Patent Description:
Effective filling of bags with content or articles on an industrial scale is an important technical area. Filling stations have been developed over many years and have been configured to operate effectively.

Filling stations may be those disclosed in <CIT> or <CIT> or <CIT> or <CIT> or <CIT> or <CIT> and known as Schur®Star or Schur®StarLight. Other similar filling stations or alternative filling stations may be used. Bags often serve a purpose beyond keeping the content or articles in portions for delivery. Bags may provide protection to the content or articles and improve or even enable delivery and presentation of their content. A barrier on the bag may be required.

Such filling stations and webs of bags have been co-developed and mutually adopted to work effectively.

Polymers have shown to provide both effective handling and operation as a guide and operational interface with a filling station. Polymers or the likes have shown to be very suitable as guides on a web bag since they are flexible i.e. durable and tear resistant.

Therefore webs or webs of bags are effectively produced in the same material.

However, bags of a material optimized and e.g. with automated or semi-automated processes have shown to pose a negative impact on the environment when disposed. Accordingly, there is a need to improve and provide alternatives to the art of industrial filling of bags on an industrial scale.

There is a need to provide a durable bag that can be disposed with low environmental impact.

There is also a need to provide a bag that can be filled and i.e. withstand automated or semi-automated industrial processes to provide high quantities of environmentally sound bags.

At the same time there is a need to secure and maintain existing effective production systems, i.e. effective filling stations that are automated or semi-automated. <CIT> discloses a prior art web of bags configured to be guided through the filling station.

<CIT> discloses a prior art web of bags.

<CIT> discloses a chain of bags connected to a strip, the material of the strip being different to the bag material.

The present invention was made in view of the prior art described above, and the object of the present invention concerns aspects as will be described in the following.

In an aspect there is a web of bags configured to be guided through a filling station, wherein the web of bags is according to claim <NUM>.

Thereby is achieved that existing configurations and compositions of guides can be maintained and used on existing filling stations whilst allowing that bag materials with a reduced environmental impact can be provided.

Hence, bags of environmentally more sound materials than guide materials can be filled in an optimized fashion in an automated or semi-automated process. Even on an industrial scale.

A further advantage is achieved by providing durability; that is a bag that is durable during the filling process and during use as a bag per se, and a bag that can be disposed with low environmental impact. That is that the bag can be filled, i.e. withstand an automated or semi-automated industrial process to provide high quantities of environmentally sound bags.

A further advantage is that highly effective filling systems and machinery can be used and maintained and thereby existing effective production systems, i.e. effective filling stations that are automated or semi-automated can be used.

The guide material may be a flexible i.e. stretchable material that is used in existing filling systems.

The bag material may be an environmentally sound material such as paper or aluminum.

In embodiments the bag material may be selected amongst fibrous materials such as paper or metallic foils such as aluminum foils.

In an embodiment, the bag material of the web of bags is paper. The paper used may vary according to the need. The paper may be coated with a protective barrier.

The paper may have a density of <NUM> to <NUM>/m2 or even to <NUM>/m2. The paper may be laminated or layered structure of a, in example, <NUM>/m2 and a <NUM>/m2.

The paper may be partially or fully coated paper. For fully coated paper, the coating may constitute <NUM>-<NUM> weight %.

The thickness may be in the order of <NUM>-<NUM>, such as <NUM>-<NUM>, or say about <NUM>-<NUM>. The tensile stiffness (MD) may be in the order of <NUM> kNm/g.

The paper or fibrous material may be carton or cardboard types.

The bag material of the web of bags may also be aluminum or aluminum foils.

Such fibrous materials and metallic foils generally have lower flexibilities and are subject to tear during handling and in particular during industrial scale handling. Such materials however possess advantageous properties in respect of environmental soundness or protective properties.

In an embodiment, the guide material of the web of bags is polymer or plastic, such as a thermoplastic or thermoplastic polymer.

Guide materials may be a polymer such as polypropylene or polyethylene. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the differences and be able to select configurations providing the flexibility and durability suitable for existing filling stations. Such polymers exist with different sealing and densities suitable for specific packaging or filling purposes. The polymers are sealable, temperature resistant and have suitable mechanical properties in respect of sufficient puncture resistance and flexibility balanced with rigidity.

In an embodiment, the guide material is a polymer and the bag material is a paper.

This particular combination of a polymer, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and paper provides an effective production on an industrial scale of environmentally sound bags with content, which bags can be disposed or recycled.

In example, a bag of paper made of paper with a density of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2 may be produced and with as little additives as possible such as less than <NUM> weight %.

In an embodiment, the web of bags may at least in one or more of the bags be attached to the guide by means of a splicing. The bag material may be prepared with a print defining a splicing path and the bag and the guide may be connected along at least part of the splicing path.

A splicing may be a way of connecting the guide and bag material. The splicing may be made by welding, including warm welding, or by gluing using glues or other means of gluing. Other ways may be by sewing.

In an embodiment, the print on the bag of the web of bags may be made by a lacquer or glue.

A person skilled in the art may use polymer dispersion that is aqueous and acid-modified. Polyolefin dispersion may be used.

Such polymer dispersion may be been designed or formulated according to specific uses of guide materials and bag materials For paper and polymer combinations such polyolefin dispersion may be mixed and serve as a starting point and base can be modified with rheology modifiers, waxes, etc. as required and thereby forming a resistant bonding upon proper treatment such as thermal curing.

A lacquer or varnish as well as glue with binding properties may be selected.

In the invention, the guide is connected to one or more bags on the inside of one or more of the bags. The connection may be placed substantially along the bag opening of one or more of the bags of the web of bags.

It is understood that a bag has an inside and an outside. Attaching or connecting the guide material on the inside of the bag reduces the risk of tearing or destroying a bag or the bag web during the process of filling.

In an embodiment, the paper of the web of bags is pure paper comprising no more than a certain weight % of additives, such as less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, <NUM> weight % or <NUM> weight %.

By pure paper is understood a pure pulp part. The pulp may be so-called virgin pulp or recycled pulp.

The additives may be additives mixed into the paper or provided as a full or partial coating on one or more sides of the paper.

In an aspect there is a method of filling a bag with content as set out in claim <NUM>.

The method allows for effective industrial production of environmentally sound bags packed with content or articles.

There is an act of separating bags from the guide to produce individual consumer bags with content or articles. The bag may be cut of or otherwise separated. The cut may be in part of the bag material without any guide material. Alternatively part of the guide material may be left for later process.

There is an act of closing the bag. The bag may be closed by use of splicing, welding or gluing as disclosed previously.

Hence a bag of a different material than a guiding material effective or optimized for filling stations is effectively produced. Such bag may be of an environmental sound or disposable material contrary to the guide material.

In an embodiment in the method of filling a bag, the guide material may be a polymer and the bag material may be a paper. The guide material and the polymer material may be as previously disclosed.

In example, a bag of paper made of paper with a density of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2 may be produced and possibly with as little additives as possible such as less than <NUM> weight %.

In an exemplary aspect there is a bag product with content produced by a process according to claim <NUM>.

Hence an end product bag, or consumer product bag, of a specific material such as paper being an environmentally sound material may be provided.

As outlined the bag has no guiding material left a durable bag may be readily disposable.

In example a polymer may be used as guiding material and paper may be used as a bag material. Durable bag of paper with a density of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2 may be produced. The weight % of additives may be controlled by simple and result in a bag that can be disposed within environmental requirements.

Thereby delivering a paper bag with content or articles, where the paper bag after usage can be disposed.

The bag being paper is pure paper comprising no more than a certain weight % of additives, such as less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, <NUM> weight % or <NUM> weight %.

Ultimately a disposable paper bag with a weight % of less than <NUM> weight % may be produced on an industrial scale.

In an aspect there is a use of a web of bags according to claim <NUM>. The bag material is different from the guide material. The web of bags may comprise bags of a bag material less flexible than the guide material. The web of bags is according to claim <NUM>.

Existing filling stations as exemplified and disclosed in the mentioned patent documents and similar devices may be constructed or used without or with few adjustments thereby reusing existing industrial capacity to effectively produce environmentally friendly packaging or bags.

Other existing filling stations suitable for a flexible guide as disclosed may be constructed or used as well.

Relevant embodiments of the invention are also disclosed in the section "detailed description of the invention", where <FIG> describe the present invention and <FIG> are not according to the invention and are present for illustrations purposes only.

In the context of the present invention, unless indicated otherwise, "%" indicates % weight/weight (w/w).

In the context of the present invention, the terms "about", "around", "approximately" or the symbol "~" can be used interchangeably, and are meant to comprise variations generally accepted in the field, e.g. comprising analytical errors and the like. Thus "about" may also indicate measuring uncertainty commonly experienced in the art, which can be in the order of magnitude of e.g. +/- <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or even <NUM> percent.

The term "comprising" is to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated parts, steps, acts, features, or components, but does not exclude the presence of one or more additional parts, steps, features, or components. For example, a composition comprising a chemical compound may thus comprise additional chemical compounds. The following aspect and/or embodiment are not according to the invention and are present for illustrations purposes only.

In exemplary embodiment there is a web of bags configured to be guided through a filling station, wherein the web of bags comprises a continuous guide of a guide material configured to be guided through the filling station. The guide is connected with one or more bags of a bag material and with a bag opening.

The bag material comprises the same material as the guide material. The bag material and guide material is selected amongst fibrous materials such as paper.

The bag material may be less flexible than the guide material.

Thereby is achieved that existing configurations and geometries of guides can be maintained and used on existing filling stations whilst allowing that bag materials with a reduced environmental impact can be provided.

Hence, bags and guides of environmentally more sound materials can be filled in an optimized fashion in an automated or semi-automated process. Even on an industrial scale.

Furthermore the guide material shares the same advantageous characteristics after use as mentioned for the bag.

The guide material may be a more flexible material than the bag material.

In an exemplary embodiment the web of bags is formed from a single piece of fibrous material, e.g. a sheet or a roll.

In an exemplary embodiment the guide material is a first fibrous material such as a first paper material and the bag material is a second fibrous material such as a second paper material.

Thus the materials may be disposable and environmentally friendly to the same extend. The guide may be recycled or disposed. The bags may be of different properties the first and second materials may be distinct and separated.

The guide material may be a first type of fibrous material such as a first paper material. The guide material can be selected as disclosed below. The guide material may comprise additives to increase the flexibility and stretchability of the guide.

In example, a guide of paper made of paper with a density of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2 or less. In example the guide may be produced with as little additives as possible such as less than <NUM> weight %, <NUM> weight %, and <NUM> weight %.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bag material of the web of bags is paper. The paper used may vary according to the need. The paper may be coated with a protective barrier.

The paper may have a density of <NUM> to <NUM>/m2 or even to <NUM>/m2. The paper may be laminated or layered structure of a, in example, <NUM>/m2 and a <NUM>/m2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the web of bags may at least in one or more of the bags be attached to the guide by means of a splicing. The bag material may be prepared with a print defining a splicing path and the bag and the guide may be connected along at least part of the splicing path.

In an exemplary embodiment, the print on the bag of the web of bags may be made by a lacquer or glue.

A lacquer or varnish as well as a glue with binding properties may be selected.

In an exemplary embodiment, the guide may be connected to one or more bags on the inside of one or more of the bags. The connection may be placed substantially along the bag opening of one or more of the bags of the web of bags.

In an exemplary embodiment, the paper of the web of bags is pure paper mixed with no more than a certain weight % of additives, such as less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, <NUM> weight % or <NUM> weight %.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is a method of filling a bag with content, the method comprising acts as follows.

There is an act of providing a web of bags as a continuous guide of a guide material configured to be guided through the filling station and wherein the guide is connected to one or more bags of a bag material and with a bag opening, wherein the bag material comprises the same material as the guide material and wherein the guide material and bag material is selected amongst fibrous materials such as paper.

There is an act of guiding the web of bags though a filling station in the guide.

There is an act of filling content into one or more bags.

There is an act of disconnecting the one or more bags from the guide.

The method allows for effective industrial production of environmentally sound bags packed with content or articles. The method also allows for environmentally sound guide material.

There is an act of separating bags from the guide to produce individual consumer bags with content or articles. The bag may be cut of or otherwise separated. The cut may be in part of the bag material without any guide material. Alternatively part of the guide material may be left.

In an exemplary embodiment there is a use of a web of bags in a filling station configured to guide a web of bags with a guide of a fibrous material such as paper and to fill bags, wherein the web of bags comprises bags of a bag material of a fibrous material such as paper.

The web of bags as disclosed may be used.

Alternatively to the above described web bags with the same guide and bag materials there may be the following further aspects of a web of bags.

The exemplary embodiment also concerns alternative aspects as will be described in the following.

In an exemplary embodiment there is a web of bags configured to be guided through a filling station.

<FIG> illustrates a known system with a filling station <NUM> for filling a web of bags <NUM>. The filling station <NUM> may be a manual filling station <NUM> or a semi-automatic filling station <NUM> or an automatic filling station <NUM>.

The system is designed to fill bags <NUM> from a roll of web of bags, wherein the web of bags is made from a plastic material. The skilled person would know which plastic materials are used. The used plastic materials' characteristics are well known and the systems with filling stations are designed to work with these plastic materials. There is however a growing need for systems and webs of bags for filling paper bags.

The problem is that the present systems are designed for polymer or plastic materials and the characteristics of paper differ significantly from the used plastics or polymers. Paper's tear resistance is lower than the presently used plastics. Furthermore, paper cannot undergo the same elastic or plastic deformation as the polymer or plastics.

The skilled person would know that presently polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are used as material in web of bags.

If a plastic web of bags <NUM> is replaced with a paper web of bags <NUM>, the system would tear or damage too high a number of the bags for it to be viable. Thus, a new system must be designed taking into account the characteristics of paper, i.e. the limitations of paper relative to the presently used plastics.

The above mentioned problems are the same, when trying to use aluminum as the system is not designed to handle aluminum.

<FIG> illustrates a known system with a full-automatic filling station <NUM> for filling a web of bags <NUM>. The web of bags <NUM> is fed to the system from a box.

The system is designed to be used with a web of bags <NUM> made of plastic or polymers such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

However, it would be desirable if the system could be used to fill paper bags <NUM> or aluminum bags <NUM> or any other kind of material having different mechanical characteristics than plastic.

<FIG> illustrates a web of bags <NUM> without (3A) and with perforations (3B).

The disclosed web of bags <NUM> can be used in filling systems as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> even though the bag is made of a non-plastic material such as paper or aluminum. The resulting bag <NUM> filled with content will be a paper bag <NUM> filled on a system designed for plastic bags.

The disclosed web of bags <NUM> comprises a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM> such as but not limited to the filling system in <FIG> and <FIG>. The guide <NUM> is connected with one or more bags <NUM> made of a bag material. The one or more bags <NUM> have a bag opening <NUM> for receiving content.

The guide material may advantageously be known plastic or polymer materials presently used in a web of bags <NUM> such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), because the systems are designed with said plastic materials in mind.

In the present embodiment, the one or more bags <NUM> and the guide <NUM> are interconnected along a splicing path <NUM>. The connection may be made by heat welding or pressure welding or by any other process capable of connecting the guide material with the bag material.

The individual bags <NUM> are separated by a separation line, thereby allowing individual movement of the bags. The separation line <NUM> has a T-shape in the guide <NUM> for allowing some movement.

The one or more bags may have a print <NUM> for enabling the connection between the guide <NUM> and the one or more bags <NUM>. Thereby, the print <NUM> defines the splicing path <NUM>. The print <NUM> may be a lacquer or glue. It will be necessary to add a print <NUM> if the one or more bags <NUM> are made of paper with equal to or less than <NUM> weight% of additives, or equal to or less than <NUM> weight% of additives, or, preferably equal to or less than <NUM> weight% of additives. The need for a print <NUM> increases as the amount of additives decreases because the strength of the splicing between the bag <NUM> and the guide <NUM> decreases as with the amount of additives; the print will compensate for the weakening of the splicing.

A bag material made of paper with a weight% of additives equal to or below <NUM> % is preferred because most of the EU has a limit for the amount of additives a recyclable paper may contain.

The guide <NUM> may comprise two plastics flaps on each side of the bag opening <NUM> for enabling the system to guide the bag of webs <NUM>. The two plastics flaps may each be folded to form two channels for receiving guiding means. The guide <NUM> may have perforations as shown in <FIG> for insertions of studs. The guide <NUM> may have other means for enabling the guide through a system with a filling station.

<FIG> illustrates a bag <NUM> disconnected from a web of bags <NUM>. The bag <NUM> will after it is filled with content be disconnected from web of bags <NUM>.

However, the guide <NUM> is made of a guide material. The guide material may be a polymer or plastic such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). The guide material is unwanted and must be removed. The guide <NUM> is removed by cutting along a cut path <NUM> and the bag <NUM> is spliced along a post-filling splicing path <NUM> below the cut path <NUM> to prevent spillage from the now closed bag opening <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the steps to be performed on the bag <NUM>. The skilled person would know that the post-filling splicing may be done before disconnecting the bag <NUM> from the web of bags <NUM> and/or cutting along the cut path.

The resulting bag <NUM> can thus be made of a material which otherwise could not be used in present systems for filling webs of bags <NUM> as they are designed to filling webs of bags <NUM> made of a plastic material or the like.

Since the guide <NUM> is completely removed from the resulting bag <NUM>, the purity of the resulting bag <NUM> is increased and thus it will be easier to recycle the bag <NUM>.

Thereby, it is possible to produce the resulting bags <NUM> of paper sheets with a weight of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2, while having additives being equal to or less than <NUM> weight %. This enables the bags <NUM> to be recyclable in at least the EU.

<FIG> illustrates a web of bags <NUM> comprising dual bags <NUM> moving through a filling station <NUM>. The figure discloses an embodiment of a dual bag <NUM> from a web of bags <NUM> as shown in <CIT>.

The web of bags <NUM> can be modified in accordance with the invention such that the bags <NUM> are made of a different material than plastic. This is shown in greater detail in <FIG>.

The web of bags <NUM> comprises a guide <NUM> connected to two bags <NUM>. The connection is shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a web of bags <NUM> comprising dual bags <NUM>. The embodiment is identical to the embodiment disclosed in <FIG>.

The web of bags <NUM> comprises a guide <NUM> made of a guide material, which will typically be a plastic or polymer material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

The guide <NUM> comprises a center part connected to both bags <NUM> and flaps with perforations connected to each bag <NUM> opposite to the center part.

The perforations are necessary for the shown guide system which comprises studs.

However, in other embodiments for other systems the flaps may form channels or just be flaps.

The web of bags has been modified by the bags <NUM> being a different material than the guide, wherein the guide <NUM> and bags <NUM> are connected along a splicing path <NUM> in order to connect the materials.

In some embodiments, if the bag material is paper or aluminum it is necessary to print a print <NUM> on the inside of the bag <NUM> to ensure a sufficiently strong connection. In this case, the print <NUM> will define the splicing path <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another embodiment of a web of bags <NUM>. The overall web of bags <NUM> design is known, however, previously the web of bags <NUM> was made of a single material.

The shown web of bags <NUM> comprises a guide <NUM> made of a guide material, which typically will be a plastic material.

<FIG> illustrates the splicing path <NUM> from an outside view (A) and an inside view (B) of a bag <NUM>, and top view (C) of an open bag <NUM>.

<FIG> discloses the connection between a guide <NUM> made of a polymer or plastic material, which may be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), and a bag <NUM> made of a paper material from an outside view. The splicing path <NUM> is, in this embodiment, clearly shown as an indent. <FIG> discloses the connection between a guide <NUM> made of a plastic material and a bag <NUM> made of paper material from an inside view. The splicing path <NUM> is most visible on the left side of <FIG>.

The plastic or polymer material, i.e. guide <NUM> may be removed at a later stage by cutting along a cut path below the guide <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a view into the bag <NUM> though the bag opening <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is connected to the bag <NUM> on both sides of the bag opening <NUM>.

The web of bags particular in this embodiment uses standard polymer as the guide and a paper bag made of <NUM>/m2 paper with a thickness of about <NUM>. The print is polyolefin dispersion.

<FIG> illustrates another embodiment of a web of bags <NUM>. The web of bags <NUM> are configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM>, the web of bags <NUM> comprising a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material <NUM> being a plastic material. The guide <NUM> is configured to be guided through the filling station <NUM>.

The guide <NUM> is connected with one or more bags <NUM> of a bag material <NUM> being paper. The one or more bags <NUM> have bag openings <NUM> for receiving content.

The bag of webs <NUM> is disclosed with only two bags <NUM>, however it could in effect be endless.

The skilled person would know that the logo "Schur" is irrelevant for the invention as the logo has no technical contribution.

<FIG> illustrates a method of filling a bag <NUM>.

The method <NUM> comprises an act of providing <NUM> a web of bags <NUM> as a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material <NUM> configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM> and wherein the guide <NUM> has connected one or more bags <NUM> of a bag material and with a bag opening <NUM>, wherein the bag material of a different material than the guide material.

Thereby, the guide <NUM> can be made of a material optimal for interacting with a conveyor system or the like to and from a filling station, while the bag material is chosen for other characteristics such as recyclability.

The method <NUM> comprises an act of guiding <NUM> the web of bags <NUM> though a filling station <NUM> using the guide <NUM>.

The method <NUM> comprises an act filling <NUM> content or articles into one or more bags <NUM>.

The act of filling <NUM> may be an act performed manually or semi-automatic or full-automatic.

The method <NUM> comprises disconnecting <NUM> the one or more bags <NUM> from the guide <NUM>. Thereby, the resulting bags <NUM> have little to none residue of guide material.

In an embodiment of the method of filling a bag <NUM> the guide material is a polymer and the bag material is a paper.

Preferably, the paper is recyclable paper. The effect of disconnecting the bags <NUM> from the guide <NUM> is that the recyclable paper is not contaminated by the guide material.

The guide material may be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) which is unwanted in paper recycling as the material would be a contamination. If left with the bag <NUM>, then the guide material would in effect increase the weight % of additives of the paper without providing any positive effect.

<FIG> illustrates a process of producing a bag <NUM>.

The bag <NUM> with content is by a process <NUM> comprising an act of providing <NUM> a web of bags <NUM> as a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM> and wherein the guide <NUM> has connected one or more bags <NUM> of a bag material and with a bag opening <NUM>. The bag material is less flexible than the guide material and the bag material is paper with a sheet weight of <NUM>-<NUM>/m2, such as <NUM>-<NUM>/m2 and the paper is pure paper comprising no more than a certain weight % of additives, such as less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, <NUM> weight % or <NUM> weight %.

A weight % of additives less than or equal to <NUM> weight % is preferred over <NUM> weight % as the resulting paper bag <NUM> will be deemed recyclable in some countries.

A weight % of additives less than or equal to <NUM> weight % is most preferred as the resulting paper bag <NUM> will be deemed recyclable/disposable in the EU.

The process <NUM> may further comprise an act of guiding <NUM> the web of bags <NUM> though a filling station <NUM> in the guide <NUM>.

The process <NUM> may further comprise an act of filling <NUM> content into one or more bags <NUM>.

The act of filling <NUM> may be performed manually or semi-automatic or full-automatic.

The process <NUM> may further comprise an act disconnecting <NUM> the one or more bags <NUM> from the guide <NUM>. Thereby, the resulting bag <NUM> is not contaminated by the guide material and this makes it easier to have low weight % of additives.

The process <NUM> may further comprise an act of closing <NUM> the bag <NUM>. The act of closing the bag may be performed by splicing or by stitching.

In another embodiment a bag with content is produced by a process <NUM>. The process <NUM> comprises an act of providing <NUM> a web of bags <NUM> as a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM>. The guide is connected to one or more bags <NUM> of a bag material and with a bag opening <NUM>, wherein the bag material is less flexible than the guide material. The bag <NUM> is attached to the guide <NUM> by way of a splicing defining a splicing path <NUM> and wherein the bag <NUM> and the guide are connected along at least part of the splicing path <NUM>.

The process <NUM> further comprises an act of guiding <NUM> the web of bags <NUM> though a filling station <NUM> by the guide <NUM>.

The process <NUM> further comprises an act of filling <NUM> content into one or more bags <NUM>. The act of filling <NUM> may be performed manually or semi-automatic or full-automatic.

The process <NUM> further comprises an act of disconnecting <NUM> the one or more bags <NUM> from the guide <NUM> leaving at least part of the guide material along the slicing path <NUM> on the paper bag <NUM>.

The process <NUM> further comprises an act of closing <NUM> the bag <NUM> by splicing the left guide material on the paper bag <NUM>. Thereby, part of the guide <NUM> is used for closing the bag, thereby simplifying the process.

The bag material may be paper and the filling station is configured to guide a web of bags with a polymer guide.

<FIG> illustrates two different embodiments of guides <NUM>.

<FIG> discloses a guide <NUM> connected to a bag <NUM>. The guide <NUM> comprises two channels for being guided through a system comprising a filling station.

The guide <NUM> is made of a guide material being a plastic material such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).

The bag <NUM> is made of a bag material being paper. The bag <NUM> near the bag opening <NUM> is provided with a print <NUM>, which enables the bag material to be connected to the guide material by splicing along said print <NUM>. Thus, the print <NUM> defines the splicing path <NUM>.

<FIG> discloses an embodiment of a guide <NUM> of the kind shown in <FIG>.

The guide <NUM> is connected to a bag <NUM>. The guide <NUM> comprises two flaps having perforations for engaging with studs for being guided through a system comprising a filling station. One of the flaps is standing upwardly and one of the flaps is extending downwardly towards the bottom of the bag <NUM>.

The guide <NUM> is made of guide material being a plastic material such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).

The bag <NUM> is made of a bag material being paper as exemplified. The bag <NUM> near the bag opening <NUM> is provided with a print <NUM> (not shown), which enables the bag material to be connected to the guide material by splicing along said print <NUM>. Thus, the print <NUM> defines the splicing path <NUM>. This is shown in great detail in <FIG> along the hatched line.

The following aspect and/or embodiments are not according to the invention and are present for illustrations purposes only.

<FIG> illustrates two embodiments of a web of bags <NUM> made of a fibrous material.

<FIG> discloses web of bags <NUM> configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM>, the web of bags <NUM> comprising a continuous guide <NUM> of a guide material configured to be guided through a filling station <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is connected with one or more bags <NUM> of a bag material and with a bag opening <NUM>.

The bag material comprises the same material as the guide material, wherein the bag material and guide material is selected amongst fibrous materials such as paper. The transition between the guide <NUM> and the bags <NUM> is a smooth transition which has been indicated by a dashed line.

The one or more bags <NUM> are separated along a T-shaped separation line <NUM>. The T-shaped separation <NUM> enables that the bags can be individually displaced.

The guide <NUM> has perforations in a longitudinal direction for engaging with studs in a system for conveying the web of bags <NUM> through a filling station <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a bag <NUM> made of a fibrous material having a bag opening <NUM>. In this case the bag <NUM> is still connected to a guide <NUM>.

The guide <NUM> is to be removed by cutting along a cut path <NUM> and the bag can afterwards be closed along a splicing path by splicing or by stitching or by any other closing means.

<FIG> illustrates another bag <NUM> made of a fibrous material having a bag opening <NUM>. In this case the bag <NUM> is still connected to a guide <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A web of bags (<NUM>) configured to be guided through a filling station (<NUM>), the web of bags (<NUM>) comprising
- a continuous guide (<NUM>) of a guide material (<NUM>) configured to be guided through the filling station (<NUM>) and wherein the guide (<NUM>) is connected with one or more bags (<NUM>) of a bag material (<NUM>), wherein the bag material (<NUM>) is of a different material than the guide material (<NUM>),
the guide material (<NUM>) is a polymer or plastic, and
the bag material (<NUM>) is selected amongst fibrous materials such as paper, or the bag material (<NUM>) is selected amongst metallic foils such as aluminum foils, characterized in that the one or more bags (<NUM>) comprises a bag opening (<NUM>), and the guide (<NUM>) is connected to the one or more bags (<NUM>) on the inside of the one or more bags (<NUM>).