Bakery bag and method and apparatus for making the same

Abstract

A new and improved bag is provided comprising a sheet of flexible, foldable material, wherein the sheet is coated on one side with metal to define a treated side and an un-treated side; wherein the sheet is folded along a fold line such that (i) the treated side faces outwards, and (ii) transversely opposite side edges are defined; wherein a gusset is provided by in-folding the fold line into the bag, thus defining gusseted bottom edges; wherein transversely opposite end portions of the gusseted bottom edges are angled edges that angle towards the fold line at a predetermined angle and end at the side edges; wherein the sheet is bonded together at adjacent side edges; and wherein the sheet is bonded together at adjacent angled edges that have un-treated sides facing each other. Also provided is a method and apparatus for manufacturing the bag.

1 . A bag comprising a sheet of flexible, foldable material, 
 (a) wherein the sheet is coated with a metal to define a metal treated side and an un-treated side;    (b) the sheet being folded along a longitudinal fold line with the treated side facing outwardly and the untreated side facing inwardly, and the fold line being in-folded into the bag, thus defining a gusset centered along the fold line with at least two gusseted bottom edges;    (c) transversely opposite side edges wherein the sheet is bonded together extending substantially perpendicular to the fold line; and    (d) end portions of the gusseted bottom edges comprising angled edges wherein the sheet is bonded together extending from each gusseted bottom edge to the side edges at a predetermined angle relative to the gusseted bottom edge.    
   
   
       2 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is between 30-60 degrees.  
   
   
       3 . The bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 45 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the angled edges end where a side edge meets the fold line.  
   
   
       5 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein apertures are provided proximal to a top edge of the bag.  
   
   
       6 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is folded to also define an exposed portion proximal to a top edge of the bag.  
   
   
       7 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible foldable material is a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       8 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is coated with aluminum.  
   
   
       9 . A method for manufacturing a bag using a sheet of flexible, foldable material comprising the steps of: 
 (a) coating one side of the sheet with metal defining a treated side and an un-treated side;    (b) folding the sheet along a fold line such that the treated side faces outwards;    (c) creating a gusset centered along the fold line by in-folding at the fold line, thus defining gusseted bottom edges and a gusset depth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fold line;    (d) making “V” shaped cuts through the gusset, at predetermined intervals in a direction parallel to the fold line, such that the corner of the “V” shape is positioned at a pre-determined length from the gusseted bottom edge and the sides of the “V” shape extends towards and end at the gusseted bottom edges;    (e) bonding the sheet together at adjacent edges cut in step (d) that have un-treated sides facing each other;    (f) cutting along a line starting at said corner of each “V” shaped cut and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fold line and ending at a top edge of the bag; and    (g) bonding the sheet together at adjacent edges cut in step (f).    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed simultaneously.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein steps (f) and (g) are performed simultaneously.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein steps (d), (e), (f) and (g) are performed simultaneously.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the “V” shape forms about a ninety degree angle.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the tip of the “V” shape is positioned a gusset depth's length from the gusseted bottom edges.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible foldable material is a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the sheet is coated with aluminum.  
   
   
       17 . A bag of flexible, foldable material manufactured according to the method of  claim 9 .  
   
   
       18 . A machine for simultaneously making a cut and sealing resulting edges on a sheet of flexible material comprising: 
 (a) a heated block;    (b) a blade, disposed to produce “V” shaped cuts, coupled to and extending outwards from a top surface of the heated block;    (c) a lower plate (i) disposed over the heated block, (ii) provided with a hole the shape of and slightly larger than the blade and disposed to receive the blade, and (iii) spring loaded for motion in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the heated block;    (d) an upper plate (i) disposed over the lower plate, (ii) capable of motion in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the heated block, to press on the lower plate such that the blade passes through the hole and contacts the upper plate.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the heated block comprises separable cast metal layers machined to hold a replaceable heating means.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the lower plate comprises a metal stripper plate and an insulating plate attached to a top surface of the stripper plate.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper plate comprises a metal clamp plate and a resilient surface on an underside of the clamp plate.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the blade is disposed to produce “Y” shaped cuts.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible material is a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper plate is pneumatically driven in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the heated block.