Spliced continuous strip of packets

Abstract

A continuous strip of packets or bags used to hold bulk material formed by processes including ultrasonic welding, impulse splicing, adhesive binding and other such processes. Also disclosed is equipment to produce these spliced products.

1 . A spliced continuous strip of packets used to hold bulk material prepared by a process of 
 forming a continuous strip of packets from packaging material and filling the packets with bulk material wherein adjacent packets share a common sealed area of packaging material,    forming openings in the common sealed areas between adjacent packets,    cutting the continuous strip entirely across the common sealed area of the packets at two separate locations on the continuous strip to form cut ends, wherein each of the cut ends of the continuous strip contains one of the openings in the common sealed area, and    without using splicing tape, splicing together the two cut ends of the continuous strip with openings such that the openings overlap.    
     
     
         2 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 1  wherein the two cut ends of the continuous strip are spliced together by an ultrasonic welding process.  
     
     
         3 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 1  wherein the two cut ends of the continuous strip are spliced together by heating the sealed areas of the cut ends of the continuous strip to melt or partially melt the cut ends of the continuous strip together.  
     
     
         4 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of claim  3  wherein the heating step uses an impulse heating process.  
     
     
         5 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 1  wherein the two ends of the continuous strip are spliced together by use of an adhesive material.  
     
     
         6 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 2  wherein the ultrasonic welding process utilizes an ultra sonic welding device comprising an anvil comprising a base to which is secured a pin and an ultrasonic energy generator element comprising a hand piece, a horn and a power supply, wherein the horn is secured to one end of the hand piece, and wherein the horn comprises a resonator element and an opening at one end of the horn.  
     
     
         7 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 4  wherein the impulse heating process utilizes an impulse heating machine comprising a pair of arms joined together, each containing a base, wherein one of the bases comprises a lower surface element containing a pin and the other base comprises an upper surface and an opening complimentary with the pin of the lower surface, and a source for transmitting energy to the bases.  
     
     
         8 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 6  wherein the ultra sonic welding device further comprises guide sides connected to at least one of the bases.  
     
     
         9 . The spliced continuous strip of packets of  claim 7  wherein the impulse heating machine further comprises guide sides connected to at least one of the bases.