Opening, filling and sealing device for thermoplastic bags

Claim 2

A filling device for open-mouthed bags having a lip defining a portion of the mouth and an extending rear wall portion which extends beyond said lip, said device comprising a hollow chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, and having a predetermined cross-sectional contour, a bag support means connected to one wall portion of said chute adjacent the outlet end thereOf and extending laterally outward from said one wall portion, said bag support means being constructed and arranged to support at least one of said open-mouthed bags, adjacent the extending rear wall portion thereof, in such a manner that the lip thereof is spaced from said outlet end of said chute, a clamping means outside said chute, said clamping means being movable laterally of said one wall portion of said chute and being constructed and arranged to clamp a portion of said bag, while said bag is supported by said bag support means, against said one wall portion in a manner to conform said portion of said bag to the cross-sectional contour of said one wall portion, a fluid inlet means being constructed and arranged to propel a gaseous fluid through said chute and into said bag over the lip of said bag while said portion of said bag is held against said one wall portion by said clamping means, and gaseous fluid supply means operatively connected to said fluid inlet means, said fluid inlet means comprising a channel in a second wall portion of said chute, said channel having an inlet portion connected to a conduit means extending into said second wall portion of said chute and an outlet extending laterally from said channel through a corresponding aperture in said second wall portion, said conduit means being connected to said gaseous fluid supply means.

Claim 3

A filling device for open-mouthed bags having a lip defining a portion of the mouth and an extending rear wall portion which extends beyond said lip, said device comprising a hollow chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, and having a predetermined cross-sectional contour, a bag support means connected to one wall portion of said chute adjacent the outlet end thereof and extending laterally outward from said one wall portion, said bag support means being constructed and arranged to support at least one of said open-mouthed bags, adjacent the extending rear wall portion thereof, in such a manner that the lip thereof is spaced from said outlet end of said chute, a clamping means outside said chute, said clamping means being movable laterally of said one wall portion of said chute and being constructed and arranged to clamp a portion of said bag, while said bag is supported by said bag support means, against said one wall portion in a manner to conform said portion of said bag to the cross-sectional contour of said one wall portion, a fluid inlet means operatively connected to said chute, said fluid inlet means being constructed and arranged to propel a gaseous fluid through said chute and into said bag over the lip of said bag while said portion of said bag is held against said one wall portion by said clamping means, and gaseous fluid supply means operatively connected to said fluid inlet means, said device being mounted on a support means, said support means having an aperture in alignment with said outlet end of said chute, said aperture being constructed and arranged to permit passage therethrough of a filled bag when said filled bag is released from said chute, heating means connected to said support means, said heating means being constructed and arranged to apply heat to the neck of said filled bag as said filled bag is positioned below said aperture, said neck being that portion of the bag adjacent to said lip, and means to move at least a portion of said heating means into and out of operative position relative to said neck.

Claim 4

A filling device for open-mouthed bags having a lip defining a portion of the mouth and an extending rear wall portion which extends beyond said lip, said device comprising a hollow chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, and having a predetermined cross-sectional contour, a bag support means connected to one wall portion of said chute adjacent the outlet end thereof and extending laterally outward from said one wall portion, said bag support means being constructed and arranged to support at least one of said open-mouthed bags, adjacent the extending rear wall portion thereof, in such a manner that the lip thereof is spaced from said outlet end of said chute, a clamping means outside said chute, said clamping means being movable laterally of said one wall portion of said chute and being constructed and arranged to clamp a portion of said bag, while said bag is supported by said bag support means, against said one wall portion in a manner to conform said portion of said bag to the cross-sectional contour of said one wall portion, a fluid inlet means operatively connected to said chute, said fluid inlet means being constructed and arranged to propel a gaseous fluid through said chute and into said bag over the lip of said bag while said portion of said bag is held against said one wall portion by said clamping means, and gaseous fluid supply means operatively connected to said fluid inlet means, said device being mounted on a support means, said support means having an aperture in alignment with said outlet end of said chute, said aperture being constructed and arranged to permit passage therethrough of a filled bag when said filled bag is released from said chute, heating means connected to said support means, said heating means being constructed and arranged to apply heat to the neck of said filled bag as said filled bag is positioned below said aperture, said neck being that portion of the bag adjacent to said lip, and means to move at least a portion of said heating means into and out of operative position relative to said neck.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein a movable bag support platform is operatively connected to said support means, said platform being in alignment with said aperture but on the side of said support means remote from said chute, said platform being constructed and arranged to normally support a filled bag after said filled bag passes through said aperture, and release means to move said platform away from its supporting position at predetermined intervals.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3 wherein said release means is actuated by said heating means.

Claim 7

In a filling device for fiLling thermoplastic open-mouthed bags, wherein said device comprises a filling means and a sealing means, said filling means comprising a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end and a bag support means extending laterally outward from said chute adjacent said outlet end, and a clamping means constructed and arranged to clamp said bag against said chute while said bag is supported by said support means in a manner to place the mouth of said bag in line with said outlet end of said chute, said support means and clamping means supporting a bag above said sealing means while said bag is being filled and permitting release of said bag after it has been filled, said sealing means comprising a supporting means having an aperture in alignment with said bag while it is being filled, said aperture being constructed and arranged to permit passage therethrough of the filled bag after it has been released, heating means connected to said supporting means, a bag support platform constructed and arranged to releasably support the filled bag after it has passed through said aperture, said heating means being constructed and arranged to apply heat to the neck of said filled bag after said filled bag has passed through said aperture and while it is supported by said bag support platform, said neck being that portion of the filled bag adjacent to its open mouth, and means to move at least a portion of said heating means into and out of operative position relative to said neck.

Claim 8

In a filling device for fiLling thermoplastic open-mouthed bags, wherein said device comprises a filling means and a sealing means, said filling means comprising a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end and a bag support means extending laterally outward from said chute adjacent said outlet end, and a clamping means constructed and arranged to clamp said bag against said chute while said bag is supported by said support means in a manner to place the mouth of said bag in line with said outlet end of said chute, said support means and clamping means supporting a bag above said sealing means while said bag is being filled and permitting release of said bag after it has been filled, said sealing means comprising a supporting means having an aperture in alignment with said bag while it is being filled, said aperture being constructed and arranged to permit passage therethrough of the filled bag after it has been released, heating means connected to said supporting means, a bag support platform constructed and arranged to releasably support the filled bag after it has passed through said aperture, said heating means being constructed and arranged to apply heat to the neck of said filled bag after said filled bag has passed through said aperture and while it is supported by said bag support platform, said neck being that portion of the filled bag adjacent to its open mouth, and means to move at least a portion of said heating means into and out of operative position relative to said neck.

Claim 9

The device of claim 5 wherein said bag support platform is a movable bag support platform that is operatively connected to said supporting means, said platform being in alignment with said aperture, said platform being constructed and arranged to normally support the filled bag after it has passed through said aperture, and release means to move said platform away from its supporting position at predetermined intervals.

Claim 10

The device of claim 6 wherein said release means is actuated by said heating means.