Bread bagger

Claim 1

IN A MACHINE FOR BAGGING A PRODUCT, SUCH AS A LOAF OF BREAD, IN A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC BAG MADE OF POLYETHYLENE OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT ENTITIES ALONG A GIVEN PATH TO A BAGGING STATION; (B) SCOOP MEANS RECIPROACATING ALONG A SECOND PATH WHICH CROSSES SAID FIRST PATH IN THE AREA OF SAID STATION SO THAT SAID SCOOP MEANS HAS ALTERNATELY A RETRACTED POSITION IN SAID SECOND PATH IN WHICH SAID SCOOP MEANS IN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AREA OF SAID STATION, AND AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH SAID SCOOP MEANS EXTENDS THROUGH AND BEYOND SAID STATION; (C) BAG SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A DISTENDED BAG TO AN END PORTION OF SAID SCOOP MEANS WHEN THIS IS EXTENDED BEYOND THE SAID STATION WHEREBY SAID SCOOP MEANS EXTENDS WITHIN SAID BAG AND GRIPS THE SAME CARRYING THE SAME WITH IT AS SAID SCOOP MEAN RETREATS THROUGH SAID STATION; (D) MEANS ON SAID SCOOP MEANS POSITIONED OPPOSITE SAID STATION WHEN SAID SCOOP MEANS IS EXTENDED, FOR RECEIVING A PRODUCT ENTITY FED TO SAID STATION; (E) BLOCKADE MEANS POSITIONED TO RETAIN SAID PRODUCT ENTITY AT SAID STATION DURING RETRACTION OF SAID SCOOP MEANS WHEREBY SAID BAG IS DRAWN OVER SAID ENTITY, ENVELOPING THE SAME; (F) ENGAGEMENT OF SAID BAG WITH SAID PRODUCT ENTITY HALTING SAID BAG AT SAID STATION AND FACILITATING WITHDRAWAL OF SAID SCOOP MEANS FROM SAID BAG AS SAID SCOOP MEANS RETURN TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION; AND (G) MEANS FOR COORDINATELY RECIPROCATING SAID SCOOP MEANS, OPERATING SAID PRODUCT ENTITY FEED MEANS, AND OPERATING SAID BAG SUPPLY MEANS TO PRODUCE RECURRENT PRODUCT ENTITY BAGGING CYCLES, SAID SCOOP RECIPROCATING MEANS ACCOMPLISHING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SCOOP MEANS FOR RETRACTED POSITION TO EXTENDED POSITION DURING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN HALF OF THE TIME PERIOD OF EACH BAGGING CYCLE, THE BALANCE, AND MAJOR PORTION, OF SAID TIME PERIOD BEING OCCUPIED BY THE REVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCATION.