Stack formed of bags

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing at least one stack (9) formed of bags (1), comprising the following steps: feeding tubular or semitubular material in order to form a bottom material layer (2) and a top material layer (3), introducing at least one weld seam (4) in order to connect the bottom material layer (2) and the top material layer (3) in order to form individual, but still connected bags (1), introducing a formatting fold (8) into the layer web, formed of still connected bags (1), separating the bags (1) connected in the formatted layer web into individual bags (1), wherein said bags (1) still have the formatting field (8), forming a packet of individual bags (1) into a stack (9) having a defined number of bags (1), and introducing at least one fold into the stack (9). The invention further relates to a bag (1), a stack (9), and a dispensing box (12).

Claims

1. A method of making at least one stack from bags, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: forming from tubular material or half-tube material a longitudinally extending lower layer of material and a longitudinally extending upper layer of material thereon, joining the lower layer by at least one transversely extending weld seam to the upper layer of material to form a longitudinally extending layered strip of bags that are still attached to one another, creating a longitudinally extending formatting fold in the layered strip of bags that are attached to one another, longitudinally separating the bags that are still attached to one another in the format folded layered strip to form bags such that these folded bags still each have the individual formatting fold, forming a stack from the folded bags, forming a fold in the stack of folded bags, and transferring the folded stack to a dispenser box.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing the stack with a safeguard to prevent the stack from unintentionally falling apart.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weld seam is carried out on each bag with a precise repeat production on the basis of at least one mark.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fold formed in the stack is one of a Z-fold, a W-fold, an accordion fold and a U-fold.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating the formatting fold in the layered strip in such a way that the width of the layered strip corresponds at least to an inside dimension of one edge length of the dispenser box after creating the formatting fold.

6. A method of making at least one stack from bags, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: forming from tubular material or half-tube material a longitudinally extending lower layer of material and a longitudinally extending upper layer of material thereon, joining the lower layer by at least one transversely extending weld seam to the upper layer of material to form a longitudinally extending layered strip of bags that are still attached to one another, creating a longitudinally extending formatting fold in the layered strip of bags that are attached to one another, longitudinally separating the bags that are still attached to one another in the format folded layered strip to form bags such that these folded bags still each have the formatting fold, forming a stack from the folded bags, forming a fold in the stack of folded bags, and packaging the folded stack.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: providing the stack with a safeguard to prevent the stack from unintentionally falling apart.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one weld seam is carried out on each bag with a precise repeat production on the basis of at least one mark.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the fold formed in the stack is one of a Z-fold, a W-fold, an accordion fold and a U-fold.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: creating the formatting fold in the layered strip in such a way that the width of the layered strip corresponds at least to an inside dimension of one edge length of a package after creating the formatting fold.

Description

(1) An illustrated embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B show connected bags made from a half-tube;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show connected bags made from a tube;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show connected bags with a single fold according to FIGS. 1A and 1B;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B show connected bags with a single fold according to FIGS. 2A and 2B;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a separated bag according to FIGS. 1A and 1B;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a package formed from the separated bags according to FIG. 5;

(8) FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show variants of the folding of the package of bags according to FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a dispenser box for holding the folded package of bags according to FIG. 7.

(10) In the following description of the figures, the terms such as top/upper, bottom/lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. refer exclusively to the selected exemplary presentation and position of the apparatus in the respective figures and other elements. These terms are not to be understood as restrictive, i.e. these references may change due to different orientations and/or mirror symmetrical layout or the like.

(11) The same elements are always shown with the same reference numerals in all figures as well as in the following description.

(12) Any designs of the bags 1, in particular film bags, are made originally from a continuous sheet of material. This endless sheet of material is then folded at least once symmetrically with the longitudinal axis or asymmetrically with the endless strip of material thereby supplied, so that subareas (optionally complete areas of the continuous bag sheet) then optionally overlap or may even lie one on top of the other.

(13) FIGS. 1A and 1B show two connected bags 1 formed from a half-tube with a lower layer of material 2 and an upper layer of material 3. At least one weld seam 4 for connecting the layers of material 2, 3 is situated at the dividing point between the two bags. A side of the bag 1 disposed at or almost at a right angle to the weld seam 4 is formed by a fold 5. A side of the bag 1 opposite the fold 5 has an opening 6. Marks 7 are provided at regular intervals close to the side of the bag having the opening 6. These marks are used for production of the bags 1 with an accurate repeat. Due to these marks 7, it is possible, for example, to position the weld seam 4 in such a manner that precise repeat production is achieved. For example, if imprints, in particular advertising imprints, are applied to the bags 1, they can always be positioned precisely for the individual bag 1 through welding.

(14) FIG. 1B shows schematically a section through a bag according to FIG. 1A outside of the weld seam 4 and parallel to the weld seam 4. This shows clearly the opening 6 opposite the fold 5. The fold 5 is to be interpreted as a reversal of direction for the material forming the bag 1. It may be designed as a hard fold in the sense of a fold with a rounding.

(15) In deviation from FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIGS. 2A and 2B show two connected bags 1 formed from a tube with a lower layer of material 2 and an upper layer of material 3. There is one fold 5 opposite the weld seam at or almost at a right angle to the weld seam 4.

(16) FIG. 2B shows schematically a section through the bag according to FIG. 2A outside but parallel to the weld seam 4. This shows clearly that two folds 5 are opposite one another.

(17) FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B show a formatting fold 8 in the sheet of material comprised of connected bags 1. FIGS. 3A and 3B show connected bags 1 with an opening 6 according to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 3B shows schematically a sectional view according to FIG. 3A in the area outside but parallel to the weld seam 4. This shows the opening 6 clearly.

(18) FIGS. 4A and 4B show connected bags 1 according to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 4B shows schematically a sectional view according to FIG. 4A in the area outside but parallel to the weld seam 4. This shows clearly two opposing folds 5 before the introduction of the formatting fold 8.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a separated bag 1 that may have a fold 5 and an opening 6 according to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A and 3B or two folds 5 according to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A and 4B.

(20) The separation of the bags 1 from the sheet of material takes place by cutting or by separation welding, for example. With the bags 1 according to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A and 3B, an opening may be provided opposite a weld seam 4.

(21) FIG. 6 shows a package formed by collecting individual bags 1 to form a stack 9. This stack 9 is formed continuously from individual bags 1.

(22) FIG. 7A shows a top view of a stack 9 according FIG. 6.

(23) FIGS. 7B and 7C show variants for further folding of a stack 9.

(24) FIG. 7B shows a Z-fold 10 and FIG. 7C shows a U-fold 11. The stacks 9 of bags 1 designed with a Z-fold 10 or with a U-fold 11 are transferred to a dispenser box 12 according to FIG. 8. The bags 1 can easily be dispensed individually from this dispenser box 12 by pulling them through the at least one dispensing opening 13. Due to the folding, in particular the U-fold 11 or the Z-fold 10, one bag 1 is always ready for the user to grip it in the area of the at least one dispensing opening 13. When removing a bag 1, this bag 1 slides over at least one bag 1 remaining in the dispenser box.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(25) 1 bag 2 lower layer of material 3 upper layer of material 4 weld seam 5 fold 6 opening 7 mark 8 formatting fold 9 stack 10 Z-fold 11 U-fold 12 dispenser box 13 dispensing opening