Claims
- 1. A method for making a flexible package, said method comprising the steps of:
a) forming a tube of packaging film on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine; b) forming two vertical creases in said tube of packaging film prior to sealing said tube horizontally by moving said tube of packaging film through stationary creasing devices; c) forming a first horizontal seal on said tube, wherein said first horizontal seal includes a portion of said two vertical creases; d) forming a second horizontal seal on said tube, wherein said second horizontal seal includes a portion of said two vertical creases; and e) cutting said tube segment from the remainder of said tube at said second horizontal seal, thus forming a flexible package having two vertical gussets along two opposite vertical edges.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the creases of step b) are formed by at least one stationary tucker bar positioned between a pair of forming plates.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said tucker bar comprises teflon.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said tucker bar comprises one or more gas ports and wherein further a metered blast of gas from said ports is used during the forming step b).
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming of step b) further comprises holding said tube in tension with at least four extensions below the bottom of a forming tube on said vertical form, fill, and seal machine, wherein said extensions apply said tension on said tube from inside said tube pressing outwards on said tube and, wherein further, said vertical creases are formed by tension applied on the outside of said tube by two stationary devices pressing inwardly on said tube at two points, each of said points between two of said at least four extensions.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said devices pressing inwardly on said tube comprise a tucker bar.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said tucker bar comprises teflon.
- 8. The method of claim 6 wherein said device comprises at least one pressurized gas port.
- 9. A flat bottom bag formed by the method of claim 1.
- 10. An improved vertical form, fill, and seal machine having a forming tube, said improvement comprising:
two pair of forming plates attached to and extending below said forming tube; and at least one stationary tucker bar positioned between each pair of said forming plates.
- 11. The improved vertical form, fill, and seal machine of claim 10 further comprising a means for blowing a pressurized gas against packaging film formed in a tube around said forming tube, wherein said gas is blown against the exterior of said tube of packaging film at points between each said pair of forming plates.
- 12. The improved vertical form, fill, and seal machine of claim 11 wherein said means for blowing a pressurized gas comprises gas ports in said tucker bar in communication with a pressurized gas source.
- 13. The improved vertical form, fill, and seal machine of claim 10 wherein said tucker bar comprises teflon.
- 14. The improved vertical form, fill, and seal machine of claim 10 wherein each of said forming plates comprise a hinge, wherein further said hinges allow for a pair of forming plates to rotate about said hinges towards each other to compensate for the narrowing of a packaging tube during formation of a transverse seal.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/100,370 filed on Mar. 18, 2002.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10124669 |
Apr 2002 |
US |
Child |
10778555 |
Feb 2004 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10100370 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10124669 |
Apr 2002 |
US |