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.

An environmentally-friendly alternative to polyethylene garment and other product packages is made of paper, which can be recycled, re-pulped or composted. Each such package includes two parallel coextensive elongated sheets of paper joined together along their respective side edges and along a top edge by heat seal or an adhesive. The two sheets of paper define an expandable volume therebetween. Central portions of the two sheets of paper are separable from each other to increase the volume to accept an article of clothing or other product. Rolls of paper-based product protection material may be manufactured, from which individual packages may be made or cut. Methods and apparatus for manufacturing the product protection material are disclosed.

A method of producing flexible polypropylene fabric bags with heat fused seams comprising providing fabric pieces, wherein each fabric piece has a coated side and an uncoated side; positioning fabric pieces so that a coated side of one fabric piece faces a coated side of another fabric piece; selecting an area of fabric to be joined for forming a seam or joint; applying heat to the area to be joined that is less than the melting point of the fabrics, for forming one or more seams or joints and wherein the heat fused seams or joints of a resulting polypropylene bag retains at least 85% of the fabric strength without using sewing machines.

A method of making a storage bag comprising the following steps performed in any order: (a) forming a composite tube having an inner surface comprising a higher melting polymer, an outer surface comprising a lower melting polymer, two ends, and a diameter; (b) flattening the tube in a direction perpendicular to the diameter; (c) forming a joint at one of the ends at a temperature between respective melting points of the higher melting polymer and the lower melting polymer; (d) providing a composite sheet having a first side comprising a higher melting polymer and a second side comprising a lower melting polymer; and (e) disposing the composite sheet over the joint such that the first side comprising a lower melting polymer engages the joint and forming a lap seam over the joint at a temperature between respective melting points of the higher melting polymer and the lower melting polymer, and a storage bag made by such method.

Bags are made, with which a stack is formed. To do this, a tube is formed with a strip of flexible material, a portion of tube is separated at the front of the tube forming a first flap at the rear of the portion of tube, the first flap prolonging the first wall of the portion beyond the end of the second wall adjacent to the first wall, a bag is formed with each portion of tube, and a stack of bags is formed, the first wall of the first of the bags being against the second wall of the adjacent second bag. An anti-adhesive coating is applied on to the first wall of the first bag and a coat of adhesive is applied on to the second wall of the second bag ensuring the temporary attachment with the anti-adhesive coating.

A method for producing a bag from a tube including transverse lines of perforations delimiting tabs of the future bag, a rear tab of a first bag being opposite a front tab of the second bag following the first. A first step involves separating the first and second bags; a second step involves separating a piece of waste remaining on one of the bags between the two tabs. The first and second steps are carried out between a first pair of separation cylinders and a second pair of cylinders, the piece of waste being clamped between the cylinders of the first pair during the first step in order to be held on the second bag, then clamped and torn off by the second pair during the second step.

A method of packaging a series of differently shaped objects. The method includes receiving a first object to be packaged and identifying a first length of a stock packaging material suitable for enclosing the first object. The method continues by creating, with a bag making machine, a first bag from the stock packaging material having approximately the first length, which leads to substantially enclosing the first object in the first bag. Then the method continues by receiving a second object to be packaged, the second object having a shape or size different from the first object. A second length of the stock packaging material suitable for enclosing the second object is identified. The method continues by creating, with the bag making machine, a second bag from the stock packaging material having approximately the second length, followed by substantially enclosing the second object in the second bag.

A machine for manufacturing flat bottom bags includes a drum for carrying along at least one blank having a flattened tubular shape in an advancing direction, a first scoring apparatus upstream of the drum for marking on the blank a first folding line which is transverse with respect to the advancing direction, a front gripper on the drum that grips a front edge of the blank on the drum, in an opening step, and and carries along the blank, a first lateral gripping means on the drum that grip the lateral edges of the blank in the region of the first folding line.

A method of making a storage bag comprising the following steps performed in any order: (a) forming a composite tube having an inner surface comprising a higher melting polymer, an outer surface comprising a lower melting polymer, two ends, and a diameter; (b) flattening the tube in a direction perpendicular to the diameter; (c) forming a joint at one of the ends at a temperature between respective melting points of the higher melting polymer and the lower melting polymer; (d) providing a composite sheet having a first side comprising a higher melting polymer and a second side comprising a lower melting polymer; and (e) disposing the composite sheet over the joint such that the first side comprising a lower melting polymer engages the joint and forming a lap seam over the joint at a temperature between respective melting points of the higher melting polymer and the lower melting polymer, and a storage bag made by such method.

A method and apparatus for making a stepped end on a tube of flexible material includes a tube slitting station having a slitting tool with double edge slitting to provide respective slits beside a first panel and beside a second panel, respectively; a first trimming station trimming a first panel of the tube to a first shortened length, a second trimming station trimming the side gussets to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first shortened length; and an adhesive applying station applying adhesive on the tube above and below a fold line across the tube, wherein the tube is adapted to be folded along the fold line, and the adhesive material is adapted to form an adhesive to adhesive seal above and below the fold line.