The present invention relates to a welding machine for continuous welding of two layers of plastic film material together in a welding pattern, including a welding drum, welding means arranged on the peripheral surface of the welding drum that exhibits a welding pattern, a heating arrangement arranged to heat the welding means to a welding temperature, an endless welding band, a set of band guidance rollers comprising a first application roller and a second application roller arranged to apply the welding band to the welding means on the surface of the welding drum over a peripheral extend of at least 900? of the welding drum with a force radial to the welding drum in a first operational mode of the welding machine, the set of band guidance rollers comprising at least one displaceable tensioning roller for maintaining a tension of the welding band, a web guidance arrangement for guiding the two layers of plastic film material in between the welding drum and the welding band, and a control means for controlling the operation of the welding machine, wherein the machine comprises one or more separation rollers, and is arranged in a second operational mode of the welding machine to displace the one or more separation rollers from a first position thereof and in between the welding means on the peripheral surface of the welding drum and the two layers of plastic film material to a second position of the one or more separation rollers where the two layers of plastic film material and the welding band are separated from the periphery of the welding drum by means of the separation rollers. Furthermore is disclosed the use of such welding machine for forming pockets between the two layers of plastic film material, in particular closed pockets for air cushions.

A machine and method for converting film into bags or other articles includes a web traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar with a sealing zone and a weakening zone, or it can include or at least one sealing die that extends in the machine direction. The single sealing zone or sealing die may be a heated perforator, and may include a heating wire. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire stitched into the heater, and be disposed on a cap or on the seal bar. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity. The sealing zone may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic bag with a grab zone of contact areas positioned in a high-touch area of the bag. For example, the multi-film thermoplastic bag includes one or more regions of a first film in contact with a second film at one or more contact areas. The grab zone regions of one or more contact areas are located in visible and high-touch areas to provide visual and tactile cues of strength and durability. Moreover, the grab zone regions of one or more contact areas serve to distribute pull and lift forces across a wider area in order to avoid common failures in high-touch areas such as over stretching, punctures, tears, and rips.

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.

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic structure include a first film having a first appearance in contact with a second film having a second appearance at one or more visually-distinct contact areas. Wherein the one or more visually-distinct contact areas, cause the first film to take on the second appearance of the second film. The visually-distinct contact areas being of a uniform gauge and configured to separate before either of the first film or the second film fails when subjected to peel forces.

In an apparatus for successively making plastic bags, a laser beam irradiator irradiates laser beam onto webs of panel material and a body of zipper material to heat and melt the webs of panel material and the body of zipper material with the laser beam. The webs of panel material and the body of zipper material are fed intermittently at a speed predetermined to be changed by time. The irradiator is controlled on a feedforward control basis for the laser beam to be regulated in amount, the amount being calculated from the speed predetermined, to obtain a calculated value of amount. The laser beam is regulated in accordance with the calculated value to heat and melt the webs of panel material and the body of zipper material uniformly irrespective of the speed being changed.

Automated bag forming systems and methods for their use are disclosed. The automated bag forming systems described herein can be configured to receive a web of bag material and produce individual bags through a sealing and cutting process possessing a high degree of speed, precision, and reproducibility.

A machine for making bags is disclosed and includes input, drum, and output sections. The drum section has at least one seal bar on a drum. The sections are mounted to side frames that are single metal plates. The frames are not coated after being formed and/or are comprised of at least one of galvanized steel, galvannealed steel, stainless steel or aluminum. The drum is comprised of first and second plates, and opposing third and fourth plates. The first plate is rotatable with respect to the second plate, and the third plate is rotatable with respect to the fourth plate. The distance from the seal bars to the center of the drum is responsive to the rotation of the plates. The first plate has a plurality of non-radial grooves, and the second plate has a plurality of radial slots, with fixtures in the slots and grooves. The fixtures are connected to seal bars. The non-radial grooves are curved and/or spiraled. The plates are comprised of zinc plated steel and/or are discs. The winder includes a rotatable turret with a center and surface wind position, and a center wind only position. When one spindle is in the center and surface wind position, the other spindle is in the center wind only position. A push off palm mounted in a push off position. The spindle is collapsible.

A method of manufacturing an SOS bag of indefinite length is disclosed including, as a preliminary step, providing a gusseted tube of indefinite length. In a series of steps, the gusseted tube may be folded inwardly at its base to create front and rear flaps that are then folded about fold lines to create a folded bottom gusseted tube. A rectangular patch may then be applied thereto in a series of steps, including for example hot air welding and/or ultrasonic welding, to complete an embodiment of a bag of the disclosure, one having a unique bottom for an SOS bag. The disclosure additionally includes bags manufactured by the method disclosed herein, as well as SOS bags having the unique construction disclosed herein.

Automated bag forming systems and methods for their use are disclosed. The automated bag forming systems described herein can be configured to receive a web of bag material and produce individual bags through a sealing and cutting process possessing a high degree of speed, precision, and reproducibility.