Abstract: An apparatus and method for accumulating specified weights of objects, such as apples, and delivering them to a plurality of off-load conveyors, the off-load conveyors delivering the apples to chutes which can then guide the apples into a single bagging apparatus. The flow of the apples on the chutes is controlled by a gate overlying all the chutes and a speed control brush that rotates at a desired speed to control the flow rate of the apples down the chute into the bagger. The apparatus and method are controlled by the interaction of a computer and a programmable logic controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accumulating specified weights of objects, such as apples, and delivering them to a plurality of off-load conveyors, the off-load conveyors delivering the apples to chutes which can then guide the apples into a single bagging apparatus. The flow of the apples on the chutes is controlled by a gate overlying all the chutes and a speed control brush that rotates at a desired speed to control the flow rate of the apples down the chute into the bagger. The apparatus and method are controlled by the interaction of a computer and a programmable logic controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bagging a cylindrical object in one bag in a plurality of bags. The apparatus includes a finger assembly with fingers that are placed into a partially opened open end of the bag that is to receive the cylindrical object. After insertion into the open end of the bag, the fingers are separated uniformly in all directions and moved away from the rest of the bags, providing an appropriately shaped opening for the object to pass into the bag. The object passes through the expanded plurality of fingers into the opened open end of the bag. After the bag has been filled, a gripper finger grasps one edge of the bag and the finger assembly moves upwardly away from the bag as the bag is pulled onto a conveyor, where the bag is closed in a bag closure machine.

Abstract: A novel machine for forming bags from expandable continuous rope net material having a spherical expanding body positioned within the tubular net material to expand the material as the material is drawn around the body and a basin for supporting the body. The machine also has mechanisms to seal the bottom of the expanded material and to adjust the machine to form bags of different lengths.