Consumer bags and processes of manufacture, dispensers, and dispensing systems for consumer bags

Abstract

A process for manufacturing bags and the resulting bag are disclosed. The bags may be continuously and detachably connected, and continuously and detachably connected bags may be wound onto a roll. In addition, a dispenser is disclosed for storing and dispensing bags. Also disclosed is an apparatus for use in dispensing plastic bags. A dispensing system is disclosed for continuously and detachably connected series of bags and in which the removal of a bag results in the subsequent bag in the series being at least partially opened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound roll of continuous and detachably connected bags, wherein the bags further comprise:
 (a) a mouth end;   (b) a bottom end;   (c) two or more opposing faces;   (d) two or more lateral sides;   (e) an arrangement of six plies;   (f) a perforation line detachably connecting the bags;   (g) a gusset on each lateral side; and   (h) a center slit that does not overlap an inner point of the gusset;   
       wherein the bags are wound in a direction such that the mouth end of each bag is dispensed before the bottom end of the bag. 
     
     
         2 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein the center slit is located between the gussets and does not extend into either gusset. 
     
     
         3 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein the bags further comprise a perforation line. 
     
     
         4 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 2  in which the perforation line comprises a tie distance of no more than one half of an adjacent cut distance in the perforation line. 
     
     
         5 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein the center slit is located within the perforation line. 
     
     
         6 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein a slit seal is positioned in the region of the bag having the least plies. 
     
     
         7 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein a slit seal is positioned such that no high spot is formed in the wound roll as a result of the slit seal. 
     
     
         8 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein a first slit seal and a second slit seal are positioned in the region of the bag having the least plies but such that the first slit seal and the second slit seal do not overlap in the wound roll of bags. 
     
     
         9 . A wound roll of bags of  claim 1  wherein the bags comprise a C-fold. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a wound roll of continuous and detachably connected bags, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a heat seal in a roll of plastic tubing to form the bottom end of an individual bag;   (b) forming a gusset in the plastic tubing;   (c) perforating the plastic tubing to render adjacent individual bags continuously and detachably connected;   (d) cutting the plastic tubing to form a mouth end for an individual bag;   (e) cutting a center slit in the plastic tubing;   (f) C-folding the plastic tubing at or within the inner gusset point to create six plies; and   g) winding the bags on a core to dispense in mouth-first direction.   
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 10  wherein the center slit is cut between the gussets and does not extend into either gusset. 
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 10  in which the bags are perforated such that the tie distance is no more than one half of the adjacent cut distance. 
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 10  wherein the center slit is cut within the perforation line. 
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 10  wherein the method comprises the additional step of longitudinally cutting and sealing the continuous plastic tubing to create multiple and separate continuous plastic tubings and whereby a slit seal is created. 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 14  wherein the method comprises the additional step of positioning a slit seal such that no high spot is formed in the wound roll as a result of the slit seal. 
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 14  comprising the additional step of positioning a first slit seal and a second slit seal in the region of the bag having the least plies but such that the first slit seal and the second slit seal do not overlap in the wound roll of bags. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing system for use with a series of continuously and detachably separable bags wherein the removal of a bag at least partially opens the subsequent bag in the series, the dispensing system comprising:
 (a) a dispenser having a separation member;   (b) a series of continuously and detachably separable bags, wherein the bags further comprise:
 (i) a mouth end; 
 (ii) a bottom end; 
 (iii) two or more opposing faces; 
 (iv) or more lateral sides; 
   (v) an arrangement of six plies;   (vi) a perforation line separating the bags;   (vii) a gusset on each lateral side; and   (viii) center slit that does not overlap the gusset;   (c) the series of continuously and detachably separable bags wound into a roll such that the mouth end of each bag is dispensed before the bottom end of that bag.   
     
     
         18 . The dispensing system of  claim 17  wherein the series of continuously and detachably separable bags comprised a C-fold. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing system of  claim 17  wherein the series of continuously and detachably separable bags further comprise a slit seal positioned in the region of the bag having the least plies. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing system of  claim 17  wherein the series of continuously and detachably separable bags further comprise a slit seal positioned such that no high spot is formed in the wound roll as a result of the slit seal.