Reinforced bag seam, method and apparatus for making same

An apparatus for making a film bag with reinforced bag seams, comprising:

• a film extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of film material;
• a flattener, said flattener producing a continuous web of flattened film material;
• said web having a first surface and a second surface;
• a fold maker;
• said fold maker having a displacing portion and a receiving portion;
• said receiving portion disposed adjacent said first surface of said web;
• said displacing portion disposed adjacent said second surface of said web and moving cyclically toward said second surface to a first position to locate a portion of said web into said receiving portion, thereby forming a fold in said web, and cyclically away from said second surface to a second position outside of said fold;
• said fold having an leading surface, a trailing surface, a first edge disposed adjacent said web and a second edge spaced from said first edge;
• a fold retention device, said retention device preventing said fold from opening as said web moves through said apparatus;
• a presser, said presser disposed adjacent said first surface of said web and urging said fold against said web after folding;
• a sealer, said sealer providing at least one seam across said web through said fold, thereby sealing at least six layers of film together to form a reinforced bag seam;
• a cutter, said cutter severing a sealed portion of said web from a remaining, portion of said web;
• a transport mechanism, said transport mechanism moving said flattened film material from said extruder, through said flattener, into said fold maker, beneath said presser, into said sealer and to said cutter;
• said transport mechanism comprising first and second drive rollers, said first drive roller movably disposed adjacent said web before said fold maker and said second drive roller disposed in contact with said web between said presser and said sealer;
• said first drive rollers being out of contact with said web when said displacing portion of said fold maker is in said first position to locate a portion of said web into said receiving portion to form said fold;
• and
• said first drive rollers being in contact with and driving said web when said displacing portion of said fold maker is in said second position outside of said fold, thereby preventing said fold from opening as said fold enters said presser.