In one method, a piece of nonwoven PET or PP fabric is formed into a tote bag using a bag forming device. Seams of the tote bag are ultrasonically welded using an ultrasonic bag welding device. The ultrasonic bag welding device includes at least one sonotrode. In another method, BOPP film is received and a full-color graphic is printed on the BOPP film for each tote bag using a printer. The printed BOPP film is received from the printer and nonwoven PP or PET fabric is received from a roll of nonwoven PP or PET fabric using a laminator. The printed BOPP film is laminated to the nonwoven PP or PET fabric. The printed BOPP film laminated to nonwoven PP or PET fabric is received from the laminator and a finished version of each tote bag is produced using an ultrasonic bag welding device.

A flexible film, and articles comprising the film, comprises interleaved pluralities of each of first bands and second bands disposed adjacent to the first bands. Both the first and second bands have a length and a width; the first bands comprise a first film basis weight and first and second regions. The first regions and second regions being comprised of the same material composition. The first regions undergo a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second regions initially undergo a substantially geometric deformation when the sheet material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis. The second bands comprise a second film basis weight and a plurality of corrugations disposed along the length of the band. In this aspect the material may be described as having alternating bands of structural-elastic-like film and ring-rolled film.

A flexible film, and articles comprising the film, comprises interleaved pluralities of each of first bands and second bands disposed adjacent to the first bands. Both the first and second bands have a length and a width; the first bands comprise a first film basis weight and first and second regions. The first regions and second regions being comprised of the same material composition. The first regions undergo a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second regions initially undergo a substantially geometric deformation when the sheet material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis. The second bands comprise a second film basis weight and a plurality of corrugations disposed along the length of the band. In this aspect the material may be described as having alternating bands of structural-elastic-like film and ring-rolled film.

A computer-managed database of interconnected, unique codes attached on trash, recycling and other material management or recovery bags enables program managers to track and measure the materials management behavior including but not limited to weight, composition, compliance, and fraud; and to provide feedback including education, penalties or incentives directly to affected persons in order to cost effectively meet federal, state, local or corporate goals.

A computer-managed database of interconnected, unique codes attached on trash, recycling and other material management or recovery bags enables program managers to track and measure the materials management behavior including but not limited to weight, composition, compliance, and fraud; and to provide feedback including education, penalties or incentives directly to affected persons in order to cost effectively meet federal, state, local or corporate goals.

A method and apparatus for making bags or pouches is disclosed. It includes a track, at least two sleds that move on the track, and operating stations mounted on the sleds. The film moves along the track, and the sleds move with the film while performing operations on the film. The system can have the sleds stationary while operating for an intermittent machine, and move to reconfigure when the film is moving. The operating stations include one or more of a sealer, a heater, a cooler, an inserter, a knife, a punch, a perforator, a static charger, and a printer. The track forms a continuous path or is linear. A controller controls the sleds and operating stations. The controller includes an operating time and/or a reconfiguration module. The operating time module is responsive to a user set material thickness or a sensed material thickness.

A print and inspection apparatus for use with a pouch filling and sealing machine. The apparatus has a platform with a vertical height adjustment. A print module and an inspection module are mounted to carriages which are adjustably movable along a horizontal “X” axis and adjustable along a horizontal “Z” axis. A path for the pouches is formed by a guide rail and back rail. The apparatus permits printing of information on a pouch and inspection of the pouch.

A print and inspection apparatus for use with a pouch filling and sealing machine. The apparatus has a platform with a vertical height adjustment. A print module and an inspection module are mounted to carriages which are adjustably movable along a horizontal “X” axis and adjustable along a horizontal “Z” axis. A path for the pouches is formed by a guide rail and back rail. The apparatus permits printing of information on a pouch and inspection of the pouch.

Embodiments of a method of printing low volumes of paper bags on a digital printing press are provided. In the method, a plurality of orders are received. Each order includes a particular format relating to a bag size selected from a predetermined number of bag sizes and a graphic to be printed. In the method, the plurality of orders are organized into a plurality of batches. Each batch includes orders of the plurality of orders having a same bag size. A first batch is selected, and the graphic of the orders contained in the first batch is digitally printed on a first roll of paper having dimensions associated with the bag size of the first batch. The first roll of paper is fed through the digital printing press, and the digital printing press prints the graphic of each order contained in the first batch without stopping when transitioning between orders.

A system for manufacturing sacks or bags includes at least two sack or bag producing machines which control components are assigned to, and which are connected with each other by at least one transport device and/or one storage device. The system includes a control unit configured such that manufacturing speeds of the two sack or bag producing machines can be transmitted to and/or processed by the control unit. The control unit is configured such that it proposes and/or sets the manufacturing speed of the two sack or bag producing machines based on system operating parameters.