Patent ID: 7383672

Claim:
In combination an assembling machine and a packaging machine, said assembling machine being adapted to produce a package assembly including a flexible strip to which there is attached a plurality of closed bags, the bags being produced by said packaging machine so as to have end seal areas, with the bags being delivered to the assembling machine in an attached configuration connected at the end seal areas, said assembling machine including: a jaw assembly including a pair of movable opposing jaws that are caused to move to engage the strip and bags located therebetween to secure the bags to the strip at a one of the end seal areas: a strip delivery mechanism to deliver the strip to the jaws; a drive assembly to cause movement of the jaws; and wherein said jaw assembly includes a blade adapted to cut the bags and separate the bags into sets of a plurality of bags and attaching each set to the strip by a respective one of the end seal areas with said blade being movable relative to the jaws to cut a desired number of bags for each set that is to be attached to the strip.