Apparatus for packaging articles

Claim 2

A packaging machine comprising: a. storage means for a supply of article receiving bags; b. bag positioning means comprising at least a member for supporting a bag with edges of the open end of the bag spaced apart; c. bag opening means comprising at least first and second horn members having projecting ends adapted to extend into a bag through the open end thereof and at least a horn actuator for relatively moving said horns from a closed position wherein said horns extend closely adjacent each other to an open position wherein said horns are spaced apart; d. bag transfer means for engaging a bag supported by said positioning means, removing the bag from the positioning means and applying the bag to said horn members when in their closed position; and, e. control means for operating said horn actuator to relatively move said horn members to the open position in response to movement of a bag to a predetermined position on said horn members whereby a bag on the horn members is opened for reception of an article.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a movable bag sensing member supported by one of said horn members for engagement by a bag moving onto said horn members, and an actuator controlling element associated with said bag sensing member for effecting operation of said actuator when said bag sensing member is engaged by the bag.

Claim 4

at least one bag gripping assembly connected to said support member and defining relatively movable bag gripping parts movable along said bag path of travel during a portion of the cyclic movement of said support member;

Claim 5

at least one bag gripping assembly connected to said support member and defining relatively movable bag gripping parts movable along said bag path of travel during a portion of the cyclic movement of said support member;

Claim 6

support member actuating means for moving said support member such that said bag gripping parts move along a path passing through the location of one side of a bag opening supported on said fingers, about the projecting ends of said fingers and subsequently along said horns; and,

Claim 7

support member actuating means for moving said support member such that said bag gripping parts move along a path passing through the location of one side of a bag opening supported on said fingers, about the projecting ends of said fingers and subsequently along said horns; and,

Claim 8

A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bag transfer means comprises a bag releasing actuator which operates to cause said bag transfer means to release a bag on said horn members in response to engagement of said bag sensing member by the bag.

Claim 9

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said horn members each comprise at least a passageway for communicating a source of pressurized air to the area of engagement between the bag and each horn member, air flowing through said passageways producing an air bearing between the horn members and the bag on said horn members whereby said bag is freely removed from said horn members after reception of an article.

Claim 10

gripping assembly actuator means for operating said gripping parts to grip said one side of a bag opening at said bag opening means and to release the bag when the bag is disposed on said horns.

Claim 11

gripping assembly actuator means for operating said gripping parts to grip said one side of a bag opening at said bag opening means and to release the bag when the bag is disposed on said horns.

Claim 12

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage means supports a chain of connected bags, said bag positioning means comprising first and second finger memberS positioned adjacent projecting ends of said horn members, finger actuating means for moving said finger members relative to each other between a first position wherein said fingers extend closely adjacent each other for insertion into a bag of the chain and a second position wherein said fingers are spaced apart from each other for at least partially opening a bag into which the fingers extend.

Claim 13

A machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bag transfer means comprises a gripper jaw assembly including at least a pair of relatively movable bag gripping jaws, jaw actuator means for opening and closing said jaws, and a movable carriage for reciprocating said jaw assembly relative to said horn members and said bag positioning finger members, said jaw actuator means closing said jaws to grip an edge of the bag opening of a bag supported by said finger members and said carriage moving said jaw assembly in the direction of extent of said finger members to remove the bag from said finger members, said carriage thereafter effective to move said jaw assembly opposite to the direction of extent of said finger members toward said horn members for positioning the bag on said horn members.

Claim 14

A machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein a second bag in said chain of bags is advanced toward said finger members as said first bag is positioned on said horns and said bag positioning means further includes an air nozzle for directing a stream of air to the open end of the second bag as it approaches said finger members to open the second bag and facilitate entry of the finger members into the second bag.

Claim 15

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bags are constructed of resiliently stretchable plastic film material and said horn actuator is effective to relatively move said horn members to an open position wherein a bag on said horn members is resiliently stretched to define an article receiving volume substantially larger than the volume of the bag in a relaxed condition.

Claim 16

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein successive bags in the chain of bags are connected by a transverse weakened portion; said horn members shifting the first bag at least laterally relative to the second bag supported by said finger members as said horn members are moved to the open position, shifting of the first bag on said horn members effective to separate the first bag from the second bag on said finger members.

Claim 17

A packaging machine comprising: a. a machine body; b. storage means for a supply of plastic bags; c. bag opening means for positioning a bag from said storage means in an at least partially open condition; d. bag supporting means comprising at least a pair of bag supporting horns having projecting ends adjacent said opening means and actuating means for relatively moving said horns between bag receiving positions wherein said horns extend closely adjacent each other and bag supporting positions wherein said horns are spaced apart; e. bag feeding means for removing a bag from said opening means and placing the bag on said horns when said horns are in the bag receiving positions; f. control means for sensing the placement of a bag on said horns and effecting operation of said actuating means to relatively move said horns to the bag supporting positions; and, g. an article ram engageable with an article and movable along said machine body to push an article along a path of travel between said horns in the bag supporting positions.

Claim 18

A packaging machine comprising: a. a machine body; b. storage means for a supply of plastic bags; c. bag opening means for positioning a bag from said storage means in an at least partially open condition; d. bag supporting means comprising at least a pair of bag supporting horns having projecting ends adjacent said opening means and actuating means for relatively moving said horns between bag receiving positions wherein said horns extend closely adjacent each other and bag supporting positions wherein said horns are spaced apart; e. bag feeding means for removing a bag from said opening means and placing the bag on said horns when said horns are in the bag receiving positions; f. control means for sensing the placement of a bag on said horns and effecting operation of said actuating means to relatively move said horns to the bag supporting positions; and, g. an article ram engageable with an article and movable along said machine body to push an article along a path of travel between said horns in the bag supporting positions.

Claim 19

A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the supply of bags comprises a chain of bags with the closed end of each bag connected to the open end of a next succeeding bag in the chain, said bag opening means comprising at least one finger member configured for insertion into a second bag in the chain through an open end thereof as said first mentioned bag is placed on said horns by said bag feeding means.

Claim 20

A machine as claimed in claim 11 comprising a pair of said finger members, finger actuating means for relativelY moving said finger members toward and away from each other and for elevating projecting ends of said finger members when the finger members are adjacent each other.

Claim 21

A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the supply of bags comprises a chain of bags with the closed end of each bag connected to the open end of a succeeding bag by a weakened chain portion, said bag opening means and said bag supporting horns aligned along a path of travel of the chain of bags when said horns are in the bag receiving positions, said opening means and said horns being out of alignment with the bag path of travel when said horns are in the bag supporting position, a bag on the horns being separated from a bag at the opening means along the weakened chain portion as the horns are moved relative to each other to the bag supporting positions.

Claim 22

In a packaging machine in which articles are placed in successive bags of a chain of detachably connected bags: a. bag storage means from which a chain of bags is fed open end first along a bag path of travel; b. bag opening means located along said bag path of travel comprising first and second finger members having projecting ends adapted to extend into an open end of a bag, and finger actuator means for spreading said finger members apart to separate and position sides of the bag opening; c. bag supporting means comprising at least first and second bag supporting horns and horn actuating means for relatively moving said horns toward and away from each other; d. said horn actuating means operable to relatively move said horns between a closed condition wherein said horns are located adjacent each other near said bag opening means in said bag path of travel and an open condition wherein said horns are spaced apart; e. bag transfer means for removing a bag from said opening means, placing the bag on said horns when said horns are in the closed condition and advancing a second succeeding bag of the chain to said opening means; f. said bag transfer means comprising:

Claim 23

In a packaging machine in which articles are placed in successive bags of a chain of detachably connected bags: a. bag storage means from which a chain of bags is fed open end first along a bag path of travel; b. bag opening means located along said bag path of travel comprising first and second finger members having projecting ends adapted to extend into an open end of a bag, and finger actuator means for spreading said finger members apart to separate and position sides of the bag opening; c. bag supporting means comprising at least first and second bag supporting horns and horn actuating means for relatively moving said horns toward and away from each other; d. said horn actuating means operable to relatively move said horns between a closed condition wherein said horns are located adjacent each other near said bag opening means in said bag path of travel and an open condition wherein said horns are spaced apart; e. bag transfer means for removing a bag from said opening means, placing the bag on said horns when said horns are in the closed condition and advancing a second succeeding bag of the chain to said opening means; f. said bag transfer means comprising: