CA2027749A1 - Apparatus for the manufacture of hot-seal garment bags - Google Patents

Abstract

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF HOT-SEAL GARMENT BAGS
Abstract An apparatus and method for the mass manufacture of garment bags includes the steps of first defining a central longitudinal strip in a cover plastic sheet and heat joining a zipper structure to the so-formed pair of large bands thereby forming a cover sheet for the garment bag.
The zipper structure includes a series of successive and integral zippers each comprising interlocking longitudinal inner edges with locking members disposed near the front and rear ends of each zipper section. A handle piece being provided between the front and rear locking members to engage and disengage the inner longitudinal edges of each zipper section. The handle piece is limited in its travel by the locking members. An opening is being defined in each zipper section intermediate the front locking member and the front end edge thereof. Second, a second plastic sheet is positioned under the cover sheet and heat sealed thereto at the side longitudinal edges thereof with excess plastic being removed by cutting from these side edges. Then, the transverse end edges of the cover sheet and of the second plastic sheet are heat joined between the front end of a first garment bag and the rear end of a successive garment bag. Finally, these bonded transverse end edges are cut along their axis to form a bonded front edge of the first garment bag and a bonded rear edge of the second garment bag which is now separated from the first garment bag. A device is provided to stack the completed distinct garment bags. Printing and drying apparatuses may he provided to decorate the cover sheet of the plastic garment bag.

Description

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The present invention relates to an apparatus for making plastic bags and, more particularly, for manufacturing plastic bags of the type used to protect garments, such as suits, coats, fur coats, etc.
Garment bags presently used are made from two separate, similar sheets of plastic which are dimensioned for the intended garment and are joined together at their peripheral edges by way of an elongated plastic or cloth strip. Such a strip is folded along its longitudinal axis and positioned to cover contacting corresponding edges of both plastic sheets before being sewn thereto to join the plastic sheets together and thus form a garment bag.
Such a method necessitates manual stitching of the peripheral joining strip portion to the pair of plastic sheets.
Similarly, the zipper must be sewn to an elongated, central, rectangular opening which is defined along the longitudinal axis of the cover sheet of the pair of plastic sheets. In this case, the longitudinal edges defining the elongated opening of the cover sheet are folded away from the aforementioned longitudinal axis and outwards of the cover sheet. The zipper is then positioned so that the peripheral elongated edges thereof overlie the folded edges of the cover sheet. A folded elongated strip, as above, is then positioned in order to embrace the longitudinal contacting edges of the zipper and the cover sheet, and then sewn thereto.
The folded longitudinal edges of the cover sheet are then returned to their original position thereby folding the longitudinal edges of the zipper underneath the cover sheet.
The operations of cutting or tailoring the plastic sheets and of joining together the sheets must be done separately with the positioning of the ~7~ ~

elongated joining strip and the stitching thereof to the plastic sheet having to be carried out manually.
Similar separate steps are also necessary to join the zipper to the garment bag.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for a continuous, mass production manufacture of plastic garment bags.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the manufacture of plastic garment bags which do not require any stitching step.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the manufacture of plastic garment bags wherein the upper and lower cover plastic sheets forming the bag are joined together by heat, and wherein the zipper is joined to the upper cover plastic sheet also by heat.
A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises an apparatus for making a garment bag which includes conveying means for conveying through the apparatus first and second elongated sheet plastic layers having a width suitable for making the garment bag and a zipper means. The zipper means includes a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of the inner longitudinal edges which extend between front and rear ends of each zipper section. Each zipper section also includes a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging the inner longitudinal edges of the zipper section between the front and rear ends thereof. The first layer comprises a pair of parallel and coplanar sheet plastic sections spaced apart by less than the width of the zipper means. A
first positioning means and heating means is provided for superposing and for heat joining the r J ~ J ~ '~

longitudinal plastic portions of the zipper portions and respective inner longitudinal edges of the pair of sections thereby forming a plastic cover sheet.
A second positioning and heating means is provided for superposing and for heat joining respective outer longitudinal edges of the cover sheet and of the second layer thereby forming a flattened tubular structure. A heating and cutting means is provided for transversely heat joining and cutting through the bag structure at respective front and rear ends of a pair of successive zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined end edges of a pair of separate successive garment bags.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for making a garment bag from first and second elongated sheet plastic layers of width suitable for making the garment bag and from a zipper means. The zipper means includes a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of the inner longitudinal edges which extend between front and rear ends of the zipper sections. Each zipper section also includes a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging the inner longitudinal edges of the zipper section between the front and rear ends thereof. The first layer comprises a pair of sheet plastic sections. The method comprises the steps of:
a) conveying the pair of sections and the zipper means through a first positioning and heating means with the pair of sections being coplanar and spaced apart by less than the width of the zipper means for heat joining the longitudinal plastic portions of the zipper sections and respective inner longitudinal edges of the pair of sections thereby forming a cover sheet;

b) conveying the cover sheet and the second layer through a second positioning and heating means with respective outer longitudinal edges of the cover sheet and of the second layer being superposed for heat joining the same thereby forming a flattened tubular bag structure; and c) conveying the bag structure through a heating and cutting means for transversely heat joining and cutting through the bag structure at respective front and rear ends of a pair of successive zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined edges of a pair of separate successive garment bags.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a garment bag made by way of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the broken lines define various cutouts produced during the manufacturing process of the garment bag;
Fig. 2 is a schematical elevation of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention for producing zippers used in the manufacture of garment bags in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 of a zipper puncher of the zipper making apparatus of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view taken from lines 4-4 of Fig. 2 of a double pulley used in the zipper making apparatus of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a detailed front elevation of a pair of staplers used in the zipper making apparatus of Fig. 2;

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Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the zipper after the stapling step;
Fig. 7 is a side view taken from lines 7-7 of Fig. 2 of the zipper winding device used in the zipper making apparatus of Fig. 2;
Figs. 8a to 8c are schematic elevations forming together a garment bag making apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a detailed elevation view of a device of Fig. 8a for cutting an elongated, longitudinal, central strip in the top cover plastic sheet of the garment bag;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged side view of the cutting device of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a detailed elevation of a device of Fig. 8a for positioning the zipper to the top cover sheet about the elongated strip thereof;
Fig. 12 is a detailed elevation of a device of Fig. 8a for superposing the top and bottom cover plastic sheets;
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a device of Fig. 8b for thermally joining the top and bottom cover sheets along the longitudinal side edges thereof;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 14-14 of Fig. 8b of a device for cutting the longitudinal side edges of the thermally joined top and bottom cover plastic sheets;
Fig. 15 is a detailed elevation of a tensioning device of Fig. 8b;
Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional detailed elevation of a device of Fig. 8b for drying the lnk following the bag printing process of Fig. 8b;
Figs. 17 and 18 are detailed elevations of a device of Fig. 8c for thermally joining the top and bottom cover sheet at the front and rear transverse

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edges thereof, and for cutting the front and rear end portions of adjacent bags to form two distinct and separate garment bags;
Fig. 19 is a schematic top plan view of the heating and cutting devices of Figs. 17 and 18; and Fig. 20 is a schematical elevation of a subdevice of the device shown in Figs. 17 and 18 for disposing of excess cutout sheet plastic following the cutting process of Fig. 18.
In this preferred embodiment, a plastic garment bag B as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 is manufactured by two series of apparatuses in accordance with the present invention which are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8a to 8c.
The bag B shown in Fig. 1 is basically made from top and bottom generally rectangular thin plastic sheets 10 and 12 respectively which are superposed and heat sealed at their periphery as indicated at 14. The top sheet 10 of the bag B
includes a plastic zipper 16 which is joined at the longitudinal edges thereof to edges of an elongated central longitudinal opening defined on the top sheet 10. The top sheet 10 and the zipper 16 are also joined by a heat sealing as shown at 18. ,' In Fig. 1, longitudinal residual cutouts which result from the process which will be described hereinafter are indicated at 20 whereas a residual end cutout defined between pairs of successive bags B
and B' is indicated at 22.
The zipper 16 includes a pair of elongated interlocking side members 24 and 24a. A sliding handle piece 26 is used to conventionally engage and disengage the side members 24 and 24a one with respect to the other. The travel of the sliding handle piece 26 is limited near the front and rear ends of the zipper 16 of each bag B by front and rear staples 28 and 30, respectively. An oblong opening 2 t 32 for allowing a hanger to emerge from the bag B is defined at the front end of the zipper 16 and overextends on the part of the zipper located on the end cutout 22.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 which is mounted on a support structure 48 generally produces from a plastic band 50 wound around â roll 52 integral successive zipper sections such as the zipper 16 of Fig. 1, each including the handle piece 26, the staples 28 and 30 and the oblong opening 32.
The plastic band 50 comprises a pair of elongated interlocking side members 54 and 54a which will make for the side members 24 and 24a of each joined zipper sections produced by the process of Fig. 2.
First, the band 50 which is fed through the apparatus of Fig. 2 in the direction shown by arrow 56 passes through an opening device 58 which includes an arm 60 that extends between both side members 54 and 54a of the band 50 in order that these side members 54 and 54a are not interlocked such as in the position of the side members 24 and 24a of Fig. 1 located rearwards of the sliding handle piece 26.
The band 50 in its uninterlocked position is then guided by way of pulleys 62 towards a punching device generally designated as 64 and preceded by a spring loaded guide 66 for the band 50.
The punching device 64 which is better illustrated in Fig. 3 will pierce the band 50 to form therein the oblong opening 32 mentioned hereinbefore.
As seen in Fig. 3, the punching device 64 includes a punch 68 of oblong cross-section which is actuated by a solenoid 70 between the positions thereof shown in full and in broken lines. The band 50 which is fed through a guide 72 of the punching device 64 is stopped at predetermined intervals, whereby the solenoid 70 can actuate the punch 68 in order to define in the band 50 the above oblong opening 32. A ramp 74 dispenses a residual oblong cutout 76 from the punching device 64 as indicated by arrows 78. The punch 68 provides between results when the side members 54 and 54a are not interlocked.
Now referring to Fig. 2, the band 50 is then fed through a separating device or pin 80 which disengages the side members 54 and 54a one from the other in order to be fed in a parallel and spaced apart way by rollers 82 towards double pulleys 84 which are best illustrated in Fig. 4. The lower one of the rollers 82 is in contact with a measuring device 82a connected to a counter 82b. The double pulleys 84, a vertically adjustable double pulley 85 and scale marks 87 form a length adjusting device 86 for the zipper sections 16 which will be described hereinafter.
After having passed through the first length adjusting device 86, the sliding handle piece 26 of the zipper is manually mounted to the side members 54 and 54a of the band 50 which are then manually interlocked one to the other.
The interlocked side members 54 and 54a are then conveyed through a second length adjusting device 88 which is similar to 86 although comprising a series of single pulleys 89 and 90 instead of the double pulleys 84 and 85. Scale marks 91 are also provided for the vertically adjustable pulley 90.
The band 50 is then fed to a pair of stapling devices 92 and 92a which act simultaneously to join with a staple the already interlocked sections of the side members 54 and 54a in positions corresponding with the front of the zipper 16 of the bag B and the rear of the zipper 16' of the adjacent frontwardly positioned bag B'. For instance, the staples 28 and 30' shown in Fig. 1 will in a same step be tacked to respective zipper sections 16 and 16'.

The stapling devices 92 and 92a which are shown in more details in Fig. 5 are also mounted to the support structure 48. As both stapling devices 92 and 92a are identical, only the stapling device 92 will be herein further described with similar parts of the stapling device 92a being identified by the suffix "a".
The stapling device 92 which uses the punch press principle includes a continuously running motor 94 which drives by way of a belt 96 a solid heavy disk 98 which further drives a shaft 100 which is linked to a stapling head 102 in order to give thereto a translational up and down movement.
A roll of a flat steel band 104 is fed between the stapling head 102 and the band 50 of zipper sections 16 which is guided through the stapling device 92. The inertia of the heavy disk 98 will act with sufficient force on the stapling head 102 in order to define in the steel band 104 an individual staple 106 which will be forced through the band 50 and on each side of the interlocking plastic structures of the side members 54 and 54a of the band 50. Furthermore, a supporting guide 108 located underneath the band 50 opposite the stapling head 102 has a top surface which defines concave channels to force the side ends 110 of the staple 106 upwards and inwards thereby forming arms which surround the undersides of the interlocking plastic sections of the side members 54 and 54a, whereby staple 106 is secured to the band 50, as best seen in Fig. 6.
Now referring to Fig. 2, the band 50 which has up to now been fed through the preceding devices by way of a motor 120 acting on a motorized pulley 122 by way of a belt 124 passes through a pulley 126 rotatably mounted to a pivotally mounted gravity tensioning device 128 which ensures by pivoting along 2,~7~3 the directions shown by arrows 130 that the band 50 is properly tensioned before being wound on a roll 132 by a winding device 134 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7 and described hereinbelow.
The winding device 134 includes a motor 136 which drives by way of belts 138 a shaft 140 which in turn drives a geared wheel 142. The geared wheel 142 is in meshed engagement with another geared wheel 144 mounted to a shaft 146 of the roll 132.
The shaft 140 further drives by way of a pulley 148 and a belt 150 a further pulley 152 mounted on a shaft 154 which is threaded along the width of the roll 132. A guiding device 156 which is threadably engaged on the threaded shaft 154 includes a pair of pulleys 158 between which the band 52 passes through. The guiding device 156 is prevented from rotating with the threaded shaft 154 thereby displacing along the threaded shaft 154 only in a translational movement as indicated by arrows 160.
The threaded shaft 154 further includes a reverse thread in order that the guiding device 156, upon reaching an end 162 of the threaded shaft 154, automatically engages the reverse thread thereof so as to displace horizontally back to its position shown in Fig. 7.
The horizontally displacing guiding device 156 allows for the band 50 to be wound up on the roll 132 in a distributed fashion along the entire width thereof.
A pair of spaced apart upstanding fixed members 164 extend from the base of the winding device 134 and each include an arm 166 which is pivotally mounted thereto. A roller 168 is rotatably mounted between free ends 170 of the arms 166.
Gravity maintains the roller 168 mounted to the pivoting arms 166 in contact with the zipper sections 16 which are wound around the roll 132.

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The roll 132 will therefore include a band 52 made of integral successive zipper sections 16 which each include an oblong opening 32, front and rear staples 28 and 30 and a sliding handle piece 26 disposed therebetween. Once the roll 132 includes a sufficient length of such zipper sections 16, it is removed from the apparatus shown in Fig. 7 to be used in the bag making apparatus of Figs. 8a to 8c of which the detailed description follows hereinafter.
The length of each zipper sections 16 is controlled by the measuring device 82a in conjunction with the counter 82b. The feeding cycle is commenced by a signal from an externally operated source, such as a foot switch actuated by the person mounting the handle piece to the band 50 between the length adjusting devices 86 and 88. The signal starts the drive motor 120 which through the various pulleys and rolls transports the band 50 in the direction 56.
The precision measuring device 82a which measures the length of band 50 being displaced is connected to the counter 82b into which a selected zipper length has been entered. ~hen the predetermined zipper length has been transported, the counter 82b transmits a signal to the motor 120 which is stopped and braked thereby immobilizing the band 52. At the same time, the punch 68 and the stapling heads 102 and 102a are activated ending the cycle and leaving the machine of Fig. 2 at rest until another external signal recommences the cycle.
The movable pulleys 85 and 90 of the length adjusting devices 86 and 88 respectively are adjusted and set using respective scales 87 and 91 to maintain a constant relative positioning of the manual station for installing the handle pieces 26 and of the stapling devices 92 and 92a with respect to the oblong holes produced at the punching device 64.

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Figs. 8a to 8c illustrate the process by which the roll 132 of continuous zipper sections 16 of Fig. 7 is used with first and second rolls 200 and 202 of continuous thin plastic sheets 204 and 206, respectively. The roll 132 of zipper sections of Fig. 7 is indicated in Fig. 8a by the numeral 208 whereas the zipper sections in Figs. 8a to 8c are indicated by the numeral 210.
The first plastic sheet 204 is guided by way of rollers 212 rotatably mounted to various sections of a frame 214 towards a cutting device 216 which is best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The cutting device 216 includes guide rollers 218 and a pair of tension rollers 220 which are pivotally ajustable by way of four adjusting members 222 which each include a pin and slot arrangement 224, a pivot 226 and a handle 228. The first plastic sheet 204 then passes between a lower support roller 230 and an upper guide roller 232. Two parallel and spaced apart circumferential grooves 233 which are defined on the lower support roller 230 slidably engage two parallel spaced apart blades 234 mounted on the upper guide roller 232. The pair of blades 234 thus define a longitudinal central elongated strip 236 in the first plastic sheet 204. This residual strip 236 is wound around a roll 238 driven by a motor 240. Therefore, the first plastic sheet 204 comes through the cutting device 216 as two distinct large bands 242 which are spaced apart by the distance between the two blades 234 which is less than the width of the zipper sections 210. The zipper sections 210 can thus be positioned symmetrically underneath both bands 242 by way of a first positioning device 250 which is described hereinbelow.
The first positioning device 250, as best seen in Fig. 11, includes a casing 252 and a motor 254 mounted exteriorly of the casing 252 for driving 2 ,~ ~ ~ 7 ~

a series of exterior gears 256, 258, 260 and 262.
The large bands 242 are fed into the casing 252 as indicated by arrow 264. The zipper sections 210 are also fed into the casing 252 as indicated by arrow 266 by way of guide rollers 267 of Fig. 8a. A series of steel and rubber rollers are disposed right through opposite sides of the casing 252 in order to be driven directly or indirectly by the gears 256, 258, 260 and 262. The zipper sections 210 are guided by steel rollers 268, 270, 272 and 274, with the rollers 270 and 274 being respectively driven by gears 262 and 258, in a space between the steel roller 274 and a rubber roller 276, at which point the zipper sections 210 are positioned symmetrically under the large band 242 which had been guided thereto by rubber roller 278.
The lateral edges of the zipper sections 210 are positioned under the respective inner edges of both the large bands 242 of the first plastic sheet 204. The rubber roller 276 is only wide enough to engage the zipper sections 210 and adjacent portions of the large bands 242 as the remaining portions of the large band 242, located exteriorly of the zipper sections 210, are maintained onto outer parts of the roller 274 by a pair of rollers 280.
The rubber roller 276 further defines a central circumferential channel which is large enough to receive the zipper sections 210.
The juxtaposed large bands 242 and zipper sections 210 exit the first positioning device 250 as indicated by arrow 282.
It is noted that the tension of the rubber roller 276 on the steel roller 274 can be adjusted by way of tension adjusting members 284 which is identical to the tension adjusting members 222 described hereinbefore in Fig. 9. Further tension r~ ~

adjusting members are indicated at 286 and 288 respectively for the pair of rollers 280 and the roller 270.
The juxtaposed large bands 242 and the zipper sections 210 are then fed into a first heating device 300. Basically, heat is applied on the inner edges of the large bands 242 which overlie the longitudinal outer edges of the zipper sections 210.
By doing so, the zipper sections 210 are joined on each side thereof to the undersides of the large bands 242 thereby forming an integral upper layer 302 of the bag B.
The upper layer 302 is then fed to a second positioning device 310 which is similar to the first positioning device 250. In this device, the upper layer 302 is juxtaposed over the second plastic sheet 206 which is dispensed from the second roll 202 and guided thereto by way of a series of rollers 312 mounted on the frame 214. The second positioning device 310, as best seen in Fig. 12, includes a casing 314 and a motor 216 mounted exteriorly of the casing 314. The motor 316 drives a series of gears 318, 320 and 322 also disposed exteriorly of the casing 314.
A series of rubber rollers which extend right through opposite sides of the casing 314 drive and guide the upper layer 302 and the second plastic sheet 206 towards each other. Such rollers include for the second plastic sheet 206 rollers 324 and intermediate motor driven roller 326 which meshes on the exterior of the casing 314 with gear 322.
Rollers 328 guide the upper layer 302 towards a space located between motor driven roller 330 which meshes on the outside of the casing 314 with gear 320 and tensioning roller 332 which is adjustable by way of a pair of tension adjusting members 334 having a same construction as discussed hereinbefore. The upper layer 302 and the second plastic sheet 206 are superposed from the point of this space defined between the motor driven roller 330 and the tensioning roller 332. The superposed layers 302 and 206 exit from the second positioning device 310, with guidance from a roller 336, as indicated by arrow 338.
The superposed upper layer 302 and second plastic shee-t 206 are now fed into a second heating device 350, the internal structure thereof being best illustrated in Fig. 13. By the second heating device 350, both superposed layers will be heat joined one to the other at their longitudinal side edges, as shown at 14 on Fig. 1.
Fig. 13 shows the heat joining of one of the two longitudinal side edges of the superposed plastic layers 206 and 302. These superposed plastic layers are supported and driven by a first roller belt structure 352 which includes two horizontally spaced apart rollers 354 (only one such roller is herein shown) driving a belt 356 made of teflon or another non adhesive material.
A second roller belt structure 358 vertically spaced from the first roller belt structure 352 by a gap 360 which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the superposed layers 206 and 302 also includes a pair of horizontally spaced apart rollers 362 (only one of which is herein shown) driving a belt 364 made of teflon or the like.
The belt 364 is at least positioned above the longitudinal side edges of the superposed plastic layers.
An elongated heating member 366 which is positioned inside the second roller belt structure 358, that is between the rollers 362 and the belt 364, in order to be parallel to the longitudinal side edges of the superposed plastic layers. The heating r~

member 366 is surrounded by heat insulation 368 on three sides thereof for exposing the underside thereof towards the longitudinal side edges of the superposed plastic structure. Both belts 356 and 364 are made from or covered by a non adhesive material to prevent the heated plastic of the superposed structure from adhering to the roller belt structures 352 and 358. At 370, both the upper plastic layer 302 and the second plastic sheet 206 are thus heat joined into one integral structure thereby forming a bag structure 372.
Similarly, the first heating device 300 includes two closely spaced apart heating members which overlie the overlapping longitudinal side edges of the large bands 242 and zipper sections 210.
Then, to achieve a clean bonded edge, an excess of the heat joined longitudinal edges will be cut out from the bag structure 372 as indicated at 20 on Fig. 1, and as explained hereinbelow.
Now referring to Fig. 14, the bag structure 372 is thus fed to a cutting device 400 which comprises upper and lower rollers 402 and 404 which respectively include a circumferential groove 406 and a blade 408 which cooperate to remove an excess cutout 410 from each of the longitudinal side edges of the bag structure 372. This excess cutout 410 corresponds to the cutout 20 of Fig. 1. A clean cut of the longitudinal side edges of the bag structure 372 is thus achieved at 412. The excess cutout 410 is dispensed as indicated by arrow 414 for subsequent disposal thereof.
The bag structure 372 is then fed through a gravity tensioning device 450 and to a guiding device 452, as seen in Fig. 8b. The tensioning device 450 which is best seen in Fig. 15 includes a series of rollers 454 which are rotatably mounted to a fixed part 456 of the frame 214. An elongated tensioning member 458 is pivotally mounted at 460 to a further fixed part 462 of the frame 214. On one side of the pivot 460, the elongated tensioning member 458 includes a series of rollers 464 which are rotatably mounted thereto. An end 466 of the elongated tensioning member 458 located on the other side of the pivot 460 is spring mounted to the fixed part of the frame 456 by way of a spring 468.
The bag structure 372 enters the tensioning device 450, as indicated by arrow 470, and is guided alternately around the series of rollers 454 and 464 to emerge from the tensioning device 450, as indicated by arrow 472. The spring mounted pivoting elongated tensioning member 458 ensures tension throughout the bag structure 372 in its different structures acquired throughout the process shown in Figs. 8a to 8c. More particularly, the tensioning device 450 allows the bag structure 372 upstream of the tensioning device 450 to move in a continuous motion and the bag structure 372 downstream thereof to displace intermittently as required by some of next devices described hereinbelow.
Now referring to Fig. 8b, the guiding device 452 includes a series of rollers 474 which guide the bag structure 372 emerging from the tensioning device 450 towards a printing device 480.
The printing device 480 uses known technology to print or stamp on the upper layer of the bag structure 372 a desired pattern, name, logo, etc.
The bag structure 372 is then directed towards a dryer 500 which is used for quickly drying the ink applied by the printing device 480 on the upper plastic layer of the bag structure 372.
The dryer 500, which is best illustrated in Fig. 16, includes a casing 502 into which the bag structure 372 is fed, as indicated by arrow 504. An ultraviolet lamp 506 is pivotally mounted at a free end 508 of an arm 510 thereof inside the casing 502.
A cylinder 512 which is pivotally mounted at 513 inside the casing 502 includes a piston rod 514 which is pivotally mounted at 516 to the arm 510 of the UV
lamp 506. Actuation of the cylinder 512 will displace the piston rod 514 in the direction shown by arrow 518 whereby the UV lamp 506 will pivot in the direction shown by arrow 520 between the positions thereof shown in full and in broken lines.
The bag structure 372 is guided by roller 522 located directly underneath the UV lamp 506, at which point the UV lamp 506 dries the ink on the upper layer of the bag structure 372. The bag structure 372 is then abruptly conveyed downwards, outside of the casing 502 of the dryer 500 and therearound by way of rollers 524 and rollers 526.
The dryer 500 further includes inslde the casing 502 thereof an inner casing 528 which is made of a heat absorbant material. As the heat emitted by the UV lamp 506 is intense and due to the intermittent motion of the bag structure 372 through the dryer 500, the UV lamp 506 is pivoted towards the inner casing 528 by way of the cylinder 512 in the position thereof shown in broken lines when the bag structure 372 ceases to move. This prevents having to open and shut continuously the UV lamp 506. At that point, the UV lamp 506 faces directly towards a bevel top opening 530 of the inner casing 528. When the UV
lamp 506 is in its position shown in broken lines, the heat emitted thereby is absorbed by the inner casing 528 thus preventing the plastic bag structure 372 from melting. The UV lamp 506 may return to the drying position in full lines when the forward movement of bag structure 372 resumes.
As seen in Figs. 8b and 16 the rollers 524 are rotatably mounted on an adjustable member 540 which can be vertically slid along a fixed vertical 2 ~ ~.; 7 ~

guide 542 -having scale marks 544- and secured thereto at various heights. This set up provides for the adjustment of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8a to 8c for different predetermined length of plastic bags B.
The bag structure 372 is then conveyed through a guiding device 550, shown in Fig. 8b, which includes the above mentioned rollers 526 and further rollers 552.
Now referring to Fig. 8c, the bag structure 372 is fed on concave support 554 and then into a motorized feeding device 556 which includes a series of rollers (not shown) which are motor driven and are adjustable in order to provide sufficient friction on the bag structure 372 for forwarding the same into a heating and cutting device 600 which is illustrated in more details in Figs. 17 through 20 and further described hereinbelow. A detection device 558 for detecting the oblong openings 32 which is located near the concave support 554 is connected to a precision measuring device (not shown) which works in conjunction with a predetermined counter (not shown) to allow, when activated by the detection device 558, a predetermined amount of the bag structure 372 to be transported to the heating and cutting device 600.
Referring to Fig. 1, the purpose of the heating and cutting device 600 is to join the top and bottom plastic sheets 10 and 12 at their corresponding front and rear edges and to define by way of a cutting step the cutout 22 in order to form two distinct garment bags B and B'.
For doing so, the heating and cutting device 600 illustrated in Figs. 17 to 20 provides for three successive distinct steps. First, once the bag structure 372 has been properly positioned in the device 600, a cylinder lowers a pair of heating elements in order to join the front edge of a first ;, ~J s~ i~ rJ ~ 3 bag and the rear edge of a successive bag. Second, a second cylinder lowers three blades, the first two defining the front edge of the first bag and the rear edge of the successive bag and thus the aforementioned end cutout 22, whereas the third blade which is disposed transversely between the other two blades separates the end cutout 22 into two distinct sections for easier removal thereof from the heating and cutting device 600. Third, a pair of vertical push rods are lowered, each onto one of the two sections of the end cutout 22 formed by the above third blade, in order to force these two sections of the end cutout 22 through a pair of apertures defined in the base of the device 600 underlying the bag structure 372.
Now referring to Fig. 17, the heating and cutting device 600 is mounted on a base 602 which fixedly carries a support plate 604 and support structures 606 and 608. The support plate 604 includes a support table 610 which underlies the bag structure 372. Four vertical rods 612 which extend vertically from corners of the support plate 604 are slidably lodged at their upper ends in sleeves 616 which extend downwards from a floating plate 614. The floating plate 614 is thus supported by the vertical rods 612. A spring 618 is provided around each vertical rod 612 between the support plate 604 and a respective sleeve 616 to oppose a downward movement of the floating plate 614.
A first cylinder 620 is fixedly mounted onto the support structure 606. A connecting member 622 is fixedly mounted at opposed ends thereof to the top of the floating plate 614 and to a piston rod 624 of the cylinder 620.

Actuating rods 626 are fixedly mounted at upper ends thereof to the floating plate 614 and extend downwards therefrom. A heatinq and cutting member 628 is fixedly mounted at lower ends of the actuating rods 626.
The heating and cutting member 628 includes first and second heating elements 630 and 632, respectively. As best seen in the plan view of Fig.
19, the first heating element 630 has an elongated rectangular shape which corresponds with the sealing of the rear edge of the garment bag B' of Fig. 1, whereas the second heating element 632 has the shape of a hanger which corresponds to the desired shape of the front sealed edge of the garment bag B of Fig. 1.
A second cylinder 640 which is fixedly mounted to a further base 642 includes a piston rod 644 which is joined to a connecting member 646. A
pair of median rods 648 extend vertically from the connecting member 646 through the support plate 604 and sleeves 650, the latter being fixedly mounted on top of the support plate 604. A driving plate 652 is fixedly mounted at the top ends of the median rods 648 above the sleeves 650. Springs 654 are provided between the driving plate 652 and the sleeves 650 to oppose a downwards displacement of the driving plate 652.
Second actuating rods 656 extend downwards from the driving plate 652. A cutting member 658 is fixedly mounted at the lower ends of the second actuating rods 656. The cutting member 658 carries first, second and third blades 660, 662 and 664, respectively. As best seen in the plan view of Fig.
19, the first blade 660 is linear to conform with the shape of the rear edge of the bag B'. The second blade 662 being hanger-shaped conforms with the profile of the front edge of the garment bag B. The third blade 664 is a short straight blade which extends transversely between the first and second blades 660 and 662 in order to separate in two distinct sections the end cutout 22 which will be defined by the first and second blades 660 and 662.
Referring to Fig. 17, a pair of push rods 670 which extend vertically through the heating and cutting device 600 are actuated by cylinders (not shown) which are fixedly mounted on top of the support structure 606 for driving the push rods 670 from a location above the plane of the bag structure 372 through corresponding holes 674 defined in the support table 610 underlying the bag structure 372, as best seen in Figs. 19 and 20.
Therefore, once the bag structure 372 is properly positioned in the heating and cutting device 600, cylinder 620 is actuated thereby pushing downwards the piston rod 624 which forces by way of connecting member 622 the floating plate downwards against the springs 618. The first actuating rods 626 are therefore lowered along with the heating member 628 and, more particularly, the first and second heating elements 630 and 632 onto the bag structure 372 to seal the front edges of a first bag B and the rear edges of a following bag B'. The support table includes heat insulated sections 666 and 668 which are respectively located opposite the heating elements 630 and 632. The above displacements for the heating and sealing step of the heating and cutting device 600 are shown in broken lines in Fig.
17 with the accompanying broken line arrows.
Now mainly referring to Fig. 18 which shows the heating member 628 in its lowered, sealing position, the cutting step can now be initiated. It is noted that the heating member 628 is maintained in its lowered position as the first and second heating 2 ~ ~ ~ a ~

elements 630 and 632 thereof help maintain in position the bag structure 372 for the cutting operations.
Therefore, actuation of the second cylinder 640 lowers the piston rod 644 thereby lowering the connecting member 646, the median rods 648 through the sleeves 650 and the driving plate 652 against the springs 654. The lowering of the driving plate 652 simultaneously lowers the cutting element 658 which is joined thereto by the second actuating rods 656.
The blades 660, 662 and 664 thus pierce through the bag structure 372 at the appropriate locations. The various displacements of the above elements connected with this cutting step are shown in broken lines in Fig. 18 with the downwards displacement of the cutting element 658 being indicated by a broken line arrow.
Fig. 20 illustrates in full lines the position of one of the push rods 670 prior to the lowering thereof. Once the cutting step is finished, the push rods 670 are lowered by the actuation of their respective cylinders with their lower tapered ends 672 driving both sections of the residual end cutout 20 of Fig. 1 through a pair of holes 674 defined in the support plate 604. It is again noted that the end cutout is produced by the cutting step between the first and second blades 660 and 662, the end cutout 20 being further separated in two sections by the third blade 664. It is also noted that the third blade 664 is offset from the center of the end cutout 20 in order to prevent having to cut directly through the zipper sections 16 which are harder than the adjacent plastic sheets. The end cutouts 20 are disposed in a wastebasket 680.
Now referring to Fig. 8c, each individual bag B is driven down a sloped table 700 which includes a top surface 702 in a manner explained hereinafter. A wide belt 704 is mounted on motor driven rollers 706 above the top surface 702 of the table 700 in such a way that the lower part of the belt 704 loosely contacts the top surface 702. The motorized feeding device 556 is positioned close enough to the belt 704 in order ~hat, when the bag B
emerges therefrom, its leading part, that is the rear edge thereof, reaches the engagement area (see 708 on Fig. 8c) of the belt 704 with the top surface 702 of the table 700. The bag B is then driven by the belt 704 along the length of the table 700 to emerge from the table 700 between rollers 710. At that point, the bag B slides on top of a stack of identical garment bags 720 which rest on bag accumulator 722.
The various motorized rollers located upstream of the tensioning device 450 provide for a continuous feeding of the first and second plastic sheets 204 and 206 and of the zipper sections 210 through various devices 216, 250, 300, 310, 350 and 400.
The bag structure 372 downstream of the tensioning device 450 is fed intermittently through the printing device 480, the dryer 500 and the heating and cutting device 600 as the operations carried out by these machines require that the bag structure 372 be immobilized therein.
The oblong opening detection device 558 in conjunction with the precision measuring device and counter (not shown) ensures that a predetermined length of the bag structure 372 is fed to the printing device 480, the dryer 500 and the heating and cutting device 600, at which point the motorized rollers downstream of the tensioning device 450 are stopped and braked.
The detection device 558, the measuring device and the counter ensure a correct positioning of the oblong holes 32 of the bag structure 372 in ~ ~ jf~P ,'~

relation to the printing device 480, the dryer 500 and the heating and cutting device 600. When the motorized rollers are stopped, the printing device 480 and the heating and cutting devices are activated with the UV lamp 506 of the dryer 500 taking its inoperative position shown in dotted lines.
The vertically adjustable member 540 in conjunction with the scale marks 544 allows for various bag lengths as in the zipper machine of Fig.
2 (see adjustable pulleys 85 and 90). The tensioning device 450 maintains tension on the bag structure 372 from the rolls of plastic sheets 200 and 202 and of zipper 208 through the tensioning device 450.
After the printing action of device 480 and the heating and cutting actions of device 600, the motion of the bag structure 372 is restored by energizing the motorized rollers (upstream of the tensioning device 450) thereby transporting the following oblong opening 32 towards the detection device 558.
From the above it is easily seen that the present invention provides for an automated process for producing plastic garment bags. Provisions have been introduced in the present invention to provide for different lengths of garment bags.

Claims (84)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for making a garment bag comprising conveying means for conveying through said apparatus first and second elongated sheet plastic layers having a width suitable for making the garment bag and a zipper means including a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of said inner longitudinal edges extending between front and rear ends of said zipper section, a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section between said front and rear ends, said first layer comprising a pair of parallel and coplanar sheet plastic sections spaced apart by less than the width of said zipper means; a first positioning and heating means for superposing and for heat joining said longitudinal portions of said zipper portions and respective inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections thereby forming a plastic cover sheet; a second positioning and heating means for superposing and for heat joining respective outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet and of said second layer thereby forming a flattened tubular bag structure; a heating and cutting means for transversely heat joining and cutting through said bag structure at respective front and rear ends of a pair of successive zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined end edges of a pair of separate successive garment bags.

2. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein each of said zipper sections further comprises front and rear lock means disposed respectively near said front and rear ends thereof, and wherein a hanger opening is defined in said zipper section in front of said front lock means thereof.

3. An apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein said front and rear lock means each comprise a staple embracing said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section.

4. An apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein said opening is oblong-shaped, and wherein said heating and cutting means cuts through said oblong hanger opening.

5. An apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein said zipper section is made of a plastics material apart from said handle means and the staples which are made of metal.

6. An apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein a first cutting means is provided comprising a first pair of stationary parallel and spaced apart first cutting tools adapted to define an elongated longitudinal central strip in an elongated plastic sheet being fed through said first cutting means for producing said pair of spaced apart sections forming said first layer.

7. An apparatus as defined in Claim 6, wherein said central strip is progressively wound around a remote motorized roller means.

8. An apparatus as defined in Claim 6, wherein said longitudinal portions of said zipper sections comprise outer longitudinal edges thereof, and wherein said first layer and said zipper means are fed horizontally with said outer longitudinal edges of said zipper sections underlying said inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections through said first positioning and heating means which comprises first heating elements overlying said superposed edges which continuously displace thereunder for forming said cover sheet.

9. An apparatus as defined in Claim 8, wherein said cover sheet and said second layer are fed horizontally with said outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet overlying said outer longitudinal edges of said second layer through said second positioning and heating means which comprises second heating elements overlying said superposed edges which continuously displace thereunder.

10. An apparatus as defined in Claim 9, wherein a second cutting means is provided after said second positioning and heating means, said second cutting means comprising second cutting tools for removing an elongated excess strip from each of the outer longitudinal bonded edges of said bag structure which are fed through said second cutting means.

11. An apparatus as defined in Claim 10, wherein said heating and cutting means comprises elongated and spaced apart third and fourth heating elements transversely mounted thereto for heat joining said bag structure respectively at said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections, and wherein said heating and cutting means further comprises elongated and spaced apart third and fourth cutting tools transversely mounted thereto for cutting through said bag structure respectively at said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

12. An apparatus as defined in Claim 11, wherein said third heating element and said third cutting tool are shaped to provide a hanger shape to said front joined end edges of the garment bags, and wherein said fourth heating element and said fourth cutting tool are linear whereby said rear joined end edges of the garment bags are straight and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal side edges thereof, said heating and cutting means producing an excess cut-out in said bag structure between said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

13. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein a first cut-out removal means is provided for removing said excess cut-out from the plane of the garment bags.

14. An apparatus as defined in Claim 13, wherein said first cut-out removal means comprises at least a push rod displaceable at right angles to said plane of the garment bag.

15. An apparatus as defined in Claim 13, wherein said heating and cutting means comprises a fifth cutting tool extending between said third and fourth cutting tools for separating said excess cut-out in a pair of sections, and wherein a second cut-out removal means is provided for dispensing in conjunction with said first cut-out removal means said pair of sections of said cut-out.

16. An apparatus as defined in Claim 15, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth cutting tools each comprise a blade.

17. An apparatus as defined in Claim 15, wherein said fifth cutting tool cuts said bag structure adjacent said zipper section to facilitate a cutting action thereof.

18. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said third cutting tool cuts through a front end portion of said hanger opening of said zipper section.

19. An apparatus as defined in Claim 13, wherein said apparatus is provided with tension means for ensuring tension of said elongated plastic sheet, said first and second elongated plastic layers, said cover sheet, said bag structure and said zipper means.

20. An apparatus as defined in Claim 19, wherein said tension means comprises a tensioning device, and wherein said apparatus comprises, in order, said first cutting means, said first positioning and heating means, said second positioning and heating means and said second cutting means which include first motorized rollers, followed by said tensioning device and by said heating and cutting means which includes second motorized rollers, said tensioning device being adapted for allowing continuous running of said first motorized rollers with said second motorized rollers running intermittently.

21. An apparatus as defined in Claim 20, wherein said tensioning device comprises a first set of rollers rotatably mounted to a frame of said apparatus and a pair of spring biased pivoting arms provided with a second set of rollers rotatably mounted therebetween and adapted to pivot towards and away from said first set of rollers, said bag structure passing alternately between rollers of said first and second sets, whereby, when said second motorized rollers are stopped, said pair of arms pivot away from said first set of rollers thereby allowing said first motorized rollers to operate continuously as said bag structure is picked up by said tensioning device as they are fed thereto.

22. An apparatus as defined in Claim 21, wherein a control means is provided for the intermittent operation of said second motorized rollers and said heating and cutting means.

23. An apparatus as defined in Claim 22, wherein said control means comprises a detection device located after said tensioning device for detecting said hanger opening, whereby, when said second motorized rollers are stopped, said heating and cutting means is properly positioned with respect to said front and rear ends of said successive zipper sections, said third and fourth heating elements and cutting tools, when actuated by said control means, displacing vertically at right angles to the plane of said bag structure.

24. An apparatus as defined in Claim 23, wherein an adjusting means is provided for allowing said apparatus to produce garment bags of various lengths, the front and rear ends of each zipper section being distanced accordingly.

25. An apparatus as defined in Claim 24, wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one adjustment roller located in front of said detection device, said adjustment roller being vertically displaceable towards and away from said plane thereby ensuring the proper positioning of said front and rear ends of said successive zipper sections with respect to said heating and cutting means for each selected length of garment bag when said second motorized rollers are stopped.

26. An apparatus as defined in Claim 24, wherein a printing device is provided after said tensioning device for printing a pattern, or the like, on said bag structure when said second motorized rollers are stopped.

27. An apparatus as defined in Claim 26, wherein said heating and cutting means and said printing device are actuated simultaneously.

28. An apparatus as defined in Claim 27, wherein a drying device is provided after said printing device for drying the ink applied to said bag structure by said printing device.

29. An apparatus as defined in Claim 28, wherein said drying device comprises a heat source which works continuously but which is adapted for only heating said bag structure when it is being driven by said second motorized rollers.

30. An apparatus as defined in Claim 29, wherein said heat source is an ultraviolet lamp adapted to pivot away from said bag structure and towards a heat absorbing means thermally insulated from said bag structure when said bag structure ceases to move.

31. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein a bag stacking means is provided for stacking the separate garment bags which exit from said heating and cutting means.

32. An apparatus as defined in Claim 31, wherein said bag stacking means comprises a motorized conveyer belt adapted for frictionally engaging at a rear end thereof each garment bag emerging from said heating and cutting means and for conveying said garment bag towards a front end thereof whereat said garment bag releases therefrom for overlying a previous garment bag thereby forming a stack of garment bags.

33. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a zipper machine for making said zipper means from a pair of elongated plastic zipper strips having engageable inner longitudinal edges and from said handle means, said zipper machine comprising a means for conveying said zipper strips through said zipper machine, a means for positioning front and rear lock means respectively near said front and rear ends of said zipper section and a means for defining a hanger opening in said zipper section in front of said front lock means, and further comprising the step of manually positioning said handle means on said zipper section.

34. An apparatus as defined in Claim 33, wherein said means for defining said hanger opening comprises a punching device.

35. An apparatus as defined in Claim 34, wherein said zipper strips are dispensed from a zipper strip roll in an engaged state, and wherein a means is provided for disengaging the inner longitudinal edges of said zipper strips before being conveyed towards said punching device for facilitating the piercing thereof.

36. An apparatus as defined in Claim 35, wherein said means for disengaging the inner longitudinal edges of said zipper strips comprises a pin extending therebetween.

37. An apparatus as defined in Claim 33, wherein said means for positioning said front and rear lock means comprises a pair of stapling devices adapted for stapling simultaneously said front and rear lock means respectively near the front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

38. An apparatus as defined in Claim 37, wherein a control means is provided for intermittent operation of said means for conveying said zipper strips.

39. An apparatus as defined in Claim 38, wherein said control means comprises a displacement measuring means for measuring a displacement of said zipper strips through said zipper machine, said control means being adapted, upon reaching a predetermined displacement of said zipper means measured by said measuring means, for stopping said zipper strips, at which point said stapling devices and said means for defining said hanger opening are simultaneously actuated while said handle means is manually positioned on said zipper section.

40. An apparatus as defined in Claim 39, wherein said measuring means comprises a roller means in contact with said zipper strips, and wherein said control means further comprises a counter means working in conjunction with said roller means and including means to select a predetermined zipper length.

41. An apparatus as defined in Claim 39, wherein a zipper length adjusting means is provided for varying the distance between successive hanger openings including a means for ensuring a constant relative position of each of said hanger openings and said stapling devices.

42. A method for making a garment bag from first and second elongated sheet plastic layers of width suitable for making the garment bag and from a zipper means including a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of said inner longitudinal edges extending between front and rear ends of said zipper section, a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section between said front and rear ends, said first layer comprising a pair of sheet plastic sections, comprising the steps of:
a) conveying said pair of sections and zipper means through a first positioning and heating means with said pair of sections being coplanar and spaced apart by less than the width of said zipper means for heat joining said longitudinal plastic portions of said zipper portions and respective inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections thereby forming a cover sheet;
b) conveying said cover sheet and said second layer through a second positioning and heating means with respective outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet and said second layer being superposed for heat joining the same thereby forming a flattened tubular bag structure; and c) conveying said bag structure through a heating and cutting means for transversely heat joining and cutting through said bag structure at respective front and rear ends of a pair of successive zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined end edges of a pair of separate successive garment bags.

43. A method as defined in Claim 42, wherein each of said zipper sections further comprises front and rear lock means disposed respectively near said front and rear ends thereof, and wherein a hanger opening is defined in said zipper section in front of said front lock means thereof.

44. A method as defined in Claim 43, wherein said front and rear lock means each comprise a staple embracing said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section.

45. A method as defined in Claim 44, wherein said opening is oblong-shaped, and wherein said heating and cutting means cuts through said oblong hanger opening.

46. A method as defined in Claim 44, wherein said zipper section is made of a plastics material apart from said handle means and the staples which are made of metal.

47. A method as defined in Claim 43, wherein, in a first supplemental step prior to step a), a third elongated plastic sheet is fed through a first cutting means comprising a first pair of stationary, parallel and spaced apart first cutting tools for defining an elongated longitudinal central strip in said third elongated plastic sheet thereby producing said pair of spaced apart sections forming said first sheet.

48. A method as defined in Claim 47, including the further step of progressively winding said central strip around a remote motorized roller means.

49. A method as defined in Claim 47, wherein, in step a), said longitudinal portions of said zipper sections comprise outer longitudinal edges thereof, and wherein said first layer and said zipper means are fed horizontally with said outer longitudinal edges of said zipper sections underlying said inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections through said first positioning and heating means which comprises first heating elements overlying said superposed edges which continuously displace thereunder for forming said cover sheet.

50. A method as defined in Claim 49, wherein, in step b), said cover sheet and said second layer are fed horizontally with said outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet overlying said outer longitudinal edges of said second layer through said second positioning and heating means which comprises second heating elements overlying said superposed edges which continuously displace thereunder.

51. A method as defined in Claim 50, wherein, in a second supplemental step provided after step b), the outer longitudinal bonded edges of said bag structure are fed through a second cutting means which comprises second cutting tools for removing an elongated excess strip from each of said longitudinal bonded edges of said bag structure.

52. A method as defined in Claim 51, wherein said heating and cutting means comprises elongated and spaced apart third and fourth heating elements transversely mounted thereto for heat joining said bag structure respectively at said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections, and wherein said heating and cutting means further comprises elongated and spaced apart third and fourth cutting tools transversely mounted thereto for cutting through said bag structure respectively at said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

53. A method as defined in Claim 52, wherein said third heating element and said third cutting tool are shaped to provide a hanger shape to said front joined end edges of the garment bags, and wherein said fourth heating element and said fourth cutting tool are linear whereby said rear joined end edges of the garment bags are straight and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal side edges thereof, said heating and cutting means producing an excess cut-out in said bag structure between said front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

54. A method as defined in Claim 53, wherein, during step c), a first cut-out removal means is provided for removing said excess cut-out from the plane of the garment bags.

55. A method as defined in Claim 54, wherein said first cut-out removal means comprises at least a push rod displaceable at right angles to said plane of the garment bag.

56. A method as defined in Claim 54, wherein said heating and cutting means comprises a fifth cutting tool extending between said third and fourth cutting tools for separating said excess cut-out in a pair of sections, and wherein a second cut-out removal means is provided for dispensing in conjunction with said first cut-out removal means said pair of sections of said cut-out during step c).

57. A method as defined in Claim 56, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth cutting tools each comprise a blade.

58. A method as defined in Claim 56, wherein said fifth cutting tool cuts said bag structure adjacent said zipper section to facilitate a cutting action thereof.

59. A method as defined in Claim 53, wherein said third cutting tool cuts through a front end portion of said hanger opening of said zipper section.

60. A method as defined in Claim 54, wherein a tension means is provided for ensuring tension of said elongated plastic sheet, said first and second elongated plastic layers, said cover sheet, said bag structure and said zipper means.

61. A method as defined in Claim 60, wherein said tension means comprises a tensioning device, and wherein said first cutting means, said first positioning and heating means, said second positioning and heating means and said second cutting means include first motorized rollers, said heating and cutting means including second motorized rollers, with said tensioning device being disposed between said second cutting means and said heating and cutting means, said tensioning device being adapted for allowing continuous running of said first motorized rollers with said second motorized rollers running intermittently.

62. A method as defined in Claim 61, wherein said tensioning device comprises a first set of rollers rotatably mounted to a frame and a pair of spring biased pivoting arms provided with a second set of rollers rotatably mounted therebetween and adapted to pivot towards and away from said first set of rollers, said bag structure passing alternately between rollers of said first and second sets, whereby, when said second motorized rollers are stopped, said pair of arms pivot away from said first set of rollers thereby allowing said first motorized rollers to operate continuously as said bag structure is picked up by said tensioning device as they are fed thereto.

63. A method as defined in Claim 62, wherein a control means is provided for the intermittent operation of said second motorized rollers and said heating and cutting means.

64. A method as defined in Claim 63, wherein said control means comprises a detection device located after said tensioning device for detecting said hanger opening, whereby, when said second motorized rollers are stopped, said heating and cutting means is properly positioned with respect to said front and rear ends of said successive zipper sections, said third and fourth heating elements and cutting tools, when actuated by said control means, displacing vertically at right angles to the plane of said bag structure.

65. A method as defined in Claim 64, wherein an adjusting means is provided for producing garment bags of various lengths, the front and rear ends of each zipper section being distanced accordingly.

66. A method as defined in Claim 65, wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one adjustment roller located in front of said detection device, said adjustment roller being vertically displaceable towards and away from said plane thereby ensuring the proper positioning of said front and rear ends of said successive zipper sections with respect to said heating and cutting means for each selected length of garment bag when said second motorized rollers are stopped.

67. A method as defined in Claim 65, wherein, in a third supplemental step provided after said tensioning device, a pattern is printed with a printing device on said bag structure when said second motorized rollers are stopped.

68. A method as defined in Claim 67, wherein said heating and cutting means and said printing device are actuated simultaneously.

69. A method as defined in Claim 68, wherein, in a fourth supplemental step provided after said printing device, the ink applied to said bag structure by said printing device is dried by a drying device.

70. A method as defined in Claim 69, wherein said drying device comprises a heat source which works continuously but which is adapted for only heating said bag structure when it is being driven by said second motorized rollers.

71. A method as defined in Claim 70, wherein said heat source is an ultraviolet lamp adapted to pivot away from said bag structure and towards a heat absorbing means thermally insulated from said bag structure when said bag structure ceases to move.

72. A method as defined in Claim 42, wherein, in a fifth supplemental step provided after said heating and cutting means, the separate garment bags are stacked one by one by a bag stacking means as they exit said heating and cutting means.

73. A method as defined in Claim 72, wherein said bag stacking means comprises a motorized conveyer belt adapted for frictionally engaging at a rear end thereof each garment bag emerging from said heating and cutting means and for conveying said garment bag towards a front end thereof whereat said garment bag releases therefrom for overlying a previous garment bag thereby forming a stack of garment bags.

74. A method as defined in Claim 42, wherein, in a sixth supplemental step provided before said first supplemental step, said zipper means is produced by a zipper machine from a pair of elongated plastic zipper strips having engageable inner longitudinal edges and from said handle means, said zipper machine comprising the steps of conveying said zipper strips through said zipper machine, defining a hanger opening in said zipper section, and positioning front and rear lock means respectively near said front and rear ends of said zipper section, said front lock means being positioned rearwards of said hanger opening, and further comprising the step of manually positioning said handle means on said zipper section.

75. A method as defined in Claim 74, wherein said means for defining said hanger opening comprises a punching device.

76. A method as defined in Claim 75, wherein said zipper strips are dispensed from a zipper strip roll in an engaged state, and wherein in a further step provided before said punching device, the inner longitudinal edges of said zipper strips are disengaged one from the other for facilitating the piercing thereof.

77. A method as defined in Claim 76, wherein the inner longitudinal edges of said zipper strips are progressively disengaged one from the other by a pin extending therebetween as they are being fed towards said punching device.

78. A method as defined in Claim 74, wherein said means for positioning said front and rear lock means comprises a pair of stapling devices adapted for stapling simultaneously said front and rear lock means respectively near the front and rear ends of the pair of successive zipper sections.

79. A method as defined in Claim 78, wherein a control means is provided for intermittent operation of said means for conveying said zipper strips.

80. A method as defined in Claim 79, wherein said control means comprises a displacement measuring means for measuring a displacement of said zipper strips through said zipper machine, said control means being adapted, upon reaching a predetermined displacement of said zipper means measured by said measuring means, for stopping said zipper strips, at which point said stapling devices and said means for defining said hanger opening are simultaneously actuated while said handle means is manually positioned on said zipper section.

81. A method as defined in Claim 80, wherein said measuring means comprises a roller means in contact with said zipper strips, and wherein said control means further comprises a counter means working in conjunction with said roller means and including means to select a predetermined zipper length.

82. A method as defined in Claim 80, wherein a zipper length adjusting means is provided for varying the distance between successive hanger openings including a means for ensuring a constant relative position of each of said hanger openings and said stapling devices.

83. An apparatus for making a garment bag comprising conveying means for conveying through said apparatus first and second elongated sheet plastic layers having a width suitable for making the garment bag and a zipper means including a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of said inner longitudinal edges extending between front and rear ends of said zipper section, a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section between said front and rear ends, said first layer comprising a pair of parallel and coplanar sheet plastic sections spaced apart by less than the width of said zipper means; a first positioning and heating means for superposing and for heat joining said longitudinal portions of said zipper portions and respective inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections thereby forming a plastic cover sheet; a second positioning and heating means for superposing and for heat joining respective outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet and of said second layer thereby forming a flattened tubular bag structure; a heating and cutting means for transversely heat joining and cutting through said bag structure at said front and rear ends of said zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined end edges of separate garment bags.

84. A method for making a garment bag from first and second elongated sheet plastic layers of width suitable for making the garment bag and from a zipper means including a series of successive zipper sections each comprising engageable inner longitudinal edges and longitudinal plastic portions outwards of said inner longitudinal edges extending between front and rear ends of said zipper section, a displaceable handle means for engaging and disengaging said inner longitudinal edges of said zipper section between said front and rear ends, said first layer comprising a pair of sheet plastic sections, comprising the steps of:
a) conveying said pair of sections and zipper means through a first positioning and heating means with said pair of sections being coplanar and spaced apart by less than the width of said zipper means for heat joining said longitudinal plastic portions of said zipper portions and respective inner longitudinal edges of said pair of sections thereby forming a cover sheet;
b) conveying said cover sheet and said second layer through a second positioning and heating means with respective outer longitudinal edges of said cover sheet and said second layer being superposed for heat joining the same thereby forming a flattened tubular bag structure; and c) conveying said bag structure through a heating and cutting means for transversely heat joining and cutting through said bag structure at said front and rear ends of said zipper sections thereby forming front and rear joined end edges of separate garment bags.