Abstract: Apparatus and method of emptying a material-filled bulk bag of the type having a bottom discharge spout which is releasably closed above a bottom end of the spout being released and opened after the bottom end of the spout is releasably and sealably attached to a material receiving conduit so as to provide a substantially dustless emptying procedure.

Abstract: A weighing machine for filling containers with a particulate material has a load cell for measuring the amount of material in the container as it is being filled, and differential voltage comparator for determining when the indicated weight of material in the container equals a preset value, or cut-off weight. When the voltage comparator shows the two are equal the flow of material is stopped, but additional material continues to dribble into the container to reach a final weight which may be higher than the desired or target weight. The amount of overweight or underweight of the material in the container is determined, and serves to control a source of voltage which is inserted in series with the cut-off set point voltage. This differential voltage is a function of the amount of overweight or underweight of the contents.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve bag packer provided with an air feed to the hopper that includes an eductor pump having its inlet connected to the hopper so as to produce a subatmospheric pressure in the hopper and consequent reverse air flow in the filling spout when the discharge of the eductor pump is open. The arrangement is such that the closure of the pump discharge by a valve provided for this purpose will result in superatmospheric pressure in the hopper suitable for bag filling. Abrupt opening of the pump discharge causes a vacuum pulse within as well as a sustained low pressure in the hopper so as to promptly stop and prevent material dribble from the filling spout.

Abstract: A sampling probe is associated with the delivery chute for a flowable material for cyclically removing uniformly sized discrete samples and placing the samples in a sample collector, with each removal being effected upon the delivery of a predetermined quantity of material from the chute. The probe is pneumatically actuated to isolate and remove each sample and a stepping relay is provided to count a predetermined number of unit quantities of material delivered and on completion of each such count to control the initiation of a pneumatic operation of the sampling probe.

Abstract: Bag placing apparatus for use in conjunction with automatic bag filling equipment of the type that fills valve type bags through a horizontal spout that is received within the bag valve when the bag is properly positioned for filling on the spout; such bag filling equipment cyclicalling alternately between fill and filled bag discharge intervals respectively initiated automatically by placement of an empty bag on the spout and upon completion of the filling of such bag.The bag placing apparatus includes a placer provided with vacuum bag holders and a relatively movable snapper.