Abstract: A bag filling machine is provided for filling bags with a finely divided particulate material from a hopper wherein the material in the hopper is partially fluidized and is injected into a bag through a nozzle with a blast of air and without the employment of a machanical impeller. Vacuum means are provided around the nozzle to aid in the filling operation by deaerating the particulate material and also to hold down dust and to recover any material which might blow out of the bag.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for filling a valved paper bag. Such bags are well-known in the art and include a valve which, upon filling of the bag, closes automatically to seal the contents of the bag. Following filling of the bag, it is removed and replaced with an empty bag. Heretofore this removal has been accomplished by an operator removing by hand the bag from a filling nozzle to a place for removal. Thus the operator must lift many hundreds of pounds in the course of a working day. In accordance with this invention, a bag is positioned, filled and then is ejected automatically without any lifting of a filled bag by the operator.

Abstract: In my co-pending application Ser. No. 949,811 of Oct. 10, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,718 I disclosed an improved device for "girdling" trees. That device effectively removes a complete circular band of bark and all that underlies the bark to the central portion of the tree so that fluid cannot pass from the root system of the tree to the upper portion of the tree whereby, with the elimination of such fluid transmission, the tree dies. In many areas, such girdling is practiced widely as a method of improving the ecology of the area for the dead trees are readily removed by being pushed over by a bulldozer. This invention relates to a construction of such a girdling device whereby the bark or other material caught between the cutting element during girdling can be readily removed.

Abstract: A readily and easily manipulatable tree girdling device is provided which effectively removes a complete circular band of bark and all that underlies the bark to the central portion of the tree so that fluid cannot pass from the root system of the tree to the upper portion of the tree whereby with the elimination of such fluid transmission the tree dies. This operation is called "girdling." In many areas it is practiced widely as a method of improving the ecology of the area.