Bag packing methods and systems

Abstract

An apparatus useful for bag packaging includes a compression chamber and a pressure member disposed in the compression chamber and configured to translate from a first position to a second position for urging a plurality of bags against the pressure member. The apparatus compresses a plurality of bags to form a compressed bag set having a smaller footprint and higher density relative to the plurality of bags before compression.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus useful for bag packaging, comprising:
 a compression chamber; and   a pressure member disposed in the compression chamber and configured to translate from a first position to a second position for urging a plurality of bags against the pressure member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure member is a first pressure member, the apparatus comprising:
 a second pressure member.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the compression chamber further comprising:
 a first end; and   a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first pressure member is constructed and arranged to translate from the first end of the compression chamber toward the second end of the compression chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising the second pressure member constructed and arranged in a fixed configuration at the second end of the compression chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising the second pressure member configured to translate from a first point at an open position and a second point at a closed position, wherein the first point is at the first end of the compression chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising the second pressure member configured to translate from a first point at an open position and a second point at a closed position, wherein the first point is at the first end of the compression chamber, wherein the second point is at the second end of the compression chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising the second pressure member constructed and arranged in a translatable configuration at the second end of the compression chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the first pressure member and the second pressure member constructed and arrange to compress a plurality of bags or flexible containers interposing the first pressure member and the second pressure member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure member and the second pressure member are configured to accept the plurality of bags interposing the first pressure member and the second pressure member in the compression chamber if the first pressure member is in the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure member and the second pressure member are configured to compress the plurality of bags interposing the first pressure member and the second pressure member in the compression chamber if the first pressure member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of bags are compressed to form a compressed bag set. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a fastener disposed at a bottom of the chamber beneath the plurality of bags and configured to extend to surround and fasten the plurality of bags.   
     
     
         13 . A method useful for compressing a plurality of bags using an apparatus comprising a compression chamber, a first pressure member and a second compression member, the first pressure member configured to translate from a first position to a second position, the method comprising:
 causing providing the compression chamber;   causing setting the first pressure member to a first position;   causing inserting a plurality of bags or flexible containers into the compression chamber interposing the first pressure member in the first position and the second pressure member; and   causing translation of the first pressure member toward the second pressure member whereby the plurality of bags are compressed between the first pressure member and the second pressure member.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 compressing the plurality of bags to form a compressed bag set having reduced size relative to the plurality of bags preceding the compressing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 fastening the compressed bag set after the compressing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 providing fasteners in the compression chamber before the inserting the plurality of bags.