Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; then (b) passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width less than the width of said chain; while (c) driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and while (d) cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; then (b) passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width less than the width of said chain; while (c) driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and while (d) cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising spacing said second nip rollers up-course of said first set of nip rollers by a distance equal to or less than about 2 bag widths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising setting said partial nip within the interior of the width of said bag chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising setting said partial nip to begin at an edge of said bag chain.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; then (b) passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width being symmetric widthwise of said bag chain and extending less than the width of said chain and spaced up-course from said first set of nip rollers by a distance equal to or less than about 2 bag widths; while (c) driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and while (d) cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; then (b) passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width being symmetric widthwise of said bag chain and extending less than the width of said chain and spaced up-course from said first set of nip rollers by a distance equal to or less than about 2 bag widths; while (c) driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and while (d) cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) means for passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; (b) means for passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width less than the width of said chain; (c) means for driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and (d) means for cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for making a supply of partially separated multibag units, comprising: (a) means for passing a perforated chain of side-sealed bags through a first set of driven nip rollers; (b) means for passing said chain directly to a second set of nip rollers, having a partial nip of selected width less than the width of said chain; (c) means for driving said second nip rollers at a speed greater than said first nip rollers sufficient to partially separate the bags at their respective lines of perforation; and (d) means for cyclically completing the nip of said second nip rollers at predetermined intervals corresponding to the number of bags desired in each multibag unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting the up-course spacing of said second set of nip rollers from said first set of nip rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising means for counting bags in association with said means of element (d).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting the lateral extent of and location of said partial nip width-wise of said bag chain.