Automatic bag closing machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for closing and sealing the top of pinch-style, multi-wall bags of slightly varying height comprising in combination: a. a supporting structure and a sealing unit, said supporting structure including a framework with vertically movable upper and lower cross members mounted thereoN, said sealing unit being rigidly mounted on said upper movable cross member for vertical movement with respect to the supporting structure and the lower movable cross member; b. means for fixing the vertical position of the lower movable cross member in a desired position with regard to said framework; c. a resilient suspension means for positioning the upper movable cross member with respect to the lower movable cross member on said framework; d. a drive means rigidly mounted on said upper movable cross member for drivingly positioning the upper movable cross member and the sealing unit against the force of said resilient suspension means with respect to the lower movable cross member on the framework; and e. a sensing means associated with the sealing unit and the upper movable cross member for sensing the presence of a bag to be sealed and for actuating the vertical movement of said upper movable cross member and the sealing unit with respect to said lower movable cross member and the supporting structure for intercepting and sealing the bag, said sensing means including a first device for detecting the presence of a bag to be sealed, and a second device for determining the height of the bag to be sealed whereby actuation of the first device initiates the operation of the drive means for moving said sealing unit on the framework into a position for accepting the bag to be sealed, and actuation of said second device stops said drive means to position the sealing unit on said framework for sealing said bag.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first device comprises a mechanical tripping element which intercepts an incoming bag to said sealing unit.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second device comprises an electric eye which sights the top of a bag in said sealing unit.

Claim 5

Apparatus for closing and sealing the top of pinch-style, multi-wall bags of slightly varying height comprising: a. A supporting structure consisting of a framework formed by a pair of vertically oriented frame elements separated from one another by rigidly attached cross members, said supporting structure further including a pair of additional movable cross members mounted one above the other for vertical movement with respect to the framework, said movable cross members having brackets attached at each end thereof for movably attaching the additional cross members on said framework; b. means for temporarily fixing the vertical position of the lower movable cross member with respect to said framework; c. a suspension means between the lower movable cross member and the upper movable cross member for resiliently positioning the upper movable cross member with respect to the lower movable cross member; d. a bag sealing unit rigidly mounted on said upper movable cross member for vertical movement with respect to said framework and said lower movable cross member; e. a drive means rigidly attached to said upper movable cross member which drivingly positions the upper movable cross member and the bag sealing unit against the force of said resilient suspension means between said upper moveable cross member and the lower movable cross member on the framework; and, f. a sensing means associated with said bag sealing unit for sensing the presence of a bag to be sealed and for actuating the drive means attached to said upper movable cross member to position said sealing unit for intercepting, closing and sealing pinch-style, multi-wall bags of slightly varying height, said sensing means including a first device for detecting the presence of a bag to be sealed, and a second device for determining the height of the bag to be sealed.

Claim 6

Apparatus for closing and sealing the top of pinch-style, multi-wall bags of slightly varying height comprising: a. A supporting structure consisting of a framework formed by a pair of vertically oriented frame elements separated from one another by rigidly attached cross members, said supporting structure further including a pair of additional movable cross members mounted one above the other for vertical movement with respect to the framework, said movable cross members having brackets attached at each end thereof for movably attaching the additional cross members on said framework; b. means for temporarily fixing the vertical position of the lower movable cross member with respect to said framework; c. a suspension means between the lower movable cross member and the upper movable cross member for resiliently positioning the upper movable cross member with respect to the lower movable cross member; d. a bag sealing unit rigidly mounted on said upper movable cross member for vertical movement with respect to said framework and said lower movable cross member; e. a drive means rigidly attached to said upper movable cross member which drivingly positions the upper movable cross member and the bag sealing unit against the force of said resilient suspension means between said upper moveable cross member and the lower movable cross member on the framework; and, f. a sensing means associated with said bag sealing unit for sensing the presence of a bag to be sealed and for actuating the drive means attached to said upper movable cross member to position said sealing unit for intercepting, closing and sealing pinch-style, multi-wall bags of slightly varying height, said sensing means including a first device for detecting the presence of a bag to be sealed, and a second device for determining the height of the bag to be sealed.