Method and apparatus for filling bags

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FILLING BAGS FROM A HOPPER COMPRISING A BAG FILLING MACHINE WHICH INCLUDES A CLOSED CONDITIONING CHAMBER, INLET MEANS FOR SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER FOR PERMITTING MATERIAL TO FLOW FROM SAID HOPPER INTO SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER, A DIFFUSER PAD LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER FOR FLUIDIZING THE MATERIAL IN SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER, FIRST VALVE MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID INLET MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THERETHROUGH AND TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF AIR FROM SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER DURING A BAG FILLING OPERATION, LEVEL RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER AND BEING OPERATIVE TO CLOSE SAID FIRST VALVE MEANS WHEN THE MATERIAL BEING FED INTO SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER REACHES A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, A FILLING SPOUT DISPOSED AT THE LOWER END OF SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER FOR FILLING A BAG, SECOND VALVE MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE OUTLET OF SAID FILLING SPOUT AND SAID CONDITIONING CHAMBER FOR CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THROUGH SAID SPOUT, BAG WEIGHT RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID SECOND VALVE MEANS WHEN A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF MATERIAL HAS BEEN FED INTO SAID BAG, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY