Twist-tie bag closing machine

Claim 2

A bag tying machine for tying with a twistable tie-tape the open end of a flexible bag, comprising a rotatable tie-tape twister having outwardly extending twister arms; a swingable forming arm having a bag-gathering throat, the throat having a pair of confronting, inwardly-directed lobes defining an entrance, and an interior cavity wider than and communicating with the entrance, the interior cavity receiving the rotating twister arms when the forming arm is swung toward the tie-tape twister, the entrance to the throat having opposed, confronting guide openings for positioning a predetermined length of tie-tape across the entrance; the thus-positioned tie-tape being contacted by and bent around the open end of a flexible bag passing through the entrance into the cavity, the ends of the bent, predetermined length of tie-tape extending outwardly of the cavity into the respective guide openings at the entrance to positively orient the tie-tape ends with respect to the twister arms rotating within the cavity and to thus assure positive engagement of the twister arms with the tie-tape.

Claim 3

The bag tying machine of claim 1 including cut-off means actuated by movement of the forming arm for cutting a tie-tape to length, a portion of the cut-off means being mounted on the forming arm.

Claim 4

A bag tying machine for twisting a tie-tape about the open end of a flexible bag and comprising a rotatable tie-tape twister having outwardly extending twister arms, a swingable forming arm having a bag-gathering throat with inwardly directed, confronting lobes defining an entrance communicating with an interior cavity wider than the entrance and dimensioned to receive the outwardly extending rotating twister arms within the cavity when the forming arm is swung toward the tie-tape twister, the entrance lobes having opposed, confronting guide openings for guidance of a twistable tie-tape therethrough across the entrance; means for advancing a length of tie-tape through the guide openings; and means actuated by movement of the forming arm for cutting the tie-tape to a predetermined length, the tie-tape being substantially doubled back upon itself within the cavity with its ends supported by the guide openings when a bag is gathered in the interior cavity of the forming arm, the outwardly extending ends of the predetermined length of tie-tape thus being positively oriented with respect to the twister arms to assure engagement of the twister arms with the tie-tape ends.

Claim 5

A bag tying machine for twisting a tie-tape about the open end of a flexible bag and comprising a rotatable tie-tape twister having outwardly extending twister arms, a swingable forming arm having a bag-gathering throat with inwardly directed, confronting lobes defining an entrance communicating with an interior cavity wider than the entrance and dimensioned to receive the outwardly extending rotating twister arms within the cavity when the forming arm is swung toward the tie-tape twister, the entrance lobes having opposed, confronting guide openings for guidance of a twistable tie-tape therethrough across the entrance; means for advancing a length of tie-tape through the guide openings; and means actuated by movement of the forming arm for cutting the tie-tape to a predetermined length, the tie-tape being substantially doubled back upon itself within the cavity with its ends supported by the guide openings when a bag is gathered in the interior cavity of the forming arm, the outwardly extending ends of the predetermined length of tie-tape thus being positively oriented with respect to the twister arms to assure engagement of the twister arms with the tie-tape ends.

Claim 6

The bag tying machine of claim 3 wherein the cutting means comprises a stationary cut-off knife, and a cooperating knife block mounted on the arm for movement into contact with the knife to cut the tie-tape to length.

Claim 7

The bag tying machine of claim 3 wherein said machine is energized solely by an exterior source of air under pressure.