Abstract: A device for automatically vacuum filling and sealing bags comprising a bag handling and sealing mechanism that is moveable between a first, bag receiving position in close proximity to a material discharge spout and a second, bag discharge position away from the spout. The material discharge spout is provided with one or more vacuum probes that draw a vacuum within a bag clamped within a pair of forming bars of the bag handling and sealing mechanism. Once a vacuum has been drawn within the bag, the bag handling and sealing mechanism seals the bag and moves it to a bag discharge position away from the spout where the bag is deposited on a bag removal mechanism such as a conveyor.

Abstract: An integrated and compact bag filling machine comprising a material dispensing spout, a slip tube suspended in substantially vertical alignment with the spout, and a bag sealing apparatus comprising a pair of opposable forming bars and a pair of independently actuable and opposable sealing bars is herein disclosed. The bag filling machine is capable of bottom filling and sealing both paper and plastic bags having gusseted or flat sides with little or no modification.

Abstract: A bag filling machine of the type having a discharge spout with clamps to hold a bag mouth on the spout is disclosed as incorporating gusset pleat gripping assemblies on opposite sides of the spout. Each of those assemblies has a pair of cooperatively actuable gusset gripping members operable between open and closed positions to selectively and independently grip each of the two gusset pleats on opposite sides of a gusseted bag and to pull those pleats apart to fully open positions. This increases the effective, material-receiving area of the bag mouth as it is opened with the opening of the spout to dispense granular material into the bag. A gusset tucker is also utilized on each side of the discharge spout in cooperative juxtaposition to the gusset pleat gripping assemblies. The gusset tuckers are moved inwardly towards each other and towards the bag to engage in the fold between the two gusset pleats on each side of the bag as the bag top is flattened to a closed position after being filled on a spout.

Abstract: A bag filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a material flow control mechanism and a rotatable bag filling spout is herein disclosed. The rotating bag filling spout is constructed and arranged for rotation about a vertical axis and is connected to the supply hopper through the material flow control mechanism so as to convey bulk commodities stored in the supply hopper into a bag that is to be filled. After the bag has been filled, the rotatable bag filling spout rotates to close the bag. A sealing mechanism is also provided to seal the filled bags once they have been closed by the rotating bag filling spout.

Abstract: A bag filling machine of the type having a discharge spout with clamps to hold a bag mouth on the spout is disclosed as incorporating gusset pleat gripping assemblies on opposite sides of the spout. Each of those assemblies has a pair of cooperatively actuable gusset gripping members operable between open and closed positions to selectively and independently grip each of the two gusset pleats on opposite sides of a gusseted bag and to pull those pleats apart to fully open positions. This increases the effective, material-receiving area of the bag mouth as it is opened with the opening of the spout to dispense granular material into the bag. A gusset tucker is also utilized on each side of the discharge spout in cooperative juxtaposition to the gusset pleat gripping assemblies. The gusset tuckers are moved inwardly towards each other and towards the bag to engage in the fold between the two gusset pleats on each side of the bag as the bag top is flattened to a closed position after being filled on a spout.

Abstract: A device for topping-off a substantially filled bag with a final charge of particulate material to provide a predetermined final charge weight in the bag is herein disclosed. The device comprises a lower frame supported upon a plurality of load cells and an upper frame supported above the lower frame also upon a plurality of load cells. The upper frame has rotatably suspended therefrom a pair of carriage assemblies which support respective housings. Each of the housings has disposed therein a belt capable of linear motion. The belts are exposed on an inner face of each of the housings such that when the carriage assemblies are rotated toward one another, the respective belts meet one another and are able to engage the opposed faces of a bag. A plurality of bag grasping means are mounted upon the respective housings so as to be able to grasp and hold the opposed faces of the bag received between the belts to open the bag as the housings are rotated away from one another.

Abstract: A bag filling machine of the type having a discharge spout with clamps to hold a bag mouth on the spout is disclosed as incorporating gusset pleat gripping assemblies on opposite sides of the spout. Each of those assemblies has a pair of cooperatively actuable gusset gripping members operable between open and closed positions to selectively and independently grip each of the two gusset pleats on opposite sides of a gusset bag and to pull those pleats apart to fully open positions. This increases the effective, material-receiving area of the bag mouth as it is opened with the opening of the spout to dispense granular material into the bag. A gusset tucker is also utilized on each side of the discharge spout in cooperative juxtaposition to the gusset pleat gripping assemblies. The gusset tuckers are moved inwardly towards each other and towards the bag to engage in the fold between the two gusset pleats on each side of the bag as the bag top is flattened to a closed position after being filled on a spout.