Roll of separable bags and method of manufacture

A roll of separable bags comprising:

• an outer sheet portion having a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges;
• an inner sheet portion connected to the outer sheet portion, the inner sheet portion having a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges, the inner sheet portion being arranged in the roll generally opposite to the outer sheet portion;
• a first seal extending widthwise of and interconnecting the outer and inner sheet portions;
• a second seal extending widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions, the second seal being spaced lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions from the first seal;
• a first bag separating perforation line extending widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions and configured for separating a bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the bag separating perforation line, the first bag separating perforation line being located closer to the first seal than to the second seal;
• a second bag separating perforation line extending widthwise of and interconnecting the outer and inner sheet portions and configured for separating another bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the second bag separating perforation line, the second bag separating perforation line being located closer to the second seal than to the first seal;
• a third seal extending widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions nearer to the first seal than the second seal;
• a handle perforation line including a first segment beginning at a start location nearer to one of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions than the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions, the handle perforation line including the first segment extending from the start location generally toward the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions, and a second segment extending from the first segment remote from the start location, the second segment extending generally lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions, and intersecting the first bag separating perforation line;
• wherein the second segment of the handle perforation line extends across the first seal and the third seal.

A method for forming a web of separable bags comprising the steps of:

• forming a tube from a polymeric material having a length and a width and including an outer sheet portion including opposite longitudinal edges and an inner sheet portion generally opposite the outer sheet portion, the inner sheet portion including opposite longitudinal edges;
• forming seals extending widthwise across and interconnecting the outer and inner sheet portions at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the tube;
• perforating the tube in a widthwise direction to form bag separating perforation lines at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the tube;
• perforating the tube to form handle perforation lines distinct from the bag separating perforation lines, the handle perforation lines including a first segment extending from a start location generally widthwise of the tube and a second segment extending lengthwise of the tube, the second segment extending across one of the seals, one of the handle perforation lines and one of the bag separating perforation lines together defining a handle formed by tearing said one handle perforation line and said one bag separating perforation line.

A roll of separable bags comprising:

• an outer sheet portion having a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges;
• an inner sheet portion connected to the outer sheet portion, the inner sheet portion having a length, a width and opposite longitudinal edges, the inner sheet portion being arranged in the roll generally opposite to the outer sheet portion;
• a first seal extending widthwise of and interconnecting the outer and inner sheet portions;
• a second seal extending widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions, the second seal being spaced lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions from the first seal;
• a first bag separating perforation line extending widthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions and configured for separating a bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the bag separating perforation line, the first bag separating perforation line being located closer to the first seal than to the second seal;
• a second bag separating perforation line extending widthwise of and interconnecting the outer and inner sheet portions and configured for separating another bag from the roll of separable bags by tearing the second bag separating perforation line, the second bag separating perforation line being located closer to the second seal than to the first seal;
• a handle perforation line including a first segment beginning at a start location nearer to one of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions than the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions, the handle perforation line including the first segment extending from the start location generally toward the other of the longitudinal edges of the outer and inner sheet portions, and a second segment extending from the first segment remote from the start location, the second segment extending generally lengthwise of the outer and inner sheet portions, and intersecting the first bag separating perforation line, the first segment turning back on itself adjacent to the start location to inhibit tear propagation into the outer and inner sheet portions extending beyond the handle perforation line at the start location;
• whereby a handle for the bag can be formed from the outer and inner sheet portions by tearing the first bag separating perforation line, and tearing the handle perforation line.