Bag clamp for use in a packaging machine

Abstract

Abstract A PACKAGING MACHINE FOR OPENING THIN, FLEXIBLE WALLED BAGS AS THE BAGS ARE ADVANCED EDGEWISE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH INTO A FILLING STATION IN UPRIGHT POSITIONS WITH THE WALLS OF EACH BAG POSITIONED FACE-TO-FACE. A CARRIER IS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME OF THE MACHINE FOR MOVEMENT GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE PATH WITH A PAIR OF BAG CLAMPS MOUNTED ON THE CARRIER AND OPERABLE TO SUPPORT ONE BAG WITH JAWS WHICH ARE OPERABLE TO GRIP OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE BAG AND WHICH ARE POSITIONED PARALLEL TO THE CARRIER. TO BOW OPEN THE BAG, THE TRAILING BAG CLAMP IS OPERABLE TO MOVE THE JAWS IN A GENERALLY STRAIGHT LINE TOWARD THE LEADING BAG CLAMP WHILE MAINTAINING HE JAWS PARALLEL TO THE CARRIER TO AVOID WRINKLING THE BAG DURING THE BOWING. IN THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, THE JAWS ARE CONNECTED TO THE CARRIER BY PARALLEL LINKS WHICH CAN BE SWUNG TO MOVE THE JAWS RELATIVE TO THE CARRIER. IN THE SECOND EMBODIMENT, THE JAWS ARE MOUNTED ON A SLIDE WHICH IS GUIDED ON THE CARRIER FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT IN A GENERALLY STRAIGHT, HORIZONTAL LINE RELATIVE TO THE CARRIER.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert F Lense
• 👤 Donald T Peterson

Bibliographic Details