Continuous web of pre-opened medical bags

Abstract

A continuous of pre-opened bags adapted for use with an automated bagging machine. The web of bags is formed from an elongated strip of base material exhibiting deadfold properties and an elongated strip of plastic film. The plastic film is adhered to the base material along an adhesive strip defining a pair of side seals, a bottom seal and an open end. A die-cut is formed in the base material near the open end such that product can be inserted into each of the individual bags through the die-cut formed in the base material. Once the product is inserted into the bag, a heat seal is formed across the bag beneath the die-cut opening. Once sealed, each of the individual bags is separated from the continuous web along a series of perforations. The series of perforations extend from the die-cut to the side edge of the continuous web such that the width of the die-cut can be increased by automated mechanical means.

1 . A continuous web of bags for use with an automated bagging machine, the continuous web comprising: 
 an elongated strip of base material;    an elongated strip of plastic film adhesively bonded to the base material to define a plurality of pockets, the adhesive bond defining a bottom seal, a pair of spaced side seals and an open end;    a series of perforations passing through the base material and the sheet of plastic film and transversing the continuous web, wherein the perforation separate each of the pockets along the continuous web to define the individual bags; and    a series of die-cuts formed in only the base material, each of the die-cuts being aligned with one of the opened ends of the pockets such that a product can be inserted into each pocket through the die-cut.    
   
   
       2 . The continuous web of  claim 1  wherein each of the die-cuts extends between a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges being spaced inwardly from the side seals.  
   
   
       3 . The continuous web of  claim 2  wherein the die-cut is a removed area of the base material.  
   
   
       4 . The continuous web of  claim 2  wherein the die-cut opening is a slit formed in the base material.  
   
   
       5 . The continuous web of  claim 1  wherein the base material exhibits deadfold properties.  
   
   
       6 . The continuous web of  claim 5  wherein the base material is a spun-bonded olefin.  
   
   
       7 . The continuous web of  claim 3  wherein the series of perforations each pass through one of the die-cut openings.  
   
   
       8 . The continuous web of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive bond between the base layer and the plastic film is a peelable bond.  
   
   
       9 . A continuous web of bags for use with an automated bagging machine, the continuous web comprising: 
 an elongated strip of base material, the base material exhibiting deadfold properties;    an elongated strip of plastic film adhesively bonded to the base material to define a plurality of pockets, the adhesive bond defining a bottom seal, a pair of spaced side seals and an open end for each of the pockets;    a series of perforations passing through both the base material and the strip of plastic film and transversing the continuous web, wherein the perforations define each bag along the continuous web; and    a series of die-cut openings formed only in the base material, each of the die-cut openings being aligned with the open end of one of the pockets and being defined by a pair of spaced side edges, wherein the side edges are spaced inwardly from the adhesive side seals.    
   
   
       10 . The continuous web of  claim 9  wherein the series of perforations extend through the plastic film at a location aligned with one of the die-cut openings formed in the base material.  
   
   
       11 . The continuous web of  claim 10  wherein the series of perforations formed in the base material extend between the side edges of the die-cut opening and the side seals.  
   
   
       12 . The continuous web of  claim 11  wherein the width of the die-cut opening can be modified by tearing the base material along the series of perforations prior to insertion of the product into the pocket.  
   
   
       13 . The continuous web of  claim 11  wherein the base material is formed from spun bonded olefin.  
   
   
       14 . The continuous web of  claim 11  wherein the die-cut opening is formed from a removed blank of the base material.  
   
   
       15 . A method of placing products into a bag using an automated bagging machine, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a continuous web of bags, the continuous web including an elongated strip of a base material and elongated strip of plastic film adhesively bonded to the base material to define a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a bottom seal, a pair of space side seals and an open end, the continuous web including a series of perforations passing through both the base material and the strip of plastic film and transversing the continuous web, the continuous web further including a series of die-cut openings formed in only the base material, each of the die-cut opening being aligned with the open end of one of the pockets and defined by a pair of spaced side edges, the side edges being spaced inwardly from the side seals;    separating the base material from the plastic film at the die-cut opening;    inserting a product into the pocket through the die-cut opening;    sealing the base material to the plastic film at a location spaced from the die-cut opening such that the open end of the pocket is sealed; and    separating the sealed packet from the remaining web along the series of perforations.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the side edges of the die-cut openings are spaced from the side seals and the series of perforations formed in the base layer extend between the side edges of the die-cut opening and the side seals.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of selectively tearing the base layer along the perforations to increase the width of the die-cut opening prior to insertion of the product into the pocket.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of tearing the base layer includes inserting a pair of fingers into the die-cut opening and separating the fingers to tear the base layer a selected amount.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the base layer is separated from the plastic film by a flow of air.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of sealing the base material to the plastic film includes applying a heated sealing bar to the plastic film such that the plastic film is sealed to the base material transversely across the continuous web between the pair of spaced side seals.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the base material is formed from a spun bonded olefin.