The present disclosure is in the technical field of webs of closable bags. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to webs of preformed cushioned bags that are formed to enable rapid formation of cushioned mailers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,828 (“the '828 patent”), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, is directed to a web of bags on a roll. The '828 patent discloses a web of bags interconnected by lines of weakness, preferably in the form of perforations, with each of the bags being open on one face. In use, the bags are sequentially fed to a loading station. When at the loading station, each bag is blown open, a product is inserted and thereafter separated from the web and, if desired, the bag is then sealed to form a package. These container strips in the form of chains of pre-opened bags are supplied either on a roll as taught in the '828 patent or festooned in a carton in the manner taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,029, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such webs have been sold by Automated Packaging Systems of Streetsboro, Ohio, under the trademark AUTOBAG.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,070 (the '070 Patent), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, is directed to a web of bags having longitudinal openings along the web. The '070 patent also describes machines for forming packages from the web and processes of making the packages. In one example, the web is fed first through a slitter which splits a top portion into two lips (or flaps) that are respectively grasped between pairs of belts for transport through a load section. Examples of such belts that transport the web through the load section are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,218, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As the web is fed the flaps are spread to effect the sequential opening of the side connected bags for receiving a product to be packaged. The flaps are then returned to juxtaposed relationship and trimmed as the flaps are grasped by belts in a sealer section. Examples of belts in a sealer section are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,238, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Such webs and machines have been sold by Automated Packaging Systems of Streetsboro, Ohio, under the trademark SIDEPOUCH.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In a first embodiment, a web of preformed bags includes a sheet material and a cushioning material. The sheet material includes a first sheet and a second sheet that are arranged to form a series of bags. The first and second sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags. Each of the bags is bounded by an opening and the sides where first and second sheets are connected together. The cushioning material is coupled to inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in each of the bags. The web further includes a line of weakness in at least one of the first and second sheets between each of the bags such that the bags are separable from the web by breaking the line of weakness. After an object is loaded in one of the bags, the opening of the one of the bags is configured to be sealed closed with the object therein such that the cushioning material in the one of the bags is arranged to cushion the object when the one of the bags is sealed closed.
In a second embodiment, the web of the first embodiment is configured such that the openings of the bags extend transversely across the web.
In a third embodiment, the web of the second embodiment is configured such that the cushioning material extends longitudinally along each of the first and second sheets.
In a fourth embodiment, the web of the third embodiment is configured such that the cushioning material is narrower transversely across the web than either of the first and second sheets. Longitudinal edges of each of the first and second sheets are connected directly to each other to form sides of the bags.
In a fifth embodiment, the web of any of the second to third embodiments is configured such that bottoms of the bags are formed by sealing portions of the cushioning material together transversely across the web.
In a sixth embodiment, the web of any of the second to fourth embodiments is configured such that the opening of each of the bags is configured to be sealed closed by sealing portions of the cushioning material together transversely across the web.
In a seventh embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the openings of the bags extend longitudinally along the web.
In an eighth embodiment, the web of the seventh embodiment is configured such that the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet material and the first and second sheets are separated by a longitudinal fold in the single sheet material.
In a ninth embodiment, the web of the eighth embodiment is configured such that the longitudinal fold forms bottoms of the bags.
In a tenth embodiment, the web of any of the eighth to ninth embodiments is configured such that the cushioning material is a single sheet of cushioning material that extends longitudinally along the web.
In an eleventh embodiment, the web of the tenth embodiment is configured such that the cushioning material is narrower transversely across the web than the single sheet material, and longitudinal edges of the single sheet material are connected directly to each other to form a closed longitudinal channel proximate the openings of the bags.
In a twelfth embodiment, the web of the eleventh embodiment is configured such that the cushioning material is coupled to portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets that are outside of the closed longitudinal channel.
In a thirteenth embodiment, the web of any of the eleventh to twelfth embodiments is configured such that the closed longitudinal channel includes a longitudinal line of weakness configured to be broken to permit access to the openings of the bags.
In a fourteenth embodiment, the web of any of the eleventh to thirteenth embodiments further includes transverse seams that extend from the longitudinal fold to the closed longitudinal channel. The transverse seams are located between the bags and form sides of the bags.
In a fifteenth embodiment, the web of the fourteenth embodiment is configured such that the line of weakness extends through one of the transverse seams.
In a sixteenth embodiment, the web of any of the fourteenth to fifteenth embodiments further includes a set of cuts associated with one of the transverse seams. The one of the transverse seams is located between a first bag and a second bag of the bags in the web. The set of cuts includes a transverse cut in the one of the transverse seams extending from the closed longitudinal channel toward the longitudinal fold, a first longitudinal cut extending from the one of the transverse seams into the first bag, and a second longitudinal cut extending from the one of the transverse seams into the second bag.
In a seventeenth embodiment, the web of the sixteenth embodiment is configured such that the first longitudinal cut is one cut in a first plurality of cuts extending from the one of the transverse seams into the first bag and the second longitudinal cut is one cut in a second plurality of cuts extending from the one of the transverse seams into the second bag.
In an eighteenth embodiment, the web of any of the preceding embodiments is configured such that the sheet material includes one or more of a polymer-based material, a fiber-based material, kraft paper, or a starch-based material.
In a nineteenth embodiment, the web of any of the preceding embodiments is configured such that the sheet material includes an outer layer configured to have information printed thereon.
In a twentieth embodiment, the web of any of the preceding embodiments is configured such that the cushioning material includes one or more of an air cellular cushioning material, a fiber-based cushioning material, macerated paper cushioning material, or a sheet foam cushioning material.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present disclosure describes embodiments of webs of preformed cushioned bags that can be used for storing and shipping objects. The webs of preformed bags include cushioning material that can provide cushioning for objects loaded therein. The webs also include two sheets on either side of the bags, where the sheets are configured to provide physical protection and/or provide a surface on which information can be printed and/or applied. The webs of preformed bags can be configured to be fed through bagging machines that can aid in and/or automate the opening, loading, and closing of the bags. The present disclosure includes a number of variations and configurations of such webs of preformed cushioned bags.
The cushioning material 114 can be any type of material that provides cushioning on the inner surface of the sheet 112. In some embodiments, the cushioning material 114 can include one or more of air cellular material, foam sheeting material, expanded slit paper material, or any other cushioning material. In the depicted embodiment, the cushioning material 114 is an air cellular material. As used herein, the term “air cellular material” herein can refer to bubble cushioning material, such as BUBBLE WRAP® air cushioning material sold by Sealed Air Corporation, where a first film or laminate is formed (e.g., thermoformed, embossed, calendared, or otherwise processed) to define a plurality of cavities and a second film or laminate is adhered to the first film or laminate in order to close the cavities. As used herein, the term “air cellular material” herein can also refer to inflatable cushioning material, such as BUBBLE WRAP® IB air cushioning material sold by Sealed Air Corporation or FILL-AIR® air pillows void fill material sold by Sealed Air Corporation, where an inflatable web can be inflated and sealed to form the air cellular material. Examples of air cellular materials are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,142,599, 3,208,898, 3,285,793, 3,508,992, 3,586,565, 3,616,155, 3,660,189, 4,181,548, 4,184,904, 4,415,398, 4,576,669, 4,579,516, 6,800,162, 6,982,113, 7,018,495, 7,165,375, 7,220,476, 7,223,461, 7,429,304, 7,721,781, 7,950,433, 9,969,136 and 10,286,617, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The cushioning material 114 can be coupled to the inner surface of the sheet 112 in any number of ways. In some examples, the cushioning material 114 can be adhered to the sheet 112, heat sealed to the sheet 112, ultrasonic welded to the sheet 112, or otherwise coupled in any other way. In the embodiment shown in
The web 110 can be used to form a web of preformed cushioned bags.
In the depicted embodiments, the sheets 112 of the webs 110 are connected along transverse seams 122. In the depicted embodiment, each of the transverse seams 122 is located between two consecutive bags 102. In some embodiments, the sheets 112 are connected together along the transverse seams 122 by any one of adhering the sheets 112 together, heat sealing the sheets 112 together, ultrasonic welding the sheets 112 together, or otherwise coupling the sheets 112 together in any other method. For example, the transverse seams 122 can be formed by heat sealing the sheets 112 and the cushioning material 114 in the webs 110. In some embodiments, the transverse seams 122 in the web 100 include a line of weakness 124 that passes transversely across the web 100. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 124 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness that allow the web 100 to be torn or otherwise broken through or proximate the transverse seams 122. The lines of weakness 124 form the boundaries between the bags 102. In some embodiments, each of the bags 102 can be removed from the web 100 by breaking the lines of weakness 124 on either side of the bags. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 124 are proximate the transverse seam 122 such that the transverse seams 122 form bottoms of the bags 102. In this way, the longitudinal seams 120 form the left and right sides of each of the bags 102 and the transverse seams 122 form the bottoms of the bags 102.
In some embodiments, the bags 102 in the web 100 include openings 126 that permit an object to be loaded into the bag between the sheets 112 of the webs 110. In the depicted embodiment, the openings 126 are transverse cuts across only one of the two webs 110 and the openings 126 are substantially aligned with the lines of weakness 124. In some embodiments, the openings 126 are transverse cuts through the sheet 112 and the cushioning material 114 of one of the web 110. The opening 126 of one of the bags 102 can be formed (e.g., pulled) into a two-dimensional shape—as indicated in
The cushioning material 214 can be any type of material that provides cushioning on the inner surface of the sheet 212. The cushioning material 214 can include one or more of any of the cushioning materials described herein. In the depicted embodiment, the cushioning material 214 is an air cellular material. The cushioning material 214 can be coupled to the inner surface of the sheet 212 in any number of ways, including any of the ways of coupling cushioning materials to sheets described herein. In the embodiment shown in
The web 210 can be used to form a web of preformed cushioned bags.
In the depicted embodiments, the sheets 212 of the webs 210 are connected along transverse seams 222. In the depicted embodiment, each of the transverse seams 222 is located between two consecutive bags 202. In some embodiments, the sheets 212 are connected together along the transverse seams 222 by any one of the connecting methods described herein. In some embodiments, the transverse seams 222 in the web 200 include a line of weakness 224 that extends transversely across the web 200 from the longitudinal seam 219. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 224 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness that allow the web 200 to be torn or otherwise broken through or proximate the transverse seams 222. The lines of weakness 224 form the boundaries between the bags 202. In some embodiments, each of the bags 202 can be removed from the web 200 by breaking the lines of weakness 224 on either side of the bags. In the depicted embodiment, a portion of the transverse seam 222 on one side of one of the lines of weakness 224 forms the left side of one of the bags 202 and the portion of the transverse seam 222 on the other side of the line of weakness 224 forms the right side of another one of the bags 202. In this way, the longitudinal seams 220 and 218 and the transverse seams 222 form the top, bottom, left side, and right side of each of the bags 202.
In some embodiments, the web 200 includes a closed longitudinal channel 226. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 226 is located between the wide longitudinal sides 216 of the sheets 212 of the webs 210 and between the longitudinal seam 220 and the cushioning material 214 of the webs 210. The closed longitudinal channel 226 is configured to be opened to permit objects to be loaded into the bags 202. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 226 includes a longitudinal line of perforation 228 that permits the closed longitudinal channel 226 to be opened by a blunt tool, an example of which is described below. The longitudinal line of perforation 228 may be located proximate the bottom of the longitudinal seam 220, as shown in the depicted embodiment, or in one or both of the wide longitudinal sides 216 proximate the longitudinal seam 220. In other embodiments, the closed longitudinal channel 226 may not include a line of perforation, but the closed longitudinal channel 226 may still be openable by a sharp tool (e.g., a blade, a knife, etc.) or a heated tool (e.g., a heat bar).
In some embodiments, the web 200 includes a set of cuts 230 associated with each of the transverse seams 222. The set of cuts 230 may be useful in forming the opening of the bags 202 into a two-dimensional shape, as described in greater detail below. In the depicted embodiment, each of the sets of cuts 230 includes a transverse cut 232, a first longitudinal cut 234, and a second longitudinal cut 236. The transverse cut 232 is in one of the transverse seams 222 and extends from the closed longitudinal channel 226 toward the longitudinal seam 219. The first longitudinal cut 234 extends from one of the transverse seams 222 into the bag 202 on one side of the transverse seam 222 and the second longitudinal cut 236 extends from one of the transverse seams 222 into the bag 202 on the other side of the transverse seam 222. This configuration of the set of cuts 230 is sometimes referred to as a “tee cut” as the transverse cut 232, the first longitudinal cut 234, and the second longitudinal cut 236 form a tee shape. In the depicted embodiment, the first longitudinal cut 234 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 222 into the bag 202 on the one side of the transverse seam 222 and the second longitudinal cut 236 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 222 into the bag 202 on the other side of the transverse seam 222. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse cut 232 also includes a plurality of cuts extending through the transverse seam 222. When one or more of each of the set of cuts 230 includes a plurality of cuts (as opposed to a single cut), the web 200 may be more likely to be conveyed (e.g., fed through an automated bagging machine) without jamming or catching on any the set of cuts 230. In other embodiments, some or all of the cuts in each of the sets of cuts 230 can be a single cut. The sets of cuts 230 can aid in the opening of the bags 202 for loading objects into the bags 202, as described in an example below.
The machine 250 further includes carrier belts 256 and retention belts 258. In the depicted embodiment, one of each of the carrier belts 256 and retention belts 258 is located on either side of the web 200. Each pair of a carrier belt 256 and a retention belt 258 is configured to engage and hold one of the wide longitudinal sides 216 of the webs 210 after the wide longitudinal sides 216 of the webs 210 have been separated from each other by the plow 254. In the depicted embodiment, after the wide longitudinal sides 216 of the webs 210 have been separated, each of the wide longitudinal sides 216 is fed between one of the carrier belts 256 and one of the retention belts 258. Each pair of one carrier belt 256 and one retention belt 258 is configured to grip one of the wide longitudinal sides 216 therebetween to open the bags. The concerted operation of the carrier belts 256 and a retention belts 258 is described below.
From the point where both of the wide longitudinal sides 216 are held by the carrier belts 256 and the retention belts 258, sides of the web 200 will follow the path of the carrier belts 256 and the retention belts 258. In the embodiment shown in
After the bags 202 have been opened for loading, the carrier belts 256 and the retention belts 258 can continue feeding the bags 202 in the downstream direction 270 and the carrier belts 256 and the retention belts 258 can again converge to bring the wide longitudinal sides 216 back together. At that point, the bags 202 can be closed.
In the depicted embodiments, portions of the wide longitudinal sides 216 above the closing seal 221 have been removed (e.g., cut off) so that significant amounts of excess material do not extend beyond the closing seal 221. At the point shown in
The embodiments of webs of preformed bags described above include multiple webs that are connected together to form the webs of preformed bags. For example, the web 100 includes two of the webs 110 that are connected together to form the web 100 of preformed bags 102 and the web 200 includes two of the webs 210 that are connected together to form the web 200 of preformed bags 202. In other embodiments, a web of preformed bags can be formed from a single web that is folded against itself or otherwise juxtaposed to form the web of preformed bags. Examples of a single web being used to form a web of preformed bags are described in detail below.
The cushioning material 314 can be any type of material that provides cushioning on the inner surface of the sheet 312. In some embodiments, the cushioning material 314 can include any type of cushioning material described herein. The cushioning material 314 can be coupled to the inner surface of the sheet 312 in any number of ways. In some examples, the cushioning material 314 can be adhered to the sheet 312, heat sealed to the sheet 312, ultrasonic welded to the sheet 312, or otherwise coupled in any other way. In the embodiment shown in
In the depicted embodiments, the sheet 312 of the web 310 is also connected along transverse seams 322. In the depicted embodiment, each of the transverse seams 322 is located between two consecutive bags 302. In some embodiments, the sheet 312 is connected together along the transverse seams 322 by any one of the connecting methods described herein (e.g., adhering, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, or any other connecting method). For example, the transverse seams 322 can be formed by heat sealing the sheet 312 and the cushioning material 314 in the web 310. In some embodiments, the transverse seams 322 in the web 300 include a line of weakness 324 that passes transversely across the web 300. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 324 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness that allow the web 300 to be torn or otherwise broken through or proximate the transverse seams 322. The lines of weakness 324 form the boundaries between the bags 302. In some embodiments, each of the bags 302 can be removed from the web 300 by breaking the lines of weakness 324 on either side of the bags. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 324 are proximate the transverse seam 322 such that the transverse seams 322 form bottoms of the bags 302. In this way, the longitudinal seam 320, the longitudinal fold 318, and the transverse seams 322 form the left side, the right side, and the bottom, respectively, of each of the bags 302.
In some embodiments, the bags 302 in the web 300 include openings 326 that permit an object to be loaded into the bag between the two sides of the sheets 312 of the web 310. In the depicted embodiment, the openings 326 are transverse cuts across only one of the two webs 310 and the openings 326 are substantially aligned with the lines of weakness 324. In some embodiments, the openings 326 are transverse cuts through the sheet 312 and the cushioning material 314 through a portion of the web 310 on one side of the longitudinal fold 318. The opening 326 of one of the bags 302 can be formed (e.g., pulled) into a two-dimensional shape—as indicated in
After an object has been loaded into one of the bags 302, the bag can be closed. For example, a closing seal can be formed in the bag 302 proximate the opening 326. The closing seal can be made in the bags 302 similar to the way in which the closing seals 121 were made in the bags 102, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the depicted embodiments, the sheet 412 of the web 410 is further connected along transverse seams 422. In the depicted embodiment, each of the transverse seams 422 is located between two consecutive bags 402. In some embodiments, the sheets 412 are connected together along the transverse seams 422 by any one of the connecting methods described herein. In some embodiments, the transverse seams 422 in the web 400 include a line of weakness 424 that extends transversely across the web 400 from the longitudinal fold 418. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 424 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness that allow the web 400 to be torn or otherwise broken through or proximate the transverse seams 422. The lines of weakness 424 form the boundaries between the bags 402. In some embodiments, each of the bags 402 can be removed from the web 400 by breaking the lines of weakness 424 on either side of the bags. In the depicted embodiment, a portion of the transverse seam 422 on one side of one of the lines of weakness 424 forms the left side of one of the bags 402 and the portion of the transverse seam 422 on the other side of the line of weakness 424 forms the right side of another one of the bags 402. In this way, the longitudinal seam 420, the longitudinal fold 418, and the transverse seams 422 form the top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 402.
In some embodiments, the web 400 includes a closed longitudinal channel 426. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 426 is located between the longitudinal sides 416 of the sheet 412 of the web 410 and between the longitudinal seam 420 and the cushioning material 414 of the web 410. The closed longitudinal channel 426 is configured to be opened to permit objects to be loaded into the bags 402. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 426 includes a longitudinal line of perforation 428 that permits the closed longitudinal channel 426 to be opened by a blunt tool (e.g., the plow 254 in the machine 250). The longitudinal line of perforation 428 may be located proximate the bottom of the longitudinal seam 420, as shown in the depicted embodiment, or in one or both of the longitudinal sides 416 proximate the longitudinal seam 420. In other embodiments, the closed longitudinal channel 426 may not include a line of perforation, but the closed longitudinal channel 426 may still be openable by a sharp tool (e.g., a blade, a knife, etc.) or a heated tool (e.g., a heat bar).
In some embodiments, the web 400 includes a set of cuts 430 associated with each of the transverse seams 422. The set of cuts 430 may be useful in forming the opening of the bags 402 into a two-dimensional shape. In the depicted embodiment, each of the sets of cuts 430 includes a transverse cut 432, a first longitudinal cut 434, and a second longitudinal cut 436. The transverse cut 432 is in one of the transverse seams 422 and extends from the closed longitudinal channel 426 toward the longitudinal fold 418. The first longitudinal cut 434 extends from one of the transverse seams 422 into the bag 402 on one side of the transverse seam 422 and the second longitudinal cut 436 extends from one of the transverse seams 422 into the bag 402 on the other side of the transverse seam 422. This configuration of the set of cuts 430 is sometimes referred to as a “tee cut” as the transverse cut 432, the first longitudinal cut 434, and the second longitudinal cut 436 form a tee shape. In the depicted embodiment, the first longitudinal cut 434 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 422 into the bag 402 on the one side of the transverse seam 422 and the second longitudinal cut 436 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 422 into the bag 402 on the other side of the transverse seam 422. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse cut 432 also includes a plurality of cuts extending through the transverse seam 422. When one or more of each of the set of cuts 430 includes a plurality of cuts (as opposed to a single cut), the web 400 may be more likely to be conveyed (e.g., fed through an automated bagging machine) without jamming or catching on any the set of cuts 430. In other embodiments, some or all of the cuts in each of the sets of cuts 430 can be a single cut. The sets of cuts 430 can aid in the opening of the bags 402 for loading objects into the bags 402.
The web 400 of preformed bags 402 can be used similar to the use of the web 200 shown in
In some cases, the cushioning material in a web may be conducive to folding such that a longitudinal fold can be made in the web through the cushioning material. For example, in the embodiment of the web 300, the web 310 is folded about the longitudinal fold 318 through the cushioning material 314. Similarly, in the embodiment of the web 400, the web 410 is folded about the longitudinal fold 418 through the cushioning material 414. However, in other cases, the cushioning material in a web may not be conducive to folding such that a longitudinal fold can be made in the web through the cushioning material is not feasible or practical. In such cases, it may be advantageous to have a gap in the cushioning material to permit longitudinal folding of the web.
The cushioning material 514 can be any type of material that provides cushioning on the inner surface of the sheet 512. In some embodiments, the cushioning material 514 can include any type of cushioning material described herein. The cushioning material 514 can be coupled to the inner surface of the sheet 512 in any number of ways. In some examples, the cushioning material 514 can be adhered to the sheet 512, heat sealed to the sheet 512, ultrasonic welded to the sheet 512, or otherwise coupled in any other way. In the embodiment shown in
In the depicted embodiments, the sheet 512 of the web 510 is further connected along transverse seams 522. In the depicted embodiment, each of the transverse seams 522 is located between two consecutive bags 502. In some embodiments, the sheets 512 are connected together along the transverse seams 522 by any one of the connecting methods described herein. In some embodiments, the transverse seams 522 in the web 500 include a line of weakness 524 that extends transversely across the web 500 from the longitudinal fold 518. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 524 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness that allow the web 500 to be torn or otherwise broken through or proximate the transverse seams 522. The lines of weakness 524 form the boundaries between the bags 502. In some embodiments, each of the bags 502 can be removed from the web 500 by breaking the lines of weakness 524 on either side of the bags. In the depicted embodiment, a portion of the transverse seam 522 on one side of one of the lines of weakness 524 forms the left side of one of the bags 502 and the portion of the transverse seam 522 on the other side of the line of weakness 524 forms the right side of another one of the bags 502. In this way, the longitudinal seam 520, the longitudinal fold 518, and the transverse seams 522 form the top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 502.
In some embodiments, the web 500 includes a closed longitudinal channel 526. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 526 is located between the longitudinal sides 516 of the sheet 512 of the web 510 and between the longitudinal seam 520 and the cushioning material 514 of the web 510. The closed longitudinal channel 526 is configured to be opened to permit objects to be loaded into the bags 502. In the depicted embodiment, the closed longitudinal channel 526 includes a longitudinal line of perforation 528 that permits the closed longitudinal channel 526 to be opened by a blunt tool (e.g., the plow 254 in the machine 250). The longitudinal line of perforation 528 may be located proximate the bottom of the longitudinal seam 520, as shown in the depicted embodiment, or in one or both of the longitudinal sides 516 proximate the longitudinal seam 520. In other embodiments, the closed longitudinal channel 526 may not include a line of perforation, but the closed longitudinal channel 526 may still be openable by a sharp tool (e.g., a blade, a knife, etc.) or a heated tool (e.g., a heat bar).
In some embodiments, the web 500 includes a set of cuts 530 associated with each of the transverse seams 522. The set of cuts 530 may be useful in forming the opening of the bags 502 into a two-dimensional shape. In the depicted embodiment, each of the sets of cuts 530 includes a transverse cut 532, a first longitudinal cut 534, and a second longitudinal cut 536. The transverse cut 532 is in one of the transverse seams 522 and extends from the closed longitudinal channel 526 toward the longitudinal fold 518. The first longitudinal cut 534 extends from one of the transverse seams 522 into the bag 502 on one side of the transverse seam 522 and the second longitudinal cut 536 extends from one of the transverse seams 522 into the bag 502 on the other side of the transverse seam 522. This configuration of the set of cuts 530 is sometimes referred to as a “tee cut” as the transverse cut 532, the first longitudinal cut 534, and the second longitudinal cut 536 form a tee shape. In the depicted embodiment, the first longitudinal cut 534 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 522 into the bag 502 on the one side of the transverse seam 522 and the second longitudinal cut 536 includes a plurality of cuts extending from the transverse seam 522 into the bag 502 on the other side of the transverse seam 522. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse cut 532 also includes a plurality of cuts extending through the transverse seam 522. When one or more of each of the set of cuts 530 includes a plurality of cuts (as opposed to a single cut), the web 500 may be more likely to be conveyed (e.g., fed through an automated bagging machine) without jamming or catching on any the set of cuts 530. In other embodiments, some or all of the cuts in each of the sets of cuts 530 can be a single cut. The sets of cuts 530 can aid in the opening of the bags 502 for loading objects into the bags 502.
The web 500 of preformed bags 502 can be used similar to the use of the web 200 shown in
While not depicted herein, it will be apparent that the web 510—or any other variation where a longitudinal gap exists between two pieces of cushioning material—can be used to form other forms of webs of preformed bags, such as one similar to the web 300 shown in
For purposes of this disclosure, terminology such as “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “inner,” “outer,” “front,” “rear,” and the like, should be construed as descriptive and not limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Unless stated otherwise, the terms “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like are used to mean within 5% of a target value.
The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2021/053686 | 10/6/2021 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63089160 | Oct 2020 | US |