Method and apparatus for on demand manufacturing of custom-sized bags conforming to the volume of articles received therein at a check-out counter

In a check-out counter at which articles purchased by a customer are packed in bags for transport therefrom by the customer, the improvement comprising apparatus for on demand manufacturing at the check-out counter of custom-sized article packed bags substantially conforming in size to the volume of articles packed therein, comprising:

• means for longitudinally feeding a longitudinally extending tubular wrapper formed of flexible, substantially nonstretchable film material;
• first means for transversely sealing the film at a first location along the tubular wrapper to create a closed bottom of a bag being formed for the receipt of articles to be packed therein, the top of said bag in formation remaining open for the receipt of said articles;
• means for transversely cutting the film at a second location along the tubular wrapper above said transverse seal to define the ultimate top of the bag after the bag has received a volume of articles and to separate the articles-containing bag from the longitudinally continuous tubular wrapper;
• means for selecting said second location including means for determining the volume of articles received in the bag being formed and for longitudinally advancing the tubular wrapper by an amount sufficient to place said second location along the tubular wrapper at a line defining a length of wrapper sufficient to accommodate said volume of articles;
• second means for transversely sealing the film adjacent the vicinity of said second location to close the top of the bag for preventing the unintended loss of packed articles from within the bag;
• and
• means for forming a pair of spaced apart handles unitarily with the tubular wrapper at the top of said bag and for defining a protective envelope intermediate said handles to facilitate retention of articles packed in the bag.

In a check-out counter at which articles purchased by a customer are packed in bags for transport therefrom by the customer, the improvement comprising apparatus for on demand manufacturing at the check-out counter of custom-sized article packed bags substantially conforming in size to the volume of articles packed therein, comprising:

• means for longitudinally feeding a longitudinally extending tubular wrapper formed of flexible, substantially nonstretchable film material;
• first means for transversely sealing the film at a first location along the tubular wrapper to create a closed bottom of a bag being formed for the receipt of articles to be packed therein, the top of said bag in formation remaining open for the receipt of said articles;
• means for transversely cutting the film at a second location along the tubular wrapper above said transverse seal to define the ultimate top of the bag after the bag has received a volume of articles and to separate the articles-containing bag from the longitudinally continuous tubular wrapper;
• means for selecting said second location including means for determining the volume of articles received in the bag being formed and for longitudinally advancing the tubular wrapper by an amount sufficient to place said second location along the tubular wrapper at a line defining a length of wrapper sufficient to accommodate said volume of articles;
• and
• means for continuously sensing the weight of the articles in the bag being formed.

A method for on demand formation of flexible bags at a check-out counter and for the packing of articles within the bags being formed at the counter, comprising the steps of:

• longitudinally feeding a longitudinally extending tubular wrapper made of flexible, substantially nonstretchable material;
• transversely sealing the tubular wrapper at a first location longitudinally along the wrapper to create a closed bottom of the bag being formed;
• placing articles to be packed into the tubular wrapper;
• longitudinally advancing the tubular wrapper to move a portion of the wrapper beyond the articles packed in the bag being formed to a position for detaching the bag being formed from the remainder of said longitudinally extending wrapper;
• transversely cutting the tubular wrapper at said position beyond the articles packed in the bag being formed to detach the bag being formed from the longitudinally continuous wrapper and to thereby define the top of the bag at said transverse cut;
• transversely sealing the top of the bag being formed at said transverse cut to close the bag and prevent the unintended loss of packed articles from within the bag;
• and
• longitudinally slitting the tubular wrapper from and through said transverse seal at the top of the bag to a point intermediate the top and bottom of the bag to provide a pair of unitary handles on said bag and a protective envelope closing the bag between said handles for preventing the unintended loss of packed articles from within the bag.

A method of forming a flexible bag containing therein one or more articles, from a flexible collapsible longitudinally extending tubular wrapper which when collapsed in the transverse direction includes front and back panels defined by longitudinally extending edges, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first transverse seal between said longitudinal edges for joining said front and back panels to form a closed bottom of the bag;
• placing one or more articles to be contained within the bag into the tubular wrapper;
• forming a second transverse seal between said longitudinal edges along a line above said first seal for joining said front and back panels to form a closed top of the bag;
• and
• cutting the tubular wrapper to form a pair of longitudinal slits through said front and back panels from and through said second seal to a point intermediate said first and second seals to thereby define a pair of handles for facilitating transport of the bag, the portion of said second seal between the handles forming a protective envelope for preventing unintended loss of the one or more articles from within the bag.