# US 2024/0199263 A1 · Bagging method and bagging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0199263 A1 - Document ID: US20240199263A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/542,160 - Filed: 2023-12-15 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Assignees: Pacraft Co., Ltd. - Applicants: PACRAFT Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Koichi NAKAGAWA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240199263A1 ## CPC - B65B 61/26: for marking or coding completed packages - B31B 70/88: Printing; Embossing - B41J 3/407: for marking on special material - B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing} - B41M 5/0088: {by ink-jet printing} - B65B 39/007: {Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers} - B65B 39/12: movable towards or away from container or wrapper during filling or depositing - B65B 43/26: Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks - B65B 43/465: {for bags} - B65B 51/146: {Closing bags} - B65B 61/24: for shaping or reshaping completed packages - B65B 57/02: responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages - 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) - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) ## Abstract A bagging method includes the steps of: introducing a content into an inside of a bag; making at least a portion of a printing surface of the bag curved; and performing printing on the printing surface including a curved surface with use of a printing device having a curved surface printing function. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bagging method including the steps of: introducing a content into an inside of a bag; making at least a portion of a printing surface of the bag curved; and performing printing on the printing surface including a curved surface with use of a printing device having a curved surface printing function. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bagging method as defined in claim 1, including the step of opening a mouth portion of the bag, wherein the content is introduced into the inside of the bag through the mouth portion being in an open state after the mouth portion is opened and before the printing is performed on the printing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bagging method as defined in claim 1, wherein the curved surface has a predetermined shape by a curved surface forming device exerting a force on the bag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bagging method as defined in claim 1, wherein the bag is intermittently conveyed, and wherein the printing on the printing surface is performed while the bag is intermittently stopped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bagging method as defined in claim 1, wherein both side portions of the bag are held by a pair of holding devices in such a manner that the bag is held in a suspended state by the pair of holding devices. ### Claim 6 A bagging apparatus comprising: a content introduction device that introduces a content into an inside of a bag; a curved surface forming device that makes at least a part of a printing surface of the bag curved; and a printing device that has a curved surface printing function and performs printing on the printing surface that includes the curved surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising a mouth opening device that opens a mouth portion of the bag, wherein the content introduction device introduces the content into the inside of the bag through the mouth portion being in an open state after the mouth portion is opened by the mouth opening device and before the printing is performed on the printing surface by the printing device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising holding devices forming a pair that hold both side portions of the bag, a distance between the holding devices forming a pair being variable, the printing surface of the bag being deformed depending on the distance between the holding devices forming a pair, wherein the curved surface forming device includes the holding devices forming a pair, and the distance between the holding devices forming a pair is included in an allowable spacing range when the printing device performs the printing on the printing surface in such a manner that at least a part of the printing surface has a curved surface shape that the curved surface printing function allows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the curved surface forming device has a shape forming support unit that contacts an outer surface of the bag to make at least a portion of the printing surface the curved surface, and wherein the printing device performs the printing on the printing surface in a state where the shape forming support unit is in contact with the outer surface of the bag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the curved surface forming device has a shape forming support unit that contacts an inner surface of the bag to make at least a part of the printing surface the curved surface, and wherein the printing device performs the printing on the printing surface in a state where the shape forming support unit is in contact with the inner surface of the bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the bag has a bottom portion that is able to be unfolded, the printing surface of the bag being deformed according to an unfolded state of the bottom portion, wherein the curved surface forming device has a shape forming support unit that places the bottom portion of the bag in a predetermined unfolded state to make at least a part of the printing surface the curved surface, and wherein the printing device performs the printing on the printing surface in a state where the bottom portion of the bag is placed in the predetermined unfolded state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the shape forming support unit includes: a first support member that contacts a first lateral face body forming a front outer surface of the bag; and a second support member that contacts a second lateral face body forming a back outer surface of the bag, and wherein the printing surface is included in at least one of the front outer surface and the back outer surface of the bag. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the shape forming support unit includes: a first support member that contacts a first lateral face body forming a front outer surface of the bag; and a second support member that contacts a second lateral face body forming a back outer surface of the bag, and wherein the printing surface is included in at least one of the front outer surface and the back outer surface of the bag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the shape forming support unit includes: a first support member that contacts a first lateral face body forming a front outer surface of the bag; and a second support member that contacts a second lateral face body forming a back outer surface of the bag, and wherein the printing surface is included in at least one of the front outer surface and the back outer surface of the bag. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising a conveyance device that intermittently conveys the bag along a conveyance route that includes a curved path at least in part, wherein the printing device performs the printing on the printing surface while the bag is intermittently stopped in the conveyance route. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The bagging apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising holding devices forming a pair that hold both side portions of the bag in such a manner that the bag is held in a suspended state.