Inflated bag printer and method

Claim 1

A method of imprinting bags by forcing a surface portion thereof against a marking device which comprises the steps of positioning a deflated bag adjacent a marking device, inflating at least a portion of the bag by means of an air jet, deflating a portion of the inflated portion of the bag, moving a surface of the bag adjacent the deflated portion against the marking device, marking the surface by the device and withdrawing the surface from the marking device.

Claim 2

A method of imprinting bags by forcing a surface portion thereof against a marking device which comprises the steps of positioning a deflated bag adjacent a marking device, inflating at least a portion of the bag by means of an air jet, deflating a portion of the inflated portion of the bag, moving a surface of the bag adjacent the deflated portion against the marking device, marking the surface by the device and withdrawing the surface from the marking device.

Claim 3

The method of marking a bag by a marking device which comprises the steps of positioning a bag adjacent a marking device, inflating a portion of the bag by means of an air jet, with first and second wall portions of the bag spaced apart from one another, moving a first wall portion of the bag towards the second wall portion thereof while collapsing a portion of the inflated bag, entrapping the second wall portion between the marking device and the first wall portion, urging the first wall portion against the second wall portion to urge the second wall portion against the marking device, imprinting the second wall portion by the marking device, and withdrawinG the first wall portion from urged contact with the second wall portion.

Claim 4

The method of marking a bag by a marking device which comprises the steps of positioning a bag adjacent a marking device, inflating a portion of the bag by means of an air jet, with first and second wall portions of the bag spaced apart from one another, moving a first wall portion of the bag towards the second wall portion thereof while collapsing a portion of the inflated bag, entrapping the second wall portion between the marking device and the first wall portion, urging the first wall portion against the second wall portion to urge the second wall portion against the marking device, imprinting the second wall portion by the marking device, and withdrawinG the first wall portion from urged contact with the second wall portion.

Claim 6

An apparatus for imprinting bags which comprises an imprint marker device having a marking head, an anvil, said anvil attached to the end of a moving member, means for moving the member to move the anvil towards and away from the marking head, means for positioning a bottom wall of a bag inflated by an air jet from a stack of deflated bags between the anvil and the marking head, the means for moving, moving the anvil against the bottom wall to collapse a portion of the inflated bag to press a first surface portion thereof against the marking head the first surface being adjacent, non-opposed to the bottom wall and means for withdrawing the anvil from contact with the bag.

Claim 7

An apparatus for imprinting bags which comprises an imprint marker device having a marking head, an anvil, said anvil attached to the end of a moving member, means for moving the member to move the anvil towards and away from the marking head, means for positioning a bottom wall of a bag inflated by an air jet from a stack of deflated bags between the anvil and the marking head, the means for moving, moving the anvil against the bottom wall to collapse a portion of the inflated bag to press a first surface portion thereof against the marking head the first surface being adjacent, non-opposed to the bottom wall and means for withdrawing the anvil from contact with the bag.

Claim 8

A device for imprinting bags which comprises a marking device with a marking type, the marking device positioned adjacent a stack of deflated bags, means for inflating the bags one at a time, means for maintaining a first surface of the infalted bag adjacent the marking device, a movable arm, an anvil member at the end of the movable arm, means for moving the arm and anvil for moving the anvil against a second surface of the infalted bag, to collapse a portion of the inflated bag to urge a portion of said first surface thereof against the marking type, means for withdrawing the movable arm and anvil, and means for positively re-inflating the collapsed portion of the bag.

Claim 9

A device for imprinting bags which comprises a marking device with a marking type, the marking device positioned adjacent a stack of deflated bags, means for inflating the bags one at a time, means for maintaining a first surface of the infalted bag adjacent the marking device, a movable arm, an anvil member at the end of the movable arm, means for moving the arm and anvil for moving the anvil against a second surface of the infalted bag, to collapse a portion of the inflated bag to urge a portion of said first surface thereof against the marking type, means for withdrawing the movable arm and anvil, and means for positively re-inflating the collapsed portion of the bag.

Claim 10

A method of marking inflated bags which comprises the sequential steps of: (a) positioning a stack of deflated bags adjacent a marking device having a movable arm thereon, (b) inflating the top bag of the stack in situ, (c) positioning a first surface of the inflated bag adjacent the marking device, (d) moving the arm against a second surface adjacent and non-opposed to the first surface of the bag, (e) moving the second surface of the bag in response to movement of the arm against a portion of the bag including the first surface, (f) continuing movement of the arm to force the first surface against the marking device, (g) withdrawing the movable arm to release the bag, (h) withdrawing the bag, from the stack, (i) repeating steps (b) through (i).

Claim 11

A method of marking inflated bags which comprises the sequential steps of: (a) positioning a stack of deflated bags adjacent a marking device having a movable arm thereon, (b) inflating the top bag of the stack in situ, (c) positioning a first surface of the inflated bag adjacent the marking device, (d) moving the arm against a second surface adjacent and non-opposed to the first surface of the bag, (e) moving the second surface of the bag in response to movement of the arm against a portion of the bag including the first surface, (f) continuing movement of the arm to force the first surface against the marking device, (g) withdrawing the movable arm to release the bag, (h) withdrawing the bag, from the stack, (i) repeating steps (b) through (i).

Claim 12

A method of imprinting bags by a marker device which comprises the steps of positioning a deflated bag adjacent the marker device, inflating the bag by directing an air jet into an opening of the bag, deflating a portion of the bag while maintaining the air jet into the opening of the bag, forcing a surface of the bag adjacent the deflated portion against the marker device, marking the surface by the device, and re-inflating the collapsed portion of the bag by the maintained air jet after marking.

Claim 13

A method of imprinting bags by a marker device which comprises the steps of positioning a deflated bag adjacent the marker device, inflating the bag by directing an air jet into an opening of the bag, deflating a portion of the bag while maintaining the air jet into the opening of the bag, forcing a surface of the bag adjacent the deflated portion against the marker device, marking the surface by the device, and re-inflating the collapsed portion of the bag by the maintained air jet after marking.