US3750365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for opening and sealing bags
Assignee: Darby Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-10
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1990-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A magazine supports a horizontal stack of collapsed open-top flat bags. A suction head is reciprocable relative to the magazine and vacuum is applied thereto in order to open and remove the end bag from the magazine. The bag is withdrawn from the magazine and maintained in an opened position by the suction head to allow filling of the bag with a suitable material. Vacuum is released from the suction head after the bag is filled such that the filled bag falls by gravity into a gate located below the suction head. A sealing member moves against the top of the filled bag to seal the bag during which the gate opens to drop the filled and sealed bag, upon opening of the sealing member, onto a suitable conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 J Darby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A flat bag opening and closing machine comprising: a magazine for supporting a plurality of collapsed open-ended flat bags, a single suction head assembly having vacuum applied thereto for being moved against one side of the bag at the end of said magazine for opening and removing said bag from said magazine, said suction head assembly maintaining suction on one side of said bag to hold said bag in an open position to allow filling of said bag, means for releasing the vacuum from said suction head assembly such that the filled bag falls by gravity therefrom, and means beneath said suction head and operable in synchronism with said suction head assembly for catching the filled bag and for sealing the open-end of the filled bag, said means operable after sealing said bag to drop said bag to a collection location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A flat bag opening and closing machine comprising: a magazine for supporting a plurality of collapsed open-ended flat bags, a single suction head assembly having vacuum applied thereto for being moved against one side of the bag at the end of said magazine for opening and removing said bag from said magazine, said suction head assembly maintaining suction on one side of said bag to hold said bag in an open position to allow filling of said bag, means for releasing the vacuum from said suction head assembly such that the filled bag falls by gravity therefrom, and means beneath said suction head and operable in synchronism with said suction head assembly for catching the filled bag and for sealing the open-end of the filled bag, said means operable after sealing said bag to drop said bag to a collection location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine defined in claim 1 wherein a filled bag is sealed synchronously with the removal of an opened bag from said magazine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The machine defined in claim 1 wherein said suction head comprises: a forming shroud member having spaced apart curved portions, and means for applying vacuum to a suction cup slidable in said shroud member to cause a side of a bag to be urged against said curved portions to thereby hold said bag in an open configuration for filling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine defined in claim 3 and further comprising: a spring biased member mounted in said shroud member for exerting outward bias against said suction cup.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine defined in claim 1 wherein said means for catching comprises: a fixed gate member, and a movable gate member operable in synchronism with said suction head to alternatively open and close with said fixed gate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The machine defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sealing comprises: a movable heat sealing member connected to receive electrical voltage, means operable in synchronism with said suction head for moving said heat sealing member against the top of a bag held by said catching means, and a stationary heat sealing member mounted on said catchIng means for applying heat to a bag in conjunction with said movable heat sealing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bag opening and closing system, the combination comprising: means for opening a flat bag and for supporting the opened bag for filling, a fixed gate member including spaced apart prongs disposed beneath the supporting means, a movable gate member operable in synchronism with said opening means for opening and closing against said fixed gate member, said movable gate member including spaced apart prongs which mesh with said prongs of said fixed gate member upon closing to catch and support the bottom of a filled bag, and heat sealing means movable in synchronism with said movable gate member for engaging the top of a filled bag supported at the bottom by said gate members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bag opening and closing system, the combination comprising: means for opening a flat bag and for supporting the opened bag for filling, a fixed gate member including spaced apart prongs disposed beneath the supporting means, a movable gate member operable in synchronism with said opening means for opening and closing against said fixed gate member, said movable gate member including spaced apart prongs which mesh with said prongs of said fixed gate member upon closing to catch and support the bottom of a filled bag, and heat sealing means movable in synchronism with said movable gate member for engaging the top of a filled bag supported at the bottom by said gate members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 7 and further comprising: filler control means disposed over said means for opening and synchronized with the opening of the bags for controlling the deposit of material into the opened bags.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said filler control means prevents the deposit of material when a bag is not withdrawn through said opening by said suction applying means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said filler control means comprises: a hopper for receiving material, gate flaps rotatable to move from an open to a closed position, and cam means operable in response to an electrical impulse for rotating said gate flaps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 10 and further comprising: solenoid means for moving said cam means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for opening and closing flat bags comprising: a frame, a magazine connected to said frame for supporting a stack of collapsed flat bags, a plurality of cams rotatably mounted along an axis on said frame, motor means for rotating said cams around said axis, a first cam follower operable by one of said cams to reciprocate a suction head relative to said magazine, vacuum generating means connected to said suction head such that a bag is withdrawn from said magazine by said suction head during each reciprocation cycle, a second cam follower operable by one of said cams to interrupt the application of vacuum to said suction head during each reciprocation cycle to thereby cause the release of a bag from said suction head, a third cam follower operable by one of said cams to open and close a bag gate located below said suction head during each reciprocation cycle, and a fourth cam follower operable by one of said cams during each reciprocation cycle to reciprocate a sealing bar into and out of engagement with the top of a bag held by said bag gate.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for opening and closing flat bags comprising: a frame, a magazine connected to said frame for supporting a stack of collapsed flat bags, a plurality of cams rotatably mounted along an axis on said frame, motor means for rotating said cams around said axis, a first cam follower operable by one of said cams to reciprocate a suction head relative to said magazine, vacuum generating means connected to said suction head such that a bag is withdrawn from said magazine by said suction head during each reciprocation cycle, a second cam follower operable by one of said cams to interrupt the application of vacuum to said suction head during each reciprocation cycle to thereby cause the release of a bag from said suction head, a third cam follower operable by one of said cams to open and close a bag gate located below said suction head during each reciprocation cycle, and a fourth cam follower operable by one of said cams during each reciprocation cycle to reciprocate a sealing bar into and out of engagement with the top of a bag held by said bag gate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: a timing cam rotated by said motor means, switch means operable in response to said timing cam, and clutch means connected between said motor means and said plurality of cams and operable in dependence upon said switch means for terminating operation of said system for a predetermined time to enable loading of an opened bag.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: means operable in response to the interruption of vacuum to said suction head for control of a filling device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said bag gate is variable in size to accommodate various bag sizes for sealing thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: air jet means mounted on said magazine for directing a stream of air against the upper part of bags to facilitate the opening thereof.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of filling flat bags comprising: maintaining a plurality of open top collapsed flat bags in a stacked horizontal configuration, applying suction to one side of a bag on the end of the stacked configuration to cause said bag to open, withdrawing the opened bag from the stacked configuration, maintaining the opened bag in a position for filling by application of vacuum to a single side of the bag, dropping The filled bag to a vertical sealing position, sealing the top of the filled bag while supporting the bottom of the bag, and dropping the sealed bag to a collection location.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of filling flat bags comprising: maintaining a plurality of open top collapsed flat bags in a stacked horizontal configuration, applying suction to one side of a bag on the end of the stacked configuration to cause said bag to open, withdrawing the opened bag from the stacked configuration, maintaining the opened bag in a position for filling by application of vacuum to a single side of the bag, dropping The filled bag to a vertical sealing position, sealing the top of the filled bag while supporting the bottom of the bag, and dropping the sealed bag to a collection location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 17 and further comprising: maintaining the bag on the end of said stacked configuration in place by a retaining member, and applying a jet of pressurized air into the bag to open the bag.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said steps of withdrawing an opened bag and sealing the top of a filled bag are performed generally simultaneously on two different bags.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |