Apparatus for making bags

Claim 1

In an apparatus for making bags, including a forming tube of rectangular cross section, the forming tube having opposite small sides, opposite large sides and a length dimension; first seam-forming means disposed below the forming tube for continuously bonding to one another adjoining longitudinal edges of a web material wrapped about the forming tube and advanced in the length dimension thereof; expander means for spreading apart the opposite sides of the hose below the forming tube; second seam-forming means disposed below said forming tube for providing a transverse seam on said hose to form a bottom terminating in ears; a cutting device disposed below the second seam-forming means for transversely severing the hose; the improvement comprising: a. a dual clamp disposed below said forming tube and having a first and a second jaw pair adjoining the plane of the one and the other small sides of said forming tube, each jaw pair having an open position and a closed position; b. means for moving said dual clamp towards and away from said forming tube in the length dimension thereof; c. means for closing said jaw pairs for grasping said ears and pulling said hose off said forming tube during the movement of the dual clamp away from said forming tube; and d. ear folders disposed externally of said forming tube adjacent each small side of said forming tube, each ear folder being movable with respect to said forming tube for engaging and bending the ears of said hose.