a stapler, thus producing a crude pack. If the machine delivers the bags onto pins, agqin, they must be removed from ~he pins and held under a stapler, thus allowing the bags to shift before stapling.
Such a method for construction provides a hazard in that a staple might work loose or a loose staple might fall into a bag to be used as a food container, and thus there is a risk of it being swallowed.
The resulting pads have not been neat, and they use cardboard and staples that are ultimately discarded. At the present time, from a commercial standpoint in the U.S.A., such a method is presently the most popular.
.-- ~ . , .................. . . ~ .
. , . . . . ~ - , ~. S. Patent ~o. 3, 791, 267 discloses a method for joining stacked bags together as a pad. It teaches the use of a hot pin that is pointed and which is inserted through the tabs or lips of the bags to form the support holes, with the bags becoming fused together in a grommet-like structure that defines the hole. How-ever, use of such a hot pin would, at contact, cause the bags to give off a smoke or vapor, and OSHA would require the provision of exhaust means for such smoke or vapor, because without it, there would be air pollution taking place. Further, the use of a hot pin leaves a residue on the pin, and once such residue is present on the pin, some of it may come off or may "dirty" up the interior :~ of the hole of the next or succeeding bag stack. While such a "dirty" hole is of little importance if the bag is used to contain metal nuts or bolts, where the bag is to be used in a restaurant, .f 15 the same could be objected to by food inspectors or employees charged with maintaining clea nliness .
The present invention is directed to a method of making a pad of stacked bags, comprising: forming a stack of bags each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignrnent;
tightly clamping the stacked bag lips together; and passing air through the aligned apertures for a period of time, such air having a temperature in excess of the melting point of the thermoplastic material, and such period of time being long enough to enable the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjac-nt bag lips.
` 3 , .
.,'.......... ..
1C~83872 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to Join the bags together by hot air so that no smoke or vapor is given off, thus creating no problem and creating no need for any exhaust structure. Further, it is an object of this invention to join the bags together by hot air in a concentrated fast-heating mode which utilizes a minimum of energy without blowing hot air around the room, at workers, or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to join the bags of a stack of bags together as a pad in a clean manner so that no residue is given off or left behind.
Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
ON THE DRAWING:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pad of stacked bags made in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a sequence of diagrams illustrating the method .
by which the pad of stacked bags of FIG. 1 is made.
The principles of the present invention are particularly useful for making a pad of stacked bags such as shown in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. Each bag is made from an increment of a web of such material, the original edges of the web, due to folding, providing an upper edge 11 of the bag and the other edge : providing the upper edge 12 of the product-receiving portion of the b g.
.
.. . ... .. . . ..
.. , ~ ~ . ~ . -. . . ~ .
If desired, and as shown, the bottom end of the bag has an inwardly directed fold 13. Thus, a single layer of sheet material begins at the edge 11, extends all the wa~ to the bottom 14, is then folded toward the viewer and e~tends tO the fold 13, and is again folded toward the viewer and extends once more to the bottom 14, and is once more folded toward the viewer and extends up to the edge 12 Between the edge 12 and the bottom 1g, the bag material is heat-sealed together at the sides. The bag has a line of weakness 15, such as short slits, and between the line of weakness 15 and the upper edge 11, the bag-making machine has provided a pair of pre-cut apertures 16, 17.
As shown in FIG. 2, a bag-making machine 18 delivers such bags to a point where they become stacked, one above the other, and are held in registration by a pair of fixed pins 19, here shown to be hollow. When a desired quantity of bags has been delivered as a prospective stack 10, a U-shaped wicket 20 is placed into the pins 19, thus enabling the stack 10 to be transferred therefrom, with the wicket 20 holding the bags in registration. The diagram thus far illustrates the step of forming a stack of bags, each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignment. The stack 10 is then placed in a clamping fixture 21, here shown to include a plate 22 which can pass on opposite sides of the legs of the wicket 20. The clamping fixture 21 further includes a pair of fluid actuators 23, 24 coupled to the plate 22. Once the stacked bags 10 are tightly clamped, preferably immediately adjacent to the ~-apertures 16, 17, the wicket 20 may be withdrawn. The stack of , bags is now in position read~ to be joined together.
A source of compressed air, here diagrammatically shown to be a pump 25, has a typical output pressure of 1 atmosphere, namely about 15 psig. The pressurized air is delivered to a control 26, for instance a solenoid valve, and the outlet of the solenoid valve leads to a line 27 and a line 28. These are identical and so only one is described. The line 27 leads to an air heater 29. In this embodiment, the air heater 29 has an outer annular portion which is closed at the bottom and which communicates at the upper end with the interior of such annular portion. Within the closed upper end, there is an electric heater across which the air flows in a downward direction for discharge through an outlet 30 having a size or diameter generally similar to that of the aperture The outlet 30 is then moved, if necessary, so as to be close to but spaced from the bag material, and so as to place it -in position to discharge air directly into the aperture 16 in a direction parallel to the axis of the apertures 16 or 17 and along the axis thereof.
Normally, the electric heaters 29 will operate at a stable ~l temperature, selected to heat the air to a temperature above the !' melting point of the thermoplastic material, such as polyechylene.
Then the con~rol means or valve 26 is opened for a predetermined period of time to permit a rather small volume of air to pass through the lines 27, 28 and to be heated by the electric heaters ~I
and discharged through the apertùres in the stack lO The duration of such flow of air is typically two or three seconds. More ` ; -6-.~:
... . , ~ . , specifically, the rime is of such duration as to enable the thermo-plastic material that defines the periphery of the aperture to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag lips. The move-ment of air also assists in spreading the melted thermoplastic material. The actual amount of heat used is relatively small and thus the melted thermoplastic quickly sets up or gels to form a common bond or grommet 31 in each superposed series of apertures 16, 17.
In some instances, it may be desirable to use only a single aperture, and also in some instances it may be desirable to utilize the heaters 29, 29 in succession rather than simultaneously. The resulting fusion or grommet 31 has a strong connection with each bag, and the strength of this connection exceeds the strength of the line of weakness 15 A pad of stacked bags can now be readily handled, packaged, delivered, unpacked and mounted on a pair of pins or hooks (not shown) and a food article, such as a hamburger, can be tucked into the pouch portion of the bag at 12, and the fold 13 will expand, and the bag can be readily torn at the line of weakness 15, thus separat- -20 ing the bag from its lip or upper portion of the lip 32 which remains attached to the grommet-like portions 31, 31.
As there is no hot metal that touches the stack of bags 10, unlike what would take place if a hot pin or bar were used, no ; smolce or vapor is given off and thus there is nothing to ventilate 25 or exhaust. Further, in that the air is directed into the holes or apertures rather than at some other point on the stack, the hot air is concentrated and fast heating is provided utilizing a minimum .. . ...
-of energy without hot air being blown around the room or at workers.
It is impossible for any residue to be left on a tool or for any residue to be transferred from a tool to the bags as there just simply is no contact except bv air. Thus, the resulting pads of bags are thoroughly clean at the grommets 31, 31.
Once the grommet portions 31, 31 have cooled, the clamp can be released and the stack removed as a unit for handling.
,, ;, 1 !
.. . . .
This invention pertains to a method by which stacked bags are joined together as a pad.
Polyethylene bags made of thin plastic sheet are difficult to handle due to their limp and clinging nature. When such bags are to be oriented as a stack for use, packers have encountered difficulty in aligning the bags and the resulting pack is therefore irregular. To lessen this problem, certain bag-making machines have pre-punched a pair of holes in the lips of the bags so that they can be impaled on two pins as they are discharged from the bag-making machine. Such bags are transferred to a metal U-shaped rod called a "wicket" which is positioned in a place of use, and then bags are torn from the wicket as an incident to loading the bags.
At times it is necessary that the supply of bags be held in a vertical position. It has been most common heretofore to stack a desired number of bags and to staple such stack to a cardboard backing. If the bags are made on a machine so that they are delivered in "shingled" fashion, they must be picked up and held urrler a stapler, thus producing a crude pack. If the machine delivers the bags onto pins, agqin, they must be removed from ~he pins and held under a stapler, thus allowing the bags to shift before stapling.
Such a method for construction provides a hazard in that a staple might work loose or a loose staple might fall into a bag to be used as a food container, and thus there is a risk of it being swallowed.
The resulting pads have not been neat, and they use cardboard and staples that are ultimately discarded. At the present time, from a commercial standpoint in the U.S.A., such a method is presently the most popular.
.-- ~ . , .................. . . ~ .
. , . . . . ~ - , ~. S. Patent ~o. 3, 791, 267 discloses a method for joining stacked bags together as a pad. It teaches the use of a hot pin that is pointed and which is inserted through the tabs or lips of the bags to form the support holes, with the bags becoming fused together in a grommet-like structure that defines the hole. How-ever, use of such a hot pin would, at contact, cause the bags to give off a smoke or vapor, and OSHA would require the provision of exhaust means for such smoke or vapor, because without it, there would be air pollution taking place. Further, the use of a hot pin leaves a residue on the pin, and once such residue is present on the pin, some of it may come off or may "dirty" up the interior :~ of the hole of the next or succeeding bag stack. While such a "dirty" hole is of little importance if the bag is used to contain metal nuts or bolts, where the bag is to be used in a restaurant, .f 15 the same could be objected to by food inspectors or employees charged with maintaining clea nliness .
The present invention is directed to a method of making a pad of stacked bags, comprising: forming a stack of bags each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignrnent;
tightly clamping the stacked bag lips together; and passing air through the aligned apertures for a period of time, such air having a temperature in excess of the melting point of the thermoplastic material, and such period of time being long enough to enable the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjac-nt bag lips.
` 3 , .
.,'.......... ..
1C~83872 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to Join the bags together by hot air so that no smoke or vapor is given off, thus creating no problem and creating no need for any exhaust structure. Further, it is an object of this invention to join the bags together by hot air in a concentrated fast-heating mode which utilizes a minimum of energy without blowing hot air around the room, at workers, or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to join the bags of a stack of bags together as a pad in a clean manner so that no residue is given off or left behind.
Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
ON THE DRAWING:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pad of stacked bags made in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a sequence of diagrams illustrating the method .
by which the pad of stacked bags of FIG. 1 is made.
The principles of the present invention are particularly useful for making a pad of stacked bags such as shown in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. Each bag is made from an increment of a web of such material, the original edges of the web, due to folding, providing an upper edge 11 of the bag and the other edge : providing the upper edge 12 of the product-receiving portion of the b g.
.
.. . ... .. . . ..
.. , ~ ~ . ~ . -. . . ~ .
If desired, and as shown, the bottom end of the bag has an inwardly directed fold 13. Thus, a single layer of sheet material begins at the edge 11, extends all the wa~ to the bottom 14, is then folded toward the viewer and e~tends tO the fold 13, and is again folded toward the viewer and extends once more to the bottom 14, and is once more folded toward the viewer and extends up to the edge 12 Between the edge 12 and the bottom 1g, the bag material is heat-sealed together at the sides. The bag has a line of weakness 15, such as short slits, and between the line of weakness 15 and the upper edge 11, the bag-making machine has provided a pair of pre-cut apertures 16, 17.
As shown in FIG. 2, a bag-making machine 18 delivers such bags to a point where they become stacked, one above the other, and are held in registration by a pair of fixed pins 19, here shown to be hollow. When a desired quantity of bags has been delivered as a prospective stack 10, a U-shaped wicket 20 is placed into the pins 19, thus enabling the stack 10 to be transferred therefrom, with the wicket 20 holding the bags in registration. The diagram thus far illustrates the step of forming a stack of bags, each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignment. The stack 10 is then placed in a clamping fixture 21, here shown to include a plate 22 which can pass on opposite sides of the legs of the wicket 20. The clamping fixture 21 further includes a pair of fluid actuators 23, 24 coupled to the plate 22. Once the stacked bags 10 are tightly clamped, preferably immediately adjacent to the ~-apertures 16, 17, the wicket 20 may be withdrawn. The stack of , bags is now in position read~ to be joined together.
A source of compressed air, here diagrammatically shown to be a pump 25, has a typical output pressure of 1 atmosphere, namely about 15 psig. The pressurized air is delivered to a control 26, for instance a solenoid valve, and the outlet of the solenoid valve leads to a line 27 and a line 28. These are identical and so only one is described. The line 27 leads to an air heater 29. In this embodiment, the air heater 29 has an outer annular portion which is closed at the bottom and which communicates at the upper end with the interior of such annular portion. Within the closed upper end, there is an electric heater across which the air flows in a downward direction for discharge through an outlet 30 having a size or diameter generally similar to that of the aperture The outlet 30 is then moved, if necessary, so as to be close to but spaced from the bag material, and so as to place it -in position to discharge air directly into the aperture 16 in a direction parallel to the axis of the apertures 16 or 17 and along the axis thereof.
Normally, the electric heaters 29 will operate at a stable ~l temperature, selected to heat the air to a temperature above the !' melting point of the thermoplastic material, such as polyechylene.
Then the con~rol means or valve 26 is opened for a predetermined period of time to permit a rather small volume of air to pass through the lines 27, 28 and to be heated by the electric heaters ~I
and discharged through the apertùres in the stack lO The duration of such flow of air is typically two or three seconds. More ` ; -6-.~:
... . , ~ . , specifically, the rime is of such duration as to enable the thermo-plastic material that defines the periphery of the aperture to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag lips. The move-ment of air also assists in spreading the melted thermoplastic material. The actual amount of heat used is relatively small and thus the melted thermoplastic quickly sets up or gels to form a common bond or grommet 31 in each superposed series of apertures 16, 17.
In some instances, it may be desirable to use only a single aperture, and also in some instances it may be desirable to utilize the heaters 29, 29 in succession rather than simultaneously. The resulting fusion or grommet 31 has a strong connection with each bag, and the strength of this connection exceeds the strength of the line of weakness 15 A pad of stacked bags can now be readily handled, packaged, delivered, unpacked and mounted on a pair of pins or hooks (not shown) and a food article, such as a hamburger, can be tucked into the pouch portion of the bag at 12, and the fold 13 will expand, and the bag can be readily torn at the line of weakness 15, thus separat- -20 ing the bag from its lip or upper portion of the lip 32 which remains attached to the grommet-like portions 31, 31.
As there is no hot metal that touches the stack of bags 10, unlike what would take place if a hot pin or bar were used, no ; smolce or vapor is given off and thus there is nothing to ventilate 25 or exhaust. Further, in that the air is directed into the holes or apertures rather than at some other point on the stack, the hot air is concentrated and fast heating is provided utilizing a minimum .. . ...
-of energy without hot air being blown around the room or at workers.
It is impossible for any residue to be left on a tool or for any residue to be transferred from a tool to the bags as there just simply is no contact except bv air. Thus, the resulting pads of bags are thoroughly clean at the grommets 31, 31.
Once the grommet portions 31, 31 have cooled, the clamp can be released and the stack removed as a unit for handling.
,, ;, 1 !
.. . . .
Claims (8)
1. A method of making a pad of stacked bags, comprising:
forming a stack of bags each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignment; thereafter tightly mechanically clamping the stacked bag lips together; and passing atmospheric air through the aligned apertures for a period of time, such air having a temperature in excess of the melting point of the thermoplastic material, and such period of time being long enough to enable the edge of the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag lips.
forming a stack of bags each having a lip of thermoplastic material with at least one aperture in the lip, the corresponding lip apertures being in alignment; thereafter tightly mechanically clamping the stacked bag lips together; and passing atmospheric air through the aligned apertures for a period of time, such air having a temperature in excess of the melting point of the thermoplastic material, and such period of time being long enough to enable the edge of the material defining the aperture periphery to fuse with corresponding material in the adjacent bag lips.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which air is passed simultaneously through two spaced apertures in each bag.
3. A method according to claim 1, the bag having a line of weakness transverse to its length by which the bag may be torn lengthwise from the apertured lip, said time and temperature being of such magnitude that the strength of the fusion in the aperture, after cooling to room temperature, will exceed the strength of the line of weakness.
4. A method according to claim 1 in which said mechanical clamping is effected immediately adjacent to the aperture.
5. A method according to claim 1,2 or 3 in which the air is supplied from a source having a pressure of about one atmo-sphere above atmospheric pressure.
6. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 said period of time being on the order of two to three seconds.
7. A method according to claim 4 in which the air is supplied from a source having a pressure of about 15 psig, and is passed through the aperture for two to three seconds.
8. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the air to be passed is first pressurized, then its flow is controlled for said period of time, then the controlled-flow air is heated, and is then discharged into the aperture along its axis.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US88075578A | 1978-02-24 | 1978-02-24 | |
| US880,755 | 1978-02-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1083872A true CA1083872A (en) | 1980-08-19 |
Family
ID=25377001
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA306,762A Expired CA1083872A (en) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-07-04 | Method of making a pad of stacked bags |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1083872A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-07-04 CA CA306,762A patent/CA1083872A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3979050A (en) | Multi-ply film articles | |
| US5966866A (en) | Plant flat-collapsible-container | |
| US6231237B1 (en) | Container having rectangular base and its manufacturing | |
| US3021947A (en) | Fused-together unit of stacked articles | |
| US6098336A (en) | Plant flat-collapsible-container | |
| US8137254B2 (en) | Method of making bag with interrupted side gussets | |
| US7635222B2 (en) | Reclosable package having zipper disposed within loop on front wall | |
| JP2630975B2 (en) | Equipment for matching filter bags to outer bags in a device for continuous production of filter bags | |
| US3372797A (en) | Perforated strip package and method of making the package | |
| CA2083640A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for forming carton opening arrangement, and cartons made thereby | |
| CA1083872A (en) | Method of making a pad of stacked bags | |
| DE2210164A1 (en) | Cutting, method and apparatus for making cardboard boxes | |
| US5669504A (en) | Thermoplastic bag closure | |
| WO1997003893A1 (en) | Wrapper and method of its manufacture | |
| JP3096440B2 (en) | Manufacturing method of gusset bag with folding | |
| GB2034278A (en) | Closing Large Sacks | |
| EP3552982A1 (en) | A bag suitable for packaging horticultural products and a method and means for the production thereof | |
| EP0393406A1 (en) | Method for packaging books | |
| US3466836A (en) | Method of packaging flat articles | |
| JPH042496B2 (en) | ||
| JPS58199116A (en) | Solvent welding for thermoplastic synthetic resin bands | |
| JP3424977B2 (en) | Continuous manufacturing method of handbags | |
| JPH0710112A (en) | Automatic packaging machine | |
| JPS622979B2 (en) | ||
| JP2017214140A (en) | Blister pack and manufacturing method of blister pack |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |