CA2120901C - Bag-tie folding apparatus and method - Google Patents
Bag-tie folding apparatus and methodInfo
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- CA2120901C CA2120901C CA002120901A CA2120901A CA2120901C CA 2120901 C CA2120901 C CA 2120901C CA 002120901 A CA002120901 A CA 002120901A CA 2120901 A CA2120901 A CA 2120901A CA 2120901 C CA2120901 C CA 2120901C
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Abstract
The present invention features an apparatus and a method for both extending and folding the ties of a tie bag into the body of the bag. The apparatus and the method of this invention fold the ties while the webbing of the bag is rapidly moving. The folding apparatus facilitates passing the U-shaped webbing of the bag through a web-separating device. The two halves of the webbing are then separated, and each half of the U-shaped web is passed over a guide member. Each guide member forces the respective tie of each respective web half to fold under. Thereafter, two additional guide members rejoin the two web halves, with the tie folded in. The ties are maintained in a smooth, folded-in configuration during the sizing, cutting and final packaging into a stack of individual bags.
Description
~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~
BAG-TIE FOL~ING APPARATUS A~ METHO~
FIELD OF THE lNv~NllON
The present invention pertains to tie bags used most commonly for the storage and disposal of debris and other ubiquitous waste materials and, more particularly, to the manufacture and packaging of bags having ties that are folded "on-the-fly" within the body of the webbing (which has a discontinuous fold line), as the web of the bag is being continuously advanced and conveyed during the stacking and packaging operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE Ihv~NllON
The manufacture and use of polyethylene storage and disposal bags is well known in the art. One of the bothersome problems with the use of plain storage bags is the inconvenience involved in trying to tie the bag.
Several brands use separate metal wire ties which are packaged along with the bags. As a separate item, these metal wire ties can be unwieldy to use and often become lost.
A convenient user feature of the polyethylene bags of this invention is its ties, which are integral with the body of the bag. These integral ties comprise a curved, cut-out ~-15633 - ~ 2120901 .. ..
......
portion of the bag web. Built in, the ties can be grasped and knotted to seal the bag; hence, they are referred to in the trade as ~tie bagsn. The tie bags of this invention are illustrated in United States ~atent No. 4,890,736, issued to Greyvenstein on January 2, 1990.
In the manufacture and packaging of tie bags, it has been determined that folding the ties within the webbing of the bag provides everal advantages. One advantage is that a neat and compact packaging can be accomplished. Another advantage is that the user of the bag can more easily open the bag when the two ties have been tucked inside the body thereof.
Although it has already been determined that several advantages are achieved by folding the ties within the bag body, nevertheless, heretofore it has been difficult or impossible to accomplish the packaging of the tie bags with the desired configuration. This is particularly true under high-speed conditions.
The invention incorporates a system for folding the ties within the body of the bag webbing while the web is being conveyed. In other words, the ties are folded while moving on-the-fly.
When presented with the task of folding the ties within the body of the moving web, expert~ in the art have previously stated that it could not be achieved. The reason for their belief was based on three ma~or stumbling blocks that needed to be overcome:
BAG-TIE FOL~ING APPARATUS A~ METHO~
FIELD OF THE lNv~NllON
The present invention pertains to tie bags used most commonly for the storage and disposal of debris and other ubiquitous waste materials and, more particularly, to the manufacture and packaging of bags having ties that are folded "on-the-fly" within the body of the webbing (which has a discontinuous fold line), as the web of the bag is being continuously advanced and conveyed during the stacking and packaging operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE Ihv~NllON
The manufacture and use of polyethylene storage and disposal bags is well known in the art. One of the bothersome problems with the use of plain storage bags is the inconvenience involved in trying to tie the bag.
Several brands use separate metal wire ties which are packaged along with the bags. As a separate item, these metal wire ties can be unwieldy to use and often become lost.
A convenient user feature of the polyethylene bags of this invention is its ties, which are integral with the body of the bag. These integral ties comprise a curved, cut-out ~-15633 - ~ 2120901 .. ..
......
portion of the bag web. Built in, the ties can be grasped and knotted to seal the bag; hence, they are referred to in the trade as ~tie bagsn. The tie bags of this invention are illustrated in United States ~atent No. 4,890,736, issued to Greyvenstein on January 2, 1990.
In the manufacture and packaging of tie bags, it has been determined that folding the ties within the webbing of the bag provides everal advantages. One advantage is that a neat and compact packaging can be accomplished. Another advantage is that the user of the bag can more easily open the bag when the two ties have been tucked inside the body thereof.
Although it has already been determined that several advantages are achieved by folding the ties within the bag body, nevertheless, heretofore it has been difficult or impossible to accomplish the packaging of the tie bags with the desired configuration. This is particularly true under high-speed conditions.
The invention incorporates a system for folding the ties within the body of the bag webbing while the web is being conveyed. In other words, the ties are folded while moving on-the-fly.
When presented with the task of folding the ties within the body of the moving web, expert~ in the art have previously stated that it could not be achieved. The reason for their belief was based on three ma~or stumbling blocks that needed to be overcome:
2:~20~
.. .. .
. ~ ~
a) The folding on-the-fly at high speed of both flexible ties within the U-shaped flexible ~heet is a formidable task, in part due to the possible entrapment of air between the sheet~.
b) Folding has to be achieved with a discontinuous fold line, so that each tie requires individual folding.
The second major breakthrough in resolving the problem was the folding of the tie itself as the webbing i8 rapidly moving. Although difficult to accomplish, the present inventive apparatus holds the ties in an aligned position while it passes the webbing of the bag through a web-separating device. The two halves of the webbing are then separated, and each half is passed over a guide member. The guide members force the tie of each web half to fold under, rejoining the web halves. The webbing is under tension so that the ties are maintained in a smootb, folded-in configuration until the webbing is sized, cut and finally packaged. It is important to note that the two halves of the U-shaped web are opened only momentarily as they pass over the guide members. This ensures that, at worst, only a minimum amount of air can be entrapped within.
DISCUSSIO~t OF RELATED ART
In United States Patent No. 4,906,228, i~sued on ~arch 6, 1990, to Reifenhauser et al, entitled MEIHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN PAIRS WITH
SIDE SEAMS, an apparatus for folding the ties of the bags is illustrated. The wave crests and wave troughs that are 212~901 ~ . .... .
characteristic of the tie patterns of this invention are cut through the center of the sheet body, thus forming two oppositely facing bags. The ties are then folded down, in whole or in part, along a continuous fold line. The fold can be toward either the inside or the outside of the bag.
The ties are then welded to the bag body. Thereafter, holes are punched in the folded and welded portions to form a handle.
The aforementioned bag manufacturing method differs from the current invention in that the registration of the bags is achieved by scanning the inner or outer edges of the wave crests and wave troughs to convey them synchronously.
Although not clearly described in the reference, this scanning is, nonetheless, a process step which is completely alien to the invention. The method described for the current invention needs no complicated scanning or electronics to achieve registration. Rather, the invention uses a flow of air to align each wave crest to its fully extended position. The present invention provides ties that are substantially devoid of wrinkles, which may or may not be the case with the prior patented apparatus. It is not evident from the Reifenhauser description as to what the folding device comprises. However, since the crests are subsequently welded, there i8, most probably, no concern about wrin~ling. Furthermore, there i8 probably a similar lack of concern as to whether the folds are inside or outside of the bag, since the weld will be accomplished in either case. This is a concern with the present invention, however, as the ties must be tucked only within the bag. In addition, since Reifenhauser tucks the ties toward the outside and even welds them, the concern for air entrapment when the halves are separated is never raised. This concern, highly relevant to the present invention, is one which is neither contemplated nor addressed by Reifenhauser.
Finally, the folding in Reifenhauser is intermittently accomplished along a continuous fold line, vis-a-vis the present invention, in which the folding of individual ties is continuously accomplished along a discontinuous fold line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided an apparatus and a method for both ext~n~;ng and folding the ties of a-tie bag into the body of the bag.
The apparatus and the method of this invention fold the ties while the webbing of the bag is rapidly moving. In other words, the invention first extends the ties; this invention individually folds each tie within the continuously moving web. The folding apparatus facilitates the folding on-the-fly by passing the U-shaped webbing of the bag through a web-separating device. The two halves of the U-shaped webbing are then separated, and each half is passed over a guide member. Each guide member forces the tie of each respective web half to fold under. Thereafter, two additional guide members rejoin the two web halves, with the tie folded in. While the webbing is under tension, the ties are maintained in a smooth, folded-in configuration.
Likewise, the positions are maintained during the sizing, " - ~
,,_ cutting and final packaging into a stack of individually folded bags.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for folding the ties of a tie bag into the body of the bag, while the webbing of the bag is being continuously conveyed through the manufacturing system.
It is another ob;ect of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for folding the ties of a tie bag while the webbing of the bag is moving on-the-fly.
It is a further ob~ect of the invention to provide the folding of ties within the respective pocket of a plurality of flexible plastic bags created from a web having a discontinuous fold line, with the web being continuously conveyed past a folding apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective, schematic view of the web ~eparating and folding ~ystem of this invention; and FIGURE 2 depicts ~n enlarged, top view of the web separating and folding guide members of the folding apparatus of the invention depicted in FIGURE 1, with the plastic bag webbing continuously traveling therethrough.
- ~ 2120901 For the purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designation throughout the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~F~T
Generally speaking, the invention features ~ system and a method for achieving packaging of a plastic bag having its ties internally folded within the body of the bag. The bag is made by a continuous process in which the bags are manufactured as a continuous double web of polyethylene.
The end of the web is cut in a serpentine pattern to provide tie-shaped surfaces. The ties are extended as they move along the conveyor and then folded by the apparatus and method of this invention. Thereafter, in subsequent operations, the continuous webbing is sized, cut into individual bag units, stacked and packaged.
Now referring to FIGURE 1, the folding system 10 of this invention is shown. The system 10 illustrates a continuous, double-layered web 11 of polyethylene that is being fed over a feed roller 12 on the left-hand side of the FIGURE. The double-layered web 11 is cut on one end thereof in a serpentine pattern, as shown by arrow 14. The web 11 will be subsequently ~ized and cut in later processes in order to provide individual bag units. Each unit, or bag of the web 11, has two back-to-back ties 15 that extend from the U-shaped webbing, so as to provide two extended, contiguous ties. The webbing 11 is fed along a feed path, generally depicted by the arrows 16.
_ 212~q~
" -The ties 15 are free to roll, wrinkle, ripple and fold as they exit from the feed roller 12, due to the flexibility and thinness of the web 11.
The web 11 with extended ties 15 is fed to a pair of nib rollers 30 and 31, respectively. The nip rollers 30 and 31 feed the web 11 to a folding apparatus, shown generally by arrow 20. Other feeding mec~Anisms can also be used.
The folding apparatus 20 featuring the second invention of system 10 comprises a double pair of guide plates 40a, 40b, and 50a, 50b, respectively. The first pair of guide plates 40a, 40b are divergently positioned according to the upward direction of travel of web 11, so that the webbing 11 is caused to separate into its two respective layers lla and llb, as shown by arrows 16a and 16b. It i~ necessary to open the webbing 11, 80 that each tie 15 passing through the folding apparatus 20 can be tucked, or folded into, the interior portion of the double-layered web.
It should be understood that, as the web feed is continuous, the inventive system 10 requires that the two respective layers lla and llb of the webbing 11 must each be divergently threaded through the folding apparatus 20 prior to the activation of the feeding rollers 12, 30 and 31.
This threading is usually accomplished manually, since it must be done only once per production run.
As the layers lla and llb diverge, they are respectively fed to guide plates 50a and 50b, which converge toward each other. These converging plates 50a and 50b have '~ 2120~0 1 a dual purpose: they fold in the respective ties 15a and 15b into the webbing 11, and a1BO close the layers lla and llb of the webbing 11 after the folding has been accomplished, as shown by arrows 16aa and 16bb.
Each plate 50a and 50b, respectively, is provided with respective folding plates 46a and 46b (not shown), each of which has a cam-like surface, 45a and 45b (not shown) respectively. The cam-like surfaces respectively engage the diverging web layers lla and llb. In order to describe the folding operation in sufficient detail without causing confusion, and since upper and lower guide plates function in like manner, reference will be made only to the upper guide plate 50a and its corresponding folding plate 46a, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.
Referring to FIGURE 2, the ties 15a of the upper web half lla is fed seriatim under cam-like guide member 45 that is part of folding plate 46a, as shown. As the upper web lla exits over the top surface of plate 50a, the ties 15a fold under the web lla.
As will be seen from FIGURE 2, the travelling web half lla comprises serpentine tie units 15a, having convex prominences that are additionally defined by concave wells 47a disposed therebetween. The wells 47a travel into contact registration with the cam-like well surface 45a of folding plate 46a. As the web lla is caused to move over the top of plate SOa, each of the convex prominences lSa is discretely caused to be folded ~eriatim under the web lla on-the-fly, as the respective concave wells 47a are cammed ~ 1 2 ~
-(folded under) by surface 45a of folding plate 46a.
After being folded under the web lla, the convergent shape of plate 50a guides the web lla back into contact with the similarly converging web llb. ~oth web portions lla and llb are more clearly shown in their converging relationship with reference to arrows 16aa and 16bb, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.
The folded-in ties 15 become permanently folded within the web 11 as the web is fed under tension to the subsequent sizing and cutting sections of the manufacture, not shown here. The web 11 may also be rolled upon a storage drum (not shown), when the manufacturing operation is performed on a partitioned or modular basis.
Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.
.. .. .
. ~ ~
a) The folding on-the-fly at high speed of both flexible ties within the U-shaped flexible ~heet is a formidable task, in part due to the possible entrapment of air between the sheet~.
b) Folding has to be achieved with a discontinuous fold line, so that each tie requires individual folding.
The second major breakthrough in resolving the problem was the folding of the tie itself as the webbing i8 rapidly moving. Although difficult to accomplish, the present inventive apparatus holds the ties in an aligned position while it passes the webbing of the bag through a web-separating device. The two halves of the webbing are then separated, and each half is passed over a guide member. The guide members force the tie of each web half to fold under, rejoining the web halves. The webbing is under tension so that the ties are maintained in a smootb, folded-in configuration until the webbing is sized, cut and finally packaged. It is important to note that the two halves of the U-shaped web are opened only momentarily as they pass over the guide members. This ensures that, at worst, only a minimum amount of air can be entrapped within.
DISCUSSIO~t OF RELATED ART
In United States Patent No. 4,906,228, i~sued on ~arch 6, 1990, to Reifenhauser et al, entitled MEIHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN PAIRS WITH
SIDE SEAMS, an apparatus for folding the ties of the bags is illustrated. The wave crests and wave troughs that are 212~901 ~ . .... .
characteristic of the tie patterns of this invention are cut through the center of the sheet body, thus forming two oppositely facing bags. The ties are then folded down, in whole or in part, along a continuous fold line. The fold can be toward either the inside or the outside of the bag.
The ties are then welded to the bag body. Thereafter, holes are punched in the folded and welded portions to form a handle.
The aforementioned bag manufacturing method differs from the current invention in that the registration of the bags is achieved by scanning the inner or outer edges of the wave crests and wave troughs to convey them synchronously.
Although not clearly described in the reference, this scanning is, nonetheless, a process step which is completely alien to the invention. The method described for the current invention needs no complicated scanning or electronics to achieve registration. Rather, the invention uses a flow of air to align each wave crest to its fully extended position. The present invention provides ties that are substantially devoid of wrinkles, which may or may not be the case with the prior patented apparatus. It is not evident from the Reifenhauser description as to what the folding device comprises. However, since the crests are subsequently welded, there i8, most probably, no concern about wrin~ling. Furthermore, there i8 probably a similar lack of concern as to whether the folds are inside or outside of the bag, since the weld will be accomplished in either case. This is a concern with the present invention, however, as the ties must be tucked only within the bag. In addition, since Reifenhauser tucks the ties toward the outside and even welds them, the concern for air entrapment when the halves are separated is never raised. This concern, highly relevant to the present invention, is one which is neither contemplated nor addressed by Reifenhauser.
Finally, the folding in Reifenhauser is intermittently accomplished along a continuous fold line, vis-a-vis the present invention, in which the folding of individual ties is continuously accomplished along a discontinuous fold line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided an apparatus and a method for both ext~n~;ng and folding the ties of a-tie bag into the body of the bag.
The apparatus and the method of this invention fold the ties while the webbing of the bag is rapidly moving. In other words, the invention first extends the ties; this invention individually folds each tie within the continuously moving web. The folding apparatus facilitates the folding on-the-fly by passing the U-shaped webbing of the bag through a web-separating device. The two halves of the U-shaped webbing are then separated, and each half is passed over a guide member. Each guide member forces the tie of each respective web half to fold under. Thereafter, two additional guide members rejoin the two web halves, with the tie folded in. While the webbing is under tension, the ties are maintained in a smooth, folded-in configuration.
Likewise, the positions are maintained during the sizing, " - ~
,,_ cutting and final packaging into a stack of individually folded bags.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for folding the ties of a tie bag into the body of the bag, while the webbing of the bag is being continuously conveyed through the manufacturing system.
It is another ob;ect of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for folding the ties of a tie bag while the webbing of the bag is moving on-the-fly.
It is a further ob~ect of the invention to provide the folding of ties within the respective pocket of a plurality of flexible plastic bags created from a web having a discontinuous fold line, with the web being continuously conveyed past a folding apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective, schematic view of the web ~eparating and folding ~ystem of this invention; and FIGURE 2 depicts ~n enlarged, top view of the web separating and folding guide members of the folding apparatus of the invention depicted in FIGURE 1, with the plastic bag webbing continuously traveling therethrough.
- ~ 2120901 For the purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designation throughout the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~F~T
Generally speaking, the invention features ~ system and a method for achieving packaging of a plastic bag having its ties internally folded within the body of the bag. The bag is made by a continuous process in which the bags are manufactured as a continuous double web of polyethylene.
The end of the web is cut in a serpentine pattern to provide tie-shaped surfaces. The ties are extended as they move along the conveyor and then folded by the apparatus and method of this invention. Thereafter, in subsequent operations, the continuous webbing is sized, cut into individual bag units, stacked and packaged.
Now referring to FIGURE 1, the folding system 10 of this invention is shown. The system 10 illustrates a continuous, double-layered web 11 of polyethylene that is being fed over a feed roller 12 on the left-hand side of the FIGURE. The double-layered web 11 is cut on one end thereof in a serpentine pattern, as shown by arrow 14. The web 11 will be subsequently ~ized and cut in later processes in order to provide individual bag units. Each unit, or bag of the web 11, has two back-to-back ties 15 that extend from the U-shaped webbing, so as to provide two extended, contiguous ties. The webbing 11 is fed along a feed path, generally depicted by the arrows 16.
_ 212~q~
" -The ties 15 are free to roll, wrinkle, ripple and fold as they exit from the feed roller 12, due to the flexibility and thinness of the web 11.
The web 11 with extended ties 15 is fed to a pair of nib rollers 30 and 31, respectively. The nip rollers 30 and 31 feed the web 11 to a folding apparatus, shown generally by arrow 20. Other feeding mec~Anisms can also be used.
The folding apparatus 20 featuring the second invention of system 10 comprises a double pair of guide plates 40a, 40b, and 50a, 50b, respectively. The first pair of guide plates 40a, 40b are divergently positioned according to the upward direction of travel of web 11, so that the webbing 11 is caused to separate into its two respective layers lla and llb, as shown by arrows 16a and 16b. It i~ necessary to open the webbing 11, 80 that each tie 15 passing through the folding apparatus 20 can be tucked, or folded into, the interior portion of the double-layered web.
It should be understood that, as the web feed is continuous, the inventive system 10 requires that the two respective layers lla and llb of the webbing 11 must each be divergently threaded through the folding apparatus 20 prior to the activation of the feeding rollers 12, 30 and 31.
This threading is usually accomplished manually, since it must be done only once per production run.
As the layers lla and llb diverge, they are respectively fed to guide plates 50a and 50b, which converge toward each other. These converging plates 50a and 50b have '~ 2120~0 1 a dual purpose: they fold in the respective ties 15a and 15b into the webbing 11, and a1BO close the layers lla and llb of the webbing 11 after the folding has been accomplished, as shown by arrows 16aa and 16bb.
Each plate 50a and 50b, respectively, is provided with respective folding plates 46a and 46b (not shown), each of which has a cam-like surface, 45a and 45b (not shown) respectively. The cam-like surfaces respectively engage the diverging web layers lla and llb. In order to describe the folding operation in sufficient detail without causing confusion, and since upper and lower guide plates function in like manner, reference will be made only to the upper guide plate 50a and its corresponding folding plate 46a, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.
Referring to FIGURE 2, the ties 15a of the upper web half lla is fed seriatim under cam-like guide member 45 that is part of folding plate 46a, as shown. As the upper web lla exits over the top surface of plate 50a, the ties 15a fold under the web lla.
As will be seen from FIGURE 2, the travelling web half lla comprises serpentine tie units 15a, having convex prominences that are additionally defined by concave wells 47a disposed therebetween. The wells 47a travel into contact registration with the cam-like well surface 45a of folding plate 46a. As the web lla is caused to move over the top of plate SOa, each of the convex prominences lSa is discretely caused to be folded ~eriatim under the web lla on-the-fly, as the respective concave wells 47a are cammed ~ 1 2 ~
-(folded under) by surface 45a of folding plate 46a.
After being folded under the web lla, the convergent shape of plate 50a guides the web lla back into contact with the similarly converging web llb. ~oth web portions lla and llb are more clearly shown in their converging relationship with reference to arrows 16aa and 16bb, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.
The folded-in ties 15 become permanently folded within the web 11 as the web is fed under tension to the subsequent sizing and cutting sections of the manufacture, not shown here. The web 11 may also be rolled upon a storage drum (not shown), when the manufacturing operation is performed on a partitioned or modular basis.
Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.
Claims (13)
1. A folding apparatus for folding a plurality of ties into a double-layered, flexible web having outer surfaces and prominent portions, said prominent portions of said web defining said ties that are caused to fold within said flexible web by said folding apparatus while said double-layered web is moving "on-the-fly", said folding apparatus comprising:
a) means defining a continuous feed path for conveying a flexible, double-layered web;
b) conveying means for continuously moving said flexible, double-layered web along said feed path;
c) a folding device disposed in said feed path and comprising a separating means and a guide means, said separating means causing said double-layered web to separate into upper and lower web portions, said upper and lower web portions then being fed through said guide means so that said prominent portions of each web portion are caused to contact a guide surface of said guide means whereby each prominent portion of each web portion is folded into said web; and d) converging means for causing said upper and lower web portions to reconverge with each other to once again form a contiguous, flexible, double-layered web.
a) means defining a continuous feed path for conveying a flexible, double-layered web;
b) conveying means for continuously moving said flexible, double-layered web along said feed path;
c) a folding device disposed in said feed path and comprising a separating means and a guide means, said separating means causing said double-layered web to separate into upper and lower web portions, said upper and lower web portions then being fed through said guide means so that said prominent portions of each web portion are caused to contact a guide surface of said guide means whereby each prominent portion of each web portion is folded into said web; and d) converging means for causing said upper and lower web portions to reconverge with each other to once again form a contiguous, flexible, double-layered web.
2. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating and converging means are respectively defined by a first and a second pair of plates disposed in juxtaposition with respect to each other.
3. The folding apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first pair of plates is disposed along said feed path in a diverging position, and further wherein said first pair of plates has outer surfaces, said web being caused to separate into two web portions as said web is caused to move past said outer surfaces of said first pair of plates.
4. The folding apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second pair of plates is disposed along said feed path adjacent said first pair of plates and positioned in a converging position, and further wherein the separated moving web portions are caused to reconverge with each other to form a unitary, double-layered web.
5. The folding apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second pair of plates each has a respective folding plate with a camming surface for folding said prominent portions of each web portion into said web as said web portions are caused to reconverge with each other.
6. A folding apparatus for folding ties of a flexible web comprising a double layer, each layer being defined by inner and outer surfaces and each comprising prominent portions defining said ties, with said prominent portions of each layer of said web being caused to fold within said flexible web into contact with said inner surfaces of each layer, by said folding apparatus "on-the-fly", while said web is continuously moving through said folding apparatus.
7. The folding apparatus of claim 6, wherein said folding apparatus further comprises a first: pair of separating plates and a second pair of converging plates disposed along a feed path in juxtaposition with respect to each other, said first pair of separating plates dividing the double layered web into first and second web portions prior to folding, and said second pair of converging plates causing said first and second web portions to reconverge with each other as said ties are folded therein.
8. The folding apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first pair of plates is disposed along said Peed path in a diverging position, and further wherein said continuously moving web is caused to separate into said double layer, as said web is caused to move pa t said first pair of plates.
9. The folding apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second pair of plates are disposed along said Peed path adjacent said first pair of plates and positioned in a converging position, and further wherein said double layer of said continuously moving web is caused to reconverge into a unitary web, as each layer of said double layer is caused to move into contact with said second pair of plates.
10. The folding apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second pair of plates each has a folding plate defining a cam-like surface for folding said prominent portions of said web inside the web and into contact with the respective inner surfaces thereof.
11. A method of folding "on the-fly" tie units of a flexible, double-layered, continuously moving web into an interior portion of said web, comprising the steps of:
a) moving a flexible, double-layered web along a feed path: and b) causing said double-layered web to separate, and said tie units to fold within an interior portion of the separated web, as said web moves along said feed path, whereby said web will have said tie units folded "on-the-fly"
within said web.
a) moving a flexible, double-layered web along a feed path: and b) causing said double-layered web to separate, and said tie units to fold within an interior portion of the separated web, as said web moves along said feed path, whereby said web will have said tie units folded "on-the-fly"
within said web.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:
c) reuniting the separated web after said tie units have been folded into said interior portion of said web.
c) reuniting the separated web after said tie units have been folded into said interior portion of said web.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said reuniting step (c) includes a converging of separated layers of said web.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US8160093A | 1993-06-23 | 1993-06-23 | |
| US08/081,600 | 1993-06-23 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2120901A1 CA2120901A1 (en) | 1994-12-24 |
| CA2120901C true CA2120901C (en) | 1998-11-17 |
Family
ID=22165170
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002120901A Expired - Fee Related CA2120901C (en) | 1993-06-23 | 1994-04-08 | Bag-tie folding apparatus and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2120901C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5709641A (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1998-01-20 | Tenneco Packaging Inc. | Thermoplastic bag structure |
-
1994
- 1994-04-08 CA CA002120901A patent/CA2120901C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2120901A1 (en) | 1994-12-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20130408 |