A system for manufacturing a flexible bulk container. The system includes workstations circumferentially spaced apart from each other. Each of the workstations is operable to perform an operation on a preform of the container. The workstations sequentially modify the preform from an initial version to a final version, the final version of the preform being the manufactured flexible bulk container. A preform manipulation apparatus includes a carrousel disposed centrally and being rotatable about a vertical central axis. Manipulation arms are mounted to the carrousel for common rotation therewith. The manipulation arms each have a proximal end fixed to the carrousel and a distal end having a manipulation tool mounted thereto for seizing and manipulating the preform at each of the workstations. Each of the manipulation arms in operation displaces the manipulation tool and the preform between successive workstations. A method for forming a flexible bulk container is also disclosed.

Multi-layer bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge. The first and second layers may be non-continuously laminated together in discrete sections to include bonded regions in which the layers are bonded and unbonded regions in which the layers are not bonded. Such a bag may be described as a bag-in-a-bag type configuration in which the inner bag is non-continuously bonded to the outer bag. The inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations of non-continuous bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer films and bags.

A method for the manufacture of flexible containers of the type comprising a lower base and four side faces comprising supplying a W-shaped folded web determining an inverted V shaped bottom, with a central fold being distinguished, and the steps of inserting folded sheets between the opposite walls of the W-shaped web so that, at least, one bonding portion of each folded sheet is attached to the opposite walls and to the bottom of the web in the shape of an inverted V, and to bond these folded sheets to the web at said bonding portion or portions to determine dividing walls on the web prior to performing transverse cuts on the web to individualise a container, the cuts being distanced so that each container includes, at least, two of said dividing walls that will form respective side walls on each container.

The invention discloses a packaging bag and an apparatus and a method for manufacturing film material of the packaging bag, and a method of manufacturing the packaging bag. The processing of the portable portion is conducted by the apparatus for manufacturing film material, and the prepared film material is made into a packaging bag finally. In the technical solution of the invention, by adding a handle structure on the side portion of the big-sized packaging bag, the bag structure of the invention is easy to carry or move the packaging bag and the product within the packaging bag that is large in weight, structure, and size. The packaging bag of the present invention has a simple structure, which is convenient to use and process, improving the practicality and usability of the bag.

Thermoplastic bags with phased deformation patterns are described. In particular, one or more implementations comprise thermoplastic bags with ring rolling, SELFing, or other deformation patterns phased or aligned relative to the sides of the bags. The phased deformation patterns can allow for reducing or eliminating deformation patterns in areas of the thermoplastic bag in which side seals or other seals are formed. Additionally or alternatively, the phased deformation patterns can provide for zones that provide differing properties (e.g., functional or aesthetic). Such zones can vary aligned along a width of the thermoplastic bag and optionally also vary along a height of the thermoplastic bag. The differing zones can provide the thermoplastic bags with phased deformations that provide leak prevention, liquid containment, and other benefits.

A packaging machine has at least one carriage including a carriage body defining an internal passage dimensioned to receive a packaging sleeve, the internal passage extending along a passage axis with a passage sidewall extending therearound. A retention mechanism is configured to retain the packaging sleeve against the passage sidewall, one or more packaging subsystems are configured to perform an operation on the packaging sleeve, and a drive mechanism is configured to move the carriage to and from the packaging subsystem. Opposite ends of the internal passage along the passage axis can both be completely open from the passage axis to the passage sidewall. The retention mechanism can be configured to retain the packaging sleeve with vacuum. The packaging subsystem can include one or more of a sleeve infeed device, a sleeve spreader device, an indexing device, and a sealing device.

A method of forming a flexible container can include folding a web or sheet to define one or more gussets in one or more regions of the flexible container. The gusset can be a continuous gusset or can be an interrupted gusset, having a seal disposed in the gusset.

A process for producing a flexible container is provided. The process includes: A. providing a rear panel web, a front panel web, a first folded gusset panel web, and a second folded gusset panel web, each panel web having peripheral edges and a bottom face, each bottom face having two opposing tapered edges meeting at a bottom end; B. placing the folded gusset panel webs between the rear panel web and the front panel web, the gusset panel webs opposing each other, the panel webs configured to form a common periphery and the bottom seal area including the bottom end of each panel; C. first sealing the peripheral edges, the tapered edges, and the bottom seal area under a set of heat seal conditions; D. second sealing a portion of the bottom seal area under a second heat seal condition; and E. forming a flexible container.

A non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films comprises thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and differing functional benefits. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise thermoplastic films that are co-extruded separately and then combined together by a post-extrusion bonding process. The differing composition of the various films of the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films and the post-extrusion bonding process, provide the structures with the functional benefits of the individual films.

A polymer bag is disclosed, along with a method of manufacture. The bag is formed of two facing sheets of polymer film, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges. A polymeric zipper is attached to the inside of the facing sheets parallel to and between the top and bottom edges. A respective reinforcing patch is positioned on the inside surface of each of the two respective facing sheets and between the zipper and the top edge. An opening through each reinforcing patch and in the face overlying each patch defines a bag handle.