Inlet means for bag-filling machine

Claim 2

A bag-filling machine adapted for receiving mateRial from a supply bin comprising a closed chamber, a bag-filling spout connected with the lower part of said chamber, means for causing material in the lower part of said chamber to flow horizontally through said spout and into a bag, spout valve means for controlling the flow of material through said spout, means for supplying air under pressure to said chamber, and means for admitting material to said chamber comprising a gate valve located in a sidewall of said chamber, and an inlet chute extending from said gate valve for communication with said supply bin, said gate valve comprising a vertically sliding gate in the form of a plate, a valve seat in the form of a frame providing an opening, said gate overlying the inner surface of said seat, guide means for holding said gate against said valve seat, power means for slidably moving said gate between an upper valve-closed position and a lower valve-open position, cycle-initiating means for opening said spout valve means and for moving said gate into said upper valve-closed position, cycle-terminating means, including bag weight responsive means, for closing said spout valve and for moving said gate into said lower valve-open position when the contents of the bag have reached a predetermined weight, said inlet chute communicating with the sidewall of said chamber at a point spaced beneath the top of said chamber so that the level of the material fed into said chamber will be spaced from the top of said chamber to provide a free space in the portion of said chamber, and the upper portion of said valve seat extending into said free space so that movement of the gate into its closed position will not be blocked by particles disposed between the gate and said upper portion of said valve seat.

Claim 3

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the air supplied to said chamber urges said gate against said valve seat, means actuated by said cycle-terminating means for cutting off said chamber air and for venting said chamber in order to relieve the air pressure on said gate and to facilitate its sliding movement.

Claim 4

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for causing material to flow horizontally through said spout comprises fluidizing means located in the lower part of said chamber.

Claim 5

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said power means comprises a double-acting air cylinder, air supply means for each end of said cylinder, said cycle-initiating means controlling the air supply for actuating said cylinder into the valve-closed position, and said cycle-terminating means controlling the air supply for moving said cylinder into the valve-open position.

Claim 6

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 4 in which said chamber air supply means includes an air-actuated chamber air supply valve, said cycle-terminating means also controlling the actuating air to said chamber air supply valve to close same.

Claim 7

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 5 including an air-actuated vent valve communicating with said chamber, said cycle-initiating control means also controlling the actuating air to said vent valve to close same.

Claim 8

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said guide means comprise two vertically disposed guide strips engaging the inner surface of said gate, and spaced transversely inwardly from the side edges of said gate, said side edges being unconfined.

Claim 9

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 7 in which said power means includes an air cylinder having a piston rod, means for connecting said piston rod to said gate, said gate being maintained against substantial transverse movement by said piston rod.

Claim 10

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 8 in which said means for connecting comprises pin and clevis means permitting movement of said gate in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said seat under the influence of air pressure supplied by said air supply means.

Claim 11

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 7 in which said guide strips are oF rectangular cross section, and are oriented so that the edge of narrower dimension engages said gate.

Claim 12

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 10 including supporting brackets mounted in the sidewall of said chamber and secured to said guides for mounting same, said brackets being adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said valve seat.

Claim 13

A bag-filling machine adapted for receiving material from a supply bin comprising a closed chamber, a bag-filling spout connected with the lower part of said chamber, fluidizing means located in said chamber for fluidizing material in the lower part of said chamber to cause it to move horizontally through said spout and into a bag, means including bag weight responsive means for cutting off the flow of material through said spout when the contents of the bag have reached a predetermined weight, means for admitting material to said chamber comprising a gate valve located in a sidewall of said chamber, and an inlet chute extending from said gate valve for communication with said supply bin, said gate valve comprising a vertically sliding gate in the form of a plate, a valve seat in the form of a vertically disposed frame providing an opening, said gate overlying the inner surface of said seat, an air cylinder located above said gate and having a piston rod connected to said gate for actuating same between an upper valve-closed position and a lower valve-open position, and guide means for holding said gate against said valve seat including a plurality of vertically disposed guide strips engaging the inner surface of said gate and spaced transversely inwardly from the side edges of said gate, said side edges being unconfined, said inlet chute communicating with the sidewall of said chamber at a point spaced beneath the top of said chamber so that the level of the material fed into said chamber will be spaced from the top of said chamber to provide a free space in the upper portion of said chamber, the upper portion of said valve seat extending into said free space so that movement of the gate into its closed position will not be blocked by particles disposed between the gate and said upper portion of said valve seat.

Claim 14

A bag-filling machine adapted for receiving material from a supply bin comprising a closed chamber, a bag-filling spout connected with the lower part of said chamber, fluidizing means located in said chamber for fluidizing material in the lower part of said chamber to cause it to move horizontally through said spout and into a bag, means including bag weight responsive means for cutting off the flow of material through said spout when the contents of the bag have reached a predetermined weight, means for admitting material to said chamber comprising a gate valve located in a sidewall of said chamber, and an inlet chute extending from said gate valve for communication with said supply bin, said gate valve comprising a vertically sliding gate in the form of a plate, a valve seat in the form of a vertically disposed frame providing an opening, said gate overlying the inner surface of said seat, an air cylinder located above said gate and having a piston rod connected to said gate for actuating same between an upper valve-closed position and a lower valve-open position, and guide means for holding said gate against said valve seat including a plurality of vertically disposed guide strips engaging the inner surface of said gate and spaced transversely inwardly from the side edges of said gate, said side edges being unconfined, said inlet chute communicating with the sidewall of said chamber at a point spaced beneath the top of said chamber so that the level of the material fed into said chamber will be spaced from the top of said chamber to provide a free space in the upper portion of said chamber, the upper portion of said valve seat extending into said free space so that movement of the gate into its closed position will not be blocked by particles disposed between the gate and said upper portion of said valve seat.

Claim 15

A bag-filling machine as claimed in claim 12 including means for supplying top air to said chamber to urge said gate against said valve seat, means actuated by said bag weight responsive means for cutting off said top air and for venting said chamber when the flow of material through said spout is cut off in order to relieve the air pressure on said gate and to facilitate its sliding movement.