Patent ID: 7556595

Claim:
An apparatus for producing bag packages ( 10 ), from a length of packaging material, the apparatus comprising a folding station ( 52 ) for forming folds ( 44 ) in a moving sheet of packaging material, a sealing station ( 54 ) downstream of the folding station for sealing the formed folds ( 44 ), a packaging material driving station ( 58 ) downstream of the sealing station, and a forming station ( 56 ) for forming a sheathing tube from the packaging material, whereby before the sheathing tube is formed, the forming of the sealing seams ( 12 , 76 ) onto the packaging material sheeting ( 26 , 42 , 60 ) is done, said folding station ( 52 ) comprising at least two folding plates ( 40 ; 68 A, 68 B) disposed side by side in the travel direction of the length of packaging material in such a manner that at least two adjacent side edges, disposed side by side, of the folding plates ( 40 ; 68 A; 68 B) are oriented parallel to the travel direction of the length of packaging material; wherein the packaging material is guided along the underside of a first of said folding plates ( 40 ; 68 A) and along the top of a second of said folding plates ( 40 ; 68 B) by said at least two adjacent side edges, further comprising a feed roller ( 70 ) between the folding station ( 52 ) and the sealing station ( 54 ).