Method of aligning air burst on bag wicketer processing line

A method of initiating a bag forming process from a stopped state to a running state in a bag wicketing processing line, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a bag wicketing machine, the bag wicketing machine having a sideweld seal head adapted and configured to:
• (i) receive first and second plies of material, (ii) convey the plies of material in a direction of advancement from an entrance of the sideweld seal head to an exit of the sideweld seal head;
• (iii) seal the plies together with the seal extending in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement, and (iv) cut the plies at a trailing edge of the seal to form a bag blank;
• operating the sideweld seal head to direct the first and second plies of material through the sideweld seal head such that the bag blank extends from the exit of the sideweld seal head onto a conveyor at the exit of the sideweld seal head;
• directing pressurized air from nozzles of a pneumatic blow down bar at the bag blank extending from the exit of the sideweld seal head onto the conveyor;
• energizing a laser operatively mounted on the pneumatic blow down bar to produce a beam emanating from the laser, the laser being aligned with the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar, wherein the beam emanating from the laser indicates a direction of flow of the pressurized air from the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar;
• with the laser energized, adjusting the position of the pneumatic blow down bar relative to the bag blank and the exit of the sideweld seal head in a manner, wherein the beam emanating from the laser is positioned against the bag blank at a desired location where pressurized air from the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar is directed against the bag blank and forces the bag blank into engagement with the conveyor;
• and
• setting an interval for energizing the laser and directing pressurized air from the nozzles of the pneumatic blow down bar against the bag blank based on at least one of a speed of advancement of the plies through the sideweld seal head, a size of the bag blank, an overall cycle time of the sideweld seal head, and a speed of the conveyor.