Bag applicator method and apparatus

Claim 2

Bag applicator apparatus comprising means for picking up a single bag from a stack of empty bags, means for positioning and holding said empty bag in a preselected position, a bag opening and filling station, means for transporting said bag from said preselected position to said bag opening and filling station, means for detecting the presence of said empty bag at said bag opening and filling station and to stop it thereat, means for gripping and holding said bag in preparation for opening and filling, means for opening said bag, means for introducing a filling spout into the opened bag, means for discharging a quantity of material into the open bag, means for settling and compacting the material contained in the bag, means for elevating and positioning the bottom of the filled bag, and means for conveying said filled bag to a closing and sealing device.

Claim 3

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for picking up a single bag from a stack of empty bags comprises a magazine for holding said stack of empty bags, a frame support mounted adjacent said magazine, vacuum cups carried by said frame, and means for vertically reciprocating said frame support.

Claim 4

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for vertically reciprocating said frame support comprises a fluid cylinder and piston assembly, and a flexible chain connecting said fluid cylinder and piston assembly to said frame support for vertically reciprocating said frame support.

Claim 5

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for positioning and holding said empty bag in a preselected position comprises a vacuum cup frame, vacuum cups carried by said vacuum cup frame for engaging said empty bag, and means for rotating said vacuum cup frame through an arc of about 90 degrees.

Claim 6

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for positioning and holding said empty bag in a preselected position further comprises a flat plate disposed adjacent said preselected position, and a hinged gate which is swingable to contain said empty bag against said flat plate.

Claim 7

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for transporting said bag from said preselected position to said bag opening and filling station comprises belt frames, two horizontally parallel V-belts mounted on said frames, means for moving said V-belts between a first position spaced apart and a second position closely spaced one from the other to hold said bag therebetween.

Claim 8

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said belts are driven by an electric motor through a magnetic clutch and brake means, said clutch means being normally engaged for driving said belts and said brake means being engageable when said bag reaches said bag opening and filling station.

Claim 9

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for gripping and holding said bag in preparation for opening and filling comprises a pair of gripper frames, gripper pads mounted on said gripper frames for engaging opposite sides of said bags respectively, to collapse the bag sideways and to cause the front and rear faces of the bag to buckle.

Claim 10

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for opening Said bag comprise spring loaded vacuum cups mounted on said transport belt frames for opening the front and rear faces of the bag in opposite directions one from the other.

Claim 11

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for settling and compacting the material contained in the bag comprises beaters mounted adjacent said filling station for alternately compressing and releasing the sides of the bag during filling.

Claim 12

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for elevating and positioning the bottom of the filled bag comprises an elevator conveyor mounted adjacent said filling station and fluid cylinder piston assembly for raising and lowering same.

Claim 13

Bag applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for conveying said filled bag to a closing and sealing device comprises an extension of the means for transporting said bag from said preselected position to said bag opening and filling stations.

Claim 14

Bag applicator apparatus comprising a magazine for holding said stack of empty bags, a vacuum cup frame mounted adjacent said magazine, vacuum cups carried by said frame for engaging an empty bag, a fluid cylinder and piston assembly, and a flexible chain connecting said fluid cylinder and piston assembly to said frame for vertically reciprocating said frame, a flat plate, means for rotating said vacuum cup frame though an arc of about 90* to bring said bag into engagement with said plate, a hinged gate which is swingable to retain said empty bag against said flat plate, a bag opening and filling station, belt frames, two horizontally disposed parallel V-belts mounted on said frames respectively, means for moving said V-belts between a first position spaced apart and a second position closely spaced one from the other to hold said bag therebetween, means for detecting the presence of said empty bag in said bag opening and filling station and to stop it thereat, a pair of gripper frames, gripper pads mounted on said gripper frames for engaging opposite sides of said bag respectively, to collapse the bag sideways and to cause the front and rear faces of the bag to buckle, spring loaded vacuum cups mounted on said transport belt frames for opening the front and rear faces of the bag in opposite directions from each other, means for introducing a filling spout into the opened bag, a beater mounted adjacent said filling station for alternately compressing and releasing the sides of the bag during filling, an elevator conveyor disposed adjacent said filling station and means for raising and lowering same, means for conveying said filled bag to a closing and sealing device including an extension of the means for transporting said bag from said preselected position to said bag opening and filling station.

Claim 15

Bag applicator apparatus comprising a magazine for holding said stack of empty bags, a vacuum cup frame mounted adjacent said magazine, vacuum cups carried by said frame for engaging an empty bag, a fluid cylinder and piston assembly, and a flexible chain connecting said fluid cylinder and piston assembly to said frame for vertically reciprocating said frame, a flat plate, means for rotating said vacuum cup frame though an arc of about 90* to bring said bag into engagement with said plate, a hinged gate which is swingable to retain said empty bag against said flat plate, a bag opening and filling station, belt frames, two horizontally disposed parallel V-belts mounted on said frames respectively, means for moving said V-belts between a first position spaced apart and a second position closely spaced one from the other to hold said bag therebetween, means for detecting the presence of said empty bag in said bag opening and filling station and to stop it thereat, a pair of gripper frames, gripper pads mounted on said gripper frames for engaging opposite sides of said bag respectively, to collapse the bag sideways and to cause the front and rear faces of the bag to buckle, spring loaded vacuum cups mounted on said transport belt frames for opening the front and rear faces of the bag in opposite directions from each other, means for introducing a filling spout into the opened bag, a beater mounted adjacent said filling station for alternately compressing and releasing the sides of the bag during filling, an elevator conveyor disposed adjacent said filling station and means for raising and lowering same, means for conveying said filled bag to a closing and sealing device including an extension of the means for transporting said bag from said preselected position to said bag opening and filling station.

Claim 16

Method of applying a bag to a bag filling device comprising the steps of picking up a single bag from a stack of empty bags, positioning and holding said bag in a substantially vertical position with the opening thereof directed upwardly, gripping the upper portion of the bag between two belts for transporting the bag to a bag opening and filling station, engaging the opposite sides of said bag to collapse the bag sideways and to cause the front and rear faces of the bag to buckle, engaging the front and rear faces of the bag with vacuum cups for opening the front and rear faces of the bag in opposite directions one from the other, introducing a filling spout into the opened bag, alternately compressing and releasing the sides of the bag for settling and compacting the bag during filling, elevating and positioning the bottom of the filled bag and conveying said filled bag towards a bag closing and sealing device.

Claim 17

Method of applying a bag to a bag filling device comprising the steps of picking up a single bag from a stack of empty bags, positioning and holding said bag in a substantially vertical position with the opening thereof directed upwardly, gripping the upper portion of the bag between two belts for transporting the bag to a bag opening and filling station, engaging the opposite sides of said bag to collapse the bag sideways and to cause the front and rear faces of the bag to buckle, engaging the front and rear faces of the bag with vacuum cups for opening the front and rear faces of the bag in opposite directions one from the other, introducing a filling spout into the opened bag, alternately compressing and releasing the sides of the bag for settling and compacting the bag during filling, elevating and positioning the bottom of the filled bag and conveying said filled bag towards a bag closing and sealing device.