GB2446481A

GB2446481A - Attaching handles to webs in bag making

Info

Publication number: GB2446481A
Application number: GB0722764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Katzauer
Original assignee: Dempson Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Dempson Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-06
Filing date: 2007-02-06
Publication date: 2008-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-06
Also published as: GB0722764D0; GB2446481B

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus in which lines of weakness 16 define patches in web, to each of which is attached a component. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus in which patches from a first web, defined by lines of weakness 16, are separated from each other and applied to a second web. The inventions relate to pre-cursory steps in the manufacture of handled bags.

Description

Method and apparatus for attaching handles to a continuous web and

associated product

Background of the Invention

The present invention is concerned with preparing components for attachment to a web for making portions of respective articles or pre-formed portions of respective articles and also the subsequent attachment of the uniquely prepared components. The present invention is more particularly concerned with preparing handles for attachment to container portions of bags or a web for making the container portions.

The invention is also more particularly concerned with the subsequent application of the uniquely prepared handles to bags.

It is known in the art to manufacture a bag in two ways. One way is to form a container portion of a bag and then apply a handle to it. Another way is to apply a handle to a web for making container portions of bags and then make the bag from the web with handles applied.

GB 2405373 discloses an improved method of forming a handle to be attached to a container portion of a bag or to a web for making container portions. In some embodiments described in GB 2405373, two handles are applied to either side of a pre-formed container portion of a bag. In this method, the handles are applied to an outer surface of the container portion.

US 5382215 discloses a method of producing paper bags in which a paper web is provided with transverse perforation lines and handles are glued at a given distance from the perforation lines. The web is folded over and joined together at its sides to provide a tubular web. The web is detached along its perforations to provide a web section with handles on the inside of one machine direction edge. The edge opposite in the machine direction is made into a bottom of a bag.

US 5382215 also discusses providing the ends of the handle arms with a reinforcing strip before it is applied to the paper web. The reinforcing strip serves a dual function of providing a surface for gluing the handle to the paper web and also of protecting the handle from tearing from the container portion. The latter, reinforcing, function is discussed in GB 1274045 with respect to so-called reinforcing patches.

In the prior art processes, a material for making reinforcing patches is delivered to the web for making container portions of bags in a cross direction of the web, i.e. perpendicularly to the machine direction defined by the direction of web delivery.

The material for making the reinforcing patches is then cut and applied to the web for making container portions of bags. A problem with the perpendicular approach is that it limits the possible machine speed.

In both prior art approaches, the handle making section of the process is operatively linked with the bag making section. This can be disadvantageous. For example, the speed of the handle making section limits the speed of the bag making section, which could otherwise operate at a faster production speed. Further, the step of applying patches to a formed handle and applying the combination to a web adds complexity to the process, particularly where dimensional changes to the bags or handles are desired.

The present invention aims to overcome the above mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method comprising providing a continuous web, attaching handles along the machine direction of the web and winding the web with handles attached into a roll.

A wound roll of web with handles attached thereto allows the handle forming section of a bag making process and the container portion forming section to be decoupled. The handles may be held in stock or made on one handle former for multiple machines making the container portions of the bags. Further, the speed or productivity of the container portion making process is no longer limited by that of the handle forming operation. Also, by decoupling the handle forming process and the bag forming process, any desired dimensional changes to the handles or to the bags are more easily implemented.

A wound web with handles attached also allows flexibility as to the alignment with later processes, such as application to a web for making container portions of bags or pre-formed container portions. Thus, the present invention allows the subsequent application process to performed in alignment, as opposed to perpendicularly as in the prior art, thereby permitting machine speed improvements.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising providing a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction of the web to define patches between them, and attaching respective components to respective patches.

Preferably, the components are components of an article, such as handles. The method of the second aspect of the present invention preferably provides patches each with a respective handle thereon. Such patches provide at least one of the functions of improved attach-ability of handles to subsequent articles, e.g. a material for making bags from, and reinforcing of the article in an area to which the handle is attached. The present invention, however, manufactures these patches that each have a respective handles thereon by attaching handles to a continuous web, rather than individual formation. This makes the manufacturing process less complex.

There may be other implementations where the attachment of components to a respective patch is beneficial to an article when the article is applied thereto.

The process given above for providing these patches may provide corresponding advantages to that given above with respect to patches with a respective handle thereon. The second aspect of the invention is generally applicable and is thus not limited to an embodiment related to bag handles.

Further advantages include that a continuous web to which the components or handles are attached allows winding into a roll. Thus, the second aspect of the invention allows the advantages of the roll described above to be achieved, namely advantages associated with a decoupling of the component fonning process and an article forming process.

Furthermore, the provision of weakened lines makes the patches easier to separate when they are subsequently applied to an article and does so without compromising their ability to be wound into a roll.

In a preferred form, the method of the second aspect of the invention includes forming a first web into the components, which preferably includes processing steps on a forming drum and/or folding and/or cutting. Thus, the formation of the components can be a slow or complicated process, which is advantageously separated from the later process of application to a web for making respective portions of respective articles or pre-formed respective portions of respective articles.

According to a preferred form, the first and second aspects of the invention may be combined. Thus, the second aspect of the invention may include the step of winding the web with components or handles attached into a roll. Further, the step of providing a continuous web of the first aspect of the invention provides a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction of the web to define patches between them.

Preferably, respective handles are positioned over respective weakened lines. More preferably, a distal portion of each handle comprises a portion of the handle attached to the web. Preferably, the attached portion of the handle is positioned on one side of the weakened line and the handle extends to the other side of the weakened line.

Preferably, the portion of the handle extending to the other side of the weakened line is not attached to the web.

Preferably, the step of providing a continuous web having weakened lines comprises providing a continuous web and applying the weakened lines to the continuous web.

Preferably, the weakened lines are lines of perforations and the step of applying the weakened lines comprises applying lines of perforations.

Preferably, the method of the second aspect of the invention comprises separating said patches that each have a respective component or handle attached from one another and applying said patches to respective container portions of a bag or a web for making container portions of bags so as to form handles for bags.

Preferably, the method of the second aspect of the invention comprises unwinding said roll to provide said continuous web of patches that each have a handle attached. & V

Preferably, the method of the first aspect of the present invention comprises unwinding said roll to provide a continuous web with handles attached and dividing said web with handles attached into patches of said web, each patch having a respective handle attached and applying said patches to container portions of bags or a web for making container portions of bags so as to form handles for bags.

Preferably, the method of the first and second aspects of the invention further comprises feeding said container portions or said web for making container portions in a machine direction and feeding a continuous web of patches that each have a respective handle attached in the machine direction. This preferred aspect of the invention permits improvements in process speed as compared to the perpendicular approach, as discussed above.

Preferably, the methods further comprise the step of forming said web for making container portions of bags with handles attached into bags.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising providing a first continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction of the web to define patches between theni, separating said patches from one another and applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or respective pre-formed portions of respective articles.

The method of the third aspect of the invention offers easy application of patches to a web or portion of an article, which could provide throughput improvements.

Preferably, the first and second webs are both fed in the machine direction, which is advantageous for the reasons discussed above.

Preferably, the first continuous web is a web with components, preferably handles, attached, as previously discussed. That is, the first continuous comprises patches, where each patch has a respective handle attached. Preferably, the method comprises the step of forming a further continuous web into the components, where the forming step preferably comprises processing on a forming drum and/or cutting and/or folding.

Also preferably, the second continuous web is a web for making container portions of bags and the pre-formed portion of said article is a container portion of a bag.

Preferably, the method of the third aspect of the invention comprises unwinding a roll to provide said first continuous web.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of forming the second continuous web into the article, which is preferably a step of forming the second continuous web into bags.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising means for providing a continuous web, means for attaching handles along the machine direction of the web and means for winding the web with handles attached into a roll.

Apparatus for carrying out the preferred aspects of the first aspect of the invention are also provided.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising means for providing a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction of the web to define patches between them, and means for attaching respective components to respective patches. Apparatus for carrying out the preferred features of the second aspect of the invention are also provided.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided comprising means for providing a first continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction of the web to define patches between them, means for separating said patches from one another and means for applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or applying said patches to respective pre-formed portions of articles.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a roll comprising a wound web, said web comprising handles attached along a machine direction of the web.

Preferably, the web comprises spaced apart weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where said weakened lines define respective patches between them, each patch having a respective handle attached thereon.

Preferably, the weakened lines are lines of perforations.

In a preferred form of the various aspects of the invention, the web comprises a paper web. Also preferably, the handles comprise paper handles. In a preferred form of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the container portions of bags or the web for making container portions of bags comprises paper container portions or paper web for making container portions of bags.

A preferred form of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows application of handles to a continuous web according to a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the continuous web with handles attached according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows unwinding of a wound roll of the continuous web with handles attached and application of the handles to material for making container portions of bags.

Figure 4 shows a bag.

Detail Description of the Invention

A roll 2 provides a web 18. The web 18 is preferably a paper web. The web 18 is of a length in the cross machine direction 48 (see figure 2) suitable to provide a reinforcing patch 36 for a bag (see figure 4). The length of the web in the cross machine direction will thus preferably be less than a width of a container portion 50 to which the reinforcing patch is to be applied.

Preferably, the web is provided with weakened lines 16. The weakened lines are preferably lines of perforations 16. The weakened lines 16 are provided in the cross machine direction 48. The weakened lines 16 are spaced apart in the machine direction 48 (figure 2). The weakened lines 16 define patches 12, which extend between a pair of weakened lines 16. An adjacent pair of weakened lines 16 define a patch 12 between them. Thus, the spacing between adjacent weakened lines 16 is preferably less than a height of a bag 52 (figure 4) to which a patch 12, which is defined between the weakened lines 16, is to be applied.

The web 18 provided may pre-include weakened lines. That is, the web in its wound state on the roIl 2 may include weakened lines 16 (figure 2). Preferably, the web is fed to a weakened line forming unit, shown as a perforating unit 6, and the weakened lines 16 are provided by this unit.

A handle forming unit or drum 8 is also provided. The handle forming drum 8 serves to cut a strip of material as it is received on the drum 8 to provide an elongate strip of material. The elongate material, which preferably comprises paper, is then creased across the material at two places respectively spaced from either end of the material.

Outer portions of the material defined by these creases are then folded over while a centre portion defined between the two creases is held by a gripper. The outer portions in their folded over positions provide legs 58 of a handle 14, while the centre portion provides a grip portion 60 of the handle 14. The forming drum then attaches a handle 14 to the web 18 at attached portions 56 (figure 2). Preferably, the attachment is performed by applying adhesive to the extremities of the leg portions 58 of the handle 14 and adhering the handle 14 to the web 18 using the adhesive. The remainder of the handle 14 is preferably unattached to the web 18. The handle forming unit 8 can be any conventional apparatus for forming a handle. A particularly desirable process is that described in GB 2405373.

Preferably, the handles 14 are each positioned over a weakened line 16 of the web 18 so that on one side of the weakened line 16 there is an attached portion 56 of the legs 58 of the handle and on the other side of the weakened line 16 the handle 14 is unattached. A distal portion of the legs 58 of the handle 14 comprise the attached portion 56.

The weakened line forming unit 6 may be gear coupled to the handle forming unit 8 to ensure the desired positioning of the handles 14 over the weakened lines 16 of the web 18. Including a weakened line forming unit 6 as opposed to providing a web having pre-included weakened lines is thus advantageous as it makes the alignment process easier to perform.

The handles 14 are attached to the web 18 without overlap. Thus, the space between the weakened lines preferably fits just one entire handle.

The width of the web 18 preferably fits just one handle 14 in a cross machine direction of the web. In one envisaged embodiment, however, it is within the scope of the invention that more than one handle 14 could be provided in a cross machine direction 48 of the web 18, for example two handles could be provided in side by side relation. In such an embodiment, the web may not have a length smaller in the cross machine direction than a width of a container portion 50 to which the reinforcing patch is to be applied.

After handle attachment, a web 20 is provided, which has handles 14 attached thereon. The web 20 may be wound so as to provide a roll 4 of web with handles 14 attached thereon, where the handles 14 are each positioned over weakened lines 16.

The provision of such a web 20 allows handles 14 to be provided in a roll 4. The making of such a roll 4 is advantageous in the bag making process, as described previously. Further, the provision of handles 14 over weakened lines 16 allows easy provision of an individual patch 36 with handle 14 attached by a separating step.

The roll 4 of web with handles attached could be the end product of the process of the present invention.

According to other aspects of the present invention, however, the method comprises either as a further step of the process just described or as a starting step of an alternative aspect of the invention, unwinding the roll 4 to provide an unwound web 42 (figure 3) with handles 14 attached, separating the web 42 into individual patches 36, each having a handle 14 attached and applying the patches 36 to pre-made container portions (not shown) or a web for making container portions 38. The end product of this process would thus be a bag 52 (figure 4) comprising a container portion 50 and a handle portion 62, where the handle portion 62 comprises a patch 36 with a handle 14 attached. Preferably, the bag 52 comprises two handle portions 62 preferably attached to opposite inner surfaces of the container portion 52, where the opposite inner surfaces are preferably major surfaces of the bag 52.

An exemplary apparatus for applying the individual patches 36 that each have a handle 14 attached to a web for making container portions 38 is shown in figure 3.

The present invention also encompasses applying the patches 36 with respective handles 14 attached to outer major surfaces of pre-formed container portions 50 of bags 52.

In the shown exemplary embodiment, the roll 4 of web with handles attached is unwound to provide a continuous web 42 comprising patches 12 that each have a respective handle 14 attached. The web 42 with handles 14 is conveyed with a conveyor 28 to a separator station 64.

The web is preferably separated at the separator station into individual patches 36 that each have a handle 14 attached by means of a speed differential. For example, and as shown, the web 42 is fed at a first web speed to a nip 24, which is preferably defined between a roller 26 and a conveyor 28. A second nip 30 is also provided, preferably between a roller 32 and the conveyor 28. The second rollers are operating at a second web speed that is greater than the first web speed. The differential between the web speeds is sufficient to separate the patch at the second nip 30 from the web 42, thereby providing an individual patch 36 with a handle 14 attached.

A drum 34 is provided to apply the individual patches 36 that each have a handle 14 attached to carrier portions or a web for making carrier portions 38. The application drum 34 is preferably a vacuum drum, which holds the individual patches 36 to the drum by means of vacuum pressure and carries each individual patch from a separator station 64 to a paste application station (roller 66) and then to a web for making carrier portions 38 or a pre-formed bag.

The application of each individual patch 36 is described with respect to a preferred embodiment where the patches are being applied to a web for making carrier portions 38. The patch application apparatus shown in Figure 3 includes a paste roller 66 with an associated paste tray 68. The paste roller 66 is coated with adhesive paste from the paste tray 68 and coats the backside (the side without a handle 14 are not attached) of a patch 36 carried on the drum 34 with adhesive paste. The patch then proceeds to the web 38 where the patch is firmly applied to the web 38 with the aid of a doctor blade 70.

Preferably, a web for making carrier portions 38 is fed to the application drum 34 and the individual patches 36 are applied when the drum rotates to a position where the patches 36 contact the web for making carrier portions 38 and are adhered to the surface of the web by means of the adhesive paste applied to the backside of each individual patch 36.

The web 38 is preferably provided as a web including perforation lines extending in the cross machine direction. The perforation lines are spaced apart in the machine direction to define a height of a carrier portion 50 of a bag 52 therebetween. The individual patches 36 that each have a handle 14 attached are applied to the web 38 such that the patch portion 36 is positioned on one side of the perforation line and a portion of the handle 14 that extends beyond the patch portion 36 is positioned on the other side of the perforation line.

Conventionally, two such individual patch portions 36, each having a handle 14 attached, are applied to the web for making carrier portions 38 in side by side relation. The two handles 14 on respective patches 36 are positioned with respect to the perforation lines of the web 38 as described above. These two individual patches 36 with handles 14 attached thereon, when applied, form the handle portions 62 of thebag52.

In order to apply two side by side handles 14, two patch applicator drums 34 could be used, each supplied with a continuous web with handles attached 42 from different rolls 4. Alternatively, a single patch applicator drum 34 could be used with capability for parallel application of two individual patches 36. In both alternatives, a single roll 4 of wound web with handles attached could be used where the web includes side by side patches 12, each with a respective handle 14 attached. In such an embodiment, the web with side by side patches 12, each with a respective handle 14 attached, may be divided, for example cut, in the machine direction to provide two continuous webs of patches 12 with respective handles 14 attached. The patches 12 with respective handles 14 attached of these webs will be separated from one another and applied to the incoming web for making carrier portions 38 in a side by side manner.

It is preferred that the feed direction of the continuous web of patches 42 to the drum 34 is substantially aligned with the feed direction of the web of material for making container portions or pre-formed container portions.

A web 40 with individual patches 36, each having a handles thereon, applied leaves the patch application drum 34. The web 40 is subsequently folded to provide sides of the container portions 50. The web is then separated along its perforation lines to provide individual portions for making container portions 50. The individual portions for making container portions 50 are folded at an end opposite to where the handle where the patches 36 with respective handles 14 attached are applied to provide a base to the container portions 50, thereby providing a bag 52 as shown in figure 4 and as described previously.

One further advantage of the present invention is that it makes it more simple to produce different size bags, perhaps with different size handles. According to the present invention, a changeover from one size of bag and/or handle size will simply involving replacing a roll 4 of patches with handles attached and/or a roll of material for making paper bags with a roll of patches with handles of a desired size and/or a roll of material for making paper bags of a desired size. The handle forming and application process does not need to be adjusted as well, as is the case with prior art machines, as this part of the production process is now separate.

The forming of a web 40 with individual patches 36 with respective handles 14 applied into a bag is known in the art. One document illustrating this process is US 5382215. Any conventional process for forming such a web into a bag is applicable to the present invention and the details given above relate to an exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the application of patches to a base web is also known, such as described in US 438982. Any conventional means and method for applying the individual patches 36 with respective handles 14 attached of the present invention to a web 38 are applicable to the present invention and the details given above are for illustrative purposes.

As is clear from the summary of the invention given above, certain aspects of the present invention are more generally applicable than the exemplary preferred embodiment relating to bag handles, Any process where components are to be applied to a web for making portions of respective articles or to pre-formed portions of respective articles may benefit from the advantages of the present invention. In particular, where the components must first be formed, for example by folding and/or cutting, from a first web and then applied to a web for making portions of respective articles or to pre-formed portions of respective articles may benefit from the principles of the invention, for example dc-linking the component formation process and the article formation process. Accordingly, the given example with respect to bag handles is not to be construed as defining the extent of the invention and is instead a preferred implementation, as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A method comprising providing a continuous web having

weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart in the machine direction to define patches between them, and attaching components of articles to respective patches.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a continuous web having weakened lines comprises applying the weakened lines to the continuous web.
3. The method of claim I or 2, wherein the weakened lines comprise lines of perforations.
4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the components are attached such that respective components are positioned over respective weakened lines.
5. The method of any of claims I to 4, wherein the components are attached such that a portion of each component defines a portion of the component attached to the web.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the attached portion of the component is positioned on one side of the weakened line and the component extends to the other side of the weakened line.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portion of the component extending to the other side of the weakened line is not attached to the web.
8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, comprising winding the web with components attached into a roll.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising unwinding said roll to provide a continuous web of patches, each patch having a component attached, separating said patches and applying said patches to pre-formed portions of articles or a web for making portions of articles.
10. The method of any of claims I to 7, comprising separating said patches and applying said patches to pre-formed portions of articles or a web for making portions of articles.
11. The method of claim 9 or 10, comprising making articles from said web for making portions of articles that has the components attached.
12. The method of claim 9, 10 or 11, comprising feeding the article portions or said web for making article portions in a machine direction and providing said continuous web with components attached in the machine direction.
13. The method of any of claims I to 12, comprising forming said components of articles from a second continuous web.
14 The method of any of claims I to 13, wherein said components of articles are handles of bags.
A method comprising providing a first continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction to define patches between them, separating said patches and applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or applying said patches to pre-made portions of articles.
16 The method of claim 15 wherein both said first and second webs are fed in the machine direction.
17. The method of any of claims 15 or 16, comprising unwinding a roll to provide the first continuous web and forming said weakened lines in said first continuous web.
18. The method of claim 15, 16 or 17, comprising forming said second continuous web into said articles.
19 The method of any of claims 15 to 18, wherein said patches each have a component for an article attached.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising forming said components from a further continuous web.
21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein said component is a handle for a bag.
22. An apparatus comprising means for providing a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart in the machine direction to define patches between them, and means for attaching components of articles to respective patches.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for separating said patches and means for applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or applying said patches to pre-made portions of articles.

23. An apparatus comprising means for providing a first continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart along a machine direction to define patches between them, separating said patches and means for applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or applying said patches to pre-made portions of articles.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS

Claims I. A method comprising providing a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart in the machine direction to define patches between them, and attaching components of articles to respective patches of said continuous web.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a continuous web having weakened lines comprises applying the weakened lines to the continuous web.

3. The method of claim I or 2, wherein the weakened lines comprise lines of perforations.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the components are attached such that respective components are positioned over respective weakened lines.

5. The method of any of claims I to 4, wherein the components are attached such that a portion of each component defines a portion of the component attached to the web. * *..

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the attached portion of the component is * **,* positioned on one side of the weakened line and the component extends to the other side of the weakened line.

.: * 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portion of the component extending to the other side of the weakened line is not attached to the web.

*... 20 8. The method of any of claims I to 7, comprising winding the web with s.. * components attached into a roll. 5I*

* 9. The method of claim 8, comprising unwinding said roll to provide a continuous web of patches, each patch having a component attached, separating said patches and applying said patches to pre-formed portions of articles or a web for making portions of articles.

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, comprising separating said patches and applying said patches to pre-formed portions of articles or a web for making portions of articles.

II. The method of claim 9 or 10, comprising making articles from said web for making portions of articles that has the components attached.

12. The method of claim 9, 10 or II, comprising feeding the article portions or said web for making article portions in a machine direction and providing said continuous web with components attached in the machine direction.

13. The method of any of claims I to 12, comprising forming said components of articles from a second continuous web. IL4.

14 The method of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein said components of articles are handles of bags.

15. A method of any preceding claim further comprising separating said patches and applying said patches to a second continuous web for making portions of articles or applying said patches to pre-made portions of articles.

16 The method of claim 15 wherein both said first and second webs are fed in the machine direction.

17. The method of any of claims 15 or 16, comprising unwinding a roll to provide the first continuous web and forming said weakened lines in said first continuous web.

18. The method of claim 15, 16 or 17, comprising forming said second continuous web into said articles.

19 The method of any of claims 15 to 18, wherein said patches each have a component for an article attached. * **

15 20. The method of claim 19, comprising forming said components from a further Continuous web. * S * .**

21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein said component is a handle for a bag. I *.

22. An apparatus comprising means for providing a continuous web having weakened lines extending in a cross machine direction of the web, where the weakened lines are spaced apart in the machine direction to define patches between them, and means for attaching components of articles to respective patches of said * continuous web. *5*