Abstract: A bag holder holds a plurality of bags having spaced mounting holes formed in a top flange. The bag holder may be used with any of a variety of bag handling machines. The bag holder includes a frame member having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom; a pair of pull-off hooks connected to the frame member; each of the pull-off hooks extending from the front surface of the frame member and under the bottom of the frame member; and a pair of rods each having a first end and a second end; the first end of each rod being connected to one of the pull-off hooks; each rod extending in a direction away from the rear of the frame member.

Abstract: A former allows rectangular tubes of material to be quickly formed for creating bags having rectangular cross sections. The former provides a transition between a round former and a rectangular former so that the material used to form the bag is initially wrapped into a tube around a round former so that the material does not tear on the corners of the former. The round tube of material is then drawn down over the former of the invention to change the round tube to a rectangular tube that may be formed into the bag.

Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.

Abstract: A method for fabricating muntin grid pieces includes steps that attach a pair of material strips to opposed edges of the muntin bar element. The material strips may be provided in side-by-side strips that may be separated an simultaneously applied to the opposite sides of the muntin bar element. The connection between the material strips and the muntin bar element may be made with an adhesive or a mechanical connection. The method allows the material strips to be connected to the muntin grid pieces before the muntin grid pieces are assembled into a muntin bar grid for a window.

Abstract: A table has an adjustable support wherein the ratchet mechanism that locks the position of the tray with respect to the base may be moved to the unlocked position with the user's leg while the tray of the table is held by the user's hands. The table may also have a locking detent that extends entirely across the width of the support leg attached to the tray of the table to provide a strong, secure, and stable support when the table is used with heavy objects.

Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.