A packaging material includes a web of pouches and an outer skin. One panel of the web has an inflation pattern that is not inflated. The web has a continuous inflation channel that is in fluid communication with the inflation pattern. Each of the pouches of the web can be inflated by inflating the inflation pattern while the outer skin already attached to the outside of the web. The outer skin is attached to the web only along edge lines of the pouches. The outer skin is detached from the web between the edge lines of the pouches. The outer skin is attached to the outside of the web such that the continuous inflation pattern extends above the outer skin.

A thermoplastic bag includes raised rib-like elements that allow the thermoplastic bag to expand. The thermoplastic bag further includes side seals having rib-like elements that allow the side seals to expand. Additionally, in one or more implementations, the thermoplastic bag includes one or more of a material formulation, a density of raised rib-like elements, a height of raised rib-like elements, or land areas that provide the raised rib-like elements with a reduced rebound ratio.

The invention relates to a method for producing and depositing a bag, in particular a flap bag (1), wherein the bag has a base, a filling opening and, in a pocket region (3), two layers, and the two layers are welded together at least in the region of a side seam (6) of the bag, wherein the bag is then moved by means of at least one transport arm (9) to a depositing device and during the movement is held on the transport arm (9) by means of negative pressure, characterised in that the at least one transport arm (9) is oriented parallel to the side seam (6) of the bag, and after welding of the two layers, as a result of which the side seam (6) is formed, the side region of the bag is placed on the transport arm (9) and during movement to the depositing device and up until depositing, the bag is held on the transport arm (9) by means of negative pressure.

The invention relates to a method for producing and depositing a bag, in particular a flap bag (1), wherein the bag has a base, a filling opening and, in a pocket region (3), two layers, and the two layers are welded together at least in the region of a side seam (6) of the bag, wherein the bag is then moved by means of at least one transport arm (9) to a depositing device and during the movement is held on the transport arm (9) by means of negative pressure, characterised in that the at least one transport arm (9) is oriented parallel to the side seam (6) of the bag, and after welding of the two layers, as a result of which the side seam (6) is formed, the side region of the bag is placed on the transport arm (9) and during movement to the depositing device and up until depositing, the bag is held on the transport arm (9) by means of negative pressure.

A thermoplastic bag includes raised rib-like elements that allow the thermoplastic bag to expand. The thermoplastic bag further includes side seals having rib-like elements that allow the side seals to expand. Additionally, in one or more implementations, the thermoplastic bag includes one or more of a material formulation, a density of raised rib-like elements, a height of raised rib-like elements, or land areas that provide the raised rib-like elements with a reduced rebound ratio.

A method includes a bag forming process with a bag wicketing machine having a sideweld seal head that receives plies of web material, conveys the plies through the sideweld seal head, seals the plies together, cuts the plies to form a bag blank, and moves the bag blank onto an exit conveyor. Pressurized air from nozzles of a pneumatic blow down bar is directed at the bag blank. With an energized laser operatively mounted on the pneumatic blow down bar, the position of the pneumatic blow down bar relative to the bag blank and the exit of the sideweld seal head is adjusted so that a beam emanating from the laser is positioned against the bag blank at a desired location where pressurized air from the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar is directed against the bag blank and forces the bag blank into engagement with the conveyor.

A film roll on which a tube film is wound is supported by a lower shelf of a frame. The tube film is fed from a reel mechanism. A table for guiding the fed tube film is provided in the upper part of the apparatus. The tube film held by a clip mechanism on the table is drawn to the front end of the table, and the drawn tube film is cut into a predetermined length while being pressed by a press cutter. The clip mechanism is provided with a clip including a pair of fingers for holding the tube film. The clip mechanism is provided on a slide mechanism for reciprocating the clip.

A bagmaker interoperable with an item processor is disclosed, the bagmaker being configured to produce bags for packaging items for sterilization, such as medical instruments. The bagmaker may include a controller interoperable with a bag production device, the bag production device including a bag cutter and a heat sealer, such that tubing may be sealed and cut, such that a bag of a specified length is formed. Operation of the bagmaker may include identifying tubing corresponding to a bag width of the bag, advancing tubing to correspond with the length of the bag, sealing at least a first end of the tubing, and then advancing and cutting the tubing; ejecting the bag from the bagmaker and retracting remaining uncut tubing, wherein the retraction and ejection may occur contemporaneously or interchangeably in order.

A bagmaker interoperable with an item processor is disclosed, the bagmaker being configured to produce bags for packaging items for sterilization, such as medical instruments. The bagmaker may include a controller interoperable with a bag production device, the bag production device including a bag cutter and a heat sealer, such that tubing may be sealed and cut, such that a bag of a specified length is formed. Operation of the bagmaker may include identifying tubing corresponding to a bag width of the bag, advancing tubing to correspond with the length of the bag, sealing at least a first end of the tubing, and then advancing and cutting the tubing; ejecting the bag from the bagmaker and retracting remaining uncut tubing, wherein the retraction and ejection may occur contemporaneously or interchangeably in order.

A film roll on which a tube film is wound is supported by a lower shelf of a frame. The tube film is fed from a reel mechanism. A table for guiding the fed tube film is provided in the upper part of the apparatus. The tube film held by a clip mechanism on the table is drawn to the front end of the table, and the drawn tube film is cut into a predetermined length while being pressed by a press cutter. The clip mechanism is provided with a clip including a pair of fingers for holding the tube film. The clip mechanism is provided on a slide mechanism for reciprocating the clip.