Multiple pouch bagging apparatus

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each feed conveyor includes a discharge end and an entry end, the conveyor including pouch accumulating means at the discharge end when the conveyor is stopped such that pouches can be accumulated thereon, means on the conveyor for allowing pouches to advance to the pouch accumulating means, signal means for advancing the conveyor means when a predetermined number of pouches is accumulated thereon and when a chute group on the rotary member is approaching the discharge end of the conveyor such that the conveyor will advance the pouches to fall in respective chute sections of each chute group.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the conveyor includes an endless chain means having freely rotating rollers thereon, and a plurality of upwardly pivoting arm members pivotably mounted to the chain conveyor and spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the conveyor the distance of a pouch length, means for holding the arms below the plane of the conveyor when the conveyor is at rest with the exception of the arms at the discharge end to allow accumulation of the pouches on the conveyor, means for projecting the arms upward when the conveyor is starting to move between each accumulated pouch to advance the pouches towards discharge into a chute section of each chute group.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the means for pivoting the arms out of the plane of the conveyor to project between the pouches includes a pair of movable, parallel, spaced-apart rails adapted to move to and from each other, each arm including a bell crank with a counterweight roller mounted on the bell crank and engaging one of the rails, such that as the rails are moved towards each other, the arm of the bell crank pivots above the level of the conveyor.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein at least four conveyor feed means extend tangentially of the rotary chute assembly.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein there is provided a main drive shaft centrally of the apparatus to which is mounted the rotary chute assembly, gear means and a clutch assembly is provided between the main shaft and the drive shaft for said conveyor, and control means are provided for engaging the drive shaft to said conveyor shaft by way of said clutch.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the control means for connecting the drive from said main shaft to said conveyor drive includes a rotary cam wheel mounted to said shaft, at least a cam projection for each conveyor included in the apparatus, a bell crank lever with cam follower adapted to follow said cam wheel provided for each conveyor and including means for operating said clutch, a plurality of gate means provided on the conveyor, one for each pouch of a predetermined number of pouches to be discharged, an accumulative control means whereby when a predetermined number of pouches are accumulated on the conveyor, the corresponding predetermined number of gates are activated to allow the control means to engage said clutch for driving the conveyor as the cam projection on the cam wheel corresponding to the position of the chute group on the chute assembly engages the control means.