Patent Publication Number: US-2018050511-A1

Title: Method and System for Manufacturing Bags

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/826,130, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/796,247, filed on Nov. 5, 2012. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/826,130, which was filed on Mar. 14, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/796,247, which was filed on Nov. 5, 2012, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the manufacture of packaging materials such as bags. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and systems for manufacturing bags including a supporting or reinforcing material applied thereto for facilitating opening of the bags and supporting the bags in an open condition. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bags, such as paper or plastic bags, traditionally have been used for the packaging and transport of products from bulk materials such as rice or sand to larger items. Bags generally are cheap and easy to manufacture and can be formed in different configurations and sizes, and can be used for storage and transport of a wide variety of products. In particular, in the Fast Food industry, bags are frequently used for packaging of prepared food items, such as sandwiches, etc. Currently, there is a growing demand for bags or similar packages for use in packaging various products, including sandwiches and other prepared food items, that a worker can easily open, such as with one hand, and have the bag supported in an open configuration to enhance the efficiency of packaging of such products. However, it is equally important that the costs of such bags necessarily must be minimized as much as possible. While various bag designs including reinforcing or supporting materials have been developed, often, the manufacture of such specialty bags having reinforcing layers or materials supplied thereto has required multiple stages or operations, which can significantly increase the cost of manufacture of such bags. 
     Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a system and method of manufacturing bags that can be easily opened and maintained in their open configuration, which addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the present invention generally relates to a system and method for forming reinforced bags. The bags can generally be made from a paper, plastic or other stock material, with each bag further being provided with a reinforcing element or member generally applied between the opened and sealed or closed ends thereof. The reinforcing strips can be of varying widths and can extend about or over the closed ends of the bags, in some embodiments enclosing such closed ends, and will provide support for the bags upon loading with a product or article or series of articles therein. In some embodiments, the reinforcing elements can be folded with their bags into a configuration supporting the bags in a freestanding, upright and opened condition for ease of loading. 
     According to one example aspect or embodiment of the present invention, the bags can be fed from a strip or roll of the bag material along a path of travel, with the bag material generally folded and a longitudinal seam formed therein. The folded and longitudinally seamed web of bag material then can be passed through or between compression rollers that can be adjusted to apply varying amounts of tension or compression to the web of bag material for forming folded side edges therealong, to provide a desired gapping or “fluff” between the plies of the bags to facilitate opening of the bags. Thereafter, the bags can be fed toward a registration position for attachment to the reinforcing elements. 
     The reinforcing elements generally will be fed along a corresponding path of travel toward registration and attachment to the respective bags. The reinforcing material can be fed from a stacked supply or from a roll and typically will be cut into individual strips or lengths. These reinforcing strips further can be creased, scored or subjected to other, similar operations so as to form fold lines at spaced locations along the length thereof As the reinforcing strips are fed along their path of travel toward registration with the bags, the reinforcing strips can be passed through a first or upstream adhesive application station wherein an adhesive material can be applied in a first desired pattern to each of the reinforcing strips. Such an adhesive pattern can be varied and applied in a controlled manner, such as by the use of an adhesive printing system, by spray applicators, or other applicators. The pattern of the adhesive applied to the reinforcing strips generally will be controlled so as to facilitate the folding of the reinforcing strips and bags attached thereto into a desired configuration, whether it be in a freestanding configuration, with the bags being supported by their reinforcing strips, or simply in a supported, opened condition or configuration for ease of loading. 
     The reinforcing strips will be brought into registration with their associated bags and generally will be urged into tight adhesive contact therewith. Thereafter, the bags with the reinforcing strips attached thereto can be passed through a second or downstream adhesive application station wherein an additional adhesive material can be applied to either the bag or peripheral side portions of the reinforcing strips. The peripheral side portions of the reinforcing strips then can be folded and placed into adhesive contact with the bags to complete the formation of the reinforced bags, which then will be collected for storage and/or transport. 
     According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, the system and method for forming reinforced bags can be adapted to formation of multiple lines or series of reinforced bags. In such an embodiment, an elongated web of bag material can be fed along a path of travel to or through a first cutting station for separating the web of bag material into multiple lanes or lines of bag materials. After folding and longitudinally seaming the multiple lines of bag materials, the bag materials can be collected on a storage roll or drum, or alternatively, can be fed directly to a station for application of corresponding reinforcing elements or members thereto. In similar fashion, the reinforcing elements can be fed from a roll of reinforcing material into and through a cutting station where the reinforcing elements are separated into individual reinforcing strips, or alternatively, can be fed from pre-cut stacks or supplies of such reinforcing strips, along a corresponding path of travel toward registration with their respective bags. 
     The reinforcing strips generally will be passed through a first or upstream adhesive application station for application of adhesive in a desired pattern thereto, after which the reinforcing strips can be brought into tight adhesive or bonded contact with the bags. The bags, with the reinforcing strips thus initially adhesively attached thereto, and with portions of the reinforcing strips generally overlapping the sides of the bags, then can be collected, or fed through an additional or downstream adhesive application station, wherein a further or second adhesive material application will be made to the bag or to the overlapping portions of the reinforcing strips. The reinforcing strips then can be fed through a folding station for folding the peripheral side portions of the reinforcing strips into adhesive contact with the bags. If necessary, an end of the bags thereafter can be sealed such as by a heat sealing or other seaming apparatus. The bags then can be collected for storage and transport. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of one embodiment of reinforced bag formed according to the system and method of forming bags according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a plan view of a reinforcing strip that can be applied to the bag of  FIG. 1A , with an example of one application of adhesive as schematically illustrated thereon. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the reinforced bag of  FIG. 1  shown in an opened configuration. 
         FIG. 1D  is yet another perspective view of an alternative configuration of a reinforced bag formed according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1E  is a bottom end view of the reinforced bag of  FIG. 1D . 
         FIG. 1F  is a plan view of a reinforcing strip that can be applied to the bag as shown in 
         FIGS. 1F-1G  with another example application of adhesive illustrated thereon. 
         FIG. 1G  is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a reinforced bag formed according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1H  is a plan view of a reinforcing strip for use with the reinforced bag of  FIG. 1G  with another example application of adhesive illustrated thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a system and method for forming reinforced bags according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an additional embodiment of a system and method for forming reinforced bags according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of still a further embodiment of a system and method for forming reinforced bags in multiple lanes, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Various features, advantages and aspects of the present invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Moreover, it will be understood that the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various aspects, advantages and benefits of the present disclosure, and, together with the following description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention and disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that, according to common practice, various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that dimensions of various features and elements of the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally is directed to a system and method for the formation of bags, and in particular to the formation of bags having a reinforcing material integrated with or applied thereto so as to facilitate the opening of the bags, and once open, for maintaining the bags in such an opened configuration or condition for ease of loading and packaging products within such bags. For example,  FIGS. 1A-1C, 1D-1E and 1G  show examples of reinforced Bags B formed according to the system and method of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the Bags B typically can be formed from a paper stock material, although various plastic or other bag materials also can be used, and can be lined or coated with a desired material. The Bags B also generally will include a tubular body  5  typically having an open upper end  6  and a closed and/or sealed lower end  7 . As discussed with respect to  FIGS. 2-4  below, the body of each Bag B can be formed by the folding of the bag material, with the edges of the bag material generally overlapping and being adhered, sealed or otherwise affixed together along a longitudinally extending seam  8  and by the sealed lower end  7  of the body  5 . Additional opening features, such as cut-outs  9   a  to facilitate gripping, or gussets  9   b  ( FIGS. 1D-1E ) to facilitate opening and maintaining the bag in an open condition also can be provided. 
     A reinforcing element or member  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  as a strip of material that is typically made from a more rigid material such as a clay-coated natural kraft (“CCNK”), can be applied to the body  5  of the Bag ( FIGS. 1A and 1C ), and can be located or applied adjacent the lower or second end  7  of the body  5 . Other materials such various card-stocks, paper, plastic or other synthetic or natural materials also can be used to form the reinforcing strip. The reinforcing strip  10  typically can be applied as a band or strip of a desired width, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B-1E . The reinforcing element  10  further generally will include a main or central body section  11  that can be of different heights or widths including extending partially along the Bag B as shown in  FIGS. 1C, 1D and 1G . In addition, reinforcing elements that are substantially equal in width or height to the width of the body of the Bag also can be used, such as to form stand-alone bags ( FIG. 1D ) and/or bags with gusseted folds or other easy-opening and/or support features. 
     The reinforcing element  10  ( FIG. 1B ) further generally will be adhered to a front surface of the body of the Bag B by an adhesive material, indicated by numeral  12  in  FIG. 1B . Folding peripheral side portions  13 A and  13 B generally will be attached to the edges of the main body section  11  of the reinforcing strip  10  alongside fold lines  14 A/ 14 B (broadly: a “fifth fold line” and a “sixth fold line,” respectively). Each of the side portions  13 A/ 13 B also generally can be of a length sufficient to overlap one another when in a folded configuration about the body of the Bag as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Additional adhesive material indicated by numeral  12 , in  FIG. 1B , further generally can be applied to each of the peripheral side portions  13 A/ 13 B in a desired pattern for adhering the side portions to the body  5  of the Bag B, as well as to each other when the side portions are in their folded or engaging positions wrapped about the body of the Bag as indicated in  FIG. 1A . 
     As additionally illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the adhesive materials  12  applied to the reinforcing strip generally can be applied in desired patterns, with open areas or gaps, indicated by  16 , created or left in the pattern(s) of the adhesive material applied to the reinforcing strip  10 . Thus, for example, the pattern of the adhesive materials, which can be varied as needed or desired, generally will extend along or adjacent additional fold lines  17 A/B (broadly: a “first fold line” and a “third fold line,” respectively) and  18 A/B (broadly: a “second fold line” and a “fourth fold line,” respectively) formed in the body and in the side portions of the reinforcing strip on opposite sides of the side fold lines  14 A/ 14 B. The formation of fold lines  17 A/B and  18 A/B and the open areas  16  or gaps in the adhesive formed or applied between the fold lines  17 A/ 17 B and  18 A/ 18 B define fold and lock zones  19 A/ 19 B ( FIG. 1C ) for the Bag B. 
     The selective application of the adhesive outside of these fold and lock zones further assists in the opening of the bags without interference by the adhesive. As shown in  FIGS. 1C-1E and 1G , when the Bag B is in its opened configuration, such fold and lock zones  19 A/ 19 B are expanded, and will help maintain the Bag in its open configuration. As shown in  FIGS. 1D-1E , these fold and lock zones also can be designed to provide additional stability or support for maintaining the Bags in an upright configuration or free-standing condition for further ease of loading. 
       FIGS. 1D-1E  further illustrate yet another embodiment of a reinforced Bag B′ formed according to the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, the Bag B′ is adapted to be a standing, vertically supported Bag, as shown in  FIG. 1D , wherein the Bag can be maintained in an upright, upstanding orientation with its upper end  6 ′ being in a substantially opened configuration for ease of loading. In this embodiment, the reinforcing element  10 ′ generally can be configured in similar fashion to the reinforcing element  10  of  FIG. 1B , with an elongated body having a main/center body ( FIG. 1F )  11 ′ having fold lines  14 A′ and  14 B′ separating a main or center body section  11 ′ of the reinforcing element  10 ′ from peripheral side portions  13 A′ and  13 B′. Additional gusset fold lines  17 A′/B′ and  18 A′/B′ also can be formed on opposite sides of the fold lines  14 A′ and  14 B′, with the gusset fold lines  17 A′/B′ and  18 A′/B′ generally being shown as having a substantially arcuate or curved/semicircular configuration (although other configurations also can be used) so as to define gusseted areas or fold and lock zones  19 A′/ 19 B′. In addition, the reinforcing element  10 ′ shown in  FIG. 1F  illustrates yet another potential adhesive pattern  12 ′ being applied to the main body  11 ′ and peripheral side portions  13 A′/ 13 B′ of the reinforcing strip, with open areas  16 ′ defined therebetween. As illustrated in  FIG. 1F , the adhesive material can be applied only to limited portions or sections of the reinforcing strip, as opposed to being applied substantially across the width thereof in a desired pattern as illustrated in  FIG. 1B . As a result, as indicated in  FIG. 1F , the body  5 ′ of the Bag B′ can be sufficiently adhered to its reinforcing element  10 ′, with the lower or bottom end  7  of the Bag body  5 ′ remaining substantially free from attachment thereto as needed or desired. 
       FIG. 1G  illustrates another embodiment of a reinforced Bag B″ wherein the reinforcing element  10 ′ is extended about and substantially encapsulates the bottom or lower end  7  of the Bag body  5 . In such an embodiment, the reinforcing element thus can substantially seal and enclose the bottom or lower end of the Bag without the Bag necessarily having to be separately sealed. As shown in  FIG. 1H , in this embodiment, the reinforcing element  10 ″ generally can include a body  20  including first and second body sections  20 A and  20 B formed on opposite sides of a fold line  21 . Additional arcuate or curved fold lines  22 A/ 22 B define gusseted or lock and fold areas  23 A and  23 B for supporting the Bag in a substantially opened configuration, such as shown in  FIG. 1D . Glue flaps  24  can be formed along side edges of at least one of the body sections  20 A or  20 B, attached along fold lines  24 A, as shown in  FIG. 1H , and with the gusset or lock and fold zones  23 A being defined or formed in the areas bordered by fold lines  22 A and  22 B in similar fashion to lock and fold zones  19 A/ 19 B of the reinforcing strip  10  shown in  FIG. 1B . 
       FIGS. 2-4  generally illustrate various example embodiments of systems and methods  25 ,  100  and  200  for forming the reinforced Bags B in accordance with the principles of present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in a first embodiment  25  of the system and method for manufacturing reinforced Bags, a bag material M, which can include a preprinted paper or other material, is fed from a roll or supply  26  along an initial path of travel, as indicated by arrow  27 . The bag material can be pre-printed both with various designs, lettering, labels or other graphics. The web of bag material can be fed through an initial die cutting station  28 , shown in  FIG. 2  as including a rotary die cutter  29 , having a first or upper, cutting roller  31  to which one or more cutting edges or blades  32  can be mounted. The cutting edges  32  of the cutting roller  31  are rotated into engagement with the bag material, with the paper material being engaged between the cutting roller  31  and a lower, second roller or anvil  33 . The spacing of the rollers further can be adjusted by adjusting the framework  34  thereof 
     As the bag material is fed between the upper and lower rollers of the die cutting station, a series of perforations, score lines, cuts or other lines of separation  35  can be formed at spaced intervals along the length of the web bag material as indicated in  FIG. 2 . These perforations can provide lines of separation for detaching or separating the Bags from the web of bag material. Additionally, the perforations can be formed by the rotary die cutter in a variety of areas/locations of the web and/or in a variety of configurations for defining further opening features of the Bags, e.g., for splitting or separating the Bags longitudinally or for facilitating opening of the Bags for product loading therein, such as forming/defining thumb slots or other features for assisting in separating the unsealed edges of the Bag. It further will be understood by those skilled in the art that other types of cutting stations or cutting mechanisms also can be used, and that such perforations may not be used/necessary depending on the bags being formed. 
     As the now perforated bag material web is fed further along its initial path of travel  27 , it will be passed through a folding or tube forming station  36 . The tube forming station  36  generally can include one or more folding plates, such as indicated at  37  (only one of which is shown). The folding plates guide the peripheral side edges E 1 /E 2  of the web of bag material M inwardly and about a mandrel or similar folding mechanism in order to form a tube or sleeve as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thereafter, the folded web of bag material can be passed through a seaming station  38 , which can include a series of heat seal bars  39  that engage and form the longitudinal seals  8  for the Bags. As further will be understood by those skilled in the art, additional seaming systems or apparatus also can be used, for example, such seams can be formed by adhesive applicators or other seaming mechanisms. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the folded and seamed web of bag material M thereafter is fed about a first guide roll  41  and into engagement with a bottom seaming mechanism  42 . As the web of bag material passes about roller  41 , the side edges/fold lines of the Bags generally will be formed. The formation of such fold lines/side edges, and thus the tightness of such folds, can be controlled by controlling the compression and/or tension of the web of bag material passing about the roller  41 , to enable a “fluff” or gapping between the plies of the Bags, for ease of opening of the Bags. A compression roller or nip roller (shown by dashed lines  41 A in  FIG. 2 ) also can be positioned adjacent the roller  41  such that the web of bag material is compressed or flattened therebetween, with the nip or compression applied to the web of bag material passing between the rollers being controlled to control the extent of the folding of the side edges as needed or desired to provide the desired gapping for opening of the Bags. 
     The bottom seaming mechanism  42  receives the web of bag material from the roller  41 , and is shown in  FIG. 2  as including a rotary heat seal roller having a body  43  including a series of heating or sealing elements  44  arranged at spaced locations about the circumference of the roll  43 . As the web of bag material passes thereover, the heating or sealing elements  44  of the rotary heat seal mechanism can form the bottom seal/end  7  for each of the Bags at spaced intervals along the web of bag material adjacent the perforations  35  formed therein. A nip roller or other bearing surface (not shown) further can be provided adjacent the heat seal roller  43  for providing a contact surface against which the sealing elements  44  can engage the web of bag material to form the sealed ends of the Bags. 
     The web of bag material, with the longitudinal seam  8  and bottom sealed portions  7  for the Bags formed therein, thereafter generally will be fed into an inline cutting station  46  for separation of the individual Bags from the web of bag material as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The cutting station  46 , in one example embodiment, can include a rotary cutoff knife or cutter  47 , having a rotating drum  48  with a series of spaced cutting blades  49  mounted thereabout. The cutting blades can be aligned with certain ones of the perforations  35  formed in the web of bag material, or other locations between these perforations as needed for forming various features in the Bags and/or for separating the Bags if needed, and will engage the web of bag material against a vacuum drum  51 . The vacuum drum  51  will apply a suction or vacuum against the web of bag material so as to hold the web of bag material against the surface  52  of the vacuum drum as the cutting blades  49  of the rotary cutoff knife  47  engage and separate the Bags from the web of bag material. A series of ports or openings  53  further generally can be formed in the outer surface  52  of the vacuum drum  51  for applying a vacuum or suction to the web of bag material to hold the cut Bags thereagainst as the Bags B are moved toward registration with their reinforcing strips  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     At substantially the same time that the Bags B are being cut from the web of bag material M, a series of reinforcing strips  10  will be fed along a coincident path of travel  60  for engagement and application to the Bags B. The reinforcing strips  10  can be fed from a blank feeder, generally indicated at  61  in  FIG. 2 , in which a series of reinforcing strip blanks can be fed from a magazine or stack  62  individually along their path of travel  60 . Alternatively, as also indicated in  FIG. 2 , the reinforcing strips  10  can be fed directly from a cutting station  65  wherein a roll  66  of a reinforcing material, such as a pre-printed CCNK material, paper material, plastic, or other, similar reinforcing material, can be fed between a pair of upper and lower cutting rollers  67  and  68  of the cutting station  65 . At least one of the rollers (e.g., the upper roller  67 ) can have a series of cutting blades or cutting edges  69  formed at spaced locations thereabout, such that as the web of reinforcing strip material is fed through the cutting station, a series of individual reinforcing strip blanks are cut or separated therefrom. The reinforcing strips then can be fed along their path of travel  60  toward engagement and application to the Bags B. As also indicated in  FIG. 2 , the reinforcing strips  10  can be scored, creased or otherwise engaged to form fold lines  14 A/ 14 B. For example, the reinforcing strips, after being cut from the roll  66 , can be passed between compression rolls  64 / 65 , one of which can have a blade or similar scoring or creasing element  66 , to form fold lines therein. 
     As the reinforcing strips  10  are fed toward registration and engagement with the Bags B, each of the reinforcing strips generally will pass through a first adhesive application station  71  wherein an adhesive material can be applied in a desired pattern to each of the reinforcing strips. In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , this first adhesive application station  71  can include a cold adhesive printer  72 , which includes a rotating drum  73  with a series of printing areas or heads  74  formed or provided at spaced locations about the periphery of the drum  73 . As the drum is rotated in the direction of arrow  76 , it can pass over an adhesive roller or applicator, shown at  77 , wherein a cold adhesive material can be picked up/applied along the adhesive printing areas  74 . Alternatively, a series of spray nozzles could be provided for supplying the adhesive material to the adhesive printer  72 , either positioned internally or externally. 
     As the reinforcing strips pass in engagement with the printing areas  74  of the printer  72 , the adhesive material will be printed/applied to the reinforcing strips in a desired pattern. For example, in  FIG. 2 , a pair of spaced lines or areas of adhesive material  12  are shown applied to the reinforcing strips at “A” adjacent the fold lines  14 A/ 14 B thereof. However, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 1F  above, various patterns of adhesive material  12 / 12 ′ can be applied to the reinforcing strips to apply and hold the Bags to their reinforcing strips as needed, depending upon the application and/or configuration of the Bags and reinforcing strips, and it will be understood that the spaced lines of adhesive A shown in  FIG. 2  are simply shown for purposes of illustration and not limitation. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the reinforcing strips are generally brought into registration with the Bags at the vacuum drum  51  after the Bags have been cut or separated from the web of bag material. A nip or compression roller (shown by dashed lines  78 ) further can be provided beneath the vacuum drum  51 , with the reinforcing strips and Bags being passed between the vacuum drum and compression or nip roller so as to urge the reinforcing strips into tight, adhesively bonded contact with the Bags. The now combined Bags and reinforcing strips thereafter are fed along a downstream or secondary path of travel, indicated by arrow  80 . As also indicated in  FIG. 2 , the Bags are generally fed with side or end portions  13 A and  13 B of their attached reinforcing strips overlapping the peripheral side edges of the Bags and with the Bags generally being in a face down or inverted condition with their longitudinal seams  8  facing upwardly. 
     The Bags B with their reinforcing strips applied thereto thereafter can be fed through a secondary adhesive applicator  85 , which in this embodiment is shown as including a series of cold adhesive applicator nozzles  86 , for application of additional adhesive material  12  in a desired pattern along the side portions of the reinforcing strips, such as illustrated at  14 A/ 14 B in  FIG. 1C . Alternatively, the downstream or secondary adhesive applicator  85  could be eliminated, and the adhesive material applied to the side portions of the reinforcing strips could be printed or otherwise applied in the first or upstream adhesive application station  71 , in conjunction with the application of the adhesive material  12  ( FIG. 1B ) to the main body portion  11  of the reinforcing strips, with open areas or controlled gaps  16  in the adhesive pattern applied to facilitate movement and/or folding of the lock and fold zones or gusseted areas of the Bags to a generally inwardly collapsed or folded configuration so as to enable easy opening and maintaining of the Bags in an opened condition as needed.. 
     As the Bags are fed further along their secondary path of travel  80 , the side portions  13 A/ 13 B of the reinforcing strips are engaged by folders, which can include folding plates or other folding mechanisms, such as folding plates or guides  87 , or other folding mechanisms which engage and urge the side portions upwardly and over the body of the Bags, as indicated by arrows  88  and  89 . As a result, the side portions of the reinforcing strips are progressively fed over and into engagement or adhesively engaged contact with the Bags and are sealed thereagainst. The resultant reinforced Bags B then can be collected in stacks and removed for cartoning and transport and/or storage. 
       FIG. 3  generally illustrates an alternative embodiment  100  of the system and method for forming Bags B according to the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, the web of bag material M is fed from its upstream feed roll  26  through cutting station  28  for perforating or otherwise scoring or forming lines of separation therein, and into the tube forming station  36 , as generally discussed above with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , after the longitudinal seam  8  has been formed by the heat seal bars  39  of the tube seaming station  38 , the web of bag material M will be fed about guide roller  41  and directly into the cutting station  46  for engagement and cutting of the Bags therefrom by the cutting blades  49  of the rotary cutoff knife  47  of the cutting station without the end seams  7  of the Bags being formed. After the Bags B are cut from the web of bag material, they generally are engaged on the upper surface  52  of the vacuum drum  51  and are carried into adhesive engagement with the reinforcing strips  10  as indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Thereafter, the Bags B with their reinforcing strips  10  applied thereto, can be passed through the downstream adhesive station  85  where the adhesive material  12  is applied to the side portions  13 A and  13 B of the reinforcing strips  10 , such as by spray nozzles or other applicators  86 . The reinforcing strips then will pass through and be engaged by folding mechanisms which progressively fold the side portions of the reinforcing strips over and against the body of the Bags as shown by arrows  88 / 89  in  FIG. 3 . 
     Once the peripheral/side portions of the reinforcing strips have been adhered together and sealed against the body of the Bag  5  to which they are applied, the Bags then can be rotated, for example, by approximately 90° in order to reorient the Bags as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the Bags are reoriented, the lower or bottom ends of the Bags are presented to and are passed through a bottom seaming station  105 , here shown as including upper and lower heat seal bars  106  and  107 , although other edge sealing systems or stations also can be used. As the bottom edges of the Bags are passed between the heat seal bars  106  and  107 , the bottom edges  7  of each of the Bags are sealed or otherwise closed to form the completed Bags. The completed Bags then can be stacked for cartoning and transport. 
     Still a further embodiment  200  of the system and method of forming Bags according to the principles of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the system can be designed for the formation of Bags in a multi-lane format to enable formation of multiple lines or groups of Bags substantially simultaneously. Shown in  FIG. 4 , an enlarged or expanded web of bag material M′ is provided, here shown as being sufficient to form at least three lines L of Bags, although more or fewer lines of Bags also can be formed depending upon the size and configuration of the resultant Bags. 
     The expanded web of bag material M′ generally will be fed from a supply roll  201  along its initial path of travel  202  along a tube/bag forming line or portion  203  of the system  200 . As discussed above with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the web of bag material can be pre-printed, or, alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the web of bag material M′ can be passed through a series of one or more printing stations  204 A/B. Each of the printing stations can include a series of print rollers  206 , compression or bearing rollers  207  and a paint or ink supply  208 , here shown as including a series of applicator rolls  209  as applying ink or paint from a trough or similar supply  211 . While two printing stations  204 A/B generally are shown in  FIG. 4 , such as for printing two colors, it will further be understood by those skilled in the art that additional or fewer printing stations also can be used. 
     After passing through the print stations  204 A/B, the web of bag material then can be fed through a cutting station  215  for cutting and/or separating the web of bag material into a series of separate lanes or strips for forming the Bags. The cutting station  215  can include various types of cutting systems, and are here shown in one embodiment as including a rotary die cutter  216  having a cutting roller  217  with longitudinal cutting edges or blades  218  as well as vertical cutting edges or blades  219  spaced therealong. A compression or bearing roller  221  further generally can be mounted below the cutting roller  217 , with both rollers being adjustably mounted on a frame  222 . As the web of bag material is passed between the cutting roller and bearing roller, a series of longitudinal perforations, score lines, cuts or lines of separation  223  can be formed across the width of the web of bag material, such as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2 , while at the same time additional perforations, slits, score lines, cuts or other lines of separation  224  ( FIG. 4 ) can be formed longitudinally along the length of the web of bag material. 
     As the perforated/cut web of bag material proceeds downstream from the cutting station  215 , it will pass through an initial folding or tube forming station  230  in which the peripheral side edges of the now separated lanes or lines L of bag material will be progressively folded by folders  231  to form tubes or sleeves, as generally indicated in  FIG. 4 . The folders  231  further can act to help separate the web of bag material into its separate lanes or lines L along the lines of separation  224  formed by the vertical cutting edges  219  of the cutting roller  217 . Each of the lines of bag material thereafter can be moved into engagement with a series of heat seal bars  235  for formation of the longitudinal seams  8  therealong. 
     After seaming, the lines of bag material can be fed about a series of rollers or guides  236 , for forming the fold lines of the Bags, with the formation of such fold lines being controlled as discussed above with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , and wound about a storage roll  237  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This storage roll of seamed and perforated bag material can be transported or transferred to a separate multi-lane combining portion/line or machine  240  of the system  200  for application of the reinforcing strips  10  thereto. Alternatively, the lines of bag material could be fed directly into the combining portion  240 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a roll  241  of a reinforcing strip stock material, such as a CCNK roll stock  242 , which can be pre-printed with various graphics or labeling, will be fed along its initial path of travel  243  through a cutting station  244  for cutting of the reinforcing strip stock material  242  into individual blanks or strips  10 . The cutting station  244  generally is shown as including a first or upper cutting roller  246  having a series of laterally extending cutting edges or blades  247 , and a series of vertically extending or circumferential cutting edges or blades  248 , which engage or bear against a lower compression or bearing roll  249  as the reinforcing strip stock material  242  passes therebetween. As a result, as indicated in  FIG. 4 , the reinforcing strip stock material generally is cut or segmented across its length and width to form individual blanks for the reinforcing strips  10 , with the number of blanks formed across the reinforcing strip stock material generally corresponding to the number of lines L of bag material formed in the expanded web of bag material M′. 
     After cutting, the reinforcing strips  10  thereafter are passed through a downstream printing station  251 , here illustrated as including a cold adhesive printer  252 . The cold adhesive printer  252  generally can include a series of rotating drums  253 , although a single drum also could be used, having print heads or areas  254  arranged in spaced series about the circumference of the drums. An adhesive supply roller  256 , such as a kiss roller or similar adhesive applicator which supplies adhesive from a trough or other supply  257 , is positioned adjacent/upstream from the cold adhesive printer for supplying adhesive to each of the print areas  254 . As discussed with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cold adhesive printer will apply adhesive materials A in a series of predetermined patterns or designs to the reinforcing strips  10 , and although discrete lines of adhesive are illustrated for purposes of clarity, it will be understood that a variety of other, different patterns of adhesive materials generally can and will be applied to the reinforcing strips. 
     Once the adhesive material has been applied to the reinforcing strips, the reinforcing strips can be brought into registration with their corresponding Bags by the passage of the reinforcing strips into engagement with the Bags being conveyed about a vacuum drum  260 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a supply roll  237 ′ including a series of discrete lines of discrete bag material, can feed the lines L of bag material about a series of guide rollers  261  and between a series of upper and lower registration drive rolls  262 A and  262 B for feeding to a cutting station  265 . The registration drive rolls generally can be driven or operated so as to control the flow or movement of the lines of bag material being fed to the cutting station  265  to ensure that the lines of bag materials are aligned with the rotary cutoff knives  266  of the cutting station to ensure proper cutting and separation of the Bags B. 
     As the Bags are cut by the cutting blades  267  of the rotary cutoff knife  266 , they are conveyed by the vacuum drum into registration and engagement with the reinforcing strips passing therebelow. The bodies of the Bags B will be urged or pressed into adhesive contact with the adhesive materials applied to the reinforcing strips so as to affix the reinforcing strips thereto as the Bags and reinforcing strips move along their combined path of travel indicated by arrow  270 . In this embodiment, the peripheral/side portions  13 A/ 13 B can remain free of adhesive at this point so as to enable the combined/attached Bags and reinforcing strips to be collected and stacked, as indicated at  271 , for either storage or transfer to a Folder/Gluer line  275 . Alternatively, the Folder/Gluer line  275  of the system  200  can be provided inline with the multi-lane combining machine section or portion  240 . 
     Additionally, the reinforcing strip blanks can be scored, nicked, perforated or otherwise cut in a manner by the cutting station  244 , whereby the blanks remain at least partially connected or linked. As a result, the blanks can be handled as a single or unitary sheet of blanks for application to the Bags to facilitate handling of the blanks, including after application of the Bags thereto. These sheets of reinforcing strips with the Bags attached can be stacked as work-in-progress stacks  271  and can be thus transported to the folder/gluer line  215  in connected sheets for ease of handling. Thereafter, the reinforcing strips can be separated by various means, either prior to feeding the attached reinforcing strips and Bags into the Folder/Gluer, or as part of the downstream folding and gluing operation. 
     The combined Bags and reinforcing strips generally can be fed from a magazine or stack  276  along a path of travel, as indicated by arrow  277 , through the Folder/Gluer line for folding in the side portions  13 A and  13 B of the reinforcing strips  10  about the bodies of their attached Bags B to complete the formation of the Bags B. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an adhesive applicator  280 , here shown as including a series of adhesive applicator nozzles  281 , can apply an adhesive material to the side portions of the reinforcing strips and/or to the body portion of the Bags to which the reinforcing strips are applied. Thereafter, the Bags and reinforcing strips can continue along their path of travel  277  through or between a series of folders, which will progressively engage and fold the side portions  13 A and  13 B of the reinforcing strips upwardly and over the bodies of their Bags and into substantially flat, adhesive contact therewith. The application of the adhesive material to the side portions of the reinforcing strips will be controlled so as to apply a desired pattern as needed for providing sufficient amount of adhesive to adhere the side portions to the Bag body and each other as needed, while still providing for lock and fold zones or areas  19 A/ 19 B along which the sides of the Bags can be expanded as needed to open the Bags and maintain the Bags in an opened, stable configuration as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
     After the side portions of each of the reinforcing strips have been folded and secured, the Bags then generally will be rotated or turned approximately 90° as indicated at turn section  283  in  FIG. 4 . This enables the bottom edge of each of the Bags to be presented for engagement and sealing by heat seal bars  286 . After the bottom edge  7  of each of the Bags has been sealed, the Bags can be collected for cartoning and transport. 
     The foregoing description generally illustrates and describes various embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made to the above-discussed construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as disclosed herein, and that it is further intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be construed to cover various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments, which shall be considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, various features and characteristics of the present invention as discussed herein may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the present invention.