This invention relates to the field of plastic bags of the type employed by retailers in packing food items and other merchandise, with particular application to bags that are unsealed or partially sealed along their top edges and include a promotional strip attached in registered form to the bag to maximize the visibility of the promotional material.
In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,118 and its divisional method U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,584, we disclosed and claimed the attachment of advertising strips to T-shirt bags and a method for accomplishing such attachments during the course of fabricating such bags from extruded plastic tubing. As the bags disclosed in our prior patent were heat-sealed along both their bottom and top edges, it was possible simultaneously to heat seal the ends of advertising strips to be attached to the bag along both the top and lower edges of such strips. These strips could be disposed either within the gussets of the bags or along an outside edge.
Typically, the promotional strips used with these bags include a number of discreet coupons. The coupons are joined end to end with a perforation or simply printed on the promotional strip with indications as to where to cut the strip to separate the coupons. As no method was provided in the prior patents to coordinate the placement of any point on the promotional strip with the top or bottom edges of the bags, at least one coupon would typically be lost as a top or bottom seam of the bag would intersect a portion of the coupon. The present invention addresses this problem by providing a means for registering the promotional strip so that only whole numbers of coupons are positioned between the top and bottom bag edges.
Various technologies have been developed for the registration of one item to another during a fabrication process. U.S. patent application No. 2002/0170670, published for Nguyen discloses a system for dispensing and positioning a coupon strip on a film tube. The proposed invention provides for dispensing and positioning a strip of coupons from a roll to a position longitudinally aligned with and adjacent to a film tube. This is accomplished by mounting the coupon strips onto a spindle that is vertically adjustable so that it may be situated in various positions upon the first and second vertical support members of the gusseting machine that is used in the bag making operation. This alignment is only a longitudinal or side-to-side alignment of the coupon strip on the bag. The invention does not contemplate registering the coupons to the bag ends so as to prevent use of partial coupons.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,168, issued to Coenen et al. is directed to a process and apparatus for registering continuously moving stretchable layers. The present invention relates to processes and apparatus for making disposable absorbent articles but may be applied to the production of various products which are fabricated in a continuous production line by the sequential addition of components to previously supplied components. It is particularly directed to the bringing together of individual separate components so that the components are in a desired relation with respect to one another. It is accomplished by controllably registering a plurality of reference marks of a continuously moving first layer with a plurality of corresponding reference marks of a continuously moving elasticized second layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,930, issued to Counts et al. discloses a package having a separable overlay. The invention relates to a flexible package having a detachable decorative overlay portion that allows the retailer to provide marketing information that is removable from the body of the package. The multiple separable overlays are registered to each other rather than to a continuous web of polyethylene tubing that later becomes a bag. The invention includes a feature that permits easy removal of an outer overlay from the underlying layers. The entire perimeter of one layers is connected to the entire perimeter of an underlying layer to form a closed package for the containment of goods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,230, issued to Wyslotsky, is directed to a label indexing and applicator apparatus. The apparatus provides for the indexing of distinct labels onto a substrate stock and utilizes differential tension to the strip label stock in order to do so. The labels are longitudinally separated on the strip by transparent label divider portions so that the strip label stock is divided into discrete label units. The indexing and applicator apparatus comprises elements that function to form a laminate of a label material bearing selected visual indicia and a substrate backing material. The apparatus described in this patent uses transparent spaces between adjacent labels to sense the ends of each label and to control placement of the labels on a substrate. The labels are then heat bonded to the substrate over their entire length using a heat nip roller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,936, issued to Callahan et al. discloses an apparatus and method for securing a detachable promotional banner or coupon to a flexible package. The apparatus and method is specifically intended to attach pre-printed promotional banners or coupons to the exterior of a flexible snack food package. The product package with banner is adhered to an outer surface of the package at an intermediate point as well as at points that are adjacent to the package's lower and upper seals. While this reference does disclose registering the banner stock to the packaging material, the banner stock is releasably adhered to a closed, sealed package with contents inside.
It is an objective of the invention to provide T-shirt style bags have coupon strips attached to upper and lower heat seals of the bags either within the bag gusset or on top of the bag gusset. It is a further objective to insure that only whole numbers of coupons are a part of the coupon strip, i.e., that the end of a first coupon roughly coincides with the upper or lower seal of the bag. It is still a further objective that the attachment of such registered coupon strips to the T-shirt bags be easily and reliably accomplished. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the attachment of registered coupon strips to T-shirt bags be sufficiently economical to provide for their continued use.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.
(1) A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip may be formed from the following components. A pair of registering front and back walls are provided. The walls are secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of their top edges. The walls, when pulled apart from each other, define a space into which articles may be placed. At least one of the secured together side edges is gusseted. A plastic strip is provided. The plastic strip has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strip is located on one of the front and back walls along one side of the gusset. The strip is of a length not greater than a length of the gusseted side edge. The strip is sealed to one of the top edges of the bag walls at an end of the first remainder portion and sealed to one of the bottom edges of the bag walls at an end of the second remainder portion. Promotional material is printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strip. The promotional material begins and ends within the removable portion of the strip.
(2) In a variant of the invention, the plastic strip is located within the at least one gusset.
(3) In another variant, the removable portion of the strip is removably attached to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to the second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.
(4) In still another variant, the promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
(5) In yet another variant, a pair of registering front and back walls are provided. The walls are secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges. The walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed. At least one of the secured together first and second side edges is folded inwardly from the front and back walls to form a gusset. The gusset has top and bottom edges. The top edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the gusset terminate in an upper seal. The bottom edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the gusset terminate in a lower seal. The lower seal is perpendicular to the first and second side edges. A U-shaped cut-out is provided. The U-shaped cut-out is located in an upper portion of the bag and commences at a first point above the upper seal spaced inwardly from the first side edge and extends to a second point above the upper seal spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The cut-out extends downwardly toward the lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles.
A plastic strip is provided. The plastic strip has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strip is located on at least one of the front and back walls above the at least one gusset. The strip is of a length not greater than a length of the gusset. The strip is sealed to one of the top edges of the bag walls at an end of the first remainder portion and sealed to one of the bottom edges of the bag walls at an end of the second remainder portion. Promotional material is printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strip. The promotional material begins and ends within the removable portion of the strip.
(6) In a further variant, the plastic strip is located within the at least one gusset.
(7) In still a further variant, the removable portion of the strip is removably attached to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to the second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.
(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
(9) In still another variant, the bags are severed from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack.
(10) In yet another variant, the bags are attached to one another at a perforation line and wound into a roll.
(11) An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip can be constructed from the following components. A supply of polyethylene material is provided. An extruder is provided. The extruder produces a continuous tube of polyethylene material. A gusseter is provided. The gusseter forms at least one side gusset in the continuous tube. A flattener is provided. The flattener flattens the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge. A marker is provided. The marker places bag reference markers on the continuous tube at a first predetermined interval.
A roll of plastic strip material is provided. The plastic strip material includes a plurality of plastic strips. Each of the strips has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strips have promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strips and strip reference markers located upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the strips at the first predetermined interval. An unwind mechanism is provided. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of plastic strip material and modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll.
An insertion device is provided. The insertion device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism. The insertion device directs the plastic strip material into the at least one side gusset. A first sensor is provided. The first sensor detects passage of the bag reference markers. A second sensor is provided. The second sensor detects passage of the strip reference markers. A controller is provided. The controller monitors input from the first and second sensors, operator input and controls the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll and directed to the insertion device.
A sealer is provided. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively. The remainder portions of the plastic strips are sealed at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located within the at least one gusset. The bag reference markers are substantially aligned with the strip reference markers and the removable portion of the strip begins and ends between the upper and lower bag seals.
A bag blank cutter is provided. The bag blank cutter severs the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line. A stacker is provided. The stacker arranges a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack. A bag opening cutter is provided. The cutter removes a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of the bag blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped section extends from a first point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the first side edge, downward toward the lower bag seal, across a part of the upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles. When the bag reference markers are aligned with the strip reference markers, the removable portions of the plastic strips will be registered with respect to the upper and lower bag seals.
(12) In a variant of the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an application device. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and directs the plastic strip material on to either of the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.
(13) In another variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced with a perforator and a winder. The perforator forms a perforation line on the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank. The bag winder winds the bags into a roll.
(14) In still another variant, the insertion device is replaced with an application device while retaining the perforator and the winder. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and directs the plastic strip material on to either of the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.
(15) In yet another variant, the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip includes an operator interface. The interface inputs at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
(16) In a further variant, the unwind mechanism includes at least one unwind nip roller. The unwind nip roller tensions the plastic strip material and the controller modulates the tensioning.
(17) In still a further variant, the roll of plastic strip material includes at least two parallel streams of plastic strips. The parallel streams are joined to one another at side edges of the streams.
(18) In yet a further variant, the apparatus includes a slitter mechanism. The slitter mechanism separates the at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.
(19) In another variant of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one tensioning nip roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.
(20) In still another variant, the apparatus includes a turn bar for at least one of the individual streams of plastic strips. The turn bar aligns the individual stream of plastic strips with the bag blanks.
(21) In yet another variant, the apparatus includes a strip perforating mechanism. The strip perforating mechanism perforates the plastic strips between the remainder portions located at either end of the strip.
(22) A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, includes the steps of: Providing a supply of polyethylene material. Extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material. Forming at least one side gusset in the continuous tube. Flattening the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge. Placing bag reference markers on the gusseted tube at a first predetermined interval. Providing a roll of plastic strip material. The plastic strip material includes a plurality of plastic strips, each of the strips has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strips have promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strips. Strip reference markers are located on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the strips at the first predetermined interval.
Providing an unwind mechanism. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of plastic strip material. Modulating a speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device. The insertion device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism. Providing a first sensor. Detecting passage of the bag reference markers. Providing a second sensor. Detecting passage of the strip reference markers. Providing a controller. Monitoring input from the first and second sensors and operator input. Controlling the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll. Directing the plastic strip material to the insertion device. Inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset. Aligning the bag reference markers with the strip reference markers, thereby causing the removable portion of the strip to begin and end between the upper and lower bag seals. Providing a sealer. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located within the at least one gusset. Providing a bag blank cutter. Severing the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line. Providing a stacker. Arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack.
Providing a bag opening cutter. Removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of the bag blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped section extending from a first point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the first side edge, downward toward the lower bag seal, across a part of the upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles. When the bag reference markers are aligned with the strip reference markers, the removable portions of the plastic strips will be registered with respect to the upper and lower bag seals.
(23) In a variant of the method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an application device. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and the method includes the following additional steps. Directing the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one side gusset.
(24) In a further variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced with a perforator and a winder and the method includes the following additional steps: Forming a perforation line on the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank. Winding the bags into a roll.
(25) In still a further variant, the insertion device is replaced with an application device and the method includes the following additional steps: Receiving the plastic strip material from the roll disposed upon the unwind mechanism. Directing the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.
(26) In yet a further variant, the method includes the further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
(27) In another variant, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a slitter mechanism. Separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.
(28) In a final variant of the invention, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a strip perforating mechanism. Perforating the plastic strips between the remainder portions located at either end of the strip.
(1) As illustrated in
(2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(3) In another variant, as illustrated in
(4) In still another variant, the promotional material 100 is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
(5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
A plastic strip 45 is provided. The plastic strip 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strip 45 is located on at least one of the front 15 and back 20 walls above the at least one gusset 75. The strip 45 is of a length 80 not greater than a length 85 of the gusset 75. The strip 45 is sealed to one of the top edges 30 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 90 of the first remainder portion 50 and sealed to one of the bottom edges 35 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 95 of the second remainder portion 55. Promotional material 100 is printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strip 45. The promotional material 100 begins and ends within the removable portion 65 of the strip 45.
(6) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(7) In still a further variant, as illustrated in
(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material 100 is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
(9) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(10) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(11) An apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, as illustrated in
A roll of plastic strip material 255 is provided. The plastic strip material 255 includes a plurality of plastic strips 45. Each of the strips 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strips 45 have promotional material 100 printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strips 45 and strip reference markers 260 located upon at least one of an upper surface 265 or a lower surface 270 of the strips 45 at the first predetermined interval 250. An unwind mechanism 272 is provided. The unwind mechanism 272 supports the roll of plastic strip material 255 and modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll.
An insertion device 275 is provided. The insertion device 275 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272. The insertion device 275 directs the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one side gusset 75. A first sensor 280 is provided. The first sensor 280 detects passage of the bag reference markers 245. A second sensor 285 is provided. The second sensor 285 detects passage of the strip reference markers 260. A controller 290, as illustrated in
A sealer 300, as illustrated in
A bag blank cutter 335, as illustrated in
(12) In a variant of the apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, as illustrated in
(13) In another variant, as illustrated in
(14) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(15) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(16) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(17) In still a further variant, as illustrated in
(18) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
(19) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(20) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(21) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(22) A method, as illustrated in
Providing an unwind mechanism 272. The unwind mechanism 272 supports the roll of plastic strip material 255. Modulating a speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device 275. The insertion device 275 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272. Providing a first sensor 280. Detecting passage of the bag reference markers 245. Providing a second sensor 285. Detecting passage of the strip reference markers 260. Providing a controller 290. Monitoring input from the first 280 and second 285 sensors and operator input 295. Controlling the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll. Directing the plastic strip material 255 to the insertion device 275. Inserting the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one gusset 75. Aligning the bag reference markers 245 with the strip reference markers 260, thereby causing the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 to begin and end between the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.
Providing a sealer 300. Sealing the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located within the at least one gusset 75. Providing a bag blank cutter 335. Severing the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330 at a cut line 340. Providing a stacker (not shown). Arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks 330 into a registered stack 350.
Providing a bag opening cutter 355. Removing a substantially U-shaped section 360 from an upper portion 365 of the bag blanks 330 located in the bag stack 350. The U-shaped section 360 extending from a first point 370 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 230, downward toward the lower bag seal 325, across a part of the upper portion 365, and upwardly to a second point 375 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 235, thereby forming an open bag mouth 380 and a pair of bag handles 385. When the bag reference markers 245 are aligned with the strip reference markers 260, the removable portions 65 of the plastic strips 45 will be registered with respect to the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.
(23) In a variant of the method, as illustrated in
(24) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(25) In still a further variant, as illustrated in
(26) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
(27) In another variant, as illustrated in
(28) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in
The plastic shopping bags 10 with promotional strip ad and apparatus 190 and method for making same have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.