US3715858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve bag placer
Assignee: Cherry Burrell Corp
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Filing: 1971-09-01
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1991-09-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for removing valve bags from a magazine and placing the bags onto a horizontal filler spout for filling with flowable material. Handling means having a pair of grippers picks the forwardmost bag from the magazine and then pulls the bag valve open using an associated opening element. The bag valve is positively held open while the handling unit travels to the filler where the valve is inserted over the aligned spout. The apparatus is adapted to serve a pair of side-by-side fillers from a single magazine because lateral shifting of the handling means can be effected during its travel to align it with either filler spout. The operation is fully automatic and embodies a pneumatic control system which regulates each step of the bag-placing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 W Durant
- 👤 D Ball
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26; B65B43/262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for placing bags having a valve at one corner thereof onto a horizontal filler spout for filling with flowable material, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a generally horizontal stack of aligned bags with the valve of each bag pointing downward, handling means for removing the bags seriatim from said magazine, said handling means including first gripping means for engaging the forwardmost bag along a vertical edge thereof which constitutes the upper portion of the bag and overlies the valve and second gripping means for engaging the sidewall of the bag, opening means mounted upon said handling means at a location between said first and second gripping means, means for moving said first and second gripping means between extended and retracted positions whereby movement to said retracted position results in engagement between the sidewall of the gripped bag causing the valve to be pulled open and held in the open position, means for pivoting said handling means about 90* from a substantially vertical orientation at which it engages the forwardmost bag in said magazine to a substantially horizontal orientation so that the valve of the engaged bag is pointed horizontally, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filling spout, said first gripping means being located so the spout enters the open valve of the bag during the final travel of said handling means toward the spout, and means for disengaging said first and second gripping means from the bag upon completion of travel toward the filling spout.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for placing bags having a valve at one corner thereof onto a horizontal filler spout for filling with flowable material, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a generally horizontal stack of aligned bags with the valve of each bag pointing downward, handling means for removing the bags seriatim from said magazine, said handling means including first gripping means for engaging the forwardmost bag along a vertical edge thereof which constitutes the upper portion of the bag and overlies the valve and second gripping means for engaging the sidewall of the bag, opening means mounted upon said handling means at a location between said first and second gripping means, means for moving said first and second gripping means between extended and retracted positions whereby movement to said retracted position results in engagement between the sidewall of the gripped bag causing the valve to be pulled open and held in the open position, means for pivoting said handling means about 90* from a substantially vertical orientation at which it engages the forwardmost bag in said magazine to a substantially horizontal orientation so that the valve of the engaged bag is pointed horizontally, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filling spout, said first gripping means being located so the spout enters the open valve of the bag during the final travel of said handling means toward the spout, and means for disengaging said first and second gripping means from the bag upon completion of travel toward the filling spout.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for placing bags having a valve at one corner thereof onto a horizontal filler spout for filling with flowable material, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a generally horizontal stack of aligned bags with the valve of each bag pointing downward, handling means for removing the bags seriatim from said magazine, said handling means including first gripping means for engaging the forwardmost bag along a vertical edge thereof which constitutes the upper portion of the bag and overlies the valve and second gripping means for engaging the sidewall of the bag, opening means mounted upon said handling means at a location between said first and second gripping means, means for moving said first and second gripping means between extended and retracted positions whereby movement to said retracted position results in engagement between the sidewall of the gripped bag causing the valve to be pulled open and held in the open position, means for pivoting said handling means about 90* from a substantially vertical orientation at which it engages the forwardmost bag in said magazine to a substantially horizontal orientation so that the valve of the engaged bag is pointed horizontally, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filling spout, said first gripping means being located so the spout enters the open valve of the bag during the final travel of said handling means toward the spout, and means for disengaging said first and second gripping means from the bag upon completion of travel toward the filling spout.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for placing bags having a valve at one corner thereof onto a horizontal filler spout for filling with flowable material, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a generally horizontal stack of aligned bags with the valve of each bag pointing downward, handling means for removing the bags seriatim from said magazine, said handling means including first gripping means for engaging the forwardmost bag along a vertical edge thereof which constitutes the upper portion of the bag and overlies the valve and second gripping means for engaging the sidewall of the bag, opening means mounted upon said handling means at a location between said first and second gripping means, means for moving said first and second gripping means between extended and retracted positions whereby movement to said retracted position results in engagement between the sidewall of the gripped bag causing the valve to be pulled open and held in the open position, means for pivoting said handling means about 90* from a substantially vertical orientation at which it engages the forwardmost bag in said magazine to a substantially horizontal orientation so that the valve of the engaged bag is pointed horizontally, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filling spout, said first gripping means being located so the spout enters the open valve of the bag during the final travel of said handling means toward the spout, and means for disengaging said first and second gripping means from the bag upon completion of travel toward the filling spout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said handling means includes a member which supports said first and second gripping means for movement between said extended and retracted positions, which movement occurs in directions normal to said support member, and wherein said opening means includes a bar that is mounted obliquely to said support member with the lower end thereof being spaced farther from said support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening bar lies in a vertical plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second gripping means move in parallel directions, and wherein said first gripping means is spaced from said second gripping means a distance equal to between about 25 and 50 percEnt of the height of the bags.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 for placing bags upon a pair of generally side-by-side filling spouts wherein said handling means is aligned with one of said spouts at the time it removes a bag from the magazine and wherein means is provided for selectively laterally shifting said handling means to align it with the other filling spout.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said transporting means includes a carriage, wherein said lateral shifting means includes a plurality of links having horizontal pivot points and extending between said carriage and said handling means, which links support said handling means in depending relation from said carriage and wherein means is provided on said carriage for moving said links over-center between two positions wherein said handling means is at the same vertical level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein a fluid-powered cylinder is mounted laterally of said carriage and attached to one of said links whereby movement of said cylinder between extended and retracted positions aligns said first gripping means with a different filling spout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for placing valve-equipped bags onto a filler having two horizontally projecting filling spouts, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a plurality of valve bags, handling means for gripping the forwardmost bag in said magazine to remove the bags seriatim therefrom, opening means mounted upon said handling means for engaging a gripped bag to open the valve thereof and to hold same open until the bag is disposed upon one of the filling spouts, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filler, and means for laterally shifting said handling means between a first and a second position, said handling means in said first position being aligned both with the bags in said magazine and with one of the filling spouts and in said second position being aligned with the other of the filling spouts, whereby incident to transportation of said handling means the bag carried by said handling means is placed onto the aligned spout at the end of its travel to the filler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for placing valve-equipped bags onto a filler having two horizontally projecting filling spouts, which apparatus comprises a magazine for holding a plurality of valve bags, handling means for gripping the forwardmost bag in said magazine to remove the bags seriatim therefrom, opening means mounted upon said handling means for engaging a gripped bag to open the valve thereof and to hold same open until the bag is disposed upon one of the filling spouts, means for transporting said handling means from a position adjacent said magazine to a position adjacent the filler, and means for laterally shifting said handling means between a first and a second position, said handling means in said first position being aligned both with the bags in said magazine and with one of the filling spouts and in said second position being aligned with the other of the filling spouts, whereby incident to transportation of said handling means the bag carried by said handling means is placed onto the aligned spout at the end of its travel to the filler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said transporting means comprises a carriage movable along a straight track extending generally between said magazine and the filler and a plurality of pivotable links supporting said handling means in depending relation from said carriage, and wherein said lateral shifting means includes reciprocating means movable between an extended and a retracted position for pivoting one of said links to thereby shift said handling means between said first and second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |