MXPA98010871A - Method for making a flexible packing ball for use with different packaging machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for making a flexible packaging bag, comprising the steps of: providing a top layer with an outer pair of holes and an inner pair of holes, providing an inner layer with a pair of holes and a inner pair of holes, provide a bag opening, provide a bag window, cut the top layer between the outer pair of holes and the bag opening, and make a notch in the inner pair of the holes in the outer layer

Description

METHOD OF MAKING A FLEXIBLE PACKAGING BAG FOR USE WITH DIFFERENT PACKAGING MACHINES Background of the Invention The present invention relates to methods for making packaging bags, and more particularly to the method for making a flexible packaging bag for use with different packaging machines designed in a different way.

The bags used in automatic filling processes have been known for many years. Traditionally these bags are produced from continuous sheets or rolls of bag material, typically from an organic or other plastic material. In many manufacturing processes, a sheet of bag material is folded and sealed to form a continuous flat bag tube having an upper and a lower layer. This tube can be further folded or pinched to form multiple layers in, for example, the bags with lateral gussets The tube can then be again sealed, cut, stamped separately and stacked on storage shutters for the subsequent use in the automatic bag filling operation. The storage shutters on which the newly formed pouches are stacked are typically U-shaped pieces of rigid and thin material, which fit through the aligned shutter openings formed in the bags on the stack.

During bag filling, the piles of bag are transferred from the shutters to the mandrels which are part of a bag filling mechanism. After the shutters are removed, the bags remain aligned and applied to the mandrels. Typically, the lids are then placed on the exposed end of each filler mandrel thereby holding the bags stacked in formation so that they can be used in the filling operation.

During the bag loading process, the suction rates or other gripping mechanisms separate the upper layer d from the bag to the lower layer, thereby initiating the opening of the bag. A jet or blow of air delivered through the check valve and needle arrangements additionally opens the bag while the lower layer of the pocket remains securely on the filling mandrels. Upon opening the bag, the loading arms overflow into the filling edge of the bag which opens the bag completely while a filling arm pushes the items into the bag and finally pushes the bag out of the mandrel filling.

Even though the shutter bags represent a popular choice among manufacturers in automatic filling operations, such bags share a number of problems that have not been satisfactorily examined up to this point. One such problem stems from the difficulties associated with the different types of opening mechanisms and bag filling mechanisms. These pocket opening and filling mechanisms may have various designs that may include differently shaped or designed device parts that handle the bags in a different manner. Therefore, a bag that is designed and manufactured for a particular machine may be used on a differently designed machine that has parts or devices that prevent proper handling of the bag, such as, for example, adequate loading of the bag. a shutter d bags in the machine, opening the bag properly, keeping the bag in place during the filling process by pushing the bag out of the machine after it has been filled, or the like.

Due to the existence of differently designed bag filling mechanisms, an inherent problem is the need to maintain dual inventories or additions of items for differently designed mechanisms. This is expensive because you have to buy different bag designs and storage requirements are increased.

In addition, the known bags used in automated filling operations are problematic because substantial and non-uniform forces are required to push the filling bag out of the mandrel after loading. These forces, typically generated by the filling arm, involve breaking through a part of the bag material between the shutter opening and the edge of the bag.

Depending on the particular bag material being used, the force required to initiate and break, for example, the initiation force, will vary essentially as the thickness and width of material to be broken essentially vary. In addition, the distance between the shutter opening and the filling edge of the bag, for example, the width of the material to be broken may vary in the production of bags, due in part to problems of coincidence or placement which They can occur when the shutter opening and other cuts are made. As a result of this, the forces required to fill the bag, start and break and continue the break, for example, the force of propagation, can vary not only from bag to bag but also within a given bag. These variations require that s apply different forces for different periods of time in order to fill the bag and finally push it out of the mandri at the appropriate time, which is after filling the bag. The variations in the forces can be extremely significant for certain types of bag materials such as by way of example, the low density polyethylene which has a propagation force curve which increases with the stretching of the material until a breaking threshold which occurs when the bag is pushed out of the mandrel.

Yet another problem associated with co-construction bags known to be known is that the forces required to tear them from the filling mandrel often cause unwanted fragments of the bag material to tear and separate from the bag. These fragments are problematic in at least two ways. Loose fragments of material in the filled bag are aesthetically unacceptable and can be a safety hazard. In addition, those fragments of torn material are often trapped and clogged by the bag filling mechanism causing a significant lack of operation time and an increased cost to the manufacturer.

Synthesis of the Invention In response to the difficulties and problems discussed in the prior art, methods for manufacturing a flexible packaging bag for use with different bagging machines designed in a different way have been discovered.

In one form of the present invention, it provides a method for making a flexible packaging bag comprising the steps of providing an upper layer with outer u-pair of holes and an inner pair of holes in the upper layer, providing a layer of bottom with the outer wall of the holes and an inner pair of holes in the bottom layer, providing a bag opening, providing a bag window, cutting the top layer between the outer pair of the holes and the bag opening, and notching the inner pair of holes in the upper cap.

In another form of the present invention, it provides a method for making a flexible packaging bag comprising the steps of providing a top layer with an outer pair of holes and a lower pair of holes in the upper layer, providing a bottom layer with an outer pair of holes and an inner pair of holes in the bottom layer, providing a bag opening, placing a bag window partially in the top layer and partially in the bottom layer, cutting one from the top layer and of the bottom layer between the respective outer pair of the orifice and the bag opening, and cutting the other of the top layer and the inner layer between the respective inner pair of the holes and the bag opening.

In still another form of the present invention, it provides a method for making a flexible packaging bag comprising the steps of providing a top layer providing a bottom layer, providing a bag opening, placing a bag window partially in the top cap. and partially in the bottom layer, cut by splitting a pair of holes in the upper layer at a first distance, cut in the upper layer corner cuts to a lad of the bag opening, space and separate a pair of hole in the bottom layer. the bottom layer by a second distance greater than the first distance, and cutting in the bottom layer a cut between the pair of holes and the adjacent bag opening.

In still another form of the present invention, it provides a method for making a flexible packaging bag comprising the steps of providing an upper layer providing a lower layer / providing a bag opening, providing a bag window, spaceing and separating a bag. pair of holes in one of the upper layer of the bottom layer by a first distance, cut in one of the upper layer and d the bottom or bottom layer cut corners adjacent to the bag opening, spacing and separating a pair of holes and the other of the upper layer and the bottom layer by a second distance and cut in the other of the upper layer and the lower cap a cut between the pair of holes and adjacent to the bag opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings The aforementioned and other features of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood with reference to the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a part of a bagging machine with a known bag thereon.

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary top elevational view of a left-hand bagging machine with the bag of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a fragmentary top elevational view of a right-hand bagging machine with the bag of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a part of a bagging machine with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a fragmentary top elevational view of a left-hand bagging machine with the bag of Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates a fragmentary top elevational view of a right-hand bagging machine with the bag of Figure 4; Figure 7 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a bagging machine with a bag shutter in Figure 4; Figure 8 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a bagging machine with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates a front elevational view of a training brief with a graph; Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of a stack of training underpants; Y Figure 11 is a perspective view of a bag comprising a bag window filled with a stack of training underpants in which a graphic of a training underpants is visually perceptible through the window.

Detailed description Currently, bagged machines of varied design are available to be purchased from any single manufacturer or multiple manufacturers. A design feature that can differ between machines can result in a different orientation of a stack of products just before the stack of products is moved or pushed into an open bag. To date, this has not caused a problem filling and packaging a flexible packaging bag, which the orientation of a stack of products in the bag was not a concern or had no meaning. This has changed, however, with the requirement to have a part of the product such as, for example, just a graphic to be displayed visually through a transparent window in the bag. The term "graphic" may refer but is not limited to an image design, pattern, symbology, editing, or the like, and a graphic is just a type of component that may be desirable to visually perceive through the window in the bag. The term "component" may also refer to, but is not limited to, all or a segment of a selected region designated product, such as edges, corners, sides or the like; and l structural members such as elastic strips, absorbent pads, panels or elastic layers, layers of material, or the like. The term "transparent" with reference to the window refers to the ability to transmit light so that the component, or a part of it, can be seen as if there was no intervening material between the component and the observer. For example, a material is "clear", "substantially clear", or the like when light passes easily through it so that a component, for example, can be seen by the eye. A material that can be considered as being "transparent", or "essentially transparent", or the like is when it has a light transmission greater than about 50%, desirably more than about 80% and more desirably more than about 90%. %. The transmission of light from a material can be adequately determined by BYK Gardener as established in ASTM-D-2244 85.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a left-hand bagging machine 10 and a right-hand bagging machine 12 are illustrated. The use of the terms "left-handed" and "right-handed" is only for comparison purposes. Both machines include a product duct 14 and a shutter conveyor assembly 16. In each of the product ducts 14 of the left-hand bagging machine 10 and the right-hand bagging machine 12, there is a stack 1 (Figure 10) of product, such as, by way of example only, a child's underwear 20 (Figure 9). A particular style of training underpants is described in United States Patent No. 4,940,464 whose contents are incorporated herein by reference. Each of the training underpants 20 has a graph 2 (Figure 9) which can be provided on a front panel 2 thereof in any manner known in the art.

Continuing with reference to Figures 2 and 3 each shutter conveyor assembly 16 moves in the same direction as illustrated by arrows 26 and 28, and both sets 16 move a plurality of shutters 30, in which each shutter 30 includes a plurality of flexible non-filled packaging bags 32. Each flexible packaging bag 3 includes a bag opening 34 (Figure 1) for receiving a pil 18 of underpants for learning, and a bag window 36 through which a graph 22 will be visually perceived after the bag 32 is opened, filled and sealed appropriately (Figure 11). For the left hand bagging machine 10, the shutter conveyor assembly 16 is oriented to move in the direction of the arrow 26 so that, with the filling of a bag 32 with a stack of 18 training underpants, a graph 22 will be visually viewed through a bag window 36. As will be described hereafter, each machine 10, 12 includes a filler plate 38 and a reciprocating filler arm 40 for moving or pushing a stack 18 through a bag opening 34. (Figure 1) inside a bag 32.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a fragmentary part of a shutter conveyor assembly 1 for a left-hand bagging machine 10 illustrated in Figure 2. The shutter conveyor assembly 16 comprises a movable belt chain 42 having a plurality of 44 bolts placed on it. The bolts 44 can be arranged in pairs in which the bolts 44 in a respective pair can be spaced apart by about 2 inches for a left-hand bagging machine 10. Optionally, there can be a plurality of bolts 44 in which all the bolts can be spaced about 2 inches. The spacing between the bolts 4 of the left-handed machine 10 is important, since the distance between the bolts 44 of a right-hand machine 12 (Figure 3) for which they can be spaced can be a different distance, as, for example only, of about inches. As mentioned above, this is one of the peculiarities or differences in the design between the left-hand bagging machine 10 and the right-hand bagging machine 12. There may be other structural differences, which are relevant to the present invention.

In Figure 1, for purposes of explanation and clarity, only one flexible flexible packaging bag 32 comprising a bag opening 34 and a bag port 36 is illustrated. A typical flexible packaging bag is one that is described in FIG. Patent of the United States of North America No. 5,282,687, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. L bag 32 further comprises an upper layer 46, a lower layer 48, a pair of openings 50 in the upper layer 46 and a pair d openings 52 in the lower layer 48. The openings 50 are generally positioned concentrically with the openings 52, have essentially the same diameter. The bag 32 is illustrated in a partially open condition caused by a pair of vacuum arms 54 suitably connected to a vacuum source 56. The vacuum source 56 creates a vacuum force through a respective vacuum arm 54 and a pinhole? emptied 58 acting on, for example, pull up as seen in Figure 1, the upper layer 46 in order to open or expand the bag opening 34, so that a stack 18 (Figure 2) d learning underpants can be moved or pushed to through d the same and up to the bag 32. In order to properly fill a bag 32, while the upper layer 46 is being sucked upwardly by the vacuum arms 54, the lower cap 48 needs to be maintained in a generally flat condition and / or secure in relation to the upper layer 46 and / or moving chain band 42; this is achieved by the reels 60 which are inserted through a pair of the concentric apertures generally 50 and 52 and a second pair of generally concentric apertures 50 and 52. Each reel 60 comprises a head 62 having a diameter greater than the diameters. of the openings 50 52. The upper layer 46 further includes a release path 64 that extends between each opening 50 and the bag opening 34. The release path 64 may take any suitable shape, such as a line of perforations a weakened line , or the like, and each release path 64 is sufficiently weakened so that the force created by the vacuum source 56 through the vacuum arms 54 and the vacuum openings 56 is able to tear or separate the upper layer 46. along the release paths 64 to allow the upper layer 46 to movers up and past the spool heads 62. In other words, when pulled up, the upper part of the cap 46 formed with the release path 64 will tear apart so that the smaller diameter opening 50 s separates or moves upwardly from a respective car head 62. As shown in FIG. described, a plurality of bags 32 in a shutter 30 works satisfactorily with a right-hand machine 10, since the orientation of a bag window 36 allows a graph 22 (Fifura 2) to be visibly perceived through the pouch window 36 when the stack 18 is inserted there, as illustrated in Figure 11.

Referring now to Figure 3, the right-hand bagging machine 12 includes a post-top conveyor assembly. 16 for carrying the shutter 30 of bags 32 for loading individual bag 32 with a stack 18 of training underpants 2 having the graphics 22. In the design of each bag 32, the release paths 64 are placed on the upper cap 46 resulting, when this particular shutter 30 d bags is placed on the bolts 44 of a right hand bagging machine 12 (Figure 3), in which each bag window 36 is oriented in an opposite direction from a graph 22. As seen in Figures 2 and 3, it is seen that a bag window 36 in Figur 3 does not allow a graph 22 to be visually perceived through it, since a window 36 and a graph 22 face in opposite directions. This can not be corrected by flipping the shutter 30 in Figure 3 to make it head, since this causes the upper layer 46 to have a lower cap having the release paths on the lower cap and, with the lower layer 48 acting as the upper cap but without the release paths 64, which prevented the vacuum arms 54 from lifting or separating the uppermost layer of the spool heads 62. This is one of the problems overcome by the present invention.

The present invention is also less expensive than other solutions, such as providing an additional machinery in the distro bagging machine 12 that can take each stack 1 of training underpants and invert the stack 180 °? so that the graph 22 is facing an opposite direction d that illustrated in Figure 3. While this will solve the problem, this would be expensive in terms of purchase of additional machinery and maintenance of machinery. The present invention solves in an easier and less expensive way the problem described above.

Even though the above-mentioned description focuses on the problem of a bag with a window and a chart that is to be seen or seen through the window, there may be other obstacles to the use of known bags on bagging machines designed differently. Therefore, the graphic description of the window is only representative of the problems examined by this invention.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated a flexible packing bag 66 of the present invention in a partially open condition. The flexible packaging bag 6 comprises an upper layer 68 which includes four holes 70, 72, 74 and 76 placed in the upper layer 68 to form an outer pair of holes 70 and 76 and an inner pair of holes 72 and 74. Similarly, a lower layer 80 includes four holes 82, 84, 86, and 88 which are positioned to form an outer pocket of holes 82 and 88, and an inner pair of holes 8 and 86. The bag 66 includes a closed end at 90, a pair of closed sides 92, and a bag opening 94. A window The bag 96 is placed, for example, made in any suitable manner known in the art, partly in the upper cap 68 and partially in the lower layer 80 so that the bag window 96 is wrapped around the closed side 9 in the upper part. right of Figure 4. The top layer 68 also includes a pair of slits 98 and 100 that extend between the holes 70 and 76 which are the outer pair of the holes for the top layer 68 and for the bag opening 94. Thus, the slot 98 extends between the hole 70 and the opening Bag pocket 94, and slot 100 extends between hole 76 and bag opening 94. A pair of tear-off dots 102 and 104 are associated with the inner bore pair 72 and 74 of upper layer 68 and are directed towards the outer pa of the holes 70 and 76. The term "associated" refers to the broken notches, or to any other similar device that causes or which allows the upper layer 6 to begin to tear in a direction from the hole 72 to the hole 70, and from hole 74 towards hole 76.

Referring now to the lower layer 80 in FIG. 4, the layer 80 includes a pair of tear notches 106 108 associated with its outer pair of holes 82 and 88 and which are directed toward the inner pair of holes 84 and 86. 80 also includes the slits 110 and 112 in which the slit 110 extends between the hole 84 and the pocket opening 94, and the slot 112 extends between the hole 86 and the bag opening 94.

Even though the top layer 68 has been described above as having the slits 98 and 100 extending between the outer pair of holes 70 and 76, and having the tear dots 102 and 104 associated with the inner pair of holes 72 74, the present invention it contemplates the upper layer 68 and the lower cap 80 as interchangeable, so that the upper layer 68 may have the slits 98 and 100 extending between the inner pair of the holes 72 and 74 and the pocket opening 94, and may have the tearing notches 102 and 104 associated with the outer pair of the holes 72 and 76 and directed towards the interior of the holes 72 and 74. Similarly, the lower cap 80 may have its slits 110 and 112 and the notches d torn 106 and 108 in a reverse orientation, so that the slits 110 and 112 extend between the outer pair of the holes 82, 88 and the bag opening 94, and the torn notches d and 108 may be associated with the inner pair. of the hole 84 and 86 and go towards the respective holes 82 88.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the holes are generally concentrically positioned, so that the hole 70 and the hole 82 are generally concentric, the hole 72 and the hole 84 are generally concentric, the hole 74 and the hole 86 are generally concentric hole 76 and hole 88 are generally concentric. If, for example, and as illustrated in Figure 4, the outer pair of the holes 70 and 76 of the upper layer 68 have the slits and 100, then their corresponding and concentric holes and 88 in the bottom layer 80 will have the tearing notches 106 108 associated therewith and directed to the inner pair the holes 84 and 86. The same relates to the torn notches 102 and 104 in the upper layer 68 in which the holes and 86 in the bottom layer 88 will have the slits 110 and 112. P both, in any pair of generally concentric holes such as by way of example only, the hole 70 and the hole 82, each hole will be designated differently or is provided so that when one of the holes has a slit a tear notch, the other hole will have the other of a slit or a tear notch. In other words any pair of generally concentric holes, such as holes 70 and 82 will be different in terms of having already a slit or a notch, and this is clearly illustrated in Figure 4. Therefore, as long as the pair outside of holes 70 and 76 of upper layer 68 have slits 98 and 100, then the outer pair of holes 82 and 88 in lower layer 80 will have tearing notches 106 and 108; and, if the outer pair of holes 70 and 76 have the tear notches 102 and 104, then the outer pair of holes 82 and 88 will have the slits 110 and 112. This also applies to the inner pair of the holes 72 and 74 of the upper ca 68 and the inner pair of the holes 84 and 86 in the lower ca 80.

Referring to Figure 4, those items that are common with the above-mentioned description relating to Figures 1-3 will have the same reference numbers. For example, Figure 4 illustrates the postig transporter assembly 16 having a plurality of bolts 44 on which a shutter (not illustrated in Figure 4) can be placed. A vacuum source or sources 56 provide a vacuum force through the vacuum arms 54 and the vacuum openings 58 in order to pull the upper layer 68 upwards, thereby opening the bag opening 94. For the purposes of of clarity and understanding of the present invention, only a single flexible packing bag 66 is illustrated in Figure 4. During normal operations, there will be a bag shutter 66 placed on a pair of pins 44, and this will be described more clearly with reference to Figures 5-7 hereafter.

In Figure 4 a part of a right-hand bagging machine 12 is illustrated, such as that illustrated in Figure 6. The right-hand bagging machine 12 in the Figure includes a plurality of pins 44 that are spaced apart by approximately four inches for this type of machine, which is in contrast to the left-hand bagging machine 10 of FIG. 5 in which the pins 44 are spaced apart by approximately 2 inches; This is one of the peculiarities of the design that may exist between the different types of bagging machines to which the present invention refers.

In Figure 6, a shutter 114 of flexible packaging bags 6 moves in an upward direction, as seen in Fig. 6 and is represented by an arrow 28. Since the right bagging machine 12 has the pins 44 spaced apart and separated by approximately 4 inches, the reels 60 (Figure 4) are received in the outer pair of the holes 70 and 76 of the upper cap 68 and in the outer pair of the holes 82 and 88 of the lower layer 80. Referring now to both Figures 4 and 6, to continue the shutter 114 upwards, as illustrated in Figure 6, this is brought into alignment with the product duct 14 and is stopped at that point so that the plurality of flexible packaging bags 66 can be loaded in sequence with the battery 18 of products. In this particular description, the products will include a plurality of training underpants 20 (Figure 9) having the graphics 22 placed on their respective front panels 24. The movement of a shutter 11 through this process is achieved by a very machinery and process. known in the art of filling flexible packaging bags with articles. Therefore, any mechanism can be used or adapted for use with the present invention. One sees that a shutter 114 is in alignment with the product duct 14, the vacuum source 56 (Figure 4) provides a vacuum through a respective vacuum arm 54 and the vacuum opening 58 in order to pull the top layer 68. upwards, and this is shown in Figure 4 in which the upper layer 68 starts moving upwards and at the same time the bag opening 94 starts to open. Since the outer pair of holes 70 76 of the upper layer 68 has the respective slits 98 100, the upper layer 68 will be separated on one side of the opening d bag 94 of the reels 60, since the material from which the upper part 68 is made is easily separated * along the slits 98 and 100, thereby allowing the top layer 68 to also be separated from the spool heads 62. Referring to Figure 4, the outer pair of the holes 8 and 88 of the bottom layer 80 has no slits, such as the holes 70 and 76, and therefore the lower layer or 80 e maintained securely fixed or placed on the reels 60. Any significant upward movement of the bottom layer 80 is prevented because the spool heads 62, which have a diameter greater than the diameter of the outer pair of the holes 82 and 88. This allows the upper layer 60 to be completely open so that the stack 18 (FIG. 6) of the training pants 20 can be moved through the bag opening 94 by the action of the filling plate 3 and of the filler arm 40. As mentioned above, the operation in sequence of the movement of a shutter 114 in alignment with the product conduit 14, the opening of the bolster 66, and the filling of the bags 66 with the piles 18 of the underpants of Training 20 are well known in the particular art.

Referring now to Figure 7, which is a side view of an opposite direction of the right hand machine in Figure 6, a single flexible refill bag 66 is illustrated as being filled with a stack 18 (Figure 6) of underpants of learning 20. The dual action of the opening d bag 94 (Figure 4) being completely open and a stack 1 (Figure 6) being moved or pushed through the opening d bag 94 results in the packing bag 66 having the shape d a polyhedron comprising a front wall 116, which includes the bag window 96 and a graphic 22 that is perceived visually therethrough, a bottom wall 118 and a sidewall wall 120, a bottom wall 122 and possibly an upper wall 124 (Figure 11). The bag opening 94 is fully opened under the influence of the vacuum source 5 by providing an opening or pulling force through coupling device 128, a vacuum tube 130 and a vacuum arm 54, as well as a plurality of spreader plates. movable 126 that are operatively associated with the machine 12 (Figur 6). The movable spreader plates 126 are initially joined together in a convergent manner, so that they can be easily inserted into the bag opening 94 which is just beginning to be fully opened as shown in Figure 4. Once the plates Movable spreaders 12 are illustrated, these are then extended and spaced apart in a divergent manner in order to completely open the pocket opening 94, thereby beginning to define the polyhedral shape of a flexible packaging bag 66 as illustrated in Figure 7 The movable spreader plates 126 are moved in a reciprocating manner, as illustrated by the arrow 132. After the bag 66 has been filled with the stack 18 (FIG. 6) of the training underpants 20, the latter moves and pushes it toward outside the product conduit 14 for subsequent handling operations that include closing the bag opening 94 in order to seal and form the top wall 124 (FIG. eleven) . Once the filled bag 66 has been moved out of a shutter 114, the next flexible pack 66 is then opened and filled in a similar manner.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 7, once a bag 66 has been filled, it must be separated from the reels 60 so that it can be moved to the next handling operation. The separation of the lower layer 80 s is achieved in part by the filling plate 38 (Figure 6) and the filler arm 40 which, when moving or pushing a stack 18 through the bag opening 94 (Figure 7), forcibly moves or pushed the bag 66 in a right-to-left direction, as seen in Figure 6, in order to tear the bag material of the lower cap 80 adjacent to the outer pair of the holes 82 and 88. E tearing the layer lower 80 under an essentially constant force is initiated and aided by tearing notches 106 108 so that the tear lines will propagate from the hole 82 towards the inner hole 84 and from the hole 88 towards the inner hole 86. One purpose of this is to prevent a piece of plastic material from which the lower layer 80, separates from the bag and mixes with the product in the bag, and prevents it from being housed in the machinery or the like.

Referring now to Figure 5, the left bagging machine 10 is illustrated with a bag shutter 114 in which the shutter has been inverted, from its orientation in Figure 6, in order to properly align or match a bag window 96 with a graph 22 in the stack 18 of the training underpants 20. A single flexible packaging bag 66 is filled with a stack 18 of training underpants 20 by a left-hand bagging machine 10 in a manner similar to that of the machine of right bagging 12. Thus, a bottom layer 80 of the bag 66 is moved or lifted upwards by a vacuum source, a vacuum arm, a vacuum opening similar or identical to that in Figure 4. to which the bolts 44 of the left-hand bagging machine 10 can be spaced apart by approximately 2 inches, are the inner pair of holes 84 and 86 (Figure 4) of the lower layer 80 and the lower pair of the holes 72 and 74 (Figure 4) of the upper layer 68 those having the reels 60 received therethrough. In Figure 5 it can be seen that the inner pair of the holes 84 and 86 have the slits 110 and 112 so that the lower layer 80 can be separated and easily lifted up from the spool heads 62. The filling of the bag 66, and the separation of the spools 60 is identical to the shape described above with reference to Figure 6 and the right bagging machine 12. As the bag 66 is filled, it is then moved to push out of the spool 60, the tearing notches 10 and 104 ( Figure 4) direct the propagation of the tear from the inner pa of the holes 72 and 74 to the respective ones of the outer pa of the holes 70 and 76.

Viewing both Figures 5 and 6, it can now be understood that the operator placing a bag shutter 114 on a bagging machine requires only identifying the lad on which a graph 22 is visible on a stack 18, then placing the shutter 114 so that the windows 96 of the bag 96 are on the same side as the graph 22. Therefore, the bag 114 can be used on a right machine 12, and if desired, needs only to be inverted or turned over in order to be used. on a left-hand bagging machine 10. This operation may also require the operator to reposition the reels 60 so that they are received at the proper pair of holes for the particular bagging machine used.

As described, it is now evident that the present invention has provided a solution to the problem of differently designed bagging machines, in which, by way of example only, the pins 44 are separated by a different distance, the orientation of The packages of the shutter conveyor 16 are different or similar. Another advantage of the present invention is that there is no requirement now to manufacture or procure inventories of dual bags, in which one inventory is for the right-hand bagging machines and the Another inventory is for left-handed bagging machines.

The manufacture of a flexible packing cup 6 of the present invention, in one method, includes providing an upper layer 68 with an outer pair of the holes 70 and 7 and an inner pair of the holes 72 and 74 in the upper layer 68. providing a lower layer 80 with an outer pair of holes 82 and 84 and an inner pair of holes 84 and 86 in the lower layer 80, providing a bag opening 94 which provides a bag window 96, slit cutting the upper layer between the outer pair of holes and the opening d bag to form the slits 98 and 100, and notching the inner pair of the holes 72 and 74 to form the tearing dots 102 and 104 in the upper layer 68. The method furthermore includes cutting the lower layer 80 between the inner pair d holes 84 and 86 and the bag opening 94 to form the slits 110 and 112 and notching the outer pair of the holes 82 and 88 to form the tear notches 106 and 108 e the lower layer r 80. The notches in the hole are made in a shape or manner that includes directing the notch towards the other pa of holes. Providing the holes in the upper layer 6 and the lower layer 80 is achieved in a manner such that the holes are related in a generally concentric manner as illustrated in Figure 4. The method also includes placing the bag window partially in place. the upper layer partially in the lower layer as shown in Figure 4 As mentioned above, even though the description refers to a specific lower layer and a higher layer it should be understood that the present invention contemplates that these layers may be reversible in the handling and filling of the bag with the product.

Referring to Figure 8, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a flexible bag pack 134 comprising a top layer 136 and a bottom cap 138. Top layer 136 includes a pair of holes 14 and 142 that are spaced apart for a first distance such as by way of example only, of about inches, and a pair of corner cuts 144 and 146 on one side of the bag opening 148. The lower layer 138 includes a pair of holes 150 and 152 which they are spaced apart by a second distance, such as, by way of example only, by about 4 inches, and a cut 154 in the middle of the holes 150 and 152 and of the adjacent bag opening 148. Com with the bag 66, the bag 134 includes a bag window 15 partially positioned in the upper layer 136 and partially in the lower layer 138 as seen in Figure 8. The holes 140 and 142 of the upper layer 136 have the respective tear notches. 158 and 160 associated with them and directed to respective ones of the corner cuts 144 and 146. In similar form, the holes 150 and 152 of the lower layer 138 have the tearing notches 162 and 164 associated with them directed towards the intermediate cut 154. The pair of holes 14 and 142 of the upper layer 136 are placed between the pair d holes 150. and 152 of the lower layer 138 as seen in Figure 8. A packing bag shutter 134 can be used on the right and left hand bagging machine in a manner similar to that of the flexible packaging bag 66 described above.A flexible packing bag 134 can be manufactured or made with a method that includes providing a top cap 136, providing a bottom layer 138, providing a bag opening 148, placing a bag window 15 partially in the top layer and partially in the top layer. lower cap, space and separate a pair of holes 140 and 142 in the upper layer by a first distance, cut in the upper cap the corners 144 and 146 on one side of the opening d bag, space and separate a pair of holes 150 and 152 in the lower cap by a second distance greater than the first distance, and cut in the lower layer a cut 154 between the pocket of holes 150 and 152 on one side of the bag opening. The method may also include directing the notch toward the cuts and placing the pair of holes in the top layer between the pair of holes in the inner layer.

Although this invention has been described as having a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications. Therefore, it is attempted to cover any variations, equivalents, uses, adaptations of the invention following the general principles of the same, and including such items of the present description as they may fall or fall within the known or customary practice in art to which This invention belongs and falls within the limits of the attached claims.

Claims (18)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A method for making a flexible packing bag, comprising the steps of: provide a top layer with an outer pair of holes and an inner pair of holes, provide a lower layer with a pair of outer holes and an inner pair of holes, provide a bag opening, provide a stock window, Cut the top layer between the outer pair holes and the bag opening, and make a notch in the inner p holes of the top layer.

2. The method as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it comprises the steps of: cutting with slits the lower layer between inner pair of holes and the bag opening, and making a notch in the outer pair of the holes in the lower layer.

3. The method as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the notch of the inner pair of the holes in the upper layer includes directing the notch to the outer pair of holes.

4. The method as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the notch of the outer pair d holes of the lower layer includes directing the notch to the inner pair of holes.

5. The method as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the steps of providing layer includes providing the pair of outer holes of the upper cap generally concentrically with the outer pair d holes of the lower layer.

6. The method as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the steps of providing a layer include providing the inner pair of holes of the upper cap generally concentrically with the inner pair d holes of the lower layer.

7. The method as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the step of providing a bag window includes placing the bag window partially in the upper layer and partially in the lower cap.

8. A method for making a flexible bag pack, comprising the steps of: provide a top layer with an outer pair of holes and an inner pair of holes, provide a lower layer with an outer pair of holes and an inner pair of holes, provide a bag opening, place a bag window partially in the upper layer and partially in the lower layer, cutting with slits one of the upper layer and the lower layer between the respective outer pair of the holes of the bag opening, and cutting the other of the top layer and the inner layer with the slots between the respective inner pair of the holes and the bag opening.

9. The method as claimed in clause 8 characterized in that it comprises the steps of: notching the inner pair of the holes of one of the upper layer and the lower layer, and make notches in the outer pair of the holes in the other of the upper layer and the lower layer.

10. The method as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that the notch of the inner pair of holes includes directing the notch toward the outer pair of holes, and the notch of the outer pair of holes includes e directing the notch towards the inner pair of holes.

11. The method as claimed in clause 8 characterized in that the steps of providing a layer include providing the outer pair of holes of the upper cap generally concentrically with the outer pair of holes of the lower layer, and providing the inner pair d the holes in the upper layer generally concentric with the inner pair of holes in the lower cap.

12. A method for making a flexible bag pack, comprising the steps of: provide a top layer, provide a lower layer, provide a bag opening, place a bag window partially in the upper layer and partially in the lower layer, Space and separate a pair of holes in the upper cap at a first distance, Cut the corner cuts to the side of the bag opening in the top layer, space and separate a pair of holes in the lower cap by a second distance greater than the first distance, and cutting in the lower layer a cut between the pocket of holes and on one side of the bag opening.

13. The method as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that it also comprises the steps of notching the pair of holes in the upper cap, and direct the notches towards the corner cuts

14. The method as claimed in clause 13 characterized in that it comprises the steps of: notching the holes in the lower cap, and direct the notches towards the cut.

15. The method as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that it comprises the steps of: Place the pair of holes in the top layer between the pair of holes in the bottom layer.

16. A method for making a flexible bag pack, comprising the steps of: provide an upper layer, provide a lower layer, provide a bag opening, provide a stock window, space and separate a pair of holes in one of the upper layer and the lower layer by a first distance, cutting into one of the top layer and the bottom layer d corner cuts adjacent to the bag opening, Space and separate a pair of holes in the other layer and the lower layer by a second distance, and cutting in the other of the upper layer and the lower cap a cut between the pair of holes and the adjacent pocket opening.

17. The method as claimed in clause 16 characterized in that the second distance is greater than the first distance.

18. The method as claimed in clause 17 further characterized in that it comprises the steps of notching the pair of holes of both the upper cap and the lower layer, and directing the notch towards a respective hole. SUMMARY A method is provided for making a universal packaging bag having a window through which a component on a product can be visually perceived. The method provides that the bag is used on differently designed bagging machines, such as a right-hand bagging machine or a left-hand bagging machine.