T-shirt style bag with registered advertising strip, apparatus and method for making same

Abstract

Plastic shopping bags having upper and lower seams, at least one side gusset, an open bag mouth and upper bag handles has attached promotional ad strips. The strips include a central removable portion and a pair of remainder portions at either end of the strip that are sealed into the upper and lower seams. The ad strips are registered to the upper and lower bag seams so that whole numbers of the coupons, messages or promotions will fall within the removable portion of the strip. Perforations join the removable portion of the strip to the remainder portions. An apparatus for registering the ad strips to plastic shopping bags includes markers on the bags and on the ad strips, sensors to detect the markers, a controller to match the speed of the ad strips to that of the bag blanks, a sealer, bag cutter and either a stacker or a winder.

1 . A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: 
 a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of said top edges;    said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed;    at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted;    a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strip being disposed upon one of said front and back walls along one side of said gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusseted side edge;    said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion;    promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and    said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.    
   
   
       2 . A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: 
 a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of said top edges;    said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed;    at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted;    a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strip being disposed within said gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusseted side edge;    said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion;    promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and    said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.    
   
   
       3 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said removable portion of said strip is removably attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.  
   
   
       4 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.  
   
   
       5 . A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: 
 a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges;    said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed;    at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges;    said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in an upper seal;    said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular to said first and second side edges;    a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strip being disposed upon at least one of said front and back walls above said at least one gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusset;    said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion;    promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and    said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.    
   
   
       6 . A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: 
 a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges;    said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed;    at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges;    said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in an upper seal;    said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular to said first and second side edges;    a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strip being disposed within said at least one gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusset;    said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion;    promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and    said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.    
   
   
       7 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 5  or  claim 6 , wherein said removable portion of the strip is removably attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.  
   
   
       8 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 5  or  claim 6 , wherein said promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.  
   
   
       9 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  1 ,  2 ,  5  or  6  wherein said bags are severed from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack.  
   
   
       10 . The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  1 ,  2 ,  5  or  6  wherein said bags are attached to one another at a perforation line and wound into a roll.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: 
 a supply of polyethylene material;    an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one side gusset;    a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device;    a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;    said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;    a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;    a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack;    a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: 
 a supply of polyethylene material;    an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;    a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device;    a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset;    said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;    a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;    a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack;    a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: 
 a supply of polyethylene material;    an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one side gusset;    a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device;    a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;    said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;    a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank;    a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: 
 a supply of polyethylene material;    an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;    a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device;    a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset;    said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;    a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank;    a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  11 - 14 , further comprising an operator interface, said interface inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  11 - 14 , wherein said unwind mechanism further comprises at least one unwind nip roller, said unwind nip roller tensioning said plastic strip material, said controller modulating said tensioning.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  11 - 14 , wherein said roll of plastic strip material comprises at least two parallel streams of plastic strips, said parallel streams being joined to one another at side edges of said streams.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 17 , further comprising a slitter mechanism, said slitter mechanism separating said at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 18 , further comprising at least one tensioning nip roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 18 , further comprising a turn bar for at least one of said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar aligning said individual stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  11 - 14 , further comprising a strip perforating mechanism, said strip perforating mechanism perforating said plastic strips between said remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip.  
   
   
       22 . A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a supply of polyethylene material;    extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material;    modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism;    providing a first sensor;    detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    providing a second sensor;    detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    providing a controller;    monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;    controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    directing said plastic strip material to said insertion device;    inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset;    aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals;    providing a sealer;    sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;    providing a bag blank cutter;    severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;    providing a stacker;    arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack;    providing a bag opening cutter;    removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       23 . A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a supply of polyethylene material;    extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material;    modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    providing an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism;    detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    providing a second sensor;    detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    providing a controller;    monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;    controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    directing said plastic strip material to said application device;    directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;    aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals;    providing a sealer;    sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one side gusset;    providing a bag blank cutter;    severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;    providing a stacker;    arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack;    providing a bag opening cutter;    removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       24 . A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a supply of polyethylene material;    extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material;    modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism;    providing a first sensor;    detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    providing a second sensor;    detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    providing a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;    controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device;    inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset;    aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals;    providing a sealer;    sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;    providing a perforator;    forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank;    providing a bag opening cutter;    removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    providing a bag winder;    winding said bags into a roll; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       25 . A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a supply of polyethylene material;    extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;    forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;    flattening said gusseted tube;    said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge;    placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;    providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions;    said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval;    providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material;    modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;    providing an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism;    directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;    providing a first sensor    detecting passage of said bag reference markers;    providing a second sensor;    detecting passage of said strip reference markers;    providing a controller;    monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;    controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device;    aligning said bag reference markers said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;    providing a sealer;    sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset;    providing a perforator;    forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank;    providing a bag opening cutter;    removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;    said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;    providing a bag winder;    winding said bags into a roll; and    whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.    
   
   
       26 . The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  22 - 25 , comprising the further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.  
   
   
       27 . The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  22 - 25 , comprising the further steps of: 
 providing a slitter mechanism; and    separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.    
   
   
       28 . The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims  22 - 25 , comprising the further steps of: 
 providing a strip perforating mechanism;    perforating said plastic strips between said remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip.    
   
   
       29 . The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in  claim 27 , comprising the further step of providing a turn bar for at least one of said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar aligning said individual stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks.