Abstract: A bag supply system supplies a packaging bag to a storing position where a sandwich is stored, the bag supply system which includes an opening forming device configured to form an opening at a bag opening of the packaging bag, and a bag opening device configured to grip each of a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion of the opening in an opening direction, the opening direction being a direction in which the opening is opened, and open the bag opening by widening the opening in the opening direction.

Abstract: A method and a packaging machine for packaging objects in a stiff package, for example in a carton box or in a box, the stiff package comprising a right flap, a left flap, an upper flap and a lower flap. After folding the right, left, and lower flaps in closed position, the upper flap is kept in a semi-closed position so as to only partially overlap the closed lower flap. Glue is then applied to the closed lower flap or semi-closed upper flap. After applying the glue, the upper flap is brought in closed position so that it is fixed to the lower flap. The application of the glue to the lower flap in closed position or to the upper flap in semi-closed position allows adjusting the squaring of the package immediately before bringing the upper flap from the semi-closed position to the closed position, i.e., immediately before fixing the flaps and closing the package.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for packing products in cartons; the apparatus includes a first feed line for feeding cartons, a second feed line for feeding products, a plurality of pushing elements, each of which includes a first carriage configured to run on a first rail defining an active path and a second carriage configured to run on a second rail defining an inactive path; a diverting unit is provided which is configured to divert the pushing elements in transit towards the active path or the inactive path and which includes a first diverting rail and a second diverting rail; also provided are detection means for detecting the presence of the carton and/or of the product and switching means for switching the diverting unit.

Abstract: A star wheel for a rotary packing machine, which includes a vertical shaft, a movable assembly with a frame fixed to said shaft, a plurality of pairs of arms, each arm is hinge mounted on the frame about an axis of rotation, an activation mechanism for each pair of arms, which activation mechanism moves the arms between an open position and a closed position, an adjustment mechanism, which moves the axis of rotation of each arm between two positions, and a locking mechanism, which locks the position of the axis of rotation, and a fixed cam.

Abstract: A device and a method for determining a closing force, the device including at least a lower part segment (45) for receiving at least one capsule lower part (15), at least one upper part segment (44) for receiving at least one capsule upper part (13), at least one closing means (47) that acts upon the capsule lower part (15) and/or the capsule upper part (13) for closure, wherein at least one force sensor (42, 46) is provided for absorbing a force (F) that acts upon the capsule (12) during closure.

Abstract: A baling machine and method for forming a bale is disclosed. A sensor is positioned in the bailing chamber and is positioned to sense an area proximate the perimeter of the bale to determine if material is present, thereby determining if the bale is properly wrapped or not. When the bale is not properly wrapped, material is present in the area proximate the perimeter in which the sensor is active; causing the sensor to send a signal indicating that the bale is not properly wrapped.

Abstract: An automatic, portable water bottle filling apparatus includes an elongated frame that defines a continuous conveying path with opposite first and second ends; a conveyor system that moves bottles along the conveying path; a water filling station adjacent to the conveying path second end that is configured to fill an empty bottle with liquid from the user's water source; a capping station positioned downstream from the water filling station that is configured to close a filled bottle with a cap; a sensor system configured to detect the presence of an empty, uncapped bottle at the water filling station; and a controller that automatically controls operations of the water filling station, capping station and conveyor system in response to signals received from the sensor system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing container assemblies having a cup-shaped insert disposed within a container. A container conveyor conveys a series of open containers along a lower horizontal path, the container conveyor bringing each container in turn to a stop at an insertion station. A generally vertical inserter chute is disposed above the insertion station for conducting a generally cup-shaped insert through the inserter and out the lower end into a container positioned at the insertion station. An insert conveyor disposed above the inserter conveys a series of inserts along an upper horizontal path, each insert on the insert conveyor having an open end and an opposite closed end and being in an inverted orientation such that the open end of the insert faces downward. A lead one of the inserts being conveyed on the insert conveyor tips over and falls into the inserter in an upright orientation.

Abstract: A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically labeling and stacking a plurality of flower pot covers. The apparatus has a first conveyor and a second conveyor. The first conveyor has a plurality of spatially disposed support assemblies connected thereto, each of the support assemblies selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position and the second conveyor has a plurality of spatially disposed chutes supported thereon, each of the chutes having an object receiving space formed therein adapted to receive a plurality of flower pot covers, at least a portion of the second conveyor spatially disposed above the first conveyor such that a portion of the travel path of the second conveyor overlaps a portion of the travel path of the first conveyor so that the support assemblies on the first conveyor are aligned with the chutes on the second conveyor.

Abstract: Machine for manufacturing consumable goods containers, including a structure in which four modules are located, two supply modules (1) and (2), one dosage module (3) and the other a cutting module (4). It includes thermo-plastic material reels (5) and (6) of a variable band width, provided with winding means (7) and (21) and heating means (8) and (22), as well as shaping matrixes (9) and (23) that function when heated under pressure and result in concave shapes on the bands applicable as halves of the containers to be obtained.

Abstract: The product transfer mechanisms of this invention increases the performance of automatic packaging machines by deflecting product as it falls from a transfer container into a box with a slide, thus reducing damaging effects of free-falling product collisions and enabling simple, efficient maintenance and sanitizing of surfaces contacting the deflected product. The improved product transfer mechanism has a transfer container composed of a lightweight, transparent material enabling a visual inspection of the product as it travels through the product transfer mechanism while reducing the weight of component parts of the product transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A tube holder assembly is provided for use with an output track assembly of an IC test handler so as to eliminate the need of transferring tested SOIC packages loaded in plastic tubes to metal tubes for a “burn-in” process. The tube holder assembly is comprised of an output tube guide member, a tube holder member, a tube holder guide member, and a holder screw. The tube holder member is vertically slidable relative to the tube holder guide member between a lower position and an upper position. The tube holder member is pushed downwardly into the lower position so as to load directly SOIC packages into plastic tubes and is raised to the upper position so as to load directly the SOIC packages into metal tubes.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: In packaging equipment suitable for packaging tableted products of a delicate nature, such as tablets of soap, each tablet is directed into a box by one of a succession of push-rods set in motion synchronously with a first feed line conveying boxes, and a second feed line conveying the products. The advancing push-rods pass initially through a diverter capable of movement between a first position and a second position, and are made as a result to follow a first guide, and a second guide respectively. The diverter is timed to alternate between the first and the second positions with the passage of each push-rod, and can be locked for a predetermined duration in the second position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing dry ice from a central source, through a distribution network of feed conveyors, to one or more remote dispensing stations where the dry ice is dispensed into packaging containers. The feed conveyors are provided with low-friction material ice-contacting surfaces to prevent clumping and sticking of the ice. A programmable electronic controller enables automatic dispensing of batches of predetermined quantities of dry ice to the packaging containers.

Abstract: A system for sequentially establishing batches of predetermined numbers of items is disclosed. The system includes a feeder for continuously dispensing items serially and one at a time. A counter counts items as they are dispensed by the feeder and emits a batch control signal each time a predetermined number of items has been dispensed by the feeder. An item accumulator/separator separates items fed on a continuous basis into batches. The separator includes a diverter for diverting items forming each succeeding batch to a collection location separated from the location of items in the batch immediately preceding each separated batch while maintaining all items along a flow path from the feeder to a collection station. The diverter is operative to establish diversion of items of a succeeding batch in response to each such batch control signal. A collector is positioned at the collection station for sequentially collecting such batches and maintaining them in such separated condition.

Abstract: A cartridge of wound-up photographic film has an elongate housing within which the film is received, the housing having an outlet through which the film leader projects. In order to insert the cartridge of film into a cylindrical container it is necessary to wrap the film leader around the housing of the cartridge. A method of inserting the cartridge into the container involves conveying the cartridge into the open end of the container whilst simultaneously rotating the cartridge about its longitudinal axis so that the film leader is brought into engagement with the rim of the open end of the container whilst it is rotating. This causes the film leader automatically to be wrapped around the housing of the cartridge to permit the ready insertion of the cartridge and the film leader into the container. An apparatus for automatically performing the function of inserting the cartridge into the container using this method is also described.

Abstract: In an automatic bagging apparatus, a foremost bag F of stacked bags stored in a bag storage mechanism 10 is fed by a bag feeding mechanism 20 and supported by a bag support mechanism 30. The supported bag is supplied with a predetermined amount of ice cubes, and the bagged ice cubes are accumulated in an ice storage bin. The bag feeding mechanism 20 is provided with a clamping mechanism 20a for grasping the bag at its two positions and detection switches SW4, SW5 for detecting the fact that the bag F has been correctly fed by the clamping mechanism 20a. When it has been detected by the detection switches SW4, SW5 that the bag F could not be correctly fed or that there is not any bag in the bag storage mechanism 10, the feeding operation of the bag is repeated predetermined times. If the bag F could not be correctly fed, the feeding operation of the bag is stopped, and the remained ice cubes are melted by water sprinkled from a watering pipe to be drained.

Abstract: Integrated circuit parts to be loaded are guided down an inclined ramp in a guideway for gravity feeding into a storage and transport tube. A tube holder member is attached to the bottom of the ramp; and it has an aperture through it for receiving a tube to be loaded. A blocking device, in the form of a lever arm, is attached to the tube holder member, and extends into the guideway through which the integrated circuit devices travel. When a tube is inserted into the tube holder member, a projection on the lever arm is engaged by the end of the tube to move the lever arm out of engagement with the guideway or any integrated circuit parts in it. When the tube is full of parts, it is removed from the tube holder member and the lever arm drops into place to either rest on the top of the next integrated circuit part in line or to fall into the guideway to prevent further movement of parts into the tube holder member.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming paperboard cartons from flat blanks is provided. The carton blanks are fed from a magazine to the face of a forming die, a reciprocating plunger is provided to push the blank through the die forming the carton, and an endless conveyor receives the carton after being stripped from the bottom of the die. A servo drive means for the plunger, blank feeder and conveyor are each independently driven by an infinitely variable speed electric motor. A programmable logic controller operates the servo drive means, whereby the plunger, feeder and conveyor can be infinitely varied to fit the forming action desired. The servo drive means preferably takes the form of a variable speed, electronic servo motor including an encoder and a tachometer feedback. Product sensor means detect product availability and carton sensor means detects carton availability with both sensor means also being controlled by the programmable logic controller.

Abstract: A bag detection apparatus (50) for sensing the position and seam integrity of a deformable bag (24) and bag transfer apparatus (53) for gripping and maintaining positive control of the edges (25) of the bag (24) during transfer from a bag filling station to a bag closure station. The bag positioning and seam integrity detecting apparatus (50) includes pneumatic conduits (60-67) mounted on the bag distending assembly (23) of a bag filling apparatus (20) and coupled to pressure switches (68). A controller (101), monitoring increases in pressure at each pressure switch (68), determines the position and condition of the mounted bag (24). The transfer apparatus (52) includes a pair of elongated arms (80) having hook-shaped gripping fingers (82) formed to engage and cooperate with clamping members (83) to grip the bag proximate the upper edge (25). A bag detection method also is provided.

Abstract: An envelope flap opener comprises a revolving gripper drum for conveying envelopes thereupon in flap-up orientation with flap edge trailing and a revolving rotor disposed vicinally to the gripper drum, the rotor having at least one sucker cup extending from its periphery. Vacuum is valved to the sucker cup at a time when an envelope is conveyed upon the gripper drum past the rotor, the sucker cup grabs and opens the envelope flap, and subsequently the flap is released. Prior to release of the flap, a plow device intercepts the flap and further unfolds it. The plow device includes a photo-sensor for checking of proper flap opening and for detecting missing envelopes.

Abstract: In a carton loading machine, there is provided a mechanism which will initially displace one row of cylindrical-shaped objects with respect to its adjacent row such that load items in one row are located in a staggered relationship with respect to the load items in the adjacent row. The load items are then displaced into the open end of a container. When the assembled load is substantially fully located within the container, the movement of one row is arrested while the movement of the other row continues until the items of the adjacent rows are arranged in a side-by-side relationship. This serves to permit the width of the accumulated load to be reduced until the load is substantially fully located in a carton and thereafter the load is rearranged to its maximum width to fit in a close fitting relationship within the carton.

Abstract: There is described a stopper detector for use in combination with a stopper remover, so that containers of liquid can be automatically unstoppered in an analyzer if they are in fact stoppered. The stopper detector includes a mechanism for discriminating between a container having a stopper, and an unstoppered container, including one with a cup inserted into the top of the container. It also includes means for generating a signal in response to the discriminating means that is indicative of whether or not a stopper is present, such signal being effective, if present, to activate a following stopper remover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filling a bag with a commodity without contaminating a sealable region of the bag near its opening. The apparatus includes a mechanism for forming a cuff in the bag and holding the bag as it is being filled. A frame associated with the cuffing mechanism assists in positioning the commodity adjacent the cuffed bag and for facilitating insertion of the commodity into the bag. Desirably the frame includes a platform on which the commodity may be prepared prior to insertion of it into the bag. Preferably the platform is movable between a first position oriented to facilitate preparation of the commodity and a second position oriented to facilitate insertion of the commodity into the bag. The device and method is particularly useful in packaging commodities which may be emulsion-laden, including meats such as poultry.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing a number of small packages into containers of a larger size and having an inclined conveyor for receiving packages, a counter flat adjacent to upper end of the conveyor for generating count signals, a storage chute for receiving packages being angled downwardly, container holders located adjacent to the chute lower end adapted to hold container in registration with the chute lower end for receiving packages the holder means being intermittently operably whereby to move the container when it has received a predetermined number of said packages, and to place an empty container, in registration with the chute lower end, and, controls operable to cause intermittent movement of the holder in response to a predetermined number of count signals, and a method of packing packages on the apparatus.

Abstract: A film feed device for a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes front and rear rolls of film which are individually unwound and fed to the packaging machine via a drive assembly which contacts the rolls and rotates the same independent of other film feed mechanisms on the packaging machine. The drive assemblies contain motors which can be further controlled with sensing devices capable of sensing both when the film has been exhausted from the film roll and when the rate of output of the film from the film rolls by the drive assemblies is greater than the rate of further processing of the film in subsequent steps on the form, fill and seal packaging machine.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is custom constructed from standardized modules in order to reduce cost and standardize operational and maintenance procedures. The standardized modules include conveyor chain modules which may be ganged to maintain synchronization of operations. Various types of attached may be attached to the conveyor chain in order to mandrels adapt the machine to load different types of products. A cam pin guides and directs selective transfers of products when both box and product are present and to cancel transfer when one of said box or product is absent. One example of such a customized machine is a machine for loading golf balls.

Abstract: A capsule filling and capping machine including a testing apparatus for ascertaining the presence of capsule pieces (bottom and cap) in the conveyor apparatus. The conveyor apparatus includes receptacles into which the capsules are tightly inserted. A test head, with chambers disposed in it that communicate with a source of negative pressure or overpressure, respectively, via a throttle is brought into contact with the receptacles, and the pressure of the chambers is monitored by pressure sensors. The output of piezorestrictive pressure sensors is evaluated electronically and processed further into signals to prevent capsules from being filled, to reject defective capsules, or to stop the machine if there is a problem related to one of the capsules.

Abstract: An automotive slicing machine includes a circuit for monitoring the operation of a card dispenser during the processing of a sliced product. In one embodiment, when the monitoring circuit detects that a card dispensing operation has not been performed for two consecutive drafts of a sliced product, the slicing operation is halted until an operator attends to the problem.

Abstract: A device having a cocked cap detector and a missing cap detector in a bottle production line is disclosed. The device also includes a gate diverter mechanism for diverting miscapped bottles from their narrower top portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the supply of cap members from a magazine or supply bin, via a channel, to the capping mechanism of a capping machine. At least one signal emitter, which is provided at the channel, generates an emitted signal that changes as the cap members move past, with a disruption signal being derived from the emitted signal if this emitted signal does not change during a specified time interval. A cycle signal is derived from the working or machine cycle of the capping machine. If no change of the emitted signal is determined in two successive cycles, the sum of which correspond to a full period of the cycle signal, the disruption signal is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying caps on containers in which a primary cap-applicator applies the majority of caps and a secondary cap-applicator applies caps to the containers which have passed the primary cap-applicator without having been provided with a cap. A sensing means is arranged downstream of the primary cap-applicator to detect containers without caps and activate the secondary cap-applicator. This sensing means includes a photocell to detect a container and an inductive transducer to detect the cap on the container.

Abstract: A drive roll drive of a wrap material feed mechanism is driven at a peripheral speed a desired percentage slower than the peripheral speed of a bale being wrapped whereby the drive rolls function also in the manner of a drag brake so that the wrap material is applied under tension to the bale being wrapped. A spreader roll is located between a supply roll of wrap material and one of the drive rolls and is so positioned relative thereto that the wrap material engages a substantial portion of the perimeter of the drive roll, such engagement diminishing the tendency of the tensioned wrap material to slip through the drive rolls. In an alternate embodiment, a wrap material monitoring device in the form of a spreader roll rotation sensing device is provided for signalling an operator both of the depletion of the supply of wrap material and of the unwanted dispensing of wrap material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the continuous automated manufacture of sausage wherein tubular material for sausage casing from a supply source is axially shirred by shirring means into shirred sections, of continuously measured length; the shirred sections are stuffed with force meat into divided up and closed off portions with the amount of tubular material utilized being continually measured; and, the entire process is controlled and activated by sensing means, memory means, comparator means and means responsive to such sensing, memory and comparator means, to maximize utilization of shirred casing and to avoid stuffing into a void.

Abstract: Hose material for the continuous automated manufacture of sausage wherein tubular material for sausage casing from a supply source is axially shirred by shirring means into shirred sections, of continuously measured length; the shirred sections are stuffed with force meat into divided up and closed off portions with the amount of tubular material utilized being continually measured; and, the entire process is controlled by memory, comparator and means responsive thereto, all of which are activated by register marks spaced at equal lengths along the length of the hose material, to maximize utilization of shirred casing and to avoid stuffing into a void.

Abstract: A barrel loader for a cartoner having a product conveyor and a carton conveyor. A plurality of pusher heads are carried on two spaced endless chains. A cam track between the chains cooperates with cam followers on the heads to cam the heads toward the product conveyor to thrust product into the cartons. A switch on the cam track diverts a pusher head from the cam track upon detecting the absence of a carton with which the pusher head is associated.

Abstract: The apparatus has a strip cutting device (6) in which the sheet piles (1) are cut into bundle strips (8), a bundle cutting device (16) for cutting the bundle strips into banknote bundles (17) and therebetween a banding station (9) for the bundle strips (8). This banding station (9) has as many synchronously operating banding devices (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) as there are banknote positions per strip and a band detector system (30,31,32) which indicates the absence of a band (10) or an incorrectly performed banding operation by means of a fault signal which switches off the apparatus. Simultaneously an indication is given at which individual banding device (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) the fault has occured. Each of these banding devices can be set in operation by means of an associated switch member (34a, 34b, 34c, 34d) for carrying out an individual late banding operation. Then the apparatus can be restarted to continue the automatic operation.

Abstract: The invention is applied to an apparatus for filling storage boxes with lemons or other articles. The articles are first diverted from a conveyor into a measuring and collecting bin. When articles fill the bin to a level which will fill a box beneath the apparatus, a photoswitch stops the conveyor to prevent overfilling of the bin. The photoswitch also tilts a chute at the bottom of the bin whereby the entire contents of the bin are emptied into the box. Although the level of articles in the bin falls below the beam which operates the photoswitch, an internal time delay in the photoswitch holds the conveyor in stopped position and it also holds the chute in tilted position until sufficient time has passed for the box to be filled. Immediately thereafter, the chute is returned to upright position, the conveyor is restarted, and an unfilled box takes the position of the filled box.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for volume filling of storage boxes with discrete articles such as lemons in which a transitory fill box is provided with three sides, an open side to receive articles into the box at a level approximately that of the bottom wall of the fill box, the bottom wall being openable to deposit articles in a storage box in a gentle manner. Presence of articles sensed at approximately the bottom of the open side of the fill box cause the fill box to be incrementably lowered into the storage box so that articles entering the fill box enter at a level with minimum fall to the bottom wall of the fill box or to a previously deposited layer of articles. As the fill box is lowered a curtain wall closes the open side below the point of entry of the articles.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for filling and capping a quantity of stackable containers with a fluid from a fluid reservoir. The apparatus comprises a rotary table having a plurality of apertures disposed therein for receiving the containers. Containers from a container magazine are transferred individually and placed within the apertures in the rotary table. A filling head is disposed at a second position for filling the container with the fluid pumped from the fluid reservoir. A lid magazine is disposed at a third position with a rotatable arm means for transferring lids from the lid magazine to the filled container. A lid sensor is included for sensing the presence of a lid on the rotatable arm during rotation thereof. A heat sealer located at a fourth position heat seals the lid to the container. A discharge station is located at a fifth position for discharging the capped containers from the rotary table.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically placing large plastic lids onto containers. Lids 24 are dispensed individually from magazine 11 onto slide 33. Each dispensed lid is individually retained at the bottom of the slide 33 for pickup by a container 41. The lid is urged onto the container by a pivoted roller 47 and further leveled by a roller 58 which is extended twice by a pneumatic piston to first contact a leading edge of the lid and to secondly contact a trailing edge of the lid. Thereafter a pneumatically operated lid securement means 61 comprising a convex plate 70' burps the air from beneath the lid and fully seats the lid on the container. The apparatus has various sensing means for sensing the depletion of lids from magazine 11, for sensing that a lid has been dispensed onto slide 33 and for sensing a container at the capping station. The sensing means control the various operations of the machine in proper sequence.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sweets from a continuous rope of toffee or like confectionery material and the wrapping thereof in suitable wrapping material, it is customary to ensure that the feed of the rope is interfered with in the event of any interference with the supply of wrapping material. The present invention provides such interference by substantially instantaneously removing driving contact between the rope and the rope-driving surface, thus substantially preventing unwrapped sweets from coming into contact with the wrapping elements.

Abstract: A sweet-forming and wrapping machine includes feed rollers for feeding a rope of candy to a cutting mechanism and mechanism for transferring sweets cut from the leading end of the rope to a wrapping wheel, a wrapper being fed into the path of transfer of each sweet to the wrapping wheel. A detector operates in response to failure of the wrapper feed to stop the machine and also to divert the rope instantaneously out of its normal path of travel towards the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic weighing and bagging machine and method for holding and opening a first bag of a plurality of juxtaposed bags held in the machine in a manner whereby the first bag may be filled with a weighed product and released from the plurality of bags. The bags are of the type having an extended tab secured to a portion thereof and extending above a mouth opening of the bag. The machine comprises a holding device for engaging at least a portion of the extended tab of the first bag. A retractor member is also provided for opening the mouth opening of the first bag by pulling a side wall portion of the first bag opposite to the engaged portion of the tab and away from the engaged tab. The retractor member also clamps the side wall portion to hold the bag in an open position whereby the bag is held from opposed sides for filling the bag with the weighed product. A container is provided to hold and weigh the product to be bagged.

Abstract: A semi-automatic bag filling and weighing machine is disclosed including a rotatable indexing table supporting a bag at four spaced locations around the table, a conveyor device for supplying articles to be weighed and filled into the bags, a weighing and filling station to which the bags are moved by the indexing table, a weighing and sensing device for actuating power cylinders operating in conjunction with the filling station, the indexing table and other control devices to move the indexing table so as to replace a filled bag with an empty bag at the filling station. Quick release bag clamping devices are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bagging bruisable discrete articles, such as apples. The apples are fed single file to a weighing device, and the feed of articles is terminated just before the desired predetermined weight of apples to be bagged. The weighing device is allowed to reach equilibrium, and then the weight of the apples is compared to the desired predetermined weight. If the weight is less than the desired amount, the apples are fed one by one to the weighing device until the predetermined weight is reached or exceeded, at which time the apples in the weighing device are dumped onto a pair of spiral brushes which convey the apples to a bagging station. At the bagging station, a bag is clamped and blown open, and is filled with apples being fed one at a time. The bag full condition is automatically sensed, at which point one of the clamps is released, and an arm supporting the other clamp is pivoted to swing the bag into operative association with an automatic tying machine.

Abstract: Flexible plastic valve bags having a valve opening spaced from an edge of the bag are placed on filling spouts by first advancing the bag towards a filling spout on a carriage, and means are provided for blocking the communication of the valve opening with the body of the bag and means are provided for blowing open and billowing the valve opening of the bag while it is being moved towards the spout, and the blown-open valve is in direct alignment with the spout. Another embodiment provides for the location and placing of bags on at least two spouts by mounting the carriage on a lateral traveller such that when one bag is placed on a first spout, the traveller and carriage will be activated to move into alignment with a second spout.