An apparatus successively makes plastic bags each of which includes an end surface provided with a protrusion, without specially supplying a web of bottom gusset material. A first web of panel material is folded along a first folded line at a position adjacent to a side edge of the first web, while a second web of panel material is folded along a second folded line at a position adjacent to a corresponding side edge of the second web. A first folded portion is formed in the first web. There exists a distance between the side edge and the first folded line, which is larger than twice a distance between the corresponding side edge and the second folded line by a predetermined distance, after being folded. The end surface is formed by the first folded portion, the protrusion being formed by the predetermined distance.

An apparatus successively makes plastic bags each of which includes an end surface provided with a protrusion, without specially supplying a web of bottom gusset material. A first web of panel material is folded along a first folded line at a position adjacent to a side edge of the first web, while a second web of panel material is folded along a second folded line at a position adjacent to a corresponding side edge of the second web. A first folded portion is formed in the first web. There exists a distance between the side edge and the first folded line, which is larger than twice a distance between the corresponding side edge and the second folded line by a predetermined distance, after being folded. The end surface is formed by the first folded portion, the protrusion being formed by the predetermined distance.

A method is disclosed for forming a windowed packaging material. According to the method a web of packaging material is cut in substantially the machine direction along a non-linear path. The cutting action provides two subwebs, each having protruding edge portions and recessed edge portions. The two subwebs are displaced relative to one another so that the protruding edge portions face one another. In this configuration opposing recessed edge portions form windows. The two subwebs are adhered to one another at the opposing protruding edge portions. The resulting windows may be covered with a material that is transparent and/or breathable. A strip of handle material may be applied spanning the respective windows.

A method is disclosed for forming a windowed packaging material. According to the method a web of packaging material is cut in substantially the machine direction along a non-linear path. The cutting action provides two subwebs, each having protruding edge portions and recessed edge portions. The two subwebs are displaced relative to one another so that the protruding edge portions face one another. In this configuration opposing recessed edge portions form windows. The two subwebs are adhered to one another at the opposing protruding edge portions. The resulting windows may be covered with a material that is transparent and/or breathable. A strip of handle material may be applied spanning the respective windows.

The product efficiency of bags each with an end face part is increased. A panel webs is guided to be divided along a line of weakness of the panel web and to be folded along division edges of the panel web. This guiding of the first panel and temporary sealed sections cause a side gusset to be cut open along a line of weakness of the side gusset such that open surfaces are formed. After the forming of the open surfaces, an end face web is supplied to be superposed on folded parts of the panel web and the open surfaces of the side gusset.

A process for making a container includes the step of providing at least one of a slider, sticker, textured surface, pattern, or embossed surface along a folded web of thermoplastic material that comprises a plurality of container templates. The process also includes the step of picking up, with a turner, each container template. The turner includes one or more rotator assemblies that include a rotatable shaft and a bag-contacting surface connected to an end of the rotatable shaft. The bag-contacting surface is configured to engage a top exterior side of each container template. Additionally, the process includes the step of reorienting, with the turner, each container template. The rotatable shaft is configured to horizontally translate and rotate each container template.

A process for making a container includes the step of providing at least one of a slider, sticker, textured surface, pattern, or embossed surface along a folded web of thermoplastic material that comprises a plurality of container templates. The process also includes the step of picking up, with a turner, each container template. The turner includes one or more rotator assemblies that include a rotatable shaft and a bag-contacting surface connected to an end of the rotatable shaft. The bag-contacting surface is configured to engage a top exterior side of each container template. Additionally, the process includes the step of reorienting, with the turner, each container template. The rotatable shaft is configured to horizontally translate and rotate each container template.

In an apparatus and method for successively making plastic bags, webs of first and second panel materials are superposed and fed longitudinally. A plastic film is slit to form longitudinal slit lines so as to be divided into the web of the first panel material and a plurality of webs of a bottom gusset material before the webs of the first and second panel materials are superposed. Then, the webs of the bottom gusset material are guided and supplied to the webs of the first or second panel material by bottom gusset material guide devices. The bottom gusset material is not supplied from another supply roll, and a pattern discrepancy is not caused.

A process for manufacturing bags made of a biodegradable or biodegradable-compostable plastic material and without any bellows, said process comprising the following sequence of steps: loading a reel (12) of plastic film (13) obtained by blown-film extrusion and having a width which corresponds to the width of at least one bag (50) to be formed; longitudinally cutting along cutting lines (15) to form at least two longitudinal bands (13); separating the bands to a given D distance from each other, and longitudinally welding; said steps being a function of the transversal dimension or width of the bag to be manufactured; transversally welding each individual longitudinal band (13) to define band portions (27) which corresponds to the longitudinal dimensions of the bags (50) to be formed, punching said band portions (27), moving and unloading the bags (50) thus formed.

A process for manufacturing bags made of a biodegradable or biodegradable-compostable plastic material and without any bellows, said process comprising the following sequence of steps: loading a reel (12) of plastic film (13) obtained by blown-film extrusion and having a width which corresponds to the width of at least one bag (50) to be formed; longitudinally cutting along cutting lines (15) to form at least two longitudinal bands (13); separating the bands to a given D distance from each other, and longitudinally welding; said steps being a function of the transversal dimension or width of the bag to be manufactured; transversally welding each individual longitudinal band (13) to define band portions (27) which corresponds to the longitudinal dimensions of the bags (50) to be formed, punching said band portions (27), moving and unloading the bags (50) thus formed.