AU2228000A

AU2228000A - Stack consisting of a multiplicity of bags which are connected to one another and are made of plastic film, in particular vending machine bags, and also process and apparatus for producing and filling bags of this type

Info

Publication number: AU2228000A
Application number: AU22280/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Armin Meyer; Jakob Schneider; Ingo Schubel; Bert Wuits
Original assignee: Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 1999-03-17
Filing date: 2000-03-14
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: CA2301428A1; ATE307765T1; EP1036741B1; EP1036741A2; EP1036741A3; DE50011408D1

Abstract

The pile of connected plastic bags, e.g. for an automat, has a perforated line (9) across each corner section (11). A peg (12) which holds the pile together and in position is inserted through each corner section, but the perforations allow individual bags to be torn off ready for use. Independent claims are included for: (a) a process for preparing and filling the plastic bags and (b) a device for filling the bags.

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: .i Stack consisting of a multiplicity of bags which are connected to one another and are made of plastic film, in particular vending machine bags, and also process and apparatus for producing and filling bags of this type The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:la The invention is initially concerned with a stack consisting of a multiplicity of bags which are connected to one another and are made of plastic film, in particular vending machine bags, having a filling opening and a flap which is on one side and has stack openings and at least one initial cutting point.

When continuously producing bags, it is generally known to gather together in a collecting S"i apparatus a previously specifiable number of bags to form so-called bag stacks. A suitable collecting :apparatus is, for example, a stud-type stack conveying device having a stud-type stack conveyor chain which moves in the horizontal direction and receives the severed bags on stacking studs. The stack openings, whose distance apart corresponds to the distances between the stacking studs on the stud-type stack 25 conveyor chain, are punched into each bag. During the production of the bag stacks it is furthermore known to fix said stacks by means of a wicket, specifically in such a manner that the limbs of the wicket are guided through the stack openings in the flap part of the bags. For this purpose, either the bag stacks are lifted off the stacking studs of the stud-type stack conveying device and placed with the bags, which now rest loosely on one another, onto the limbs of the wicket, or the limbs of the wicket are inserted into hollow groove-like recesses in the stacking studs of the stud-type stacking conveyor chain and the particular bag stack is removed in this manner. In order to stabilize the bag stacks and to protect them against being damaged by the ends of the wickets as a -2plurality of bag stacks are being packaged together, said bag stacks are laid between a front and rear cover sheet and are additionally secured by securing washers or rubber stoppers placed onto the limbs of the wickets. All of these procedures are generally carried out manually by an operator.

Apart from the considerable outlay on auxiliary materials, it can be quite difficult to package and transport bag stacks of this type because of the unwieldy wickets.

Considerable disadvantages also arise during the packing procedure, i.e. when filling a bag with a product, for example with a loaf of bread or the like.

During the filling procedure, the wicket, which is inserted through the punched-out stack openings, serves to fasten the bag stacks in the packaging machine, for example an automatic packaging machine. Since during the packing procedure the inserted product, for example S. a loaf of bread, is drawn off together with the bag 20 surrounding it, it follows that the filled bag is conveyed linearly to a sealing device. The linear drawing off of the bag with the inserted product not only requires a bag which is precisely formed in terms of dimensions, but a sudden initial tearing of the 25 initial cutting point, which is conventionally located between the stack openings and the front edge of the flap, also occurs in this case. The "frayed" edge region of the flap not only makes the bag look unsightly, but there is also the fact that the flap surface is no longer readily suitable for securely attaching sealing elements, such as sticky labels or the like, and/or as a surface to print on or hold information.

Finally, after all of the bags are filled, the wickets have, if appropriate, to be transported back again to the manufacturer, i.e. to the producer of the bags, sorted according to size and, if appropriate, processed so that they can be reused.

-3- The invention is based on the object of providing a bag stack of the type mentioned at the beginning which manages without complex auxiliary aids and, as a result, can be handled, in particular packed and filled, substantially more simply, and, moreover, is distinguished by having an attractive exterior. At the same time, a process is proposed by means of which interconnected bags, in particular vending machine bags, can be produced in a simple manner, with a good appearance in the edge region, and can be filled conveniently and neatly. Furthermore, the intention is to provide an apparatus for producing and filling interconnected bags, which apparatus manages without complex auxiliary aids.

This object is achieved with regard to the product by the initial cutting point being formed as a .tear-off perforation by perforation lines which in each case run at an angle with respect to the filling opening and delimit a corner section, and by at least 20 one interconnecting point interconnecting the bags in the stack being arranged in each corner section.

A stack formed in such a way can be produced in a simple manner, conveniently transported and just as easily filled. The decisive factor for this is first of all the fact that the wickets which are otherwise required can be completely dispensed with. It is possible, in particular, to organize the production and further handling of the bags substantially more cost-effectively, since the costs and, if appropriate, the transporting of the wickets to and fro between the packer and the manufacturer are omitted. It is merely necessary in the packing region to separate the topmost bag in each case rapidly and reliably from the bag stack and in so doing to hold the bag in such an opening position that the product (loaf of bread) can be inserted in a trouble-free manner into the bag. In the case of a filling procedure to be handled in accordance with the process according to the invention, this can be achieved by, in order to fill the topmost -4bag in each case of the bag stack, holding the bag at least in the region of its filling opening and/or of the flap, in such an opening position that the perforation between the corner sections and the flap is inevitably at least partially torn open and the bag is thereby at least partially detached from the interconnection in the stack.

It is expedient if the tearing open of the perforation takes place before the product to be packaged is inserted into the bag. This enables an exact tearing off along the perforation lines to be ensured in a simple manner.

The tearing open of the perforation by means of the opening procedure can be exactly regulated, namely by the configuration of the perforation lines, in particular their angular position and/or strength and/or their continuous or shortened extent between the side wall and the front edge of the flap, and the opening procedure during the filling of a bag being o 20 coordinated with each other.

Furthermore, this manner of proceeding makes it possible for the opening procedure to cause the perforation between the secured corner sections and the flap to be torn open, and also to cause the bag, which 25 is detached from the bag stack, to be held in the opening position. In this manner, two functions are solved by one procedure, namely firstly the tearing open of the perforation, and secondly the securing of the bag during the packaging procedure.

If the aim is to obtain exact tearing off, particular attention has to be paid, among other things, also to the securing and interconnecting of the bags and of the bag stack. A particularly favorable solution is produced if the interconnections provided in the corner sections are designed as interconnecting holes, and the bag stack is suspended and/or held via these interconnected suspension openings during filling of the bags.

When the bag stack is suspended in such a way, it is possible, in principle, to dispense with particularly large punched holes as suspension openings, as have hitherto been necessary for the wickets, in the remaining flap. However, in order to be able to collect the bags in a collecting device during the production process, the stack openings are either produced by pin holes, or else cross recesses are punched into the flap in order to form the stack openings.

With regard to the apparatus, the holding of the opened bag and the tearing off thereof from the bag stack in the filling station can be achieved in a particularly simple manner if an expanding device can be moved into a tear-off position effecting the only and at least partial severing of the tear-off perforation of the bag to be filled. The tear-off position can preferably correspond to the opening position which is necessary in order to insert a S. 20 product or a loaf of bread. In contrast to the previous function of an expanding apparatus, which merely had the task of forming the bag opening approximately corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the product to be packaged, the current expanding device 25 has two additional functions, namely firstly to secure the bag during the packaging procedure, and secondly to undertake the opening movement in such a manner that the expanding elements cause the perforation to be broken open completely or virtually completely.

Finally, the holding of the bag stack in a packer is assisted by a clamping plate being provided below the plane of movement of the expanding elements of the expanding device, and finally an adapter being used which has holding rods, at a distance from the interconnecting holes of the bag stack, and, with the interconnection of a transverse bracket, has fastening rods whose distance apart and diameter correspond to the dimensions of the limbs of a conventional wicket or receiving spikes of the packaging machine. The use of -6this adapter has the substantial advantage that the conventional packaging machine or automatic packaging machine, as was previously used for the insertion of wickets, hardly needs to be changed, if at all.

In addition, the use of an adapter gives the option of designing the lengths of the holding rods in such a manner that a plurality of comparatively large bag stacks can be stacked one above another, so that there is overall a noticeable increase in productivity during packing.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and are described in more detail below. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows a bag stack forming part of the prior art and having a wicket, Figure 2 shows a bag stack consisting of bags according to Figure 3, "'"Figure 2a shows an illustration corresponding S"to Figure 2 of a bag stack consisting of bags according to Figure 3a, "Figure 3 shows a first design of a bag, Figure 3a shows a modified design of a bag, Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of a bagproducing machine, Figure 5 shows a plan view of a filling station with a preassembly station of a packaging machine (not illustrated in detail), for example an automatic packaging machine, Figure 6 shows a perspective illustration of part of a packaging apparatus of the filling station, Figures 7 to 9 show details of a packaging procedure, Figure 10 shows a ready-packaged bag, Figure 11 shows a detail in the sealing region of a packaged bag, Figure 12 shows a perspective illustration of a bag stack with an adapter receiving said stack, Figure 13 shows a modified design of the adapter with a plurality of bag stacks, -7- Figure 14 shows a plan view of a plastic film web for producing double-film web sections, and Figure 15 shows a delivery device in the form of a stud-type stack conveying device with a double bag stack.

According to Figure 1, a bag stack 1 has, in a conventional manner, in the region of flap 2 stack openings 3 through which a wicket 4 is inserted. With the aid of the wicket and rubber stoppers (not illustrated) which are pushed onto its limbs 5, the bag stack can be held together reasonably well.

Each bag has a filling opening which is indicated by 6 and by which the bag can be filled with a product, for example a loaf of bread or the like, in a manner described further below in more detail. The flap 2 has an initial cutting point 8 in each case in the region between the stack openings 3 and a front edge 7 of the flap 2.

A bag stack 1 according to Figure 1 is 20 conventionally fitted with the wicket 4 in a collecting device, and together with said wicket and further auxiliary aids, such as the rubber stopper, cover o sheets etc., is packaged in cartons and supplied for a filling operation.

25 With the aid of the wickets 4, the bag stack 1 is held in a packaging machine, for example an automatic packaging machine, in such a manner that with the assistance of air and/or suckers and an expanding device, the topmost bag in each case of the bag stack is brought into an opening position. The product to be inserted, for example a loaf of bread, is pushed via the filling opening 6 into the held-open bag with the aid of a slider (not illustrated), for example. The discharge force produced in this case causes the bag to start to tear along the initial cutting point 8 provided in the region of the stack opening, and so the bag comes free from the bag stack. Because the bag is torn off linearly, the flap 2 is unable to have a smooth front edge 7, i.e. the bag has an unsightly -8appearance because of the comparatively large punched-out stack holes and the rip locations.

Figure 2 illustrates a first design of a bag stack which is formed according to the invention and has, in the region of the flap 2, corner sections 11 which are delimited by perforation lines 9 running obliquely with respect to the filling opening 6. The perforation lines 9 run continuously from the side edges of the bags as far as the front edge 7 of the flap 2. Located in the corner sections 11 are interconnecting points 12 which are used to hold together the bags, which consist of plastic film, in the bag stack 1. The interconnecting points 12 are designed as interconnecting holes and thereby offer the option of suspending or holding the bag stack on a holding device (described further below in more detail) in the automatic packaging machine.

"In order to collect the individual bags to form the bag stack 1 in a collecting device of an automatic S" 20 bag-producing machine, use is made of stack openings 13 "which are arranged in a central region, delimited by the perforation lines 9, of the flap 2 and are formed, oo for example according to Figure 2, by pin holes. This ooo means that the individual bags are speared on pins in the collecting apparatus and in this manner are initially held in the bag stack 1 in a positionally correct manner before they are interconnected. Instead of pin holes, the stack openings 13 may also be formed by cross recesses 13', for example, as is shown in Figures 2a and 3a.

Figure 3 illustrates, with reference to an individual bag of the bag stack according to Figure 2, that the perforation line 9 is not implemented as far as the front edge 7 of the flap 2, but rather an unperforated part remains which is indicated in Figure 3 by S. This distance S can be varied, depending on the discharge force in an automatic packaging machine. Finally, the angle of the perforation line 9 can also be varied as indicated by 9' and finally -9so can the perforation, strength. Owing to these conceivable changes of the corner perforation, it is possible as is explained further below in more detail for a certain initial tearing behavior of the perforation lines 9 or 9' to be optimally determined.

A bag-producing machine 14, which is illustrated in Figure 4, is suitable for producing bags and bag stacks 1 according to the invention. The bagproducing machine includes a supply stand 15 having a winding roll 16 consisting of a thermoplastic film web.

The latter may, for example, be designed as a flat film web 17. The flat film web 17 is guided within a processing stand 18 (only indicated schematically) via guiding rollers (not illustrated) which are accommodated in it, and also via a folding device and tension rollers. The processing stand 18 has a bottom-fold inserting apparatus 19. A perforator 20 and a cross-hole punching device 21 for making cross "recesses 13', for example, are arranged behind the S" 20 processing stand. The hole-punching device 21 is S"followed by a transverse-weld severing device 22 and a **transfer device 23, which is finally adjoined by a eoe stacking apparatus 24 having a stud-type stack B 0o0o conveying device 25. Finally, an interconnecting 25 station 26 is arranged in the region of the stud-type 0 0stack conveying device 25. Said interconnecting station

*.X

can be adjoined by an unloading station (not illustrated) for the interconnected bag stacks i.

Figure 5 illustrates part of an automatic packaging machine 27. The automatic packaging machine 27 has a preassembly station 28 which is mounted upstream of a filling station 29 (explained in more detail below) and serves to prepare bag stacks 1 for filling. In the preassembly station 28, one or more interconnected bag stacks i, which lies or lie on a support surface 31, are held by a holding apparatus 32.

The latter has a special adapter 33 which is described in more detail in conjunction with the filling procedure described below. The ready-prepared bag bundle is supplied to the filling station 29 in accordance with arrow 34, and is deposited there on a stacking table 35 which as emerges from Figure 6 is designed such that it can be adjusted in height. In the filling position, the bag stack bears with the flap 2 of the topmost bag of the bag stack 1 against a stop plate 36 whose one, essentially horizontal, web 37 protrudes into the region of the flap 2 of the bags, while the other web 38, which preferably runs vertically to the web 37, of the clamping plate constitutes, for example, a stop for the front edge 7 of the bags.

For the sake of clarity, the adapter 33, which has already been mentioned above, is illustrated separately from the bag stack 1 in Figure 6, although it is actually plugged in the interconnecting openings 12 of the bag stack 1 with holding rods 39. The adapter has a transverse bracket 41 which has fastening rods 42 arranged on its side facing away from the holding rods 20 39. The distance between, and diameter of, the two holding rods 42 correspond to the dimensions of a conventional wicket, as has hitherto been used in automatic packaging machines for filling vending machine bags.

25 The actual filling procedure is explained in detail below with reference to Figures 7 to 9: The automatic packaging machine includes, inter alia, an air-blowing device 43 (Figure Instead of blown air, a suction device may also be provided.

Furthermore, an opening device having an expanding device 48 is provided which has lower expanding elements 49 and upper expanding elements 51 and as emerges from Figure 8 can be inserted into the preopened filling opening 6 of the topmost bag.

Expansion of the bag at least in the region of the filling opening 6 causes the bag which is held open to be severed from the bag stack along the perforation lines 9 starting from the side edge of the bag (Figure The bag is held at the filling opening -11solely by the expanding elements of the expanding device and in the region of the flap 2 by the web 37 of the clamping plate 36. A product, for example a loaf of bread 52, is inserted through the opened expanding elements by means of a slider, indicated by the arrow 53, or a pair of tongs into the bag and the bag is then supplied together with the loaf of bread to a sealing device (not illustrated). Figure 10 shows the readypackaged bread package, where it can be seen, and also from Figure 11, that the edge region of the bread bag seal no longer has frayed edges and the package therefore obtains a pleasing exterior. As the height of the bag stack decreases, the stacking table 35 is moved up against the clamping plate 36.

It can be seen from Figure 12 that the holding rods 39 of the adapter 33 are substantially longer than the fastening rods 42. This provides the option of also receiving a plurality of bag stacks one above another on the adapter 33, as is shown by way of example in 20 Figure 13.

Depending on the size and weight, in the case of hygiene bags, instead of the wicket clamps fastening sleeves, preferably made of plastic material, are used per stack in order to bring the formed bag bundles 25 securely and in a targeted manner into the packaging machine, in order to fill them there.

The bags or bag stacks designed according to the invention mean that it is possible for the fastening sleeves and their manual handling to be omitted. A plurality of bag stacks can likewise be inserted in the packaging machine one above another. As a result, the automatic packaging procedure is considerably less adversely affected than has previously been the case.

Instead of cross recesses, it is possible, for example, also for star-shaped recesses or the like to be punched in. The crucial factor is that no material waste occurs.

-12- A clamping device or, for example, fixed supporting bolts of the automatic packaging machine are also conceivable as the securing device for the corner sections. The crucial factor is that during the opening procedure of the bag to be filled, it is ensured that said bag is held in a stretched manner, particularly in the region of the flap.

In each case, two opposite individual bags are produced from a double-layered plastic film web which is indicated in Figure 14 by dash-dotted lines.

For this purpose, a strip can be cut out of the one film layer symmetrically with respect to a central separating line 54, so that the flange-like flap 2 remains in the other film web. Alternatively, it is possible to cut open the, for example, tubular plastic film web in the longitudinal direction and guide the tubular film web in each case on both sides of the .central separating line 54 in such a manner that the desired excess for the flap 2 likewise remains in the one film web.

S"The individual bags, which are provided with the corner perforation sections 11 and are severed transversely from the web but are still joined together, are suspended stackwise via stack openings 13 which are produced in the flap 2 and are formed by pin holes of pins 55 of the stacking apparatus 24, which is indicated in Figure 15 and is in the form of a stud-type stack conveying device 25. After that, the two opposite bag stacks 1 are interconnected via interconnecting points 12, after which the double bag stack is divided into two bag stacks 1 by a separating cut along the separating line 54. If the interconnecting points 12 are designed as interconnecting holes, the latter can be used as suspension openings for suspending the bag stacks in the automatic packaging machine.

The reference numerals in the following claims do not in any way limit the scope of the resepctive claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

2. The stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 0perforation line is essentially designed as a straight line.
3. The stack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein 20 the perforation line is designed such that it is continuously perforated starting from the respective 0side edge of the bag as far as a front edge of the flap (2)
4. The stack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein 25 the perforation line is designed such that it runs starting from the respective side edge of the bag virtually as far as the front edge of the flap with an unperforated stretch being left.
5. The stack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stretch from the front edge of the flap as far as the beginning of the perforation line is of variable design.
6. The stack as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the angle of the perforation line 9') with respect to the filling opening is designed such that it can be changed.
7. The stack as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5 or 6, wherein the strength of the perforation (9, is designed such that it can be changed. 14
8. The stack as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein the interconnecting points (12) arranged in the corner sections (11) are designed in the form of an interconnecting hole as suspension openings for the stack.
9. The stack as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein in addition to the suspension openings (12) arranged in the corner sections the stack openings (13) are arranged in an internal region of the flap which region is delimited by the perforation lines The stack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stack openings (13) are formed by pin holes.
11. The stack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stack openings (13) are formed by cross recesses or the like. 1. 12. The stack as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein the stack is formed from a divided double bag stack. 20 13. A process for continuously producing bags, and also handling them until filled, which are made from a *thermoplastic film web, in particular vending machine bags, in which stack and/or suspension openings and sees also sections delimited in each case by an initial 25 cutting or perforation line are made in a flap protruding on one side in the region of a filling opening, and which are collected stackwise and are in each case held together in a bag stack which is held, via the suspension openings, in a packaging machine, preferably an automatic packaging machine, for the purpose of filling a bag with a product, preferably a loaf of bread or the like, whereupon the topmost bag in each case in the bag stack is brought into an opening position for filling, and is then severed from the bag stack along the perforation line and the filling opening is closed, wherein in film web sections of a plastic film web which is supplied flat and is folded over to form a flap strip protruding on one side, perforation lines which run at an angle to the filling 15 opening of the bag are made in the region of the flap and as a result corner sections are formed within which, during or after stacking of the bags, said bags are interconnected to form a bag stack, and wherein furthermore, in order to fill the topmost bag in each case of the bag stack with a product, for example a loaf of bread or the like, the bag is held, at least in the region of its filling opening and/or of the flap, in such a maximum opening position that the perforation between the corner sections and the flap is inevitably broken open and the bag is thereby detached from the bag stack.
14. The process as claimed in claim 13, wherein the perforation is broken open before the product which is to be packed is inserted into the bag.
15. The process as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the opening procedure causes the perforation between the secured corner sections and the flap to be at least partially torn open and also causes the bag, 20 which is at least partially detached from the bag stack, to be held in the opening position.
16. The process as claimed in one or more of claims 13 to 15, wherein the configuration of the perforation lines, in particular their angular position 25 and/or strength and/or their continuous or shortened extent between the side wall and the front edge of the flap, and the opening procedure during the filling of a **bag are coordinated with each other.
17. The process as claimed in claims 13 to 16, wherein the interconnecting points provided in the corner sections are designed as interconnecting holes, and the bag stack is suspended and/or held via these interconnected suspension openings during filling of the bags.
18. The process as claimed in claim 17, wherein in addition to the interconnected suspension openings, stack openings are produced or made in the region of the flap during bag production. 16
19. The process as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stack openings are produced without material waste, for example by means of pin holes. The process as claimed in claim 18, wherein cross recesses or the like are punched into the flap in order to form the stack openings without material waste or the like.
21. The process as claimed in claim 19, wherein double-film web sections are symmetrically suspended via stacking pins of a cyclically moveable stack conveying device and are then divided by a longitudinal severing cut to form two bag stacks.
22. An apparatus for continuously producing stacks consisting of a multiplicity of bags which are connected to one another and are made of plastic film, in particular vending machine bags, having a perforating device, a transverse-weld severing device and an interconnecting device, wherein the perforating device (20) has perforating tools arranged obliquely 20 with respect to the direction of movement of the plastic film web, and wherein the interconnecting device (26) has hole-interconnecting tools. o The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein it has a pin-hole tool in order to form stack openings.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein S• it has a cross-recess punching tool or similar tool in o e order to form stack openings.
25. An apparatus for filling bags which are produced from a thermoplastic film, are interconnected in a stack and are provided with a tear-off perforation, in particular vending machine bags, in a filling station (29) of a packaging machine, preferably an automatic packaging machine, having a stacking table a holding device an opening device (43, 48) with an adjustable expanding device (48) and a slider (53) and a sealing device, wherein the expanding device (48) can be moved into a tear-off position effecting the only severing of the tear-off perforation of the bag to be filled. 17
26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the tear-off position approximately corresponds to an opening position which is suitable for the filling-in of a product, for example a loaf of bread (52) or the like, and in which the bag is held by lower and upper expanding elements (49, 51)
27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the upper expanding elements (51) are mounted such that they can be adjusted essentially vertically and/or pivotably with respect to the lower expanding elements (49)
28. The apparatus as claimed in one or more of claims 22 to 27, wherein a clamping plate (36) which is mounted on the packaging machine and is intended for the bag stack is arranged below the plane of movement of the lower expanding elements (49)
29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the clamping plate (36) is preferably designed as an .i angular plate and in the filling position of the bag 20 stack comes to lie with a first web (37) on that region of the flap which lies between the corner perforation sections and its other web (38) bears against the front edge of the bag stack (1) The apparatus as claimed in one or more of 25 claims 24 to 29, wherein in order to transport the bag .stack in the packaging machine and/or to secure the corner sections there is provided a securing device, preferably holding rods (39) of the holding to*: apparatus (32) which holding rods pass through the interconnecting holes (12) in the corner perforation sections (11)
31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the holding rods (39) are part of an adapter (33) which has a transverse bracket (41) and can be inserted into pthe packaging machine via fastening rods (42) and/or can be transported.
32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the distance between the fastening rods (42) of the adapter (33) corresponds to the distance between, 18 and diameter of, the limbs of a conventional wicket or receiving spikes of the packaging machine.
33. The apparatus as claimed in one or more of claims 22 to 32, wherein the lengths of the holding rods (39) are designed in order to receive a plurality of bag stacks
34. The apparatus as claimed in one or more of claims 22 to 32, comprising a preassembly position (28) of the filling station (29) for the preliminary setting up of one or more bag stacks on an adapter (33). *o *o o*o* *o 19 A stack of bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 15 of the drawings and/or Examples.
36. A process for producing bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to of the drawings and/or Examples.
37. Apparatus for producing a stack of bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to of the drawings and/or Examples.
38. Apparatus for filling bags substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to of the drawings and/or Examples. •39. The steps, features, compositions and compounds S° disclosed herein or referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. DATED this FOURTEENTH day of MARCH 2000 Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)