Method for making flat bottom plastic bag

A method of constructing a flat bottom in a plastic film tube having an open upper end, a closed lower end formed by a transverse seal, forward and rearward sides and a pair of opposing pleated sides that interconnect the forward and rearward sides comprising the steps of:

• releasably engaging first a lower vacuum and then a lower clamp with a transverse section of said rearward side of the tube to provisionally hold said transverse section;
• gripping a lateral section of said forward side with first an upper vacuum and then an upper clamp and raising said lateral section to expose a portion of said pleated sides such that first and second pockets are formed, respectively, in the said sides;
• drawing said sealed lower end toward said upper end to fold the tube along first and second transverse fold lines in the forward side, along a third transverse fold line in said transverse section of said rearward side, and along fourth and fifth fold lines, respectively, in said pleated sides such that said first and second pockets are located in said pleated sides, respectively between said first and third fold lines and the lower end of said tube;
• and
• applying pressure to the tube in a series of parallel spaced apart strips that extend longitudinally from said upper end to said lower end of said tube to discharge air from said tube through channels formed between said strips and to form creases along said first, third, fourth and fifth fold lines, whereby the creases define the perimeter of the flat bottom of the tube.

A method of constructing a flat bottom in a plastic film tube having an open upper end, a closed lower end formed by a transverse seal, forward and rearward sides and a pair of opposing pleated sides that interconnect the forward and rearward sides comprising the steps of:

• releasably engaging first a lower vacuum and then a lower clamp with a transverse section of said rearward side of the tube to provisionally hold said transverse section;
• gripping a lateral section of said forward side with first an upper vacuum and then an upper clamp and raising said lateral section to expose a portion of said pleated sides such that first and second pockets are formed, respectively, in the said sides;
• introducing adhesive into said first and second pockets;
• drawing said sealed lower end toward said upper end to fold the tube along first and second transverse fold lines in the forward side, along a third transverse fold line in said transverse section of said rearward side, and along fourth and fifth fold lines, respectively, in said pleated sides such that said first and second pockets are located in said pleated sides, respectively between said first and third fold lines and the lower end of said tube;
• and
• applying pressure to the tube to in a series of parallel spaced apart strips that extend longitudinally from said upper end to said lower end of said tube to discharge air from said tube through channels formed between said strips and to form creases along said first, third, fourth and fifth fold lines, whereby the creases define the perimeter of the flat bottom of the tube.