Method and machine for manufacturing rolls of bags

A method of manufacturing rolls of bags from an elongate web having transverse lines of perforation, said method comprising the steps of:

• winding the web by means of a winding device having two opposed pairs of spaced-apart fingers;
• introducing a leading end of the web between said two opposed pairs of fingers;
• setting said two opposed pairs of fingers in motion for winding the web into a roll of bags;
• severing the roll of bags from the web, after winding a predetermined length of the web, by clamping the web by means of a clamping device located upstream of said winding device relative to the direction of travel of the web, and tearing the web along a line of perforation at the end of the ready-wound roll of bags;
• gripping a leading end of the web, after allowing a predetermined time delay for completion of said winding step, by means of a gripping device located upstream of said winding device relative to the direction of travel of the web;
• subjecting said two opposed pairs of fingers to a braking action and resetting said fingers to a starting position for a new winding cycle;
• conducting the leading end of the web between said two opposed pairs of fingers by moving said gripping device in the direction of travel of the web past said winding device, such that the leading end of the web is seized by said winding device;
• and
• commencing said new winding cycle.