Abstract: The bag opening assembly (8) of an automatic bag loader includes a pair of contra-rotating air-pervious endless belts (9, 10). Opposing pinch portions (24, 25) of the belts are provided for grasping opposing sides (5a, 5b) of the hag (1) therebetween and working flights of each belt are opposingly orientated and diverge from the pinch portions. A partial vacuum is drawn in a space (41, 42) adjacent each working flight (38, 39), formed in a shoe (36, 37) which supports the thereby separate the sides to open the bag while it is advanced between the diverging working flights. At least on of the rotary members (26, 27) is displaceable and an actuator (40) is connected thereto to press the pinch portions together to grasp the sides of the unopened bag and to separate the pinch portions to release the opened bag.

Abstract: A deployment apparatus (1) adapted to remove articles (14) located on a support surface (5), the articles (14) being located in a plurality of orientations and positions on the support surface (5). The deployment apparatus (1) includes; an article detector (2) capable of determining an orientation and position of at least one article located on the support surface (5), a removal system (4) capable of engaging with and removing an article (14) from the support surface (5), a maneuvering system (3) capable of positioning the removal system (4) to engage with a selected article and deploying an engaged article to a predetermined position and/or orientation.