Automatic bagging apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus For bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said upper section also including collapsible spreader means interposed between said second and said third means to open the free end of stock above cuts made by said third means and to facilitate separations at said cuts.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower section also includes fifth means for transversely sealing tubular stock drawn over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means, with sealing by said fifth means being at a location below such garment.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the third means is constructed to cut prior to sealing.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower section includes sixth means for compacting garments on hangers supported by said first means by engaging opposite sides of these garments during downward travel of said lower section.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the lower section also includes seventh means for detecting the lower edge of a garment on a hanger supported by said first means to control stopping of said lower section during downward travel thereof.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including power means for driving said second means and simultaneously moving said lower section downward in coordinated relationship whereby stock delivered by said second means travels at substantially the same speed as said lower section in its descent.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the fourth means includes sets of cooperating clamp elements that engage a single thickness of open tubular shape material therebetween.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the lower section also includes fifth means for transversely sealing tubular stock drawn over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means, with sealing by said fifth means being at a location below such garment.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the third means includes a heated wire, and biasing means maintaining said wire taut after heating thereof.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the lower section also includes seventh means for detecting the lower edge of a garment on a hanger supported by said first means to control stopping of said lower section during downward travel thereof.

Claim 12

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on A hanger supported by said first means; said lower section also including sixth means for compacting garments on hangers supported by said first means by engaging opposite sides of these garments during downward travel of said lower section.

Claim 13

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on A hanger supported by said first means; said lower section also including sixth means for compacting garments on hangers supported by said first means by engaging opposite sides of these garments during downward travel of said lower section.

Claim 14

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section also including seventh means for detecting the lower edge of a garment on a hanger supported by said first means to control stopping of said lower section during downward travel thereof.

Claim 15

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section also including seventh means for detecting the lower edge of a garment on a hanger supported by said first means to control stopping of said lower section during downward travel thereof.

Claim 16

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; power means for driving said second means and simultaneously moving said lower section downward in coordinated relationship whereby stock delivered by said second means travels at substantially the same speed as said lower section in its descent.

Claim 17

Apparatus for bagging a hanger held garment; said apparatus including an upper relatively stationary section; a lower section below said upper section; means mounting said lower section for generally vertical movement toward and away from said upper section; said upper section including first means for supporting a hanger having a garment thereon, second means for drawing thermoplastic tubular stock from a supply thereof in the form of a flattened web, and third means for transversely cutting and sealing stock delivered by said second means at a position below said second means and above a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; said lower section including fourth means for engaging the lower end of stock delivered by said second means and maintaining such stock in an open tubular shape as it moves downward in a surrounding position over a garment on a hanger supported by said first means; power means for driving said second means and simultaneously moving said lower section downward in coordinated relationship whereby stock delivered by said second means travels at substantially the same speed as said lower section in its descent.