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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
First Claim
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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.

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