Semi-automatic bagging machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for sequentially forming individual bags, closed at the sides and one end and open at the other end, from a continuous, tubular web of material and for assisting in sequential application of such bags to a succession of garments supported on hangers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a. support means having an upper portion for receiving and holding a hanger with a garment thereon; b. means operable to move at least said upper portion of said support means sequentially through at least three laterally distinct positions; c. means engaging and holding open the leading end of the tubular web in an initial position Above one of said positions of said upper portion; d. guide means establishing the path of the web from a supply location through said initial position as the leading end is drawn downwardly therefrom; and e. means selectively operable to effect a transverse seal between the sides of the tubular web and to sever the web adjacent the seal, thereby forming an individual bag and a new leading end of the web.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a pole which is substantially vertically disposed at least in said one position of said upper portion.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said pole is pivotally mounted at a lower portion for movement of said upper portion through said three positions, the other two being on opposite sides of said one position.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 and further including means for placing a hanger on said pole when the latter is on one side of said one position, and means for removing said hanger from said pole when the latter is one the other side of said one position.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said pole is movable by a cylinder connected thereto below the pivotal mounting thereof.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said pole is movable from said one position to another position in response to operator actuation, and thereafter movable automatically to the last position and back to said one position.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said selectively operable means comprise a pair of relatively movable units between which said web is constrained by said guide means to pass, and which move into engagement with one another with said web therebetween upon actuation of said selectively operable means.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said selectively operable means are actuated by simultaneous manual engagement of a pair of members spaced sufficiently to require the use of both hands for such simultaneous engagement.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said pair of members comprise the manually engagable portions of electrical switches.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means selectively operable to sever the web comprises a pair of superposed knife edges movable through the plane of the web, to effect severing thereof, and simultaneously movable laterally with respect to one another in sickle blade fashion.

Claim 12

Semi-automatic apparatus for applying plastic bags to individual garments on hangers in a continuous sequence, the bags being formed by said apparatus from a continuous tubular web of plastic material, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a pole having a notched upper end for receiving a garment hanger; b. means mounting said pole for movement between first, second and third laterally distinct positions of said upper end; c. loader means operable to automatically feed a single hanger from a supply thereof for engagement on said upper end when said pole is in said first position; d. guide means establishing the path of the web from a supply position to a position of the loading end above said second position of said pole, whereby said web may be drawn downwardly over a garment suspended on a hanger on said upper end when said pole is in said second position; e. ejection means operable to automatically remove a hanger from said one end when said pole is in said third position; and f. manually engagable switch means operable to move said pole from said second to said third position.

Claim 13

Semi-automatic apparatus for applying plastic bags to individual garments on hangers in a continuous sequence, the bags being formed by said apparatus from a continuous tubular web of plastic material, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a pole having a notched upper end for receiving a garment hanger; b. means mounting said pole for movement between first, second and third laterally distinct positions of said upper end; c. loader means operable to automatically feed a single hanger from a supply thereof for engagement on said upper end when said pole is in said first position; d. guide means establishing the path of the web from a supply position to a position of the loading end above said second position of said pole, whereby said web may be drawn downwardly over a garment suspended on a hanger on said upper end when said pole is in said second position; e. ejection means operable to automatically remove a hanger from said one end when said pole is in said third position; and f. manually engagable switch means operable to move said pole from said second to said third position.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 11 wherein said ejector means are automatically operable in response to said pole reaching said third position, and further including means for moving said pole from said third to said first position in response to movement of said ejector means to remove a hanger from said one end.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 12 wherein said loader means are automatically operable in response to said pole reaching said fiRst position, and further including means for moving said pole from said first to said second position upon expiration of a predetermined time interval after reaching said first position.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 13 wherein said pole is pivotally mounted near its lower end for movement between said three positions, said pole being vertical in said second position and rotated in opposite directions from said second to said first and third positions.