# US 2014/0360135 A1 · Bags, Method of Making Bags and Method of Use Thereof for Enveloping Rectangular Bales > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360135 A1 - Document ID: US20140360135A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/912,365 - Filed: 2013-06-07 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Inventors: Chris Allen HONEGGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360135A1 ## CPC - B65B 27/125: {and wrapping or bagging} - B65B 39/06: adapted to support containers or wrappers - B65B 43/30: by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated - B65B 51/146: {Closing bags} - B65B 7/04: by tucking-in mouth portion to form two flaps and subsequently folding-down - B65B 39/02: Expansible or contractible nozzles, funnels, or guides - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A continuous web of closed, preformed end-to-end bags for enclosing bales of material are made by forming an elongate sheet into a helix tube, flattening the tube into first and second elongate bag walls and securing the bag walls at closure seams located along the flattened helix tube. The helix tube is formed by nesting the elongate sheet side edges into U-shapes and sewing. The bag walls are secured to one another by nesting them into U-shapes and sewing. Bales are enveloped by severing the web and thereby providing a bag with an open end, separating the bag walls, inserting a bale therein, closing the bag and severing from the remaining web. Each bag is located along the web with a pair of sensors which provide a locating signal responsive to the bag closure seams. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a plurality of preformed bags for enveloping bales of material, wherein said plurality of bags are closed and arranged end-to-end, said method of making the plurality of closed, preformed end-to-end bags comprising the steps of: providing an elongate sheet of material having opposing ends and first and second opposing side edges extending between said opposing ends; forming a helix tube by twisting said elongate sheet opposing ends in relative opposite directions and securing said first and second side edges to one another; flattening said tube and forming opposing first and second elongate bag walls joined at opposing side fold edges; and, securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another at desired spaced distances between said opposing ends for thereby making said plurality of closed preformed end-to-end bags. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said securing said first and second side edges to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first side edge into an outer U-shape and said second side edge into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said elongate sheet of material comprises polypropylene having a thickness of less than 0.006 inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said flattening said tube and forming opposing first and second elongate bag walls joined at opposing side fold edges further comprises the steps of: folding said first and second bag walls and forming gussets at said side fold edges; wherein each of said gussets comprise a pair of gusset walls; and, wherein at each side fold edge one of said gusset walls is joined to said first bag wall, the other one of said gusset walls is joined to the second bag wall and said gusset walls are joined to one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein said securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another; and, at said gussets, forming said gusset walls into gusset U-shapes, sandwiching said gusset U-shapes between said outer and inner U-shapes and sewing the legs of said outer U-shape, inner U-shape and gusset U-shapes together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein said securing said first and second side edges to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first side edge into an outer U-shape and said second side edge into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said elongate sheet of material comprises polypropylene having a thickness of less than 0.006 inch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further wherein bales of material are enveloped in said bags with a method comprising the steps of: severing said plurality of closed, preformed end-to-end bags between two closed ends and providing a first bag having an open end and a closed end; separating said opposing first and second elongate bag walls at said open end; inserting a bale into said bag through said open end; closing said open end for thereby enveloping the bale in said bag; and, severing said plurality of closed, preformed end-to-end bags between said first bag closed end and another bag prior to inserting a bale in said another bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said securing said first and second side edges to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first side edge into an outer U-shape and said second side edge into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U shape; and, sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said flattening said tube and forming opposing first and second elongate bag walls joined at opposing side fold edges further comprises the steps of: folding said first and second bag walls and forming gussets at of said side fold edges; wherein each of said gussets comprise a pair of gusset walls; and, wherein at each side fold edge one of said gusset walls is joined to said first bag wall, the other one of said gusset walls is joined to the second bag wall and said gusset walls are joined to one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said securing said opposing first and second elongate bag walls to one another further comprises the steps of: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; sewing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another; and, at said gussets, forming said gusset walls into gusset U-shapes, sandwiching said gusset U-shapes between said outer and inner U-shapes and sewing the legs of said outer U-shape, inner U-shape and gusset U-shapes together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of spirally winding said closed, preformed end-to-end bags into a roll. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said elongate sheet of material comprises polypropylene having a thickness of less than 0.006 inch. ### Claim 17 A method of enveloping bales of material with closed preformed end-to-end bags provided in an elongate web, wherein the web includes opposing first and second elongate bag walls joined at opposing side edges along the elongate web and includes bag closure seams at spaced distances along the web whereat the opposing first and second elongate bag walls are secured to one another thereby defining said plurality of closed preformed end-to-end bags, said method of enveloping comprising the steps of: severing said elongate web between two closed ends and providing a first bag having an open end and a closed end; separating said opposing first and second elongate bag walls at said open end; inserting a bale into said bag through said open end; closing said open end for thereby enveloping the bale in said bag; and, severing said elongate web between said first bag closed end and another bag closed end prior to inserting a bale in said another bag. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said step of severing said elongate web between said first bag closed end and another bag closed end occurs between said steps of separating and inserting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of locating each closed preformed end-to-end bag by sensing the closure seams. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said sensing the closure seams comprises providing a pair of sensors, each of said sensors providing a locating control signal responsive to a closure seam, and wherein said step of locating comprises the presence of the substantially simultaneous control signals from both said pair of sensors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein said sensors each comprise a pivotable sensor arm having a terminal end adapted to engage the closure seams and a sensor adapted to sense the movement of said pivotable sensor arms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein said closure seams are made by: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, securing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said closure seams are made by: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, securing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said closure seams are made by: forming said first bag wall into an outer U-shape and said second bag wall into an inner U-shape; nesting said inner U-shape within said outer U-shape; and, securing the legs of said nested U-shapes to one another.