Patent Application
20240067407
The present disclosure generally relates to plastic bags and more particularly to a roll containing a multiplicity of separable bags.
Separable bags compiled into a stack or a roll (source) are generally known. The roll of bags is manufactured by making cutouts and perforations in a web of material. This process has heretofore generally produced a substantial amount of waste material from the web. For example, to form the opening in the bag, a sometimes large area of the web is removed during production. The scrap generated builds up quickly and can interfere with the manufacturing process by fouling machinery and simply requiring a halt of operation to remove. As a result, the production of bags is made inefficient and wasteful of material.
In one aspect, a roll of separable bags comprises an outer sheet portion having a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges. An inner sheet portion connected to the outer sheet portion has a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges. The inner sheet portion is arranged in the roll generally opposite to the outer sheet portion. A first seal extends widthwise of and interconnects the outer and inner sheet portions, and a second seal extends widthwise of and interconnects the outer and inner sheet portions. The second seal is spaced lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions from the first seal. A first bag separating perforation line extends widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions and is configured to separate a bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the bag separating perforation line. The first bag separating perforation line is located closer to the first seal than to the second seal. A second bag separating perforation line extends widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions and is configured to separate another bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the second bag separating perforation. The second bag separating perforation line is located closer to the second seal than to the first seal. A handle perforation line includes a first segment that begins at a start location nearer to one of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions than the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions. The handle perforation line includes the first segment which extends from the start location generally toward the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions. A second segment extends from the first segment remote from the start location. The second segment extends generally lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions and intersects the first bag separating perforation line. A handle for the bag can be formed from the outer and inner sheet portions by tearing the first bag separating perforation line, and by tearing the handle perforation line.
In another aspect, a method of forming a web of separable bags comprises forming a tube from a polymeric material having a length and a width. The tube includes an outer sheet portion and an inner sheet portion generally opposite the outer sheet portion. The outer and inner sheet portions including opposite longitudinal edges. The method further comprising forming seals extending widthwise across the outer and inner sheet portions at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the tube. The method further comprising perforating the tube in a widthwise direction to form bag separating perforation lines at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the tube. The method further comprising perforating the tube to form handle perforation lines distinct from the bag separating lines. One of the handle perforation lines and one of the bag separating perforation lines together define a handle formed by tearing the handle perforation line and the bag separating perforation line.
Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.
Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
The first and second bags 20, 50, are separable from one another and from the web 12 by tearing along a first bag separating perforation line 26. A second bag separating perforation line 56 is located at an opposite longitudinal end of the first bag 20. As used herein “longitudinal” refers to the machine direction MD. A third bag separating perforation line 76 and other bag perforation lines are also present for separation of other bags. A first seal 22 extends widthwise of the web 12 (i.e., in the cross machine direction) near the end of the first bag 20 adjacent the first bag separating perforation line 26. A second seal 24 extends widthwise of the web near the second bag separating perforation line 56. Each of the first and second seals 22, 24, interconnects and seals together the outer sheet portion 14 and the inner sheet portion 16. More specifically, each of the first and second seals 22,24, sealingly joins together the outer sheet portion 14, the inner sheet portion 16, and the gusset members 42A, 42B where those components overlie each other. The second seal 24 forms the closed bottom of the first bag. The first seal 22 is located near the top of the first bag 20. A third seal 52 associated with the second bag 50 is located near the first seal 22, just on the opposite longitudinal side of the first bag separating perforation line 26. A fourth seal 54 on the opposite longitudinal end of the second bag 50 from the third seal 52 forms the closed bottom of the second bag 50. It will be appreciated that as separated from the web 12, the top of the first bag 20 remains closed by the first seal. As explained more fully below, the arrangement of seals and perforations allows a user to tear along the bag separating perforation line (e.g., line 26) to separate an individual bag (e.g., first bag 20) from the roll 10, then tear along handle perforation lines 28, 58 to form handles 38A, 38B (broadly, at least one handle) of the bag. Forming the handles 38A, 38B in this manner also has the effect of opening the top of the first bag 20 so that items can be placed in the first bag through the top. The arrangement of seals and perforations yields no scrap material that may come from a bag or the roll. Once removed from the roll, the individual bag can be used for lining a trashcan, as carryout bag, for holding items, etc.
The outer and inner sheet portions 14, 16 have respective interior and exterior surfaces. The interior surfaces face the inside of the bag and the exterior surfaces face outward from the bag, when the bag is fully opened up for receiving articles. The gusset members 42A, 42B also have interior and exterior surfaces 42A, 42B. In the laid flat position, the interior surfaces generally loosely contact each other (away from the first and second seals) and are reasonably easily separable for the user to configure the first bag from the in flat position to the operative position. The interior surfaces may be treated so the bags are less likely to adhere to one another when the user separates an individual bag from the roll. The gusset members 42A, 42B at least partially unfold from each other to reach the open, operative position of the first bag thereby increasing the volume of the interior of the first bag. In an operative position, the interior surfaces of the inner and outer sheet portions 14, 16 face each other and form, in part, interior walls of the bag.
Referring to
The bags, including the first and second bags 20, 50, are formed with handles 38A, 38B, 68A, 68B (broadly, at least one handle) that can be deployed after the bag is separated from the web, (
In the illustrated embodiment, the first handle perforation line 28 forms not only a portion of the first handle 38A of the first bag 20, but forms part of a first handle 68A of the second bag 50. It will be understood that other arrangements in which the handles of the distinct first and second bags are formed by distinct perforation lines may also be used. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the first handle perforation line 28 forms both the first handles 38A, 68A of the first and second bags 20, 50. It will be noted that the longitudinal edge of the first bag 20 at the closed bottom of the bag (formed by the second seal 24) is free of any perforations for forming handles. Similarly, the second bag 50 is free of any perforations for forming handles at the longitudinal end of the bag where the fourth 54 seal is located. In the illustrated embodiment, all of the separable bags in the roll are formed in pairs having the constructions of the first and second bags 20, 50.
The second segment 34 extends intersects and extends across the first seal 22, the first bag separating perforation line 26 and the third seal 52 located on the second bag 50. At an end of the second segment 34 remote from its intersection with the first segment 32, the second segment 34 turns toward the left longitudinal edge 18A of the web and becomes a third segment 36. The third segment 36 is shown as being a mirror image of the first segment 32. Like the first segment 32, the third segment 36 begins at a start location 31 nearer to the left longitudinal edge 18A of the web than to the right longitudinal edge 18B. The start location 31 of the third segment 36 (which could also be considered an end location of the first handle perforation line) is located in region A1 of the second bag 50, and is on the longitudinally opposite side from the start location 30 of the first segment 32. The third segment 36 extends from the start location 31 initially toward the left longitudinal edge of the web, but then turns back upon itself so that the majority of the length of the third segment 36 extends widthwise of the web toward the right longitudinal edge. As previously described, the third segment 36 intersects the second segment 34 in region B.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the seals and perforations extend through the gussets 40. The handle perforation lines are generally linear, however the perforation lines may be non-linear (e.g. wavy, ruffled, sinusoidal, etc.). Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, rounded portions are formed where the first segments transition to the second segments and where the second segments transition to the third segments. However, any suitable transition may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
Referring to
Referring to
Once pulled away from each other, each of the first and second handles 38A, 38B of the first bag 20 includes a proximal end portion adjoining the rest of the first bag 20, and a distal end at the bottom halves of the second segments 34, 64 (where the second segments formerly coincided), near a center of the mouth of the bag. The handles 38A, 38B can be moved to a substantially vertical position for gripping and carrying the first bag 20. Lateral openings (not shown) are formed in the handles 38A, 38B by tearing of the gussets 40 along the first segments 32, 62 of the first and second handle perforation lines. The distal ends of the handles 38A, 38B may pass through lateral handle apertures in the first bag 20 to close the mouth of the bag. It has been found that the curved back perforation lines lower the likelihood of the tear undesirably propagating past the respective start locations of the handle perforation lines. Other shapes, curves, or lines that turn backward may be used in place of the curved portions of the first and second handle perforation lines without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, the starting locations of the first and second handle perforation lines may be moved more toward the center of the web to form smaller handles.
An exemplary method of manufacturing a web of separable bags will now be briefly described below. The method of manufacturing the web of separable bags comprises forming a tube of polymeric material having a length and a width. In one embodiment, the tube is formed by a blown film process. In some embodiments, one or more gussets are formed in the tube. The tube includes an inner sheet portion and an opposite outer sheet portion, the inner and outer sheet portions having opposite longitudinal edges. The method further comprises forming a plurality of seals that extend widthwise across both outer and inner sheet portions of the tube at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The tube is then perforated in a widthwise direction to form bag separating perforation lines at locations longitudinally spaced apart along the web. The tube is then perforated to include handle perforation lines. The order of forming the seals and perforations can be other than described. In one example, at least some of the seals and perforations are formed at the same time. The handle perforation line and the bag separating perforation line together define a handle formed by tearing both the handle perforation lines and the bag separating perforation line. Preferably, the handle perforation lines and bag separating line are arranged so that no scrap is produced when the bag is torn away from the web. In some embodiments, the tube can be formed with gussets which are folded on top of one another when the tube is in its laid flat condition. The handle perforation lines extend through the gussets. The handle perforation lines preferably extend across one or more seals in the web that extend widthwise (i.e., in the cross machine direction) of the tube. The seals can be formed in pairs, one on either side of a respective one of the bag separating perforation lines. The handle perforation lines are preferably curved near the location that remains connected to the remainder of the bag when the handles are otherwise separated from the bag. This arrangement facilitates inhibiting the propagation of tears extending from an end of the perforation line.
For purposes of this disclosure, terms such as “starting,” “upward, “leftward,” “rightward,” “top,” “bottom,” “begins,” “terminates,” etc. are understood to be used in a descriptive sense and not a limiting sense.
It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. The dimensions and proportions described herein are by way of example without limitation. Other dimensions and proportions can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
