A package accommodating a plurality of absorbent articles is described. The package has a plurality of surfaces, including a first pair of opposing surfaces each having a seam, wherein at least one of the seams is a closing seam, wherein the closing seam extends along a direction of a width of the package, wherein the closing seam comprises opposing closing gussets; a second pair of opposing surfaces each adjacent the first pair of opposing surfaces; a front surface and an opposing rear surface, each of the front surface and rear surface being adjacent to each of the first pair and second pair of opposing surfaces, wherein the first pair, second pair, front and rear surfaces define an interior compartment of the package. The package is a laminate having a polymeric layer and a paper layer, the polymeric layer being disposed at least in the closing seam.

An apparatus for making a self-opening bag pack includes a supply of film material. An extruder forms a continuous tube of film. A flattener flattens the tube. A corona treater treats at least one surface of the flattened tube. A first sealer forms a bottom seam across a width of the flattened tube. A cutter cuts the flattened tube into bag blanks at a predetermined distance from the bottom seam. A stacker forms the bag blanks into a bag pack. An adhesion knife penetrates the bag pack and adheres adjacent bag blanks together in the bag pack. An aperture maker forms means for suspending the bag pack from a dispensing rack. The pack is attached to the dispensing rack and the front wall of the subsequent bag will be adhered to the rear wall of a first bag, thereby causing the first bag to open when pulled from the rack.

An apparatus for making a self-opening bag pack includes a supply of flexible film material. An extruder forms a continuous tube of film. A flattener flattens the tube. A first sealer forms a bottom seal across a width of the flattened tube. A cutter cuts the flattened tube into bag blanks has a bag mouth at a predetermined distance from the bottom seal. Second and third sealers form angled seals at lower corners of the bag blank forming a flat bottomed bag. An adhesion knife penetrates the bag pack adhering adjacent bag blanks together in the bag pack. An aperture maker forms apertures for suspending the bag pack from a dispensing rack. The pack is attached to the dispensing rack and the front wall of the subsequent bag is adhered to the rear wall of a first bag, thereby causing the first bag to open when pulled from the rack.

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 flexible gusset package containing a plurality of items is described. The package has a front surface having no seam; a rear surface opposite the front surface; a first surface adjacent the front and rear surfaces; a second surface having a closing seam and being opposite the first surface; an opposing pair of third and fourth surfaces respectively adjacent the first and second surfaces, the third and fourth surfaces having a first and second side seams, respectively; a pair of side gussets located in the third and fourth surfaces, respectively; and a pair of closing gussets located in the second surface, wherein the surfaces cooperatively define an interior compartment of the package, wherein the package is a laminate having a film layer facing the interior compartment and a paper layer, and wherein the second surface includes an area of the film layer where the closing seam is formed.

A method of forming reinforced packages. The method can comprise forming an attached web by adhering a blank to a web of material and moving the attached web in a downstream direction through at least a tube forming assembly and a carton forming assembly. The method also can comprise at least partially forming a tube by folding at least a portion of the web of material as the attached web moves through the tube forming assembly, forming a reinforcement sleeve by folding at least a portion of the blank so that the reinforcement sleeve extends at least partially around the tube as the attached web moves through the carton forming assembly, and forming a reinforced package comprising the reinforcement sleeve and a tube portion by separating the tube portion from a remainder of the tube, the reinforcement sleeve being adhered to the tube portion.

A flexible side-gusseted package and methods of making the same are disclosed. The package has a central longitudinal axis, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of gusseted side panels. The front panel is secured to the gusseted side panels along a pair of side seal lines. The back panel is secured to the gusseted side panels along a pair of side seal lines. Each of the seal lines includes a pair of end portions and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion, e.g., a concave recessed portion, of each side seal line is located closer to the central longitudinal axis than the end portions of the side seal lines to provide a package which is somewhat necked-down at its middle, to facilitate grasping of the package by users.

A method of forming reinforced packages. The method can comprise forming an attached web by adhering a blank to a web of material and moving the attached web in a downstream direction through at least a tube forming assembly and a carton forming assembly. The method also can comprise at least partially forming a tube by folding at least a portion of the web of material as the attached web moves through the tube forming assembly, forming a reinforcement sleeve by folding at least a portion of the blank so that the reinforcement sleeve extends at least partially around the tube as the attached web moves through the carton forming assembly, and forming a reinforced package comprising the reinforcement sleeve and a tube portion by separating the tube portion from a remainder of the tube, the reinforcement sleeve being adhered to the tube portion.

A method of forming a hose from a flat web material includes supplying the flat web material via a feeding device, folding the edges of the flat web material with at least one hose formation tool, with the edge sections subsequently overlapping, and connecting to each other parts of the overlapping edge sections, A target position of at least one edge is determined after the edges have been folded over, with the actual position of at least one edge being determined by a measuring device. In the event of a deviation of the actual position from the target position, the hose formation tool is moved, via an actuator, at least perpendicular relative to the direction of transportation of the flat web material.

A film bag (1) with a front film layer (2), a rear film layer (3) and side gussets (4, 5), wherein the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3) and the two side gussets (4, 5) are connected together at the lower edge; and wherein the film bag (1) is provided with a set of continuous suspension openings (17, 18), each consisting of four perforation openings, so that the film bag (1) is designed to be suspended on a set of carrier pegs (29); wherein the four perforation openings of each continuous suspension opening (17, 18) are provided as slits, and wherein the front slits in the front film layer are longer than those in the rear film layer, and method for producing a film bag (1).