Bag making machines and methods thereof
A machine for processing a web of material into bags includes several sections for processing the web of material into bags. An input section is configured to receive a roll of the web of material, a sealing section is configured to form seals in the web of material, and a winder section configured to wind the bags into rolls of bags may be included. A bander section configured to band each roll of bags may be included. A hem forming section configured to form a hem in the web of material may be included. A draw tape unwind station for unwinding draw tape for bags may be included. Related methods are further disclosed.
1. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a first conveyor configured to convey the bags along a first winding path to a first spindle such that the bags conveyed along the first winding path are wound around the first spindle into a first roll of bags;
a second conveyor configured to convey the bags along a second winding path to a second spindle such that the bags conveyed along the second winding path are wound around the second spindle into a roll of bags; and
a diverter configured to selectively pivot into and between a first diverter position in which the diverter diverts the bags along the first winding path and a second diverter position in which the divert diverts the bags along the second winding path.
2. The winder according to claim 1 , wherein the bags received into the input station are formed from a web of material, and wherein the input station comprises:
a tension sensor configured to sense tension of the web; and
a plurality of rollers configured to adjust tension in the web based on the tension sensed by the tension sensor.
3. The winder according to claim 1 , further comprising an overlap station configured to overlap the bags such that a plurality of overlapped bags are conveyed along the first winding path and the second winding path.
4. The winder according to claim 1 , wherein the diverter has a pair of diverter rollers that define a diverter nip through which the bags are conveyed to the first winding path or the second winding path.
5. The winder according to claim 1 , further comprising a first guide assembly configured to guide the bags along the first winding path and a second guide assembly configured to guide the bags along the second winding path.
6. The winder according to claim 1 , further comprising an air system configured to pull a leading end of a leading bag in the bags conveyed along the first winding path onto the first spindle.
7. The winder according to claim 1 , further comprising an air system configured to push the roll of bags radially away from the first spindle.
8. The winder according to claim 1 , further comprising a flap configured to bias the bags wound around the first spindle radially toward the first spindle.
9. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a first conveyor configured to convey the bags along a first winding path to a first spindle such that the bags conveyed along the first winding path are wound around the first spindle into a first roll of bags;
a second conveyor configured to convey the bags along a second winding path to a second spindle such that the bags conveyed along the second winding path are wound around the second spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along the first winding path or the second winding path; and
an actuator that pivots the diverter into and between a first diverter position in which the diverter directs the bags along the first winding path and a second diverter position in which the diverter directs the bags along the second winding path.
10. The winder according to claim 9 , wherein the diverter pivots to a value in a range of 60.0-80.0 degrees between the first diverter position and the second diverter position.
11. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a first conveyor configured to convey the bags along a first winding path to a first spindle such that the bags conveyed along the first winding path are wound around the first spindle into a first roll of bags;
a second conveyor configured to convey the bags along a second winding path to a second spindle such that the bags conveyed along the second winding path are wound around the second spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along the first winding path or the second winding path; and
a first guide assembly configured to guide the bags along the first winding path, the first guide assembly having a pair of rollers and a plurality of ropes that encircle the rollers, and wherein the ropes are recessed in the pair of rollers.
12. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a first conveyor configured to convey the bags along a first winding path to a first spindle such that the bags conveyed along the first winding path are wound around the first spindle into a first roll of bags;
a second conveyor configured to convey the bags along a second winding path to a second spindle such that the bags conveyed along the second winding path are wound around the second spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along the first winding path or the second winding path; and
an air system configured to pull a leading end of a leading bag in the bags conveyed along the first winding path onto the first spindle;
wherein the first spindle has a plurality of holes such that the air system creates a vacuum that pulls air through the plurality of holes and pulls the leading bag onto the first spindle.
13. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a first conveyor configured to convey the bags along a first winding path to a first spindle such that the bags conveyed along the first winding path are wound around the first spindle into a first roll of bags;
a second conveyor configured to convey the bags along a second winding path to a second spindle such that the bags conveyed along the second winding path are wound around the second spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along the first winding path or the second winding path; and
an air system configured to push the roll of bags radially away from the first spindle;
wherein the first spindle has a plurality of holes such that the air system creates a vacuum that pulls air through the plurality of holes and pulls a leading bag onto the first spindle.
14. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a conveyor configured to convey the bags along one or more winding paths such that the bags conveyed along each winding path are wound around a spindle into a roll of bags; and
a diverter configured to selectively pivot into a first diverter position to divert the bags along one of the winding paths or a second diverter position to divert the bags along the other of the winding paths.
15. The winder according to claim 14 , wherein the diverter has a pair of diverter rollers that define a diverter nip through which the bags are conveyed to one or more of the winding paths.
16. The winder according to claim 14 , further comprising an air system configured to pull a leading end of a leading bag in the bags conveyed along a winding path onto the spindle associated with the winding path.
17. The winder according to claim 14 , further comprising an air system configured to push the roll of bags radially away from the spindle.
18. The winder according to claim 14 , further comprising a flap configured to bias the bags wound around the spindle radially toward the spindle.
19. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a conveyor configured to convey the bags along one or more winding paths such that the bags conveyed along each winding path are wound around a spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along one of the winding paths; and
an actuator that pivots the diverter into and between a first diverter position in which the diverter directs the bags along a first winding path and a second diverter position in which the diverter directs the bags along a second winding path.
20. The winder according to claim 19 , wherein the diverter pivots to a value in a range of 60.0-80.0 degrees between the first diverter position and the second diverter position.
21. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a conveyor configured to convey the bags along one or more winding paths such that the bags conveyed along each winding path are wound around a spindle into a roll of bags; and
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along one of the winding paths;
an air system configured to pull a leading end of a leading bag in the bags conveyed along a winding path onto the spindle associated with the winding path;
wherein the spindle has a plurality of holes such that the air system creates a vacuum that pulls air through the plurality of holes and couples a leading bag onto the spindle.
22. A winder for winding bags into rolls, the winder comprising:
an input station configured to receive the bags;
a conveyor configured to convey the bags along one or more winding paths such that the bags conveyed along each winding path are wound around a spindle into a roll of bags;
a diverter configured to selectively divert the bags along one of the winding paths; and
an air system configured to push the roll of bags radially away from the spindle;
wherein the spindle has a plurality of holes through which the air exhausts.