Method and apparatus for making easy open flexible bag filled with compressed flexible articles

• US 5,022,216 A
• Filed: 12/06/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Baird, James C., Muckenfuhs, Delmar R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Linda B.
• Application Number:
  US07/446,964
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 53/241, 53/258, 53/259, 53/260, 53/412, 53/438, 53/439, 53/459, 53/469, 53/524, 53/529, 53/530, 100/35, 100/41, 100/151, 100/152
• US Class Current: 53/438
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 63/02 for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/566 Hand holes or suspension apertures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5833 for tearing out a portion of the wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0805 through an aperture in a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0847 through an aperture at the junction of two walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/07 for compressible or flexible articles for wearing apparel B65D85/18

Abstract

Method and apparatus for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles in which the flexible articles are arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness. The preferred method includes the steps of: (a) partially erecting a flexible bag including a substantially continuous line of weakness; (b) forming a stack of flexible articles; (c) compressing the stack of flexible articles between a pair of opposed knife belt assemblies; (d) inserting the knife belt assemblies into the open bottom end of the partially erected flexible bag; (e) simultaneously driving the opposed knife belts associated with the knife belt assemblies in a direction which advances the stack of compressed articles into contact with the innermost surface of the top panel of the partially erected flexible bag; (f) completely retracting the knife belt assemblies from the open end of the partially erected flexible bag; (g) folding the open bottom end of the partially erected, filled flexible bag to form a closed bottom panel; and (h) securing the bottom panel of the easy open bag in a closed position.

Claims

1. A method for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles, said flexible articles being arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) partially erecting a flexible bag to form a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of opposed end panels, said partially erected flexible bag having a top panel secured about its periphery to said front, back and end panels, said flexible bag having an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said end panels and partially within the adjacent top panel, said substantially continuous line of weakness defining a predetermined portion of said end panel to be separated from the remainder of said end panel and an unobstructed removable tear initiating point in said top panel, said partially erected flexible bag further having an open bottom end;

(b) forming a stack of flexible articles oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the end panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained in said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front, back and top panels of said bag;

(c) compressing said stack of flexible articles between a pair of opposed knife belt assemblies in a direction substantially parallel to the thickness of said articles contained in said stack until said knife belt assemblies and said stack of compressed articles can be inserted through the open bottom end of said partially erected bag without causing interference between the outermost surfaces of said knife belt assemblies and the innermost surfaces of the adjacent end panels of said partially erected bag;

(d) inserting said knife belt assemblies into the open bottom end of said partially erected flexible bag;

(e) simultaneously driving the opposed knife belts associated with said knife belt assemblies in a direction which advances said stack of compressed articles into contact with the innermost surface of said top panel of said partially erected flexible bag;

(f) completely retracting said knife belt assemblies from the open end of said partially erected flexible bag at a first velocity V₁, while simultaneously driving the knife belts associated with said knife belt assemblies at a second velocity V₂ which is equal to or greater than said first velocity V₁ to maintain said stack of compressed articles in intimate contact with the innermost surface of said top panel of said partially erected flexible bag as said stack is released from said knife belts and said knife belt assemblies are retracted from said bag; and

(g) folding said open bottom end of said partially erected, filled flexible bag to form a closed bottom panel adjacent said stack of compressed flexible articles; and

(h) securing said bottom panel in a closed position to complete said bag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible articles in said stack are compressed by said knife belt assemblies to at least about 50 percent of their uncompressed thickness.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible articles in said stack are compressed by said knife belt assemblies to at least about 70 percent of their uncompressed thickness.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible bag is comprised of polymeric film and wherein said bottom panel is secured in its closed position by heat sealing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness is imparted to said end panel and said top panel of said flexible bag by perforating the material comprising said bag prior to partially erecting said bag.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the perforations in said top panel are applied in a pattern and frequency that will provide less resistance to rupture than the perforations applied in said end panel.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said fleXible bag is comprised of paper and said bottom panel is secured in its closed position by applying an adhesive thereto.

8. An apparatus for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles, said flexible articles being arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for partially erecting a flexible bag to form a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of opposed end panels, said partially erected flexible bag having a top panel secured about its periphery to said front, back and end panels, said flexible bag having an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said end panels and partially within the adjacent top panel, said substantially continuous line of weakness defining a predetermined portion of said end panel to be separated from the remainder of said end panel and an unobstructed removable tear initiating point in said top panel, said partially erected flexible bag further having an open bottom end;

(b) means for forming a stack of flexible articles oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the end panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained within said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front, back and top panels of said bag;

(c) a pair of opposed knife belt assemblies for compressing said stack of flexible articles in a direction substantially parallel to the thickness of said articles contained within said stack until said knife belt assemblies and said stack of compressed articles can be inserted through the open bottom end of said partially erected bag without causing interference between the outermost surfaces of said knife belt assemblies and the innermost surfaces of the adjacent end panels of said partially erected bag;

(d) means for inserting said knife belt assemblies into the open bottom end of said partially erected flexible bag;

(e) drive means for simultaneously advancing the opposed knife belts associated with said opposed knife belt assemblies in a direction which advances said stack of compressed articles into contact with the innermost surface of said top panel of said partially erected flexible bag;

(f) means for completely retracting said knife belt assemblies from the open end of said partially erected flexible bag at a first velocity V₁, while simultaneously driving the opposed knife belts associated with said opposed knife belt assemblies at a second velocity V₂ which is equal to or slightly greater than said first velocity V₁ to maintain said stack of compressed flexible articles in intimate contact with the innermost surface of said top panel of said partially erected flexible bag as said stack of compressed flexible articles is released from said knife belts; and

(g) means for folding said open bottom end of said partially erected, filled flexible bag to form a closed bottom panel adjacent said stack of compressed articles; and

(h) means for securing said bottom panel in a closed position to complete said bag.