Product packaging apparatus

Claim 2

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle means having closure means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; and fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is opened, said grasping means facilitating the retention of said bag in an open position while said material is released and facilitating the removal of said bag from said support means.

Claim 3

The packaging apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open positions causing said door to engage and further open said initially opened bag and to release said material from said receptacle into said bag; said pivotal movement between said first and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said bag filled with said released material from said support, said grasping means comprising at least one prong extending from an exterior surface of said door; said prong adapted to puncture a portion of said bag as said door is moved to said first open position.

Claim 4

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle means having closure means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; and fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said fluid means including means for directing a stream of air to open said bag prior to the release of said material; said closure means including means for guiding said stream into the mouth of said bag adjacent thereto.

Claim 5

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle means having closure means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; and fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said fluid means including means for directing a stream of air to open said bag prior to the release of said material; said closure means including means for guiding said stream into the mouth of said bag adjacent thereto.

Claim 6

The packaging apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said closure means comprises a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open positions causing said door to engage and further open said initially opened bag and to relelase said material from said receptacle into said bag; said pivotal movement between said first and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said bag filled with said released material from said support, said guide means comprising guide vanes secured to the external surface of said door; said vanes forming a funneling trough having an opening adjacent the bottom of said door; said trough directing said stream into said bag as said door is moved to said first open position.

Claim 7

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be packagEd; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle means including closure means for opening said bag, releasing said material into said bag, and removing said bag from said support means; said closure means including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is opened, said grasping means facilitating the retention of said bag in an open position while said material is released facilitating the removal of said bag from said support means.

Claim 8

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be packagEd; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle means including closure means for opening said bag, releasing said material into said bag, and removing said bag from said support means; said closure means including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is opened, said grasping means facilitating the retention of said bag in an open position while said material is released facilitating the removal of said bag from said support means.

Claim 9

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said last mentioned means including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is opened and means cooperating with said fluid means for assuring that said bag is opened prior to engagement by said grasping means.

Claim 10

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said last mentioned means including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is opened and means cooperating with said fluid means for assuring that said bag is opened prior to engagement by said grasping means.

Claim 11

The packaging apparatus of claim 6 wherein said closure means comprises a door pivotally secured to said receptacle means and pivotable between closed and open positions; said grasping means comprising at least one prong projecting from the surface of said closure means, said prong adapted to puncture a portion of said bag as said closure means is moved from said closed to said open positions.

Claim 12

The packaging apparatus of claim 7 wherein said door includes an end edge which enters the mouth of said bag as said door is opened; said prong comprising a cylindrical rod extending normally to the exterior surface of said door adjacent the end edge thereof.

Claim 13

The packaging apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid means include means directing a stream of air toward said closure means and support means such that said stream of air is directed into the mouth of said bag; said means cooperating with said fluid means comprising means mounted on said closure means for guiding said stream of air into said bag.

Claim 14

The packaging apparatus of claim 9 wherein said closure means comprises a door pivotally secured to said receptacle means and pivotable between closed and open positions; said door including an end edge which enters the mouth of said bag as said door is opened; said guide means comprising two guide vanes, each guide vane having one edge extending in a plane perpendicular to the exterior surface of said door; said vanes secured laterally adjacent one another and spaced apart such that said perpendicular edges are inclined with one another; said edges forming a generally V-shaped trough which funnels said stream of air through an opening between said edges adjacent the end edge of said door and into said mouth of said bag.

Claim 15

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said closure means including a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open positions causing said door to engage and further open said initially opened bag and to release said material from said receptacle into said baG; said pivotal movement between said first and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said bag filled with said released material from said support, said means for facilitating the opening of said bag including prongs extending from said door for puncturing a portion of said bag and holding said bag thereon until the weight of said material released in said bag pulls said bag from said prongs; said facilitating means further including guide vanes mounted on said door for directing a stream of air from said fluid means into said bag to initially open the same; said apparatus further including conveyor means positioned beneath said support means to catch said bags after the weight of said released material therein pulls said bags from said prongs.

Claim 16

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said closure means including a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open positions causing said door to engage and further open said initially opened bag and to release said material from said receptacle into said baG; said pivotal movement between said first and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said bag filled with said released material from said support, said means for facilitating the opening of said bag including prongs extending from said door for puncturing a portion of said bag and holding said bag thereon until the weight of said material released in said bag pulls said bag from said prongs; said facilitating means further including guide vanes mounted on said door for directing a stream of air from said fluid means into said bag to initially open the same; said apparatus further including conveyor means positioned beneath said support means to catch said bags after the weight of said released material therein pulls said bags from said prongs.

Claim 17

The packaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conveyor means comprises two endless belt conveyors arranged such that their material supporting and conveying belt surfaces are disposed in planes substantially at right angles to one another beneath said support means.

Claim 18

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said receptacle means including a bucket having first and second open ends; said support means comprising a frame and a hanger means for supporting said bag adjacent said opening at said second end of said bucket, said bag adapted to be mounted on said hanger means, said bag having an opening into the interior of the bag along the side of said bag nearest said bucket, said support means also including a biased back plate for constantly urging said bag toward said bucket such that said bag is always positioned to receive said material from said bucket through said opening; and means for adjusting the horizontal and vertical position of said supporting means with respect to said bucket.

Claim 19

Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for facilitating the opening of said bag; said receptacle means including a bucket having first and second open ends; said support means comprising a frame and a hanger means for supporting said bag adjacent said opening at said second end of said bucket, said bag adapted to be mounted on said hanger means, said bag having an opening into the interior of the bag along the side of said bag nearest said bucket, said support means also including a biased back plate for constantly urging said bag toward said bucket such that said bag is always positioned to receive said material from said bucket through said opening; and means for adjusting the horizontal and vertical position of said supporting means with respect to said bucket.