Apparatus for filling bags with weighed drafts of material

Claim 1

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving each weighed draft of said material discharged by said weighing mechanism, means providing for the discharge of each weighed draft of said material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, means for memorizing the delivery of each weighed draft of material to said chamber by said weighing mechanism, and means controlled by said memorizing means for conditioning said weighing mechanism to prevent the delivery of the next draft to said chamber until after the draft in said chamber is discharged from said chamber.

Claim 2

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving each weighed draft of said material discharged by said weighing mechanism, means providing for the discharge of each weighed draft of said material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, means for memorizing the delivery of each weighed draft of material to said chamber by said weighing mechanism, and means controlled by said memorizing means for conditioning said weighing mechanism to prevent the delivery of the next draft to said chamber until after the draft in said chamber is discharged from said chamber.

Claim 6

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for cyclically weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving each of the weighed-out drafts of material discharged by said weighing mechanism, a bag filling spout in communication with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled on said spout, control means providing for the discharge of the complete weighed-out draft of material from said chamber to a bag on said spout, means controlling delivery of the material to be weighed out to said weighing mechanism and being responsive to the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material from said weighing mechanism for automatically initiating the delivery of additional material to said weighing mechanism to make up the next draft, means for memorizing the delivery of each weighed-out draft of material to said chamber, and means controlled by said memorizing means for preventing said weighing mechanism from discharging the next weighed-out draft of material until after the preceding draft has been discharged from said chamber.

Claim 7

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for cyclically weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving each of the weighed-out drafts of material discharged by said weighing mechanism, a bag filling spout in communication with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled on said spout, control means providing for the discharge of the complete weighed-out draft of material from said chamber to a bag on said spout, means controlling delivery of the material to be weighed out to said weighing mechanism and being responsive to the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material from said weighing mechanism for automatically initiating the delivery of additional material to said weighing mechanism to make up the next draft, means for memorizing the delivery of each weighed-out draft of material to said chamber, and means controlled by said memorizing means for preventing said weighing mechanism from discharging the next weighed-out draft of material until after the preceding draft has been discharged from said chamber.

Claim 9

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for cyclically weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving the drafts of material discharged by said weighing mechanism, a bag-filling spout in communication with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled on said spout to receive a weighed-out draft discharged from said chamber, means providing for the discharge of the complete weighed-out draft of material from said chamber to a bag on said spout, means controlling delivery of the material to be weighed out to said weighing mechanism and being responsive to the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material from said weighing mechanism for automatically initiating the delivery of additional material to said weighing mechanism to make up the next draft, electrical circuit means for memorizing the delivery of each draft of material to said chamber, and means controlled by said electrical circuit means for preventing said weighing mechanism from discharging the next weighed-out draft of material until after the preceding draft has been discharged from said chamber.

Claim 10

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material in solid form comprising a weighing mechanism responsive to the weight of material delivered thereto for cyclically weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, with each draft having a preselected weight, means defining a chamber for receiving the drafts of material discharged by said weighing mechanism, a bag-filling spout in communication with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled on said spout to receive a weighed-out draft discharged from said chamber, means providing for the discharge of the complete weighed-out draft of material from said chamber to a bag on said spout, means controlling delivery of the material to be weighed out to said weighing mechanism and being responsive to the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material from said weighing mechanism for automatically initiating the delivery of additional material to said weighing mechanism to make up the next draft, electrical circuit means for memorizing the delivery of each draft of material to said chamber, and means controlled by said electrical circuit means for preventing said weighing mechanism from discharging the next weighed-out draft of material until after the preceding draft has been discharged from said chamber.

Claim 11

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comprising a weighing mechanism for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, a hopper forming a part of said weighing mechanism for receiving material to be weighed out and discharged in said drafts, a blowdown tank for receiving the drafts discharged by said weighing mechanism and having a bag-filling spout, means responsive to the discharge of each draft of material from said hopper for initiating the delivery of additional material to said hopper for making up the next measured draft, and control means for introducing pressurized air into said tank for discharging the material therein through said spout and for conditioning said weighing mechanism to discharge the next draft of material after the preceding draft has been discharged from said tank.

Claim 12

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comprising a weighing mechanism for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, a hopper forming a part of said weighing mechanism for receiving material to be weighed out and discharged in said drafts, a blowdown tank for receiving the drafts discharged by said weighing mechanism and having a bag-filling spout, means responsive to the discharge of each draft of material from said hopper for initiating the delivery of additional material to said hopper for making up the next measured draft, and control means for introducing pressurized air into said tank for discharging the material therein through said spout and for conditioning said weighing mechanism to discharge the next draft of material after the preceding draft has been discharged from said tank.

Claim 13

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comprising a weighing mechanism for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, a hopper forming a part of said mechanism for receiving the material to be weighed and discharged in said drafts, discharge valve means forming a part of said weighing mechanism and being displaceable between opened and closed positions for respectively enabling material to be discharged from said hopper and blocking the discharge of material from said hopper, a blowdown tank for receiving the drafts discharged by said mechanism and having a bag-filling spout, means responsive to the discharge of each draft of material from said hopper for initiating the delivery of additional material to said hopper to make up the next draft, selectively actuatable control means for introducing pressurized air into said tank for discharging the material therein through said spout, means comprising a control circuit for operating said discharge valve means and switching means selectively actuatable to alternate positions, said switching means, when actuated to one of said alternate positions, conditioning said control circuit to open said discharge valve means after the draft of material in said chamber is discharged by said control means, and said switching means, when actuated to another one of said positions, preventing said control circuit from being conditioned to open said discharge valve means, but enabling pressurized air to be introduced into said chamber by actuation of said control means.

Claim 14

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comprising a weighing mechanism for weighing out and discharging successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, a hopper forming a part of said mechanism for receiving the material to be weighed and discharged in said drafts, discharge valve means forming a part of said weighing mechanism and being displaceable between opened and closed positions for respectively enabling material to be discharged from said hopper and blocking the discharge of material from said hopper, a blowdown tank for receiving the drafts discharged by said mechanism and having a bag-filling spout, means responsive to the discharge of each draft of material from said hopper for initiating the delivery of additional material to said hopper to make up the next draft, selectively actuatable control means for introducing pressurized air into said tank for discharging the material therein through said spout, means comprising a control circuit for operating said discharge valve means and switching means selectively actuatable to alternate positions, said switching means, when actuated to one of said alternate positions, conditioning said control circuit to open said discharge valve means after the draft of material in said chamber is discharged by said control means, and said switching means, when actuated to another one of said positions, preventing said control circuit from being conditioned to open said discharge valve means, but enabling pressurized air to be introduced into said chamber by actuation of said control means.

Claim 15

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comPrising means defining a chamber for receiving successive, discrete, preweighed drafts of said material, means defining an outlet providing for the discharge of material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, a weighing mechanism for weighing the drafts of material to be delivered to said chamber and for delivering the weighed drafts one at a time to said chamber, bistable electrical means having first and second stables states, means responsive to the delivery of each of said drafts to said chamber for actuating said bistable means to said first state, control means adapted to be selectively actuated for discharging the draft of material from said chamber, and means controlled by said control means for actuating said bistable means to said second state a predetermined time after said control means is actuated to discharge the draft of material in said chamber, said weighing mechanism being conditioned by said bistable means to prevent delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said first state and to enable delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said second state, said weighing mechanism comprising a hopper for receiving the bulk material to be weighed out in said discrete drafts, means operatively connected to said hopper for interrupting the delivery of said material to said hopper in response to the accumulation of a predetermined weight of the material in said hopper, and a discharge valve displaceable between closed and opened positions for respectively blocking discharge of material from said hopper and enabling discharge of material from said hopper, said apparatus further comprising actuating means controlled by said bistable means and being operatively connected to said discharge valve for opening said discharge valve when said bistable means is actuated to said second state and for maintaining said discharge valve closed when said bistable means is actuated to said first state.

Claim 16

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material comPrising means defining a chamber for receiving successive, discrete, preweighed drafts of said material, means defining an outlet providing for the discharge of material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, a weighing mechanism for weighing the drafts of material to be delivered to said chamber and for delivering the weighed drafts one at a time to said chamber, bistable electrical means having first and second stables states, means responsive to the delivery of each of said drafts to said chamber for actuating said bistable means to said first state, control means adapted to be selectively actuated for discharging the draft of material from said chamber, and means controlled by said control means for actuating said bistable means to said second state a predetermined time after said control means is actuated to discharge the draft of material in said chamber, said weighing mechanism being conditioned by said bistable means to prevent delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said first state and to enable delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said second state, said weighing mechanism comprising a hopper for receiving the bulk material to be weighed out in said discrete drafts, means operatively connected to said hopper for interrupting the delivery of said material to said hopper in response to the accumulation of a predetermined weight of the material in said hopper, and a discharge valve displaceable between closed and opened positions for respectively blocking discharge of material from said hopper and enabling discharge of material from said hopper, said apparatus further comprising actuating means controlled by said bistable means and being operatively connected to said discharge valve for opening said discharge valve when said bistable means is actuated to said second state and for maintaining said discharge valve closed when said bistable means is actuated to said first state.

Claim 18

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk fluent material in solid form comprising means defining a chamber for receiving successive, discrete, pre-weighed drafts of said material, means defining an outlet providing for the discharge of material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, a weighing mechanism for weighing the drafts of material to be delivered to said chamber and for delivering the weighed drafts one at a time to said chamber, bistable electrical means having first and second stable states, means responsive to the delivery of each of said drafts to said chamber for actuating said bistable means to said first state, control means adapted to be selectively actuated for discharging the draft of material from said chamber, and means controlled by said control means for actuating said bistable means to said second state a predetermined time after said control means is actuated to discharge the draft of material in said chamber, said predetermined time being sufficiently long to allow for the discharge of the draft of material from said chamber, said weighing mechanism being conditioned by said bistable means to prevent delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said first state and to enable delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said second state.

Claim 19

An apparatus for filling bags with bulk fluent material in solid form comprising means defining a chamber for receiving successive, discrete, pre-weighed drafts of said material, means defining an outlet providing for the discharge of material from said chamber to one of the bags to be filled, a weighing mechanism for weighing the drafts of material to be delivered to said chamber and for delivering the weighed drafts one at a time to said chamber, bistable electrical means having first and second stable states, means responsive to the delivery of each of said drafts to said chamber for actuating said bistable means to said first state, control means adapted to be selectively actuated for discharging the draft of material from said chamber, and means controlled by said control means for actuating said bistable means to said second state a predetermined time after said control means is actuated to discharge the draft of material in said chamber, said predetermined time being sufficiently long to allow for the discharge of the draft of material from said chamber, said weighing mechanism being conditioned by said bistable means to prevent delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said first state and to enable delivery of the material to said chamber when said bistable means is in said second state.

Claim 21

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material comprising a weighing mechanism having a hopper and being responsive to the weight of material delivered to said hopper for weighing out successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, discharge gate means forming a part of said weighing mechanism and being operated between opened and closed positions for respectively providing for and blocking the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material in said hopper, means defining a chamber for receiving the drafts of material discharged from said hopper by said gate means, a spout communicating with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled to said spout, control means adapted to be selectively actuated to provide for the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material in said chamber through said spout to supply each complete weighed-out draft to a bag, and means responsive to the discharge of a weighed-out draft from said hopper for initiating the delivery of material to be weighed to said hopper for making up a measured draft of said material regardless of the presence or absence of a preceding draft of material in said chamber.

Claim 22

An apparatus for filling bags with fluent material comprising a weighing mechanism having a hopper and being responsive to the weight of material delivered to said hopper for weighing out successive, discrete, measured drafts of said material, discharge gate means forming a part of said weighing mechanism and being operated between opened and closed positions for respectively providing for and blocking the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material in said hopper, means defining a chamber for receiving the drafts of material discharged from said hopper by said gate means, a spout communicating with said chamber to provide an outlet for discharging each weighed-out draft of material from said chamber, means for securing a bag to be filled to said spout, control means adapted to be selectively actuated to provide for the discharge of each weighed-out draft of material in said chamber through said spout to supply each complete weighed-out draft to a bag, and means responsive to the discharge of a weighed-out draft from said hopper for initiating the delivery of material to be weighed to said hopper for making up a measured draft of said material regardless of the presence or absence of a preceding draft of material in said chamber.