Sets of pre-padded bags and methods of making same

Abstract

Pre-padded bags are produced from polymeric film material having a machine direction and a transverse direction, for packaging products such as fresh meats and poultry. A set of pre-padded end-seal bags comprises a first bag and a second bag, each bag comprising a first film portion and an underlying second film portion, the first and second film portions being sealed together with a transversely extending seal to form an end seal of each bag, the first and second film portions being sealed together with a longitudinal seal along the machine direction to form a side seal of each bag, the first bag being connected to the second bag in an area between the side seals of the bags, and each bag containing a fluid-absorbent pad.

1 . A set of pre-padded bags made from a film having a machine direction and a transverse direction, the set of bags comprising a first bag and a second bag, each bag comprising a first film portion and an underlying second film portion, the first and second film portions being sealed together with a transversely extending seal to form an end seal of each bag, the first and second film portions being sealed together with a longitudinal seal along the machine direction to form a side seal of each bag, the first bag being connected to the second bag in an area between the side seals of the bags, and each bag containing a fluid-absorbent pad.  
   
   
       2 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bag has an outer longitudinal side edge and the second bag has an outer longitudinal side edge, and wherein at least one of the outer longitudinal side edges comprises a folded edge.  
   
   
       3 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-absorbent pads are adhered to the film.  
   
   
       4 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , wherein the side seals and end seals comprise heat seals.  
   
   
       5 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , wherein the area between the side seals of the bags comprises a line of weakness for facilitating separation of the first bag from the second bag.  
   
   
       6 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 5 , wherein the line of weakness comprises perforations.  
   
   
       7 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , wherein the film at 185° F. has a total free shrink of at least 10 percent and a transverse free shrink greater than a longitudinal free shrink.  
   
   
       8 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third bag and a fourth bag formed by the first and second film portions sealed together with a transversely extending seal to form an end seal of each bag, the first and second film portions being sealed together with a longitudinal seal along the machine direction to form a side seal of each of the third and fourth bags, the third bag being connected to the fourth bag in an area between the side seals of the bags and each bag containing a fluid-absorbent pad, and the third and fourth bags having end edges connected respectively to the end seals of the first and second bags.  
   
   
       9 . The set of pre-padded bags according to  claim 8 , wherein the end edges of the third and fourth bags are connected to the first and second bags along a transverse line of weakness formed in the film.  
   
   
       10 . A chain of pre-padded bags formed from a continuous web of film having a machine direction and a transverse direction, the chain of pre-padded bags comprising: 
 a plurality of bag sets serially connected along the machine direction, each bag set comprising a first bag and a second bag, each bag set comprising a first film portion and an underlying second film portion, the first and second film portions of each bag set being sealed together with a transversely extending seal to form an end seal of each bag, the first bag of each bag set having the first and second film portions sealed together with a first longitudinal seal along the machine direction to form a side seal of the first bag, the second bag of each bag set having the first and second film portions sealed together with a second longitudinal seal along the machine direction to form a side seal of the second bag, the first bag being connected to the second bag in an area between the first and second longitudinal seals, and each bag containing a fluid-absorbent pad, the end seals of each bag set being joined to a subsequent bag set.    
   
   
       11 . The chain of pre-padded bags according to  claim 10 , wherein a bag of each bag set has an outer longitudinal side edge comprising a folded edge.  
   
   
       12 . The chain of pre-padded bags according to  claim 10 , wherein the side seals and end seals comprise heat seals.  
   
   
       13 . The chain of pre-padded bags according to  claim 10 , wherein the area between the side seals of the bags comprises a line of weakness for facilitating separation of the first bag from the second bag.  
   
   
       14 . The chain of pre-padded bags according to  claim 10 , wherein the fluid-absorbent pads are adhered to the film.  
   
   
       15 . The chain of pre-padded bags according to  claim 10 , wherein the film at 185° F. has a total free shrink of at least 10 percent and a transverse free shrink greater than a longitudinal free shrink.  
   
   
       16 . The chain of pre-padded bags of  claim 10 , wherein each bag set is connected to a subsequent bag set along a transverse line of weakness formed in the film to facilitate separating the sets of bags.  
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a chain of sets of pre-padded bags, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a continuous length of seamless lay-flat tubular film having opposite longitudinal edges;    longitudinally slitting at least one of the longitudinal edges of the lay-flat tubular film to open the film;    inserting into the opened lay-flat tubular film, at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations along the continuous length of the film, a set of fluid-absorbent pads spaced apart from each other across the film;    forming a longitudinal seal along the continuous length of the lay-flat tubular film adjacent the or each slit longitudinal edge to form an outer side seal for at least one bag of each set;    forming a longitudinal seal along the continuous length of the lay-flat tubular film at least at one position intermediate the opposite longitudinal edges of the lay-flat tubular film so as to form interior side seals of the bags, whereby the bags of each set are connected along the respective interior side seals; and    forming longitudinally spaced, transverse seals across the film in between the sets of pads so as to form end seals for each bag set.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming a longitudinal line of weakness in the lay-flat tubular film between the bags of each set to facilitate separating the bags of each set.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming a transverse line of weakness in the film adjacent each transverse seal to facilitate separating the sets of bags from one another.  
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a chain of sets of pre-padded bags, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a continuous length of film having opposite longitudinal edges;    disposing on the film, at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations along the continuous length of the film, a pair of fluid-absorbent pads spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of a central area of the film;    folding the film to bring the opposite longitudinal edges inwardly toward the central area of the film and positioning the opposite longitudinal edges on opposite sides of the central area, such that a first portion of the film is in overlying relation with an underlying portion of the film to enclose the pads on one side of the central area and a second portion of the film is in overlying relation with another underlying portion of the film to enclose the pads on the other side of the central area;    sealing the longitudinal edges of the film to the underlying portions of the film so as to form interior side seals of the bags, whereby the central area connects the bags of each pair along the respective interior side seals; and    forming longitudinally spaced, transverse seals across the film in between the pairs of pads so as to form end seals for each pair of bags.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of disposing the pads on the film includes adhering the pads to the film.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the disposing step is performed prior to the folding step.  
   
   
       23 . A method of forming a chain of sets of pre-padded bags, comprising the steps of: 
 providing continuous first and second films each having opposite longitudinal edges;    disposing on the first film, at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations along the continuous length of the first film, a set of fluid-absorbent pads spaced apart from each other across a width of the first film;    positioning the second film in overlying relation with the first film;    sealing the first and second films together along the longitudinal edges of each film;    forming a longitudinal seal along the continuous lengths of the first and second films at least at one position intermediate the opposite longitudinal edges of the films so as to form interior side seals of the bags, whereby the bags of each set are connected along the respective interior side seals; and    forming longitudinally spaced, transverse seals across the first and second films in between the sets of pads so as to form end seals for each set of bags.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming a transverse line of weakness in the films adjacent each of the transverse seals to facilitate separating the sets of bags from one another.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming a longitudinal line of weakness in the films between the bags of each set to facilitate separating the bags of each set from one another.  
   
   
       26 . A chain of pre-padded bags formed from a continuous web of film having a machine direction and a transverse direction and having a first film portion in overlying relation with a second film portion, the chain of pre-padded bags comprising: 
 a plurality of bags serially connected along the machine direction, each bag having a first side seal comprising a first transverse seal formed across the film sealing the first and second film portions together, and a second side seal comprising a second transverse seal formed across the film sealing the first and second film portions together, the second side seal of each bag being connected to the first side seal of a subsequent bag in the chain, each bag having a closed end along one longitudinal edge of the film and an opposite open end along an opposite longitudinal edge of the film, and each bag containing a fluid-absorbent pad.    
   
   
       27 . The chain of pre-padded bags of  claim 26 , wherein the film comprises a center-folded film such that the closed end of each bag comprises a folded edge of the center-folded film.  
   
   
       28 . The chain of pre-padded bags of  claim 26 , further comprising a line of weakness formed in the film between the second side seals of at least some of the bags and the first side seals of subsequent bags respectively connected to said second side seals to facilitate separating the bags from one another.  
   
   
       29 . The chain of pre-padded bags of  claim 26 , wherein the film comprises a seamless lay-flat tubing.