Three dimensional bag forming method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for fabricating side sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material had infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across one face of which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device mounted for reciprocal movement and in closely spaced opposed relation to said platen face which device includes a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge and positioned to be engaged in simultaneous severing and sealing relation with the inwardly folded portion of the sheet in the areas which have the confronting outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing, means for reciprocating said blade into Engagement with said platen face so as to form in the folded edge portions of the sheet bottom end seals on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously triangular-shaped waste portions in the margin at the folded edge of the sheet, means comprising a pair of gripping rollers, one of which is driven, said rollers being disposed adjacent said platen on opposite sides of the path of said infolded edge portions of said folded sheet, and being movable relative to each other in timed relation to the movement of said cutting and sealing blade so as to close on a waste portion as it is notched out by operation of said cutting and sealing blade, gripping the resulting triangular waste portions and rapidly moving said waste portions laterally of the path of the folded sheet and out of the plane thereof when said waste portions are cut through by said blade, and means for severing and simultaneously sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of a notched out triangular area which results from the removal of said waste portions, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and said hot knife severing and sealing device comprising a support bracket mounted on a swingable support arm, a V-shaped knife holder and a V-shaped blade in said holder having a beveled surface on the inside of the V which terminates at a cutting line in a planar outside face of the blade so as to sever the bag forming material on a plane normal to the surface of the material.

Claim 4

Apparatus for fabricating side sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device mounted for reciprocal movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade which comprises a driven roller disposed at the side edge of said platen and a cooperating, reciprocably mounted gripping roller mounted for movement toward and from said driven roller and means to reciprocate said gripping roller in timed relation to the movement of said cutting and sealing blade so as to close on a waste portion as it is notched out by operation of said cutting and sealing blade and move the same out of the path of advance of said folded sheet, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 5

Apparatus for fabricating side sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device mounted for reciprocal movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade which comprises a driven roller disposed at the side edge of said platen and a cooperating, reciprocably mounted gripping roller mounted for movement toward and from said driven roller and means to reciprocate said gripping roller in timed relation to the movement of said cutting and sealing blade so as to close on a waste portion as it is notched out by operation of said cutting and sealing blade and move the same out of the path of advance of said folded sheet, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and a vacuum chute associated with said severing and sealing device and having an entrance end disposed for receiving successive waste portions from said gripping rollers.

Claim 7

Apparatus for faBricating side-sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device mounted for reciprocal movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade which comprises a driven roller mounted beneath said platen, said platen having a slot within the V-shaped area defined by said cutting and sealing blade, said driven roller being positioned in said slot, a rock shaft mounted parallel with the axis of rotation of said driven roller, an arm extending radially of the axis of said rock shaft and having a roller journaled on its free end for cooperation with said driven roller, means to oscillate said rock shaft to grip successive waste portions between said rollers as they are notched out by said cutting and sealing blade and to discharge the same into a waste chute, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 8

Apparatus for faBricating side-sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device mounted for reciprocal movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade which comprises a driven roller mounted beneath said platen, said platen having a slot within the V-shaped area defined by said cutting and sealing blade, said driven roller being positioned in said slot, a rock shaft mounted parallel with the axis of rotation of said driven roller, an arm extending radially of the axis of said rock shaft and having a roller journaled on its free end for cooperation with said driven roller, means to oscillate said rock shaft to grip successive waste portions between said rollers as they are notched out by said cutting and sealing blade and to discharge the same into a waste chute, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 9

Apparatus for fabricating side-sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device, a pivotally mounted support for said hot knife severing and sealing device which is swingable toward and from said platen so as to reciprocate between an operative and an inoperative position, said device including a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge of the sheet and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade, comprising a pair of relatively movable Rollers positioned relative to the severing and sealing device so as to close upon a waste portion when it is notched out, means for moving one of said rollers toward and from the other roller in timed relation to the operation of said severing and sealing device so as to grip successive waste portions between said rollers, means to drive one of said rollers so as to project successive waste portions laterally of the path of advance of the folded sheet, and control means for said roller drive means which is responsive to the movement of said support for said hot knife severing and sealing device, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 10

Apparatus for fabricating side-sealed square bottom bags from a longitudinally folded sheet of heat sealable plastic film material which material has infolded edge portions with predetermined areas of the outside surfaces treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized by side seals and a bottom which is collapsed on an inward fold when initially fabricated and which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which a folded sheet is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the fold, a hot knife severing and sealing device, a pivotally mounted support for said hot knife severing and sealing device which is swingable toward and from said platen so as to reciprocate between an operative and an inoperative position, said device including a V-shaped cutting and sealing blade formation disposed in outwardly opening relation to the folded edge of the sheet and positioned to be engaged in severing and sealing relation with the folded portion of the sheet, said blade being operative to form a bottom end seal on adjoining bag sections and to notch out simultaneously a triangular-shaped waste portion at the folded edge of the sheet, means for moving the resulting triangular waste portion laterally of the path of the folded sheet as said waste portion is cut through by said blade, comprising a pair of relatively movable Rollers positioned relative to the severing and sealing device so as to close upon a waste portion when it is notched out, means for moving one of said rollers toward and from the other roller in timed relation to the operation of said severing and sealing device so as to grip successive waste portions between said rollers, means to drive one of said rollers so as to project successive waste portions laterally of the path of advance of the folded sheet, and control means for said roller drive means which is responsive to the movement of said support for said hot knife severing and sealing device, and means for severing and sealing the sheet on successive transverse lines each extending from the apex of the triangular area which results from the removal of a waste portion, so as to separate successive bag sections and form the side seals thereon.

Claim 11

Apparatus for fabricating side sealed square bottom bags from a web of heat sealable plastic film material which web has bag wall forming plies connected by a gusset fold forming an edge thereof with predetermined areas of contiguous surfaces of the gusset plies treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized, when initially fabricated, by collapsed sidewalls connected by side seals and a gusseted bottom which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which the folded edge is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the web, a hot knife sealing and severing device mounted for movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped blade disposed in outwardly opening relation and having a cutting and seal forming edge for engaging the marginal portion of the folded edge of the web, said blade being operative to cut through the gusseted material and simultaneously seal the gusset folds to the contiguous plies of the web material so as to form bottom end seals on adjoining bag sections and to cut out a triangular-shaped waste portion, which comprises a pair of cooperating gripping rollers positioned to grip the waste portion as it is cut out and means for driving one of the rollers in a direction to withdraw the waste portion laterally of the path of advance of the web, and means for cutting and simultaneously sealing the wall forming web plies on successive transverse lines extending across the web folds from the intersection of the bottom end seals for separating successive bags and forming the side seals thereon.

Claim 12

Apparatus for fabricating side sealed square bottom bags from a web of heat sealable plastic film material which web has bag wall forming plies connected by a gusset fold forming an edge thereof with predetermined areas of contiguous surfaces of the gusset plies treated to prevent sealing to each other, said bag being characterized, when initially fabricated, by collapsed sidewalls connected by side seals and a gusseted bottom which is adapted to be opened up into a single plane with oppositely disposed side edges having triangular extensions which open into the plane of the adjacent sidewalls and which are connected thereto along seal lines extending upwardly in converging relation from the bottom corners to the bottom end of a side seal line, said apparatus comprising a supporting platen across which the folded edge is advanced in the direction longitudinally of the web, a hot knife sealing and severing device mounted for movement toward and from the platen which device includes a V-shaped blade disposed in outwardly opening relation and having a cutting and seal forming edge for engaging the marginal portion of the folded edge of the web, said blade being operative to cut through the gusseted material and simultaneously seal the gusset folds to the contiguous plies of the web material so as to form bottom end seals on adjoining bag sections and to cut out a triangular-shaped waste portion, which comprises a pair of cooperating gripping rollers positioned to grip the waste portion as it is cut out and means for driving one of the rollers in a direction to withdraw the waste portion laterally of the path of advance of the web, and means for cutting and simultaneously sealing the wall forming web plies on successive transverse lines extending across the web folds from the intersection of the bottom end seals for separating successive bags and forming the side seals thereon.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and said platen having an inwardly extending slot at the edge thereof over which the folded edge of the web travels and disposed between the legs of said V-shaped blade, and said gripping rollers disposed in said slot.