Abstract: The present invention is a container for storing fine particles in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container can be evacuated through compression or vacuum without removing the fine particles. The container comprises a main body enclosing a pouch, terminating in a principal opening, a sealing mechanism attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, at least one exit port extending through the wall of the pouch, and a porosity mechanism adjacent the exit port, wherein the porosity mechanism permits air to exit through the exit port, but prevents the fine particles from escaping through the exit port.

Abstract: A container is used to store fine particles such as bakery flour in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container, such as air entrapped during filling, can be expelled through compression without loss of fine particles. The container includes a main body forming a pouch which terminates in a principal opening and is fabricated from an imperforate flexible material such as clear plastic film. A sealing mechanism is attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, and a multiplicity of microscopic pores extend through the flexible material. Each pore has a dimension ranging from 10 to 150 .mu.m sufficient to permit air to exit through an exit port, but to prevent the fine particles from escaping through the pores. At least a portion of the pouch material has an anti-slip surface with an external coefficient of friction ranging from about 0.4 to 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention is a container for storing fine particles such as bakery flour in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container such as entrapped during filling can be expelled through compression without loss of the fine particles. The container comprises a main body forming a pouch, terminating in a principal opening, fabricated from an imperforate flexible material such as clear plastic film, a sealing mechanism attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, and a multiplicity of microscopic pores extending through the flexible material having a dimension ranging from 10 to 150 .mu.m) sufficient to permit air to exit through the exit port, but to prevent the fine particles from escaping through the pores.

Abstract: The present invention is a container for storing fine particles in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container can be evacuated through compression or vacuum without removing the fine particles. The container comprises a main body enclosing a pouch, terminating in a principal opening, a sealing mechanism attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, at least one exit port extending through the wall of the pouch, and a porosity mechanism adjacent the exit port, wherein the porosity mechanism permits air to exit through the exit port, but prevents the fine particles from escaping through the exit port.

Abstract: The present invention is a container for storing fine particles such as bakery flour in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container such as entrapped during filling can be expelled through compression without loss of the fine particles. The container comprises a main body forming a pouch, terminating in a principal opening, fabricated from an imperforate flexible material such as clear plastic film, a sealing mechanism attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, and a multiplicity of microscopic pores extending through the flexible material having a dimension ranging from 10 to 150 .mu.m) sufficient to permit air to exit through the exit port, but to prevent the fine particles from escaping through the pores.

Abstract: A device for opening bags (12) held in fixtures (32) movable in an operation direction is disclosed including first and second suction cups (104, 106). The first suction cups (104) are mounted to an elongated bar (108) slideably mounted on posts (112) in turn upstanding from pivot arms (110). The elongated bar (108) can be slid on the posts (112) to an upper, transport position allowing passage of the fixtures (32) and bags (12) held therein. The second suction cups (106) are mounted to the lower ends of rods (114) mounted to a slide shaft (116), with sliding of the slide shaft (116) moving the rods (114) and suction cups (106) from a transport position intermediate the lanes of the fixtures (32) as they move in the operation direction and an attachment position in front of the bags (12). The slide shaft (116) and the rods (114) are tilted along an arc to open the unsealed ends (22) of the bags (12).

Abstract: The front bag (12) of a supply of bags (12) stored in a magazine (250) is removed by an unloading device (252) including four linkages (254, 256, 258, 260) which are pivoted to attach suction cups (264) thereto. The unloading device (252) inserts the bag (12) between nip rollers (52, 54) including spaced wheels (56, 58) which drive the bag (12) downward until the closed end (20) rests upon an adjustable stop (72). A tucking plate (90) moves from a retracted position to an extended position generally perpendicular to the bag (12) to drive the bag (12) into a slot (46) of a fixture (32), with the bag (12) having a U-shaped configuration around the tucking plate (90). The bag (12) is prevented from moving from the slot (46) with the tucking plate (90) as the tucking plate (90) moves from the extended position to the retracted position by a compression roller (208) pivotable by a cam (214) movable with the tucking plate (90) to sandwich the side edges of the bag (12).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed including a first pushing plate (172) removably secured to a second pushing plate (174) and movable to eject bags (12) from fixtures (32) into pockets (186). The second pushing plate (174) ejects any defective bags (12) remaining when the first pushing plate (172) is not secured or movable with the second pushing plate (174) in the prior intermittent position. The pockets (186) are rotatable to an inverted position where the bags (12) are removed by lugs (230) upstanding from movable lands (228). The lands (228) are pivotable to be in a non-interfering position with the rotation of the pockets (186). A finger (294) is pivotally mounted to a vertically reciprocated carriage (288) to place the bags (12) on conveyors (200) from the lands (228).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed including fixtures (32) mounted to carrier bars (30) removably secured to roller chains (24) extending in parallelogram-shaped closed loops. In a first, vertical portion of the closed loops, bags (12) are loaded into the fixtures (32) in a folded condition by a loading device (50). Guides (274) prevent the bags (12) from moving from the fixtures (32) when the fixtures (32) move from the first, vertical portion to a second, horizontal portion. The bags (12) are opened by suction cups (104, 106) and filled with product and then collapsed and sealed in the horizontal portion. Guides (184) prevent the bags (12) from moving from the fixtures (32) when the fixtures (32) move from the second, horizontal portion to a third, vertical portion and bend the portions of the bags (12) extending out of the fixtures (32) at a nonlinear angle to the fixtures (32). The bags (12) are ejected from the fixtures (32) in the third, vertical portion by reciprocal pushing plates (172, 174).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed including an abutment (282) in the form of an elongated rod positioned in front of the sealing intermittent position which rearwardly deflects the portions of bags (12) extending out of fixtures (32) moving in an operation direction. The bags (12) then slap forwardly against a stop (284) as the fixtures (32) reach the sealing intermittent position, with the stop (284) being in the form of a plate carried by the sealing jaw (146) of the sealing position. Arms (136) are pivoted between a transport position spaced from the fixtures (32) and a compression position to engage a rod (138) with the bags (12) above an expansion prevention bar (49) of the fixtures 32 to deflect the product located in the bags (12) into a more planar condition.