Abstract: An apparatus for opening the upper and lower surfaces of a flat-folded valve bag and for separating a valve bag from a stack of valve bags includes a wedge-shaped insertion member comprising two movable parts mounted on a movable carriage. The movable parts are inserted into the valve and splayed to separate the valve. The carriage moves the insertion member and valve bag upward to separate the bag from a stack of bags. The apparatus also includes a device for depressing the bags and an air blower which directs air along the upper surface of the valve to open the valve for insertion of the insertion member.