Patent US3752537A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4370845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4370845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of and apparatus for closing bag mouths
Assignee: METROLETHOLDS Ltd A BRITISH Co
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Filing: 1980-08-14
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Granted: 1983-02-01
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Expires: 2000-08-14
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for closing a bag mouth of a bag formed from a heat weldable material after filling the bag through the open mouth thereof. The bag mouth is supported from within the mouth by flat elements held apart across the mouth to draw the mouth into an elongate form and then the sides of the mouth are pressed together between an elongate heating element and an elongate anvil and the heating element is activated to heat weld the sides of the mouth together to close the mouth.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland F. Perolls
- 👤 Norman R. Steel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/02; B65B7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus, comprising a filing station including means for opening a mouth of a bag in said filling station; a supply chute including means for raising and lowering said chute into and out of the mouth of the bag to be filled, means for clamping the bag mouth to the chute, and means for moving said chute to and from said filing station; and a bag sealing station including a pair of mouth tensioning elements, first means for moving said elements into and out of the bag mouth supported by said chute, second means for moving said elements apart to support the bag mouth as said means for clamping the bag mouth are released and as said chute is withdrawn from the bag mouth and returned to said filling station, elongated heat sealing means for engaging and sealing sides of the bag mouth together, and control means for controlling said heat sealing means and said tensioning elements such that said elongated heat sealing means engage and clamp portions of the bag mouth sides lying between said tensioning elements together for partial welding while said tensioning elements are in the bag mouth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus, comprising a filing station including means for opening a mouth of a bag in said filling station; a supply chute including means for raising and lowering said chute into and out of the mouth of the bag to be filled, means for clamping the bag mouth to the chute, and means for moving said chute to and from said filing station; and a bag sealing station including a pair of mouth tensioning elements, first means for moving said elements into and out of the bag mouth supported by said chute, second means for moving said elements apart to support the bag mouth as said means for clamping the bag mouth are released and as said chute is withdrawn from the bag mouth and returned to said filling station, elongated heat sealing means for engaging and sealing sides of the bag mouth together, and control means for controlling said heat sealing means and said tensioning elements such that said elongated heat sealing means engage and clamp portions of the bag mouth sides lying between said tensioning elements together for partial welding while said tensioning elements are in the bag mouth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means cause said heat sealing means to engage the bag mouth sides with a first pressure sufficient to support the bag mouth therebetween, then triggers said first means to extract said tensioning elements from the bag mouth, and then causes said heat sealing means to engage the bag mouth with a second, higher pressure to completely weld the bag mouth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said elongated heat sealing means comprise an elongated heating element, an elongated anvil and means for forcing said heating element and said anvil together to heat seal the bag mouth therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said elongated anvil is mounted at one end on a rotatable shaft; and means are provided for pivoting said anvil into and out of alignment with said heating element to perform a heat sealing operation and to allow the bag mouth to be moved into position for the heat sealing operation, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for forcing comprises ram means for forcing said heating element into engagement with said anvil to apply pressure to the bag mouth being heated sealed; and means are provided for supporting said anvil in alignment with said heating element and for withstanding pressure applied on said anvil by said heating element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of tensioning elements are mounted on a pair of arms pivotally mounted on a base; said second means comprise ram means for forcing said arms apart to tension the bag mouth and spring means for drawing said arms together to release the tension when said ram means are deactivated; and said first means comprise means for lowering and raising said arms to insert and withdraw said tensioning elements into and from the bag mouth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for raising and lowering said arms comprise a carrier, on which said arms are mounted, rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis, and rams means for rotating said carrier about said horizontal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tensioning elements comprise a pair of flat blades lying in a common plane and movable towards and away from each other in said plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for holding a supply of bags attached by one side of the mouth of each bag only; and means are provided for blowing down into the mouth of an end bag of said supply of bags to open the mouth of the end bag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bag mouth to be heat sealed has, on one side, an upstanding flap; and means are provided for directing an air jet against said flap to turn said flap downwardly and to trap said flap between said heat sealing means during a heat sealing operation of the bag mouth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A bag filling and closure apparatus according to claim 10 wherein means are provided, on said heat sealing means, for folding the upstanding flap downwardly before said heat sealing means engage the bag mouth to heat seal the flap and the bag mouth together.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-31 | 1986-08-02 | 1987-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-08-02 | 1991-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-31 | 1994-08-02 | 1995-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |