Patent ID: 7942095

Claim:
A method of supplying individual bags for bagging product, each bag to be printed with product information, the bags provided as an indefinite length assembly of shingled bags where each bag has a lead portion adhered to the indefinite length assembly, a shingled trailing portion overlying an adjacent upstream bag, and is upstream from downstream bags, the method comprising the steps of: (a) moving the indefinite length assembly along a path, the path extending downhill across a support member and from the support member to a bag-removal station; (b) retaining the trailing portion of each bag against a holddown surface to hold the trailing portion of the bag against an underlying bag in the assembly while the bag is moving across the support member; (c) releasing the retained trailing portion of the bag from the holddown surface prior to the retained trailing portion clearing the support member, gravity urging the released trailing portion of the bag away from the support member to uncover the underlying bag; (d) printing product information on the underlying bag against the support member; (e) positioning the lead portion of the bag above the trailing portion of the bag after the bag moves past the support surface so that gravity urges the trailing portion of the bag away from the lead portion of the bag; and (f) stopping the indefinite length assembly when the bag reaches the bag-removal station wherein the bag can be removed from the indefinite length assembly for use.