Patents by Inventor George C. Gates

George C. Gates has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7003931
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Gates Automation
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6886308
    Abstract: A bag holder holds a plurality of bags having spaced mounting holes formed in a top flange. The bag holder may be used with any of a variety of bag handling machines. The bag holder includes a frame member having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom; a pair of pull-off hooks connected to the frame member; each of the pull-off hooks extending from the front surface of the frame member and under the bottom of the frame member; and a pair of rods each having a first end and a second end; the first end of each rod being connected to one of the pull-off hooks; each rod extending in a direction away from the rear of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6868655
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6823654
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Publication number: 20030200729
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Publication number: 20030131560
    Abstract: A bag holder holds a plurality of bags having spaced mounting holes formed in a top flange. The bag holder may be used with any of a variety of bag handling machines. The bag holder includes a frame member having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom; a pair of pull-off hooks connected to the frame member; each of the pull-off hooks extending from the front surface of the frame member and under the bottom of the frame member; and a pair of rods each having a first end and a second end; the first end of each rod being connected to one of the pull-off hooks; each rod extending in a direction away from the rear of the frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6550226
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Publication number: 20020129585
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates