CA1206363A - Drive system for plastic bag making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

There is disclosed a bag making machine for producing bags from an elongate strip of plastic web material. The disclosure relates to various improvements in the bag making machine such as the apparatus for driving the web material through the bag machine. The apparatus includes first and second intermittently operable web driving mechanisms for driving the web from the rear driving mechanism to the for-ward driving mechanism. The driving pressure of the rear mechanism is adjustable to control web tension between the drive mechanisms. A cutting apparatus cuts the bag handles from the stretched portion of the web material between the drive mechanisms when the drive mechanisms are non-operable.

Description

~6;3~3 The present invention relates to a bag making machine and more particularly relates to an improved machine for fab-ricating wave top bags from plastic material in the form of an elongate tubular webO
It is known to form bags from tubular feed stock of thermoplastic web material wherein the tubular stock is flat-tened such that side edge creases or gussets are formed which define the bottom of the bag. This web material ls fed in-to the bag machine w~nere it is cut generally longitudinally to form the bag handles. The bag machine subsequently cuts and seals the plastic web transversely to the direction of the tube elongation to form the sides of the bag.
One problem associated with these bag machines is tha-t the web material is a flexible stock which tends to float or move in directions other than in the direction it is being drawn through the bag machine. This undesirable movement is usually the result of the web tension introduced by a compen sator in the machine. This movement limits the through-put of web material.
Another problem with these bag machines is that the web driving means usually consists of two nip rollers posi-tioned forward of the machine handle cutting mechanism. One of the nip rollers is driven to pull or draw the web ma~erial through the bag machine. There are a number of rollers in the bag machine over which the web travels causing roller ro-tation. When the driving roller cyclically stops operating, the momentum of the idler rollers causes -these rollers to temporarily continue rotating. This pulls the web stock fur-ther than necessary. Due to the flexibility of t'ne web mate-rial and the compensa-tor incorporated in these bag machines, 3~3 the web material usually stretches or overshoots for a moment of time and then returns to its proper size sometimes causing the rollers to rotate in a reverse direction. The fraction of time consumed by the stretching and retracting of the web material prior to the cutting opera~ion of the bag handle is inefficient. Further, the tendency of the web ma-terial to float is also inefficient.
It is therefore an object o~ the present invention to provide a more ef~icient bag making machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag making machine w~ich controls web tension.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide a bag making machine which i5 less subject to the web overshoot or uncontrolled stretching after intermittent oper-ation o~ the driving rollers.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a bag making machine for ~roducing bags from an elongate strip o~ plastic web material. The machine comprises cutting means intermit-tently operable to cut the web material, front web driving means located forward of the cutting means, and rear web driving means locate~ rearward of the cut~ing means. The front and rear web driving means are intermittently operable when said cutting means is non-oper-able to advance the web material from the rear web driving means toward the ~ront web driving means. The rear web driv-ing means includes adjustment means for varying tha driving force of the rear web driving means whereby web tension be-tween the front and rear web driving means is controlled. ~y controlling web tension between the drive means, undesirable movement o~ the web material adjacent the- cutting means is ~ ~;31~

considerably reduced if not virtually eliminated.
The front drive means may comprise two front nip rollers and the rear drive means may comprise two rear nip rollers. The rear nip rollers will act to brake the motion of the web material at the end of the intermit-~ant operation of the nip rollers. The rear nip rolLers further provide a means of isolating the web drive past the rear nip rollers from tension applied to the web still to be driven through the rear nip rollers.
In the preferred construction one of the rear nip rollers is driven and the other rear nip roller is movable toward the drive roller by the adjus~ment means to vary the driving force. The two rear nip rollers are preferrably covered with an elastic material ~uch as, for example, rub-ber. As the nip pressure between -the rear ro]lers is in-creased by the adjustment means the effective diameters of the rear nip rollers may be decreased; however, and more im-portantly, web slippage between the roliers is decreased.
The reduction in web slippage increases the amount of web material ~riven between the rear nip rollers during operation thereoE. The diameter of the rear nip rollers is normally slightly greater than the diameter oE the front nip rollers and rear nip rollers are driven through suitable gearing such that the peripheral movement of the rear nip rollers is slightly greater than that of the front nip rollers. In view of this, it is possible -to adjust the amount of web material passing through the rear nip rollers so as to reduce web tension to virtually zero between -the web driving means. The adjustment means preferrably comprises adjustable pressurized cylinder means operably connected to the non-driven or idler rear nip roller.

~ ,r~ o 3~3 The cutting means preferably includes s-tationary cut-ting means arranged in a predetermined pattern to cut the bag handles. The cu-tting means further includes movable support means over which the web material travels. The movable sup-port means i5 movable between a flrst posi~ion separated from the cutting means and a second position forcing the web mate-rial into cutting engagement with the cutting meansO The cutting means further includes reciprocally movable dxive means for effecting intermittent movement of the movable sup-10 port means between its first and second positions and coup-ling means interconnecting the drive m~ans and the support means to translate reciprocating movement of the drive means into movement of the support means.
The stationary cutting means preferably includes a 15 curved blade means for cutting the bag handle peripheries and two circular blade means shaped to cut a coupon from the web material 50 as to form the bag handle aperture to a first predetermined size. The circular cut~ing means each include a plunger within the cutting periphery of the circular cut-20 ting means. The plunger is movable relative to the circular cut~ing blade means and includes piercing means on a leading face thereof. The support means further includes one aper-ture ~or each circular cutting blade means; the aperture being located in alignment with the plunger. The support 25 means aperture is greater in size than the plunger and less in size than the first predetermined size. The support means and cutting means are movable relative to one another to bring t'ne web material into engagement with the cutting means whereby the coupon is cut from the web material. The pierc-30 ing means pierces the web material and extends in-to the sup-_ ~ _ 3~3 port means aperture to positively hold the web material prox-imate the cuttin~ periphery as the coupon is cut. The stationary cutting means includes means Eor actuating move-ment of the plunger into the support means aperture when the coupon is cut so as to eject the coupon from the web mate-rial.
In the preferred construction of the bag making mach-ine there is included a separating means between the forward wek driving means and the cutting means. The separating means comprises at least a first pair of parallel rods in-clined at a first angle normal to the direction of elongation of the first web portion. The first web portion travels around a first rod of the first rod pair to alter its direc-tion of web travel to include a component transv~rse to the direction of elongatiGn of the first web portion and away from the second web portion. The first web portion travels around the second rod of the first rod pair to again alter the direction of web travel by elim1nating the transverse component from the direction of travel. The bag making mach-ine may include a second pair of parallel rcds inclined at a second angle normal to the direction of elongation of said second web por-tion. The second web portion travels around a first rod of the second rod pair to alter its direction oE
web travel to include a component transverse to the direction of elongation of the first web portion and away from the first web portion. The second web portion travels around the second rod of the second rod pair to again alter the direc-tion of web travel by eliminating said transverse component from the direction of travel.
For a better understanding of the nature and objects P6;~i3 of the present invention reference may be had by way of exam-ple -to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a bag making machine;
Fig. 2 is a partial schematic view showing the rela-tionship between the driving rollers of the presen-t inven-tion;
Fig. 3 is a three dimensional view of the movable sup-porting portion of the bag handle cu-tting apparatus;
Fig. 4 is a partial side sectional view of the movable supporting portion of the bag handle cutting apparatus;
Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner in which the plas-tic web is cut generally longitudinally by the bag cutting apparatus, Fig. 6 is a bottom three dimensional view of the cut--ting means of the bag handle cutting apparatus;
Fig. 7 i5 a side view of the upper portion of the bag handle cutting apparatus;
Fig. 8 is a three dimensional view showing the sepa-rating apparatus of the present inven~ion;
Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing of the movement o the web over the separating apparatus;
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are side sectional views showing the operation of the apparatus for cutting the bag handle holes; and, Fig. 13 is a partial side sectional view of the plunyer apparatus of the circular cu-tting apparatus.
Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown schematically a bag making machine 10 of the present invention. The improve-ments in the bag making machine are, for the most part, con-~63~i3 tained within dotted lines 12. The remainder of the machine is similar to that shown and described in Canadian Patent ~o~
947,556 issued May 21, 1974 to G.G. Plate.
An elongate web material 14 is drawn from a bin 16.
~eb material 14 comprises a flattened tubular thermoplastic web material having gusse-ts 19 (see FigO 8) formed where -the web material is flattened along its outside edge 18 parallel to the direction of elongation of the material. The outside edges 18 form the base of the plastic bag yet to be manufac-tured by bag making machine 10. The web 14 is drawn through idler rollers 20 by drive roller 22 of the capstan nip roll-ers 22 and 24. The web material wraps about the drive roller 22 to minimize slippage of the web material thereon. The drive roller 22 forms part o~ a capstan drive 24 which com-prises a drive motor 28 operatively connected to a rubber covered drive roller 22 by means of a chain or pulley 30.
The web material is then ~ed through a compensator generally shown at 32. The compensator comprises a plurality of .idler rollers 34 journaled for rotation in a :Ei.xed posi-tion and a pluralit~ of idler rollers 36 supported by a bar 38. Bar 38 is pivotally secured at 40 and p.ivotally secured to pis-ton rod 42. While -the piston rod i5 shown, it should be under-stood that a spring could also be used. 'rhe bar 38 is de-signed to pivot about point 40 so as to allow or a predeter-mined range of tensions to be applied to the web material as it travels -through the bag making machine. As a result, the piston 44 maintains a constant uniform pressure on arm or bar 38 regardless of the relative position of bar 38. The travel of the bar 38 is sensed by appropriate sensing means and when the travel of the bar extends beyond a predetermined dis-~2~i3~;3 placement in either direction, the angular velocity of motor 28 is a]tered accordingly so as to return the bar 38 to with-in its range of movement and thereby main-tain a predetermined range of tensions on the web material at position 46 of the web travel path through the bag making machine.
The web material 14 passes about rear nip web driving rollers ~Ihich have been re~erred to previously as rear web driving means. The rear web driving means comprise a rear driving roller 48, a rear nip idler roller 50 abu-t~ing roller 48, and an idler roller 52 which controls -the angle of wrap about roller 48. Roller 48 is intermittently operated in conjunction with intermittent operation of front drive roller 54 shown towards the left in the drawing. Front drive roller 54 abuts idler roller 56 and acts to draw the web through the lS bag cutting apparatus. Rollers 54, 56 have been previously referred to as the front web driving means. The relationship oE drive roller ~8 and drive roller 54 is better shown in Fig. 2 and shall be described in more detail after a further discussion of the bag operating machine. As the web is in-termittently driven past rear drive roller 48, it is driven between the bag handle cutting appara~us 58 of the bag mach-ine 10. The cutting apparatus 58 cuts the handles ~rom the bag by cutting the circular handle apertures and by cut-ting the web in a longitudinally extending wave form to provide the bag handle peripheries. The cutting of the bag handle peripheries and apertures is achieved simultaneously by moving support means or lower plate 60 into cutting engage-ment with the cutting means or cutting blade 62 and circular cutting apparatus 64.
After the web is cut, the web passes in two portions ~h63~3 past idler pulley or roller ~6 and over a we~ spreading means or apparatus generally shown at 68. This apparatus causes the two web portions to spread apart. One of the two web portions then passes over idler rollers 70 and 72 while the other web portion passes over idler rollers 70 and 74 to effect a phase shift such tha~ the handles oE the bag are brought into alignment. The handles o~ the bag may then be folded at station 76 prior to the web portions passing about drive assist roller 78 and -through the driv~ rollers or draw rollers 54, 56. Subsequent to this a cutting and sealing bar 80 cuts the bag or web portion transversely of the direction of elongation of the web material so as to cut the side edges of the bag. The sealing bar seals the side edges.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the rear web driving means is shown to comprise, in addition to rear drive nip rollers 48, 50 and idler rollers 52, an adjustment means 82.
The adjustment means comprises a cylinder 84 operably con-nected to the idler roller 50 of -the rear nip rollers. In practice, two cylinders are connected to opposing spindle ends o the idler roller 50. The purpose of the cylinder 84 is -to move rolLer 50 into pressure or nipping engagement with rear nip drive roller 48. The cylinders 84 are pressured by a suitable ~luid, such as air for example. A valve 8~ is provided to control ~luid pressure to the piston and a pres-sure gauge 88 permits the operator to monitor the pressure.
By controlling the pressure of the rear nip drive rollers 48, 50, their driving ~orce is regulated. In practice, slippage between rollers 48, 50 is in the order of 4 to 5~; however, web slippage can be reduced or controlled by using the ad-justment means to increase the nip pressure. As a result, the amount of web material drawn between rollers 48, 50 is controlled. The rear nip rollers 48, 50 are of a slightly larger diameter than the front nip rollers 54, 56 and the rear rollers 48, 50 are geared to rotate such that their peripheral speed is slightly greater than that of front rollers 54, 56. It is, however, the amount of slippage be-tween rollers 48~ 50 that controls the amount of web drawn by rear nip rollers 4~3, 50. In this r~gard, the valve 86 of the adjustment means 82 is usually set by the machine operator such that during each cycle of operation the rear nip rollers 48, 50 draw s]ightly more web material therethrough than the front nip rollers 54, 56. The web driving rollers 48, 50 comprise a pair of rubber covered nip rollers around which the web ma~erial is partially wrapped due to the position of idler roller 52.
Rollers 66, 70, 72 and 74 are rotated when -the web is driven or fed through -the machine on an intermittent basis.
When the front drive rollers 54, 56 stop driving the web, the rollers 66, 70, 72 and 74, have a momentum associated with each roller which causes them to slip relative to the web material. In the present invention, the driving rollers 48, 50 act as a brake preventing the web from stretching further due to -the rollers temporarily continuing to rota-te. Fur-ther, because the rollers 48, 50 and 54, 56 positively hold the web material in a controlled position therebetween and isolated from compensator 32, the web materi~l does not tend to float resulting in a more accurate, quicker cut by the cutting means 58.
Referring now to Figs. 3 through 7 the cut-ting means 58 is described. Referring in particular to Fig. 7 the cut--- 10 ~

~`6~3 ting means is shown to comprise a stat.ionary cutting means 90 having a cut-ting blade 62 of predetermined curvature to cut the periphery of the bag handles and two circular cutting blades 64 ~see Fig. 6) disposed on opposing sides of the cut-ting blade 62 for cutting the bag handle apertures from the plastic web material. The cutting means 58 further comprises a movable suppor~ means or plate 60 which is movable relative to the stationary cutting means 90 to bring the plastic web material 14 into cutting engagement with the blades 62 and 64. Referring to Fig. 5 the pattern cut from the web mate-rial is shown to comprise a longitudinally extending gently curved wave form 92 and circular apertures 94. The broken lines 96 indicate -those areas along which the bags must be cut and sealed by the sealing and cutting bar 80 at a later sequence in the operation.
Each of the blades 62 and 64 are provided with a heater element 98 attached thereto. The purpose of heater element 98 is to enhance the cutting ability of the cutting blades.
The cutting blade is attached to a mounting plate 100 hy means of push pull bolts 102 and spacers 104. The purpose o~ the push pull bolts is to provide for fine adjustment o the cutting blades 62, 64 relative to the lower support means or support plate 78. Bolts 106 provide for gross adjustment of cutting blades.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 the lower support plate 60 is shown to comprise cam follower rollers 108. The two cam follower rollers 108 are provided adjacent each of the ends of the plate support means 58. Beneath each of the cam follower rollers 108 there is provided a cam or eccentric 6~i3 roller 110. At each of the ends of the plate 60 there is provided an axle 112 which passes ~hrough assembled side plates 114 so as to align and coordinate the rota~ion of the two cams 110. The axle 112 is ~ournalled for ro-tation in the side plates 114 of the assembly and is provided with a timing belt pulley 116. The pulleys 116 on each side of plate 60 are surrounded by a respective timing belt 118. The timing belt 118 is moved by means of pis~on drive means 120. Piston drive means 120 comprises the reciprocal drive means of the present invention and is pneumatically ope.rated. Two pistons 120 are provided on either side o~ the assembly 58 so that both timing belts 118 are driven in unison and the axles 112 act to coordinate the force ~pplied by cams 110 to the rollers 108. As the cams 110 rotate beneath rollers 108, the plate 68 is lifted uniformly upward towards the cutting means 90. The piston 120 has its pis~on rod 122 at-tached to bracket 124 which is in turn attached to the belt 118 by suitable means such as, for example, bolts. By having the cams 110 actuated by reciprocal movement of -the pistons 120, the cams 110 do not have to travel a full 180 so that maxi.-mum travel of the plate 60 is not achieved. In ~act, the apparatus is des.igned such that the stroXe of pistons 120 is such that cams 110 rotate less than 180 and in particular, about 160. As piston 120 is driven, it imparts motion to the coupling means which includes plates 124, belt 118~
pulley 116 and cam 110. The pistons 120 are intermit-tently operable when the web material 14 is not being dri~en through the bag machine. The support plate 60 is thus movable be~
tween a first position separated from the cutting means 90 and a second position bringing the web material 14 into en-~ ~s~

gagement with the cutting means 90. A return spring 126 and shank 128 are provided to assist the re-turn of the plate to its position separated from the cutting means 90. ~uide bars 130 of the support plate 60 are movable in grooves 132 of assembly 114 to maintain the position of the support plate.
By providing a cam or cams 110, a lever ac-tion is provided such that the force exerted by the support means 60 towards the cutting means 90 varies, and in particular increases, while the force exerted by drive means remains constant.
This results in an upward movement of th~ plate 60 which de~
creases in speed as the displacement towards the cutting means increases and which increases in force as the displace-ment increases. As a result the impact momen-tum of the plate is reduced while the cutting force is increased. Thus, the cutting means 90 does not have to compensate for movement of the plate 60 allowing the cu-tting means 90 to remain station-ary.
It should be understood that a resilient material 134, such as rubber for example, is provided beneath plate 60 to absorb shockO
Referring to Figs. 10 through 13 of the present inven-tion, the circular cutting means of t~e present invention is shown. The circular cutting means of the present invention is provided for cutting the circular aperture 94 in the bag handles. The cutting apparatus includes a circular cutting blade 64 having a heater 98 provided therearound. The heater 98 is adapted to hold the blade in place on block 136. The cutting blade 64 cuts a circular aperture 94 from the web material which aperture 94 is of a first predetermined size.
The cutting blade 64 of the cutting means or apparatus 138 6~j3 are aligned above an aper~ure 140 in the movable support plate 60. The cutting means 138 further includes a plunger 142 of a predetermined size which is less ~han the size of aperture 140. Further, aperture 140 ls less than the si~e of the cutting blade 64. As the plate 60 brings -the web mate-rial 14 up into engagement with the cutting blade 64 a pierc-ing means 144 mounted on a leading face 146 of plunger 144 pricks or pierces the plastic as shown in Fig. 11. As the plate 60 continues to move upwardly, the cutting blade 64 cuts through the web 14 forming a coupon 148. The piercing portion 144 maintains its positive hold on the coupon 148 and moves rapidly downward until the coupon is forced -through the smaller dimensioned aperture 115 (see Fig. 13) by movement of plunger 142. At this time the plunger 142 is retracted and the coupon 148 will force itsel:E from the piercing element or pin 144. The actuation of the plunger occurs appro~imately when the actuating member 150 is contacted by the lower sup-port plate means 60. By including the piercing element or piercing means 144 on ~he leading face 146 of the plunger 142, the plastic web 14 is positively located relative -to the cutting periphery or cutting blade 64. This ensures Eor a proper position cut of the plastic rnaterial and as the plunger 142 is driven into aperture 140, the coupon is pulled by the plunger relative to the piercing member 144 and will be pushed through the aperture 140. Without the use of piercing member 144, the coupon rnay still be attached at one portion to the plastic and not be forced comple-tely through the aperture. As a result, when the web material is inter-mittently driven, the coupon may be hrought with it. Accord-ingly, the circular cutting apparatus 138 of the present 63~;3 invention ef~ectively ejects the coupon therefrom. As shown in Fig. 1, a chute 152 may be provided for collecting and directing the ejected coupons into a bin for collection.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the separating apparatus in the present invention is shown. The separating apparatus 68 comprises a first pair of parallel rods 154 which are rigidly connected with side frame 156 and a second pair of parallel extending rods 158 which is rigidly connected to side frame 160. The rods 154 and 158 extend downwardly as shown in the drawings and extend at an angle inclined to the normal of the direction of elongation of the respective first and second web portions 14a and 14b. As web portion 14a rises, it passes over the rear rod of rods 154 and under the forward rod of rods 154. As web 14a passes over the rear rod lS of rods 154 it alters its direction of web travel to include a component which is transverse to the direction of elonga-tion of the web portion 14a and away ~rom the web portion 14b. As the web portion 14b pass~s over the forward rod of rods 154~ it eliminates the transverse component therefrom, The other set of rods 158 are of similar design to rods 154 to ef~ect a change in direction of web 14b as shown in the drawings. The rear rod and the Eorward rod of each of the pairs of rods 154 and 158 are designed such that the lower line defined by the forward rod is even with the upper line defined by the rear rod. The ends of the rods 154 are inter-connected by interconnecting plates 162. Likewise the ends of rods 158 are connected by similar interconnecting rods which are not shown for the purpose of clarification. The rods 154 and 158 are positioned one above the other, overlap across the generally longitudinally extending line the web 63~i3 portions have been cut. As shown in the drawings, the sepa-rating apparatus 68 and the phasing above are on a vertical as opposed ~o the generally horizontal extending operations that the rest of the machine are performed. This saves floor space.

lS

Claims (22)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A bag making machine for producing bags from an elon-gate strip of thermoplastic web material, comprising:
cutting means intermittently operable to cut said web material;
front web driving means located forward of said cut-ting means, rear web driving means located rearward of said cut-ting means;
said front and rear web driving means being intermit-tantly operable when said cutting means is non-operable to advance said web material from aid rear web driving means toward said front web driving means; and, said rear web driving means including adjustment means for varying the driving force of said rear web driving means whereby web tension between said front and rear web driving means is controlled.

2. The bag machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear web driving means comprises a pair of rear nip rollers, at least one of said nip rollers being driven and at least one of said nip rollers being movable towards the other by said adjustment means to increase the nip pressure between said rollers.

3. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein said rear nip rollers are covered with elastic material such that as the nip pressure is varied the effective diameter of the rubber covered nip roller is altered.

4. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein as the nip pressure between the rear nip rollers increases, slippage of said web material between said rear nip rollers is reduced.

5. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein said elastic mate-rial is rubber.

6. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein said adjustment means comprises a pressurized cylinder means connected to at least one of said nip rollers.

7. The bag machine of claim 4 wherein said adjustment means comprises a pressurized cylinder means connected to at least one of said nip rollers.

8. The bag machine of claim 1 wherein said rear web driv-ing means comprises a pair of rear nip rollers, one of said rollers being driven and the other of said rollers being mov-able by said adjustment means towards the other to increase nip pressure and reduce web slippage.

9. The bag machine of claim 8 wherein said adjustment means includes variable pressure cylinder means operably con-nected to move said other roller.

10. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein the web material is at least partially wrapped about one of said rear nip rollers whereby said rear nip rollers brake the motion of said web material at the end of intermittent operation of said rear nip rollers and effectively isolate said web material ad-vanced therepast from tension applied to the web material still to be driven through said rear nip rollers.

11. The bag machine of claim 2 wherein said front driving means comprises a pair of nip rollers, one of said rollers being driven to draw said web material therethrough.

12. The bag machine of claim 4 wherein said front driving means includes a pair of nip rollers, one of said front nip rollers being driven to draw said web material therethrough, said front nip rollers driving said web material therebetween at a speed greater substantially equal to or slightly less than the web speed at which said rear nip rollers drive said web material.

13. The bag machine of claim 12 wherein the driving rollers of said front and rear nip rollers are rotated at different speeds and the driving roller of said rear driving means normally having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the driving roller of said front driving means.

14. The bag machine of claim 1 wherein said cutting means includes:
stationary cutting means arranged in a predetermined pattern to cut said bag handles;
movable support means over which said web material travels, said movable support means being movable between a first position separated from said cutting means and a second position forcing said web material into cutting engagement with said cutting means;
reciprocally movable drive means for effecting inter-mittent movement of said movable support means between its first and second positions; and coupling means interconnecting said drive means and said support means to translate reciprocating movement of said drive means into movement of said support means.

15. The bag machine of claim 14 wherein said stationary cutting means includes a curved blade means for cutting the peripheries of the bag handle and two circular blade means, one on either side of the curved blade, for cutting coupons from the web material to form circular apertures of a first predetermined size from the bag handle, said support means including an aperture extending therethrough for each circu-lar cutting means, each of said circular cutting means in-cluding:
a plunger within the cutting periphery of the circular blade means which is movable relative thereto, said plunger including a piercing means on a leading face thereof, the apertures of said support means being aligned with said plungers, the support means aperture being greater in size than said plunger and less in size than said first pre-determined size;
said circular cutting means cutting a coupon form said web material when said web material is brought into engage-ment with said circular cutting means, said piercing means piercing said web material and extending into said support means aperture to positively hold said web material proximate said cutting periphery as said coupon is cut, and, means for actuating movement of said plunger into said support means aperture when said coupon is cut so as to eject said coupon from said web material upon withdrawal of said plunger from said support means aperture.

16. A bag machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein separating means are included between said cutting means and said front driving means, said separating means comprising:
at least a first pair of parallel rods inclined at a first angle normal to the direction of elongation of said first web portion, said first web portion travelling around a first rod of the first rod pair to alter its direction of web travel to include a component transverse to the direction of elongation of the first web portion and away from the second web portion, said first web portion travelling around the second rod of the first rod pair to again alter the direction of web travel by eliminating said transverse component from the direction of web travel.

17. A bag machine as claimed in claim 16 further including between the separating means and front driving means, phasing means comprising two horizontal rollers which are displaced vertically from one another one half bag width apart, said first and second web portions travelling over respective horizontal rollers subsequent to separation so as to shift the bag handle portions into phase with each other.

18. The bag machine of claim 17 further including bag cut ting and sealing means for cutting and sealing said web mate-rial in a direction transverse to the direction of web elon-gation, said bag cutting means being located forward of said front driving means and comprising an elongate cutting blade and cutting bar movable relative to one another to cut and seal side edges of the two web portions.

19. The bag machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein the phasing and separating operations are performed on a verti-cally upward extending jig member.

20. A bag machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein separat-ing means are included between said cutting means and said forward driving means, said separating means comprising:
at least a first pair of parallel rods inclined at a first angle normal to the direction of elongation of said first web portion, said first web portion travelling around a first rod of the first rod pair to alter its direction of web travel to include a component transverse to the direction of elongation of the first web portion and away from the second web portion, said first web portion travelling around the second rod of the first rod pair to again alter the direction of web travel by eliminating said transverse component from the direction of web travel.

21. A bag machine as claimed in claim 20 further including phasing means between the separating means and front driving means, said phasing means comprising two horizontal rollers which are displaced vertically from one another one half bag width apart, said first and second web portions travelling over respective horizontal rollers subsequent to separation to be shifted into phase with each other.

22. The bag machine of claim 21 further including bag cut-ting means for cutting said web material in a direction transverse to the direction of web elongation, said bag cut-ting means being located forward of said front driving means and comprising an elongate cutting blade and sealing bar movable relative to one another to cut and seal side edges of the two web portions.