Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
In A bag packing apparatus including a channelizer for directing bags from a single file into a variable plurality of files, a conveyor at the discharge end of said channelizer having overlying guides defining a plurality of channels, check and release means associated with each channel and an accumulator chamber downstream of said conveyor, an upper trap means to receive bags from said conveyor and thereafter drop them into said accumulator chamber, a means for transferring accumulated layers of bags into a case in proximity to said chamber and variable means for controlling the upper trap means and the transferring means to transfer a selected number of layers of bags into a case.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
In A bag packing apparatus including a channelizer for directing bags from a single file into a variable plurality of files, a conveyor at the discharge end of said channelizer having overlying guides defining a plurality of channels, check and release means associated with each channel and an accumulator chamber downstream of said conveyor, an upper trap means to receive bags from said conveyor and thereafter drop them into said accumulator chamber, a means for transferring accumulated layers of bags into a case in proximity to said chamber and variable means for controlling the upper trap means and the transferring means to transfer a selected number of layers of bags into a case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including second variable means for controlling the check and release means and the upper trap means to deposit one or more rows of bags upon the upper trap means before a layer comprised of the row or rows of bags is deposited in the accumulator chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the guides defining the channels are adjustable to define a variable number of channels and wherein the check and release means are adjustably mounted such that one check and release means is provided for each of the number of channels defined by said guides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including variable means for electrically timing and actuating the operation of the check and release means and the upper trap means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including first detecting means for sensing the presence of at least one bag in proximity to each check and release means, second detecting means for sensing the position of a case to be filled, third detecting means for sensing the position of a case next to be filled, and means for preventing continued operation of the apparatus when said first, second or third detecting means do not detect bags or cases in their proper positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including fourth detecting means for sensing an undesired back-up of bags at a predetermined point and means for diverting bags into an overflow bin in response to the detection of a back-up of bags.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the transferring means includes a ram positioned to push a stack of bags dropped from the accumulator chamber into a case positioned adjacent an area beneath said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 including means for actuating said ram a preset time after the bags are dropped from the accumulator chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 including means for supporting a case in its position to receive the stack of bags and for transferring said case onto a take-away mechanism.