GB2407481A

GB2407481A - Stack, dispenser and method of forming of easy opening bags

Info

Publication number: GB2407481A
Application number: GB0424119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Dominic Smithson; Tien Tjiu Tan
Original assignee: 3 SS Ltd
Current assignee: 3 SS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-01
Filing date: 2004-11-01
Publication date: 2005-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-01
Also published as: GB2407481B; GB0424119D0; GB0325563D0

Abstract

A stack of individual pre-formed T-shirt type bags 2, each bag comprising a bag portion 4 being formed by front and rear walls having a closed bottom and an open mouth and first 10 and second 12 side handles extending upwardly from opposite sides of the open mouth. The mouth is formed with tabs 16 extending from the front and rear walls. Between the tabs and the handles there is formed at each side, detachable portions 18, 20 preferably having an aperture 22, 24 for allowing the stack retaining means 34, 36 of a dispenser 30 (see Figs. 6 and 9) to hold the stack in place. Releasable attachment means, preferably in the form of corona discharge treatment coupled with pressure, adhere the external walls of adjacent bags together so that when a bag is pulled off, its back wall pulls open the front wall of the next bag in the stack. Also shown is a dispenser (10, Fig.8) and a process for forming said stack using corona discharge treatment.

Description

240748 1

STACKS OF BAGS AND DISPENSERS THEREFOR

The present invention relates to stacks of bags and dispensers therefor.

It is common practice for supermarkets and other retail outlets to provide plastic bags at the checkout, or other suitable location, into which customers may pack their shopping. The most common type of bag is the so-called T-shirt type bag which comprises a bag portion, formed by front and rear walls having a closed bottom and an open mouth, and two looped side handles extending therefrom. Typically the bags are provided in the form of a stack of bags. The bags in the stack may be connected by a variety of means, for example, heat bonding or other suitable means. ë. e

Stacks of bags are well known inwhichthehandle portions of eachbag are bridged bybridgingwebs. . of plastic connected to the handle portions at each end by lines of weakness (e.g. defined by .

perforations). Thebridgingwebs areheldtogether(e.g. by treat bonding, taping, wrapping, clipping and/or tying) to form a so-called block header between the handle portions ofthe stack. This provides a large throughchannel in the stack in the region of the mouth of the bags. . --:e Generally the stack of bags is mounted on a dispenser from which the customer may ideally remove one bag at atime. A variety of different bags and dispensers are known all of which set out to achieve two main objectives: to dispense individual bags one at a time and to dispense the bag to the customer in a partially open condition.

In orderto dispensethebags inapartially open condition it has become common to provide a region of adhesion between adjacent bags in the stack. The region of adhesion maysuitablybeintheform of a"glue spot" provided near the mouthofadjacentbags. US 5421803 disclosestheuseofsuchglue spots As the first bag in the stack is removed from the dispenser by the customer the front wall ofthe next bag in the stack is pulled forward. The glues used are typically contact adhesives or hot melt adhesives and are selected to have a breaking point in the region of about 4 to 9 Newtons. It is intended that the connection between the first bag in the stack and the next bag will be broken as the first bag is pulled away, leaving the next bag partially open and ready to use. However, it has been found that when the first bag on the stack is removed, not merely the next bagbut the next three or four bags are pulled forward and opened to some extent. This effect is known as "daisychaining" and is an undesirable consequence of providing regions of adhesion.

In order to overcome the undesirable effects of"daisychaining" bag dispensers may be provided with a restraining means which ensures that only the next bag in the stack is pulled forward. One such dispenser is disclosed in GB-A-2309957. This document teaches a disperser comprising abody part and an anchor part for the stack of bags. The anchor part includes a catch means for engaging the stack, whereby the stack of bags depends from the catch means, and may be grasped for removal. A stack restraining member bears against the stack to restrain the stack of bags, but can be deflected against a gravitational restoring force when the front wall ofthe first bag ofthe stack is drawn past it -.

to open the first bag for loading prior to removal from the stack. As the first bag is removed from the. . stack the rear wall ofthe bag is drawn past the restraining member as is the front wall ofthe next bag. ë

The restraining member then comes to bear against the rear wall of the next bag and the force is sufficient to break the region of adhesion between the first bag and the next bag. The next bag is left in a partially open condition and becomes the first bag in the stack. :- ë The dispenser disclosed in GB-A-2309957 functions satisfactorily. However, there are a number of drawbacks associated with conventional "glue spot" bags. It has been shown that customers tend to grasp the bags from the bottom and, rather than pulling the first bag away from the stack, pull the bag downwards. This makes it more difficult to remove the bag from the stack and results in little or no opening ofthe next bag in the stack. Furthermore, the provision of a glue spot between each pair of adjacent bags in the stack results in a substantial increase in the costs of production. One further disadvantage ofthe conventional "glue spot" bags is that the glues may leave a sticky residue on the bags which may be undesirable.

An alternative to the use of"glue spots" isdisclosed in US 5087234. It has been shown that adjacent bags in a stack can be caused to adhere to one another in the mouth region by a combination of corona discharge treatment and pressure As disclosed in US 5087234 the mechanismforthis adhesion is not fullyunderstood. However, it has been shown that the combination ofthe corona discharge treatment and the pressure applied during the formation ofthe handles, bag mouth and centre tab result in the formation of an area of adhesion between the outer surfaces of adjacent bags.

Conventionally, corona discharge treatment has been used to treat the surface of polyethylene bags to make them receptive to ink. This procedure is done in order to apply logos and the like to the bags.

In its natural state, polyethylene has a surface energy of approximately 3 0 dynes/cm. In order to make it receptive to ink the surface energy must be raised to about 3 8 dynes/cm. This is known as increasing the "wettability" of the polyethylene and this can be done using corona discharge treatment.

A stack of bags is disclosed in WO 03/068619 Al. Each bag comprises a front layer end a rear layer. . .

of flexible plastics materialjoined at the base and sides and defining a open mouth end. Handles extend -e from the open mouth end and tabs extend from each ply of material between the handles. An attachment block is provided betweenthe handles end the handles are separately attached to the block by perforated lines of weakening. The tabs are also separably attached to the attachment block. . . :e it is the object ofthe present invention to alleviate some ofthe problems ofthe prior art, or at least to provide an alternative to them.

According to the present invention there is provided a stack of individual, pre-formed bags, each bag compusmg: a body portion formed by front and rear walls having closed sides, a closed bottom and an open mouth; first and second looped side handles extending away from the body portion at opposite sides of the open mouth; front and rear tabs extending from the front and rear walls respectively, midway between the side handles; and first and second attachment means, wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and rear tabs and the second attachment means is attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tabs.

Preferably, the first and second attachment means are separably attached to the front and rear tabs.

The first and second attachment means may be separably attached to the first and second side handles respectively.

It is preferred that each attachment means is provided with an aperture for receiving a retaining member of a bag dispenser. .... . Preferably, a portion ofthe front and rear tabs, spaced from the mouth ofthe bag, is not attached to . . . either the first or second attachment means. .

The attachment means are preferably attached by lines of weakness. The lines of weakness may suitably be formed by cuts in the bag material.

Preferably, a portion ofthe rear wall of one bag in the stack is attached to a portion ofthe front wall of the next bag in the stack. The attachment may be effected by means of an adhesive.

Alternatively, the attachment may be effected by means of corona discharge treatment prior to the formation of the handles, mouth and tabs of the bags. The combination of the corona discharge treatment and the pressure exerted by the cutter during the formation ofthe handles, mouth and tabs causes adjacent bags in the stack to adhere to one another. The rear wall ofthe first bag in the stack adheres to the front wall of the next bag in the stack and so on throughout the stack. Only the outer surfaces ofthe bags are corona discharge treated so that the front and rear walls ofthe individual bags do not adhere to one another.

According to a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a dispenser for dispensing individual, pre-formed bags having a stack of bags carried "hereby, each bag ofthe stack comprising: a body portion formed by front and rear walls having closed sides, a closed bottom and an open mouth; first and second looped side handles extending away from the body portion at opposite sides ofthe open mouth; front and reartabs extendingfromthefrontandrearwallsrespectively, midwaybetween the side handles; and first and second attachment means, wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and rear tabs and the second attachment means is attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tabs, the dispenser comprising a base, a body part, a stack support member carried by the body part and stack retaining members carried by the stack support....: . member, the stack support member comprising a planar region inclined upwards from back to front . . .: . with respect to the base, wherein the arrangement is such that, in use, the first and second attachment means are each engageable by a stack retaining member in such a manner that the handles ofthe bags . are supported by the planar region ofthe stack support means and a portion ofthe bags in the region ofthe front end reartabsis disposed on the front edge ofthe stack support meanswiththebody ofthe bags depending therefrom, such that a first bag ofthe stack may conveniently be grasped by auser to remove a single bag in a partially open condition from the stack.

Preferably an arcuate lip provided at the front of the planar region.

The body part may suitably be in the form of a central post extending from the base and attached to the underside of the stack support member.

The planar region is preferably inclined with respect to the base by from about 10 to about 80 . More preferably, the planar regionis inclined with respect to the base by from about 30 to about 50 . Most preferably, the planar region is inclined with respect to the base by approximately 45 .

It is preferred that the stack retaining members are located towards the rear ofthe planar region. The stack retaining members preferably comprise hooks for engaging the attachment means of the bags.

The support member preferably comprises two parallel side walls extending along the side edges ofthe support member. This prevents the bags from being accessed from the side and encourages a user to take the top bag of the stack from the front, preferably in the region of the tab.

A front wall may be provided extending upwardly from the base such that, in use, the base portion of ' . ' .: the stack of bags hangs down below the level ofthe front wall. Again, this prevents the bag frombeing, ... . incorrectly removed from the dispenser by preventing access to the base of the bags. .... . .. ..

According to a third aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a method offorming a stack of ...

bags comprising the following steps in any suitable order: I) providing a tube of plastics material film, 2)sealing the tube to form a plurality of bag forming lengths of film; 3) corona discharge treating a portion of the external surface of the tube; 4) separating and stacking each of the bag forming lengths in an aligned bag stack; 5) applying cutting means to one end ofthe bag stack to cut through the stack and form two side handles extending away from a bag portion on opposite sides of an open mouth, front and rear tabs extending from the front and rear walls respectively, midway between the side handles and first and second attachment means, wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and reartabs end the second attachment meansis attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tabs, wherein the pressure applied by the cutting means causes adjacent bags of the stack to adhere together in the region of the cut.

For abetterunderstanding ofthe present inventionreference will nowbemadeto the accompanying drawings showing, solely by way of example, an embodiment of the present invention and, in which: Figure I shows a plan view of a stack of bags; , . Figure 2 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a stack of bags; . . Figure 3 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a stack of bags; . Figure 4 shows a front view of a stack of bags disposed on a dispenser in a first condition; ....

Figure 5 shows a top view of a stack of bags disposed on a dispenser; Figure 6 shows a front view of a stack of bags disposed on a dispenser in a second condition; Figures 7 and 8 show a first bag being removed from a dispenser; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a dispenser; and Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the stack support member of a dispenser.

Referring firstly to Fig. I, this shows a plan view of a stack of bags 2. Each bag has a body portion 4 defined by a front wall 5 and a rear wall (not shown) having closed sides 6, a closed bottom (not shown) and an open mouth 8 First and second looped side handles 10, 12 extend away from the body portion4at opposite sides ofthe open mouth 8. Fronttab 14a end reartab 14b extend from the front wall Sand rear wall of the body portion 4 respectively. The tabs 1 4a, 1 4b extend from the centre of the mouth 8, mid-way between the side handles 10, 12 and have a first end 15, integral with the body portion 4, and a second end 16. The tabs 14a, 14b extend away from the body portion 4 and are tapered along their length from the first end 15 to the second end 16.

First attachment means 18 is attached to the first side handle 10 and the front and rear tabs 14a,14b.

Second attachment means 20 is attached to the second side handle 12 and the front and reartabs 14a, 14b. The first and second attachment means 18,20 are separably attached to the first and second side handles 10, l 2 and the front and rear tabs 14a,14b respectively along lines of weakness 19,21, which are indicated by broken lines. The lines of weakness 19,21 are formed by cuts in the bag material which enable the attachment means 18,20 to be separated from the bag. Alternatively, the lines of weakness 19,21 may be formed by perforations, discontinuations, a single point of attachment or any other suitable feature. .... - . ë.:

Although the first and second attachment means 18,20 are shown as detachable members they are not limited to this form. For example, the first and second attachment means 18,20 may be in the form of projections extending from the handles 10, 12 and separably attached to the tabs 14a, 14b.

Alternatively' the attachment means 18,20 may be in the form of projections extending from the tabs. . 14a,14b to the first and second side handles 10, 12. . Each ofthe attachment means 18,20 is provided with an aperture 22,24 which, inuse, is engaged by a stack retaining member of a bag dispenser such that the stack may be disposed thereon. The apertures 22,24 may be of any suitable shape according to the shape ofthe stack retaining members ofthe dispenser. For example, the apertures may be in the form of circular holes, slits or any other suitable shape. Alternatively, the attachment means 18,20 may simply be in the form of a bar of bag material extending between the handles 10,12 end the tabs 14a, 14b. In this case it is preferred that through channels are provided in the regions defined by the respective handle, attachment means and tab through which a retaining member of a dispenser may pass.

The first attachment means 18 is separably attached, along line of weakness 19, to a portion ofthe first side handle 10, to the mouth 8 in the region adjacent to the first side handle 10 and to a portion oftabs 1 4a, 1 4b opposite the first side handle l 0. The second attachment means 20 is separably attached, along line of weakness 21, to a portion of the second side handle 12, to the mouth 8 in the region adjacent to the second side handle 12 and to a portion oftabs 1 4a, 1 4b opposite the first side handle.

The first and second attachment means 18,20 extend beyond the free ends 16 oftabs 14a 14b. The free ends 16 ofthe tabs 14a, 14b is not attached to either the first or the second attachment means 18,20.

The stack of bags 2 according to the present invention is suitably manufactured in a generally conventional manner. A thermoplastic tube, for example of a polyethylene or other suitable polyester film is collapsed, sealed, corona discharge treated and severed transversely at intervals along its length, along lines which ultimately constitute the mouth end and the sealed bottom ofthe bags. Thereafter, a plurality of these end sealed bag forming portions are stacked one upon the other and a suitably: . designed cutting die cuts through the stack simultaneously forming the handles 10, 12, mouth 8, tabs . . .: . 14a, 14bandattachment means 18,20. Thelinesofweakness 19,21 may tee formed simultaneously with this cutting or during a subsequent step. A hot pin welding or other pin perforation may be provided, advantageously in the attachment means 18, 20 to retain the bags in their stacked configuration.

The combination ofthe corona discharge treatment and the pressure applied by the cutting die causes adjacent bags in the stack to adhere to one anotherinthe region ofthe cuts. In particular, adjacent bags will adhere together along a line defined by the free ends 16 ofthe tabs 14a, 14b. This is important as this willbe the last point of attachment between adjacentbags and, es will be described in relation to Figs. 5-7, is an important feature ofthe invention Alternatively, a glue spot may be applied to the individual bag forming portions prior to stacking and cutting.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of second embodiment of a stack of bags 2. The stack of bags 2 is substantially the same as the stack 2 of Fig.1 and the same numbering is used. The difference between the stack of bags of Figs I and 2 is that the first and second attachment means 18,20 do not extend beyond the free ends 16 oftab 14a, 14b but rather terminate at the same point. However, the free ends 16 still remain unattached along their top edge.

Fig 3 shows a planview of athird embodiment of a stack of bags 2. The stack of bags is substantially the same as the stack 2 of Fig. 1 and the same numbering will be used.

The first attachment means 18 is attached to the first side handle 10 along a line of weakness 19. The line of weakness 19 is defined by a line in which a major portion of the bag material has been cut. as.

through, leaving only two points of attachment 19a, 19b between the attachment means 18 and the. . handle 10. A similar configuration is provided in respect ofthe second attachment means 20, which is attached to the second handle 12 by a line of weakness 21. The line of weakness 21 is defined by a line in which a major portion of the bag material has been cut through, leaving only two points of attachment 21a, 21b. The tabs 14a,14b are also attached to the respective attachment means 18,20 by lines of weakness in which the majority ofthe bag material has been cut through leaving only a few points of attachment.

Figs. 4 and 5 show front and top views respectively ofthe stack of bags 2 of Fig. 2 mounted on a dispenser 30. The dispenser 30, which will be described in more detail in relation to Figs.9 1 Ond 9, comprises a base 32 which may be fixed at a suitable location, for example, at a supermarket checkout.

The stack of bags 2 is mounted in the dispenser 30 such that stack retaining members 34,36 extend through the apertures 22,24 in the attachment means 18,20. The handles 10,12 are supported by a planar region 38 of a stack support member 40 and the mouths are disposed on arcuate lip 42 with the body portion 4 depending therefrom. Stack support member 40 is supported by a central vertical post (not shown) which extends from the base 32 to the underside of the stack support member 40.

The view shown in Figs 4 and 5 is ofthe stack of bags 2 in a first condition. This is the condition in which the stack 2 is supplied and is prior to the removal of the top bag of the stack.

Fig. 6 shows a front view of a stack of bags 2, in a second condition, disposed on a dispenser 30. The second condition is that ofthe stack after the top bag has been removed. The operation ofthe removal ofthe top bagfromthe stackwillbemorefully described with reference to Fig. 6 and 7. In the second condition, which isthe usual condition ofthe stack inuse, the tab 14a on the front wall 5 ofthetopbag hangs free such that it may be grasped by a user seeking to remove a bag.

Fig. 7 shows a first step in the removal of a single bag from the stack 2 in a partially open condition.

As mentioned in reference to Fig. 6, the normal state ofthe stack in use is in the second condition. That is where the tab 1 4a on the front wall 5 ofthe top bag hangs free. In order for the stack to attain the second condition it is necessary for the first bag ofthe stack 2 to be removed. It is preferred that this operation is carried out by the person who loads the bags onto the dispenser. With the stack of bags in the second conditionthetab 14aonthefrontwall 5 ofthe top bag hangstree. In order to remove the top bag from the stack a user, normally a shopper, simply grasps the tab 1 4a and pulls in a direction away from the dispenser 30 as shown in Fig 7.

As the bag is removed from the dispenser 30, as shown in Fig. 8, it begins to open and the attachment between the bag and the attachment means 18,20 breaks. The strength ofthe attachment must be sufficient to ensure that the weight ofthe stack is supported by the attachment means 18,20 when the stack is disposed on the dispenser 30 As discussed, the combination ofthe corona discharge treatment and the pressure applied by the cutting die causes adjacent bags to adhere to one another in the region ofthe cuts. Consequently, the top bag ofthe stack is attached to the next bag in the region ofthe mouth 8 and handles 10,12. As the bag is removed from the stack each point of attachment is progressively broken until the final point of attachment is between the free end 16 ofthe tab 14b on the rear wall ofthe top bag and the free end 16 ofthe tab 14a on the front wall 5 ofthe next bag. This causes the tab 14a on the front wall 5 ofthe next bag to be pulled forward as the top bag is removed. When this final attachment is broken the top bag is removed in a partially open condition and the next bag becomes the top bag and has the tab 14a on the front wall 5 hanging free to be grasped for removal Figs.9 and 10 show perspectiveviews ofthe dispenser30, prior to loading with the stack of bags 2.

The dispenser 30 comprises a base 32 which may be fixed at a suitable location,. for example, at a supermarket checkout. The base 32 is provided with a first planar portion 33 and a second portion which is at right angles to the first portion 33. This enables the base to be fixed in position to an edge of a counter or worktop The base may suitably be fixed by screwing it to a surface or it may be a free-standing unit A post 44 extends vertically upwards from the base 32 and has a stack support member 40 at its top end. The stack supportmember40 comprises a planer region 38 inclined upwardlyDrombackto front with respect to the first portion 33 ofthe base 32 and an arcuate lip 42 provided at the front ofthe planar region 38 Stack retaining members 34,36 are provided towards the rear ofthe stack support member 40. In use, the stack of bags 2 is mounted on the dispenser 30 by engagement ofthe stack retaining members 34,36 with the apertures 22,24 in the attachment means. The handles 10,12 ofthe bags are supported on the planar region 38 and the mouth 8 is disposed on the arcuate lip 42 with the body portion depending therefrom. Side walls 46,48 are provided along the edges ofthe stack support member 40 to restrict access to the handles 10,12 ofthe bags and encourage users to grasp the top bag in the region ofthe tab 14.

Claims

I. A stack of individual, pre-formed bags, each bag comprising: a body portion formed by front and rear walls having closed sides, a closed bottom and an open mouth; first and second looped side handles extending away from the body portion at opposite sides of the open mouth; front and rear tabs extending from the front and rearwalls respectively, midway between the side handles; and first and second attachment means, wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and rear tabs and the second attachment means is attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tablet. .
2. A stack of bags according to claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment means are separably attached to the front and rear tabs. 2
3. A stack of bags according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second attachment means ...

are separably attached to the first and second side handles respectively.
4. A stack of bags according to any preceding claim, wherein each attachment means is provided with an aperture for receiving a retaining member of a bag dispenser.
5. A stack of bags according to claim 1, wherein a portion ofthe front and reartabs, spaced from the mouth of the bag, is not attached to either the first or second attachment means.
6. A stack of bags according to claim 3 or claim 4, as dependent on claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the attachment means are separably attached by lines of weakness.
7. A stack of bags according to claim 6, wherein the lines of weakness are formed by cuts in the bag material.
8. A stack of bags according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion ofthe rear wall of one bag in the stack is attached to a portion of the front wall of the next bag in the stack.
9. A stack of bags according to claim 8, wherein the attachment is effected by means of an adhesive.
10. A stack of bags according to claim 8, wherein the attachment is effected by means of corona discharge treatment.
1 1. A stack of bags according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the attachment is between the rear tab of one bag and the front tab of the next bag.
12. A stack of bags according to claim I I, as dependent on claim 10, wherein the attachment is. . between the portion of the tabs which is not attached to either of the attachment means. ... A:
13. A dispenser for dispensing individual, pre-formed bags having a stack of bags carried thereby, eachbag ofthe stack comprising: abody portionformedbyfront and rearwalls having closed sides, a closed bottom and an open mouth; first and second looped side handles extending away from the body portion at opposite sides ofthe open mouth; front and rear tabs extending from the front and rear walls respectively, midway between the side handles; and first and second attachment means, wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and rear tabs and the second attachment means is attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tabs, the dispenser comprising a base, a body part, a stack support member carried by the body part and stack retaining members carried by the stack support member, the stack support member comprising a planar region inclined upwards from beck to front with respect to the tease, whereinthearrangement is suchthat, in use, the first and second attachment means are each engageable by a stack retaining member in such a manner that the handles ofthe bags are supported by the planar region ofthe stack support means and a portion ofthe bags in the region ofthe front and rear tabs is disposed on the front edge ofthe stack support means with the body ofthe bags dependingtherefrom, suchthat a first bag ofthe stack may conveniently be grasped by a user to remove a single bag in a partially open condition from the stack.
14. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein an arcuate lip provided at the front ofthe planar region.
1 5. A dispenser according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the body part is in the form of a central post extending from the base and attached to the underside of the stack support member.
16. A dispenser according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein the planer region is inclined with respect to the base by from about 10 to about 80 .
17 A dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the planar region is inclined with respect to the base. ' . by from about 30 to about 50 . , s. 15. :...:
1 8. A dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the planar region is inclined with respect to the base by approximately 45 . ; :.'.
19. A dispenser according to any one of claims 13-18, wherein the retention means is located towards the rear of the planar region.
20. A dispenser according to any one of claims 13-19, wherein the stack retaining members comprise hooks for engaging the attachment means of the bags.
21. A dispenser according to any one of claims 13 -20, wherein the support member comprises two parallel side walls extending along the side edges of the support member.
22. A dispenser according to any one of claims 13 -21, wherein a front wall is provided extending upwardly from the base such that, in use, the base portion ofthe stack of bags hangs down below the level of the front wall.
23 A method of forming a stack of bags comprising the following steps in any suitable order: I) providing a tube of plastics material film; 2)sealing the tube to form a plurality of bag forming lengths of film; 3) corona discharge treating a portion of the external surface of the tube; 4) separating and stacking each of the bag forming lengths in an aligned bag stack; 5) applying cutting means to one end ofthe bag stack to cut through the stack and form two side handles extending away from a bag portion on opposite sides of an open mouth, front and, , rear tabs extending from the front and rear walls respectively, midway between the side handles. ' . and first and second attachment means' wherein the first attachment means is attached to the first side handle and the front and rear tabs and the second attachment means is attached to the second side handle and the front and rear tabs, wherein the pressure applied by the cutting means causes adjacent bags ofthe bag stack to adhere together in the region of the cut.
24. A stack of bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
26. Amethod substantially as hereinbefore describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.