Bag Machine And Winder

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making and winding bags is disclosed. The film approaches the infeed nip on the surface of a roller and on a film guide recessed in the roller for an arc of at least 10, 45, 60 or 90 degrees. The film is preferably guided to one of two alternative film paths. An over speed nip may be provided between the infeed nip and the alternative film paths to separate rolls or to separate all bags. An overlapper can be included. Rods that travel in an elliptical orbit, and/or air nozzles can be part of the overlapper. Air nozzles or a rotating brush can direct the film to the appropriate alternative path. Banders can be used, and can include a conveyor for providing tape to the spindle and two sources of air.

1 . A winder for a bag machine or sheet machine comprising;
 an infeed nip defined between a first and a second infeed rollers, wherein a film path approaches the first infeed roller, follows the surface of the first infeed roller to the infeed nip for an arc of at least 10 degrees, and then the film path is toward at least one winding station, and the film path includes a first spindle film path;   at least one film guide is disposed along the film path for at least the arc to the infeed nip, and further along the film path downstream of the infeed nip, wherein the at least one film guide is recessed in the first infeed roller at least to along the arc; and   a first spindle, located along the first spindle film path.   
     
     
         2 . The winder of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one film guide is stationary and recessed in the first infeed roller at least along the arc such that the film touches the at least one film guide and the first infeed roller. 
     
     
         3 . The winder of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one film guide is recessed in the first infeed roller at the infeed nip such that a surface of the at least one film guide closest to the film path is below a surface of the first infeed roller closest to the film path. 
     
     
         4 . The winder of  claim 3 , wherein the arc is at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The winder of  claim 3 , wherein the arc is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The winder of  claim 3 , further comprising a second spindle, wherein the first spindle film path is a first alternative film path whereby the film, after leaving the infeed nip, can follow the first alternative film path nip to the first spindle to be wound about the first spindle, and the film path includes a second spindle film path, that is a second alternative film path, and a second spindle is located along the second alternative film path, whereby the film, after leaving the infeed nip, can follow the second alternative film path nip to the second spindle to be wound about the second spindle. 
     
     
         7 . The winder of  claim 6 , further comprising a rotatable brush disposed at a location where the film path can follow either the first or second alternative film path, and the film is directed to the first alternative film path when the brush rotates clockwise, and the film is directed to the second alternative film path when the brush rotates counterclockwise. 
     
     
         8 . The winder of  claim 7 , further comprising an over speed nip defined between two over speed rollers, located along the film path downstream of the infeed nip and upstream of the rotatable brush, and upstream of the first and second alternative film paths, wherein the film moves from the infeed nip to the over speed nip, then to the rotatable brush, and then to one of the first and second alternative film paths. 
     
     
         9 . The winder of  claim 8 , further comprising a first source of air directed at least partially in a first cross direction toward the film path and a first side of the film, whereby a part of the film is diverted from the film path, thereby taking up excess film for overlapping adjacent bags. 
     
     
         10 . The winder of  claim 9 , further comprising a second source of air directed at least partially in a second cross direction toward the film path and a second side of the film, whereby a second part of the film is diverted from the film path, thereby taking up excess film for overlapping adjacent bags. 
     
     
         11 . The winder of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second sources of air are located upstream of the rotatable brush and downstream of the over speed nip. 
     
     
         12 . The winder of  claim 6 , further comprising at least a first finger disposed near the first spindle to remove rejected bags and at least a second finger disposed near the second spindle to remove rejected bags. 
     
     
         13 . The winder of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one film guide is at least three film guides. 
     
     
         14 . The winder of  claim 7 , further comprising at least a second film guide disposed along the film path from upstream of the infeed nip to near the over speed nip, wherein the at least a second film guide is on an opposite side of the film from the at least one film guide. 
     
     
         15 . A method of winding bags from a continuous film, comprising;
 guiding the film with a first infeed roller and at least one film guide recessed in the first infeed roller, along the surface of the first infeed roller for an arc of at least 10 degrees;   then guiding the film with the at least one film guide and the first infeed roller to an infeed nip defined between the first and a second infeed roller;   then guiding the film to at least one winding station; and   winding the bags at the first winding station.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein guiding the film with the first infeed roller and the at least one film guide includes having the film in contact with the at least one film guide and the first infeed roller at least along the arc. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein guiding the film with the first infeed roller and the at least one film guide includes doing so along the surface of the first infeed roller for at least an arc of 60 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein guiding the film with the first infeed roller and the at least one film guide includes doing so along the surface of the first infeed roller for at least an arc of 90 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising guiding the film a second winding station and winding the bags at the second winding station, wherein the film is guided to the first winding station until a first roll of bags is wound, and then the film is guided to the second winding station, until a second roll of bags is wound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising rotating a brush clockwise to direct the film to the first winding station and rotating the brush counter clockwise to direct the film to the second winding station. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the film is comprised of a series of bags formed with seals and perforations, comprising separating bags from adjacent bags in the film by providing the film to an over speed nip. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising blowing air at the film in a first cross direction toward a first side of the film to divert a part of the film from the film path, thereby taking up excess film for overlapping adjacent bags. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising blowing air at the film in second first cross direction toward a second side of the film, which is opposite the first cross direction, to divert a part of the film from the film path, thereby taking up excess film for overlapping adjacent bags. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving a finger to remove rejected bags. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein then guiding the film with the at least one film guide and the first infeed roller to an infeed nip includes guiding the film between at least a second film guide and the at least one film guide. 
     
     
         26 . A winder for winding bags from a continuous film, comprising;
 means for guiding the film along the surface of a first infeed roller for an arc of at least 10 degrees to and through an infeed nip;   means for guiding the film to at least one winding station; and   means for winding the bags at the first winding station.   
     
     
         27 . The winder of  claim 26 , wherein the means for guiding film along the surface is in contact with the film the at least along the arc. 
     
     
         28 . The winder of  claim 26 , wherein the means for guiding the film along the surface guides the film for an arc of at least 45 degrees. 
     
     
         29 . The winder of  claim 26 , wherein the means for guiding the film along the surface guides the film for an arc of at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The winder of  claim 29 , wherein the means for guiding the film to at least one winding station includes a means for guiding the film to the first winding station until a first roll of bags is wound, and means for guiding the film to the second winding station until a second roll of bags is wound. 
     
     
         31 . The winder of  claim 29 , further comprising means for directing the film to the first winding station or the second winding station. 
     
     
         32 . The winder of  claim 31 , wherein the film is comprised of a series of bags formed with seals and perforations, and further comprising means for separating bags from adjacent bags in the film. 
     
     
         33 . The winder of  claim 32 , further comprising means for taking up excess film and overlapping adjacent bags. 
     
     
         34 . The winder of  claim 33 , further comprising means for removing rejected bags. 
     
     
         35 . A bander for a bag machine comprising;
 a conveyor disposed to transport tape to a spindle, wherein the tape approaches the spindle from a first direction and passes above the spindle, and wraps around a roll of bags wound about the spindle;   a first source of air directed to support the tape as the tape approaches the spindle; and   a second source of air directed to force the tape around the roll of bags as the tape passes over above the spindle, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll;   wherein the first source of air supports the tape as it wraps about the roll of bags, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll.   
     
     
         36 . The bander of  claim 35 , wherein the first source of air is mounted on an air horn disposed to be moved to and away from the spindle. 
     
     
         37 . A method of banding a roll of bags, comprising;
 conveying tape to a spindle from a first direction, and moving the tape above the spindle, and wrapping the tape down and around a roll of bags wound about the spindle;   directing air to the tape from Jun. 8, 2008 the tape as the tape approaches the spindle, thereby supporting the tape; and   directing air to the tape from above as the tape passes over the spindle, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll;   wherein the air directed to the tape from below supports the tape vertically as it wraps about the roll, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll.   
     
     
         38 . A bander for a bag machine, comprising;
 means for conveying tape to a spindle from a first direction and above the spindle;   means for directing air to the tape from below the tape as the tape approaches the spindle, thereby supporting the tape; and   means for directing air to the tape from above as the tape passes over the roll, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll;   wherein the means for directing air to the tape from below further supports the tape as it wraps about the roll, thereby aiding the tape wrapping about the roll.   
     
     
         39 . The bander of  claim 35 , wherein the means for directing air to the tape from below is mounted on an air horn disposed to be moved to and away from the spindle.