Abstract: Two bag pick up assemblies and a feed assembly pick up two bags at a time from two bag stacks and direct the bags to a bag positioner assembly. The positioner assembly moves the bags to a nearly vertical position in longitudinal alignment to be conveyingly engaged at the top edge portions and conveyed beneath hopper spout assemblies whereat hanger assemblies clampingly engage bag top corner portions and dependingly support the bags. Bag top side wall portions of the clamped bags extending above the members are spread by vacuum cups on conveyor members. Spout jaws move downwardly between the spread side wall portions. The conveyor members move from a chain closed position to a chain open position as product is discharged through the opening jaws to open the clamped bags.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for packing gusseted open-mouth bags with a fluent solid product wherein the bags are opened and filled with an initial quantity of product weighing less than the target weight, the top is reformed and the bag transported under control to a position for being topped off with the product, opened up in the latter position for being topped off, the top again being reformed and the bag transported under control to a bag closer.

Abstract: For retaining the bag top of a filled bag in an upright aligned condition as the filled bag is dropped onto a filled bag conveyor after having been clamped to a spout assembly and being conveyed to a bag top closure machine, bag top forming and retaining apparatus that includes a longitudinally elongated pivot member pivotally mounted on the frame and mounting a pair of fingers for pivotal movement therewith and pivotal movement relative thereto between a spread apart (out) position and a together "in" position, a piston cylinder subassembly for pivoting the pivot member to elevate the fingers to a position to drop into the bag mouth portion when the bag is clamped on the spout and the fingers are in their in position, thus allow the fingers to drop to an intermediate elevation to extend into the bag, and when the filled bag is released by the spout, move to a lower elevation to remain in the bag, a swing arm conveyor assembly, and control means to move the fingers to their out position when the fingers are a

Abstract: Apparatus for filling a bag that has a bag pick-up assembly movable from a pick-up position to pick up a flat folded bag from a magazine to a bag release position, a table for supporting the released bag in a generally horizontal condition, a bag opening assembly for grippingly engaging the mouth edge portions of the bag on the table and opening the bag mouth portion, the bag opening assembly including stationarily mounted lower vacuum cups on the table and vertically movable upper cups, a spout assembly for clampingly engaging an opened bag, transferring the clamped bag from a bag transfer position to a filled bag release position, discharge a weighed charge into the clamped bag, and release the filled bag, the spout assembly including spout jaws and bag holders to clamp the opened bag to the jaws, a bag transfer assembly for moving the opened bag on the table to the spout in the bag transfer position, the transfer assembly including a pair of fingers that are movable toward one another and into the bag that

Abstract: A case opener and bottom sealer machine that includes a frame, a conveyor assembly on the frame for stacks of flat folded case blanks, a lift assembly on the frame that includes suction cups for grippingly engaging the uppermost blank of the adjacent stack and elevating the gripped blank, longitudinally elongated rails on the frame for supporting a blank in an erect condition as it is moved therealong, a case erect assembly mounted on the frame for opening the gripped blank to an erect condition and after the erect blank is released by the cups move the erect blank along the rails, folder mechanism for folding the minor flaps at one end of the erect blank and thence partially fold the major flaps of the erect blank, a glue device for applying glue to the folded minor flaps, a compression assembly for completing the folding of the major flaps and holding the folded flaps under compression to provide a good seal, and controls for automatically operating the conveyor, erect, and compression assemblies and the gl

Abstract: A case magazine and case stripper part of a case opening, loader sealer machine, including longitudinal case slide rails for supporting a vertical stack of unopened, horizontal, flat folded cases, pusher assemblies mounted on a carriage that is longitudinally reciprocated by an endless chain drive to remove the lowermost case from the stack and push the lowermost case forwardly along the slide rails as the carriage moves forwardly, vertical stack support brackets located adjacent the corners of the stack extending upwardly from adjacent the elevation of the slide rails, and being mounted to be selectively adjustably positioned longitudinally and transverse relative one another, and case lifter assemblies mounted on the stack support brackets for elevating that part of the stack that is located vertically above the slide rails more than a preselected distance, automatically allowing the elevated part of the stack to bear against that part of the stack still supported by the slide rails, and thereafter elevate