Automatic Rotary Produce Bagger

Abstract

An embodiment includes a pivot, a first station comprising: (a)(i) first clamps to secure a first bag, and (a)(ii) first panels to move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag; a second station comprising: (b)(i) second clamps to secure a second bag, and (b)(ii) second panels to move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag; at least one processor to: (c)(i) rotate the first and second stations around the pivot to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage and the second station at a second rotation stage, (c)(ii) clamp the first clamps to the first bag at the first station; moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station; and (c)(iii) fill the third bag at the third station.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/407,992, filed Oct. 13, 2016, and entitled “Rotary indexing automatic bagger for pouch style bags”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention are in the field of packaging and, in particular, produce packaging.

BACKGROUND

Loading machine systems come in varied forms. For example, some loaders are for inorganic matter (e.g., toys, clothing) while others loaders are for organic matter (e.g., food articles including melons, potatoes, apples, onions, citrus, and the like). These loaders may operate in harsh environments, subject to dust, dirt, heat, long hours of operation, and the like. One such loader (a carousel loader) is described in United States Patent Application Publication No. 20150082745, assigned to FOX SOLUTIONS, LLC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the appended claims, the following detailed description of one or more example embodiments, and the corresponding figures. Where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

FIG. 1 includes a perspective view of an embodiment of an autobagger.

FIG. 2 depicts a bag filling stage in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a filled bag in transit to an off load belt in an embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts an off load belt transferring a filled bag towards a heat sealer in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 includes a perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic bagger.

FIG. 6 depicts clamps clamping onto a bag in an embodiment. The bag is taken from a magazine of bags by an automatic bagger machine that does not require a human user to load each bag into clamps.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment with clamps (which clamp onto bag) moving towards each other to form an opening in which bag opening panels are inserted and moved away from each other to further open the bag.

FIG. 8 depicts bag filling in an embodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts offloading a filled bag onto an off load belt in an embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts an off load belt advancing the filled bag towards the heat sealer in an embodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts an off load belt coupled to a conveyor belt that conveys a filled bag to a heat sealer in an embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts a controller/processor based system, including a controller (i.e., processor), which couples to a rotary bagger to control rotation of stations in an embodiment.

FIG. 13 includes a method in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like structures may be provided with like suffix reference designations. In order to show the structures of various embodiments more clearly, the drawings included herein are diagrammatic representations of structures. Thus, the actual appearance of the fabricated structures, for example in a photograph, may appear different while still incorporating the claimed structures of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, the drawings may only show the structures useful to understand the illustrated embodiments. Additional structures known in the art may not have been included to maintain the clarity of the drawings. “An embodiment”, “various embodiments” and the like indicate embodiment(s) so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Some embodiments may have some, all, or none of the features described for other embodiments. “First”, “second”, “third” and the like describe a common object and indicate different instances of like objects are being referred to. Such adjectives do not imply objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. “Connected” may indicate elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other and “coupled” may indicate elements co-operate or interact with each other, but they may or may not be in direct physical or electrical contact.

Produce bags for automatic produce packing machines may include holes. Using the holes the bags can be suspended from wickets or pegs on an automatic packing machine. Such bags may include polyethylene film, or films made from various (different/alternative) resins with different properties. Produce bags may include a synthetic resin open fabric mesh such as the bags described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,120, assigned to Kenneth Fox Supply Co. of McAllen, Tex. Such bags may include a synthetic resin fabric open mesh, such as the nonwoven fabric of cross-laminated synthetic resin fibers or strands known as Cross Laminated Airy Fabric® or (CLAF). This fabric is an open mesh material of cross-laminated warp and weft strands or fibers of synthetic resin. Produce bags may include other synthetic resin open mesh fabrics of slitted or extruded strands, or extruded filaments where the cross-directional components are bonded together by alternative processes that include, but not limited to, heat lamination, ultrasonic bonding, or adhesive bonding. Some of these open mesh structure fabrics include Meltac (Hagihara) and Otx (Oxtex Co., Ltd).

Other types of bags include, for example, pouch bags such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,561,882, assigned to Kenneth Fox Supply Co. of McAllen, Tex.

Applicant determined some pouch bags pose a difficult challenge to fill with automatic bagger equipment.

As used herein, an “automatic bagger” is a loading machine that automatically loads and opens a bag. For example, an automatic bagger loading device does not require a human operator to open the bag or place the bag (on a bag-by-bag basis) onto the machine. Instead, once a user supplies a plurality of bags (such as 30 bags coupled together in a “sleeve” or “magazine” of bags) on the loader device the machine may then “pick” the bags one-by-one to load them into the machine, open them, and then fill them—all without the direct help of a human operator. In contrast, baggers such as the bagger of United States Patent Application Publication No. 20150082745 include embodiments that require a human operator to load bags one by one. For instance, United States Patent Application Publication No. 20150082745 provides “When raising the bag over the clamps the operator contacts a trigger wand (e.g., wand 250 of FIG. 2) with the back of his or her hand. The wand sends an air pulse to a valve that activates a cylinder (e.g., cylinder actuator 447 of FIG. 4) and pneumatically opens the bag and clamps it in place awaiting product.”

Applicant determined some pouch bags pose a difficult challenge to fill with automatic bagger equipment because such bags (or some types of such bags) do not have wicket pin hole portions (U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,120 for an example of wicket pin holes) that can be torn off by the machine prior to filling. Such pouch bags cannot be loaded on wicket pins from the front, attached from the back, and filled as wicket bags are filled. Instead, some pouch bags must be loaded on the machine with the handle or by other means. Applicant further determined the shape and stiffness of some pouch bags also pose complications for the handling of the bags. Pouch bags are typically much stiffer than other forms of bags (e.g., bags described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,120). The material of many pouch bags is more ridged and typically thicker than wicket hole bags (e.g., bags described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,120). This stiffness means that the handling and opening of the bag needs to be more substantial (e.g., greater air pressure for suction heads that attach to bags) and adjustable. Many pouch bags also have more material towards the bottom of the bag as the shape allows for the bag to present upright. This means that the bottom of an unopened unfilled bag can be up to 5 times thicker than the top area of the bag.

An embodiment includes an automatic bagger for many types of bags including, without limitation, pouch style bags. More specifically, the embodiment includes an automatic bagger using handle style pouch bags. Such a bagger may use rotary indexing. An embodiment utilizes a servo drive motor to rotate and accurately start and stop a 4 station turret at each of the 4 positions (although other embodiments may have more or less than 4 stations).

As used herein, a “turret” includes a structure with tools (e.g., bag clamps or bag spreading panels) projecting radially that can be indexed around the structure to bring each tool to bear on work (e.g., securing or opening or filling a bag or container).

As used herein, a “servo drive” receives a command signal from a control system (such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) discussed herein), amplifies the signal, and transmits electric current to a servo motor in order to produce motion proportional to the command signal. The command signal may represent a desired speed but can also represent a desired torque or position. A sensor attached to the servo motor reports the motor's actual status back to the servo drive. The servo drive then compares the actual motor status with the commanded motor status. It then alters the voltage, frequency, and/or pulse width to the motor so as to correct for any deviation from the commanded status.

An embodiment includes multiple stations. See, for example, FIG. 1.

At station 1 (not shown), the machine 100 removes a bag from a bag holding system using vacuum head suction attached to a guided cylinder. When a signal is received the guided cylinder will slide in towards the bag and the vacuum heads will activate and attach to the bag. Only after physical attachment is achieved will the head assembly (and suction cup) slide back with the attached bag (moving the bag into position to receive product). If no physical attachment is achieved between the suction head and bag the signal will be sent again and the process repeat.

Clamps 101, 102 located on both sides of the vacuum head cylinder assembly (and attached to a wear resistant material block) rotate inwards (see direction 103) and clamp to each side of a bag. The rotation and clamping functions are handled by pneumatic cylinders 104 and pivot points 105 to control movement and travel. The clamps control the upper and outer edges of both bag sides under the adjustable 107 pinch clamps. The pinch clamps are coated with non-slip material on the surfaces that interact with the bag material.

The turret rotates to station 2 where two opposing vacuum heads attached to guided cylinders slide in towards the bag. The vacuum heads attach to the bag and pull back in opposing direction thereby opening the bag. As the guided cylinders are in transition towards the bag the pinch clamp arms pivot or slide inward towards each other creating slack in the bag and an opening in the bag as the vacuum heads continue to pull back. Flaps 108 (mounted within the chute and above the clamps) rotate downward into the bag stretching and creating an opening in the bag.

The turret then rotates to station 3 (passing a photo eye which registers a bag is in place) and stops when the bag/head are in a precise desired location. A variable speed conveyor 109 (FIG. 2) immediately starts and discharges a predetermined weigh of product through the chute 108 (FIG. 3) and into the open bag 110. The conveyor run time is controlled by an operator available timer.

The turret then rotates to station 4 with a filled bag. The flaps 108 immediately fold up to allow the pinch clamps 101, 102 to pivot away from each other thereby stretching the bag 110 top tightly across its width. As the machine continues its rotation pinch clamps 101, 102 release as the bag is handed off onto offload belts 111 (FIG. 4) that lead to a horizontal bag heat sealer.

While each head is at each of the four stations the above operations are occurring simultaneously. This creates a high speed machine while allowing time for each operation as rotation to the next station is controlled by how long it takes to load the produce into the bag

As a result, embodiments solve a problem that limits the speed of linear style machines. In a linear style machine the complete operation of loading, opening, filling, and sealing the bag happens in the same place. Consequently a new bag cannot be presented until the previous bag has finished the above operations. With a linear style machine vacuuming the new bag off the bag magazine, opening the bag, and inserting the chute doors into the bag will generally take 2-3 seconds. Filling and sealing the bag takes an additional 2-3 seconds so a total time for 1 bag could reach 6 seconds.

Embodiments solve this problem with an indexing turret. In an embodiment a bag is ready and opened one station behind a filled bag. As soon as the machine rotates between stations (e.g., approximately 0.6 sec) a new bag is under the filling conveyor. Approximately 2 seconds are used for each bag due to the fact that the embodiment is performing loading, opening, filling, and sealing operations at different stations. Thus, the embodiment provides a great advance in efficiency over previous technologies.

There are several areas of novelty in embodiments, some of which are addressed below.

First, an embodiment includes a pneumatic rotary bag changer. When the machine runs out of bags, the changer will automatically rotate around and restart the machine.

Second, an embodiment includes indexing bag holders on the turret section with a pneumatic driven bag opening/stretching flap assembly that travels with the bag holders. This keeps the bag ready for immediate filling once the bag indexes into place under the filling conveyor.

Third, an embodiment includes a quick change bag opening/stretching flaps assembly that allows for wider or narrower bags to be utilized on the machine. For example, see slide system 107 as well as knob 112 (which allows plate 108 to slide making the corresponding chute wider or narrower) and knob 113.

Fourth, an embodiment includes a turret section that has its own programmable electronic (e.g., PLC) and pneumatic control. Most other turret style machines use cam driven clamping and actuation due to, for example, the difficulty in supplying power and compressed air to the rotating structure.

An embodiment includes a system 500 (FIG. 5) comprising a turret 504. System 500 also includes a first station 501, coupled to the turret, comprising first clamps 511 configured to secure a first bag 512 (FIG. 6, showing a bag removed from a sleeve of bags and clamped securely by clamps 511)). The first station 501 further includes first panels 512 configured to insert within the first bag (FIG. 7) and move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag. Station 501 also includes first pneumatic cylinders 513 (FIG. 5) configured to move the first clamps 511 towards each other to open the first bag and to move the first panels 512 away from each other to open the first bag. In other words, when clamps move centrally towards each other they create slack in the bag, which creates a void that receives panels 512 so panels 512 can separate the bag walls from each other (so the bag can be filled).

The embodiment includes a second station 502, coupled to the turret 504, comprising: second clamps 521 configured to secure a second bag, second panels 522 configured to insert within the second bag and move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag, second pneumatic cylinders 523 configured to move the second clamps towards each other to open the second bag and to further move the second panels away from each other to open the second bag.

The embodiment includes a third station 503, coupled to the turret, comprising: third clamps 531 configured to secure a third bag, third panels 532 configured to insert within the third bag and move a front side of the third bag away from a back side of the third bag, and third pneumatic cylinders 533 configured to move the third clamps towards each other to open the third bag and to further move the third panels away from each other to open the third bag.

The embodiment 500 includes at least one memory, at least one processor (such as a PLC), coupled to the memory, to perform operations comprising rotating each of the first, second, and third stations 501, 502, 503 around the turret to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage, the second station at a second rotation stage, and the third station at a third rotation stage. The operations further comprise clamping the first clamps 511 to the first bag at the first station (FIG. 6); moving the second clamps 521 towards each other to open the second bag at the second station (FIG. 7); moving the second panels 522 away from each other to open the second bag at the second station (FIG. 7); and filling the third bag with produce at the third station (FIG. 8).

In an embodiment moving the second panels 522 away from each other to open the second bag at the second station comprises simultaneously moving one of the second panels at a first speed and another of the second panels at the same first speed. Ensuring the panels move away from each other simultaneously ensures the bag is opened without shifting forwards or backwards and consequently out of line with products (e.g., produce, toys, electronic articles, cell phones) that will be filled into the bag.

An embodiment comprises rollers 541 (FIG. 10). The PLC operations comprise rotating the rollers to advance the third bag away from the third station once the third bag is filled with product. Thus, the bag is moved from the third stage (filling) to the takeoff belt system 542 (FIG. 9) where it is later advanced to a conveyor belt 543 and then to a heat sealer 544 (FIG. 11) that seals opposing sides of the bag together.

An embodiment comprises the PLC and turret rotating the first station from the first rotation stage to the second rotation stage while simultaneously rotating the second station from the second rotation stage to the third rotation stage. In other words, for example, stations 501, 502, 503 all rotate simultaneously about turret 504.

An embodiment includes rotating the first station a first distance between the first and second rotation stages (e.g., the distance corresponding to a 30 degree turn) at a first speed and then rotating the first station a second distance between the first and second rotation stages (e.g., the distance corresponding to a 60 degree turn) at a second speed that is faster than the first speed. Thus, the stations rotate a length (e.g., 90 degrees) but they do so in two parts. A first part is slower, which allows a station in the third stage (bag filling, such as FIG. 8) to gently transfer the bag to the takeoff belt (FIG. 9). After this is done (thus preserving sensitive merchandise), the station may then quickly advance to the next stage at a higher speed (e.g., the 60 degree turn of the 90 degree rotation).

An embodiment includes rotating the rollers to advance the third bag away from the third station an additional first distance at an additional first speed and then an additional second distance at an additional second speed that is slower than the additional first speed. Thus, the rollers 541 rotate at two different speeds. When they receive the filled bag they operate quickly to stretch the bag out but then slow down to prepare to offload the bag onto the conveyor belt 543, which requires a slower speed in order for heat sealer 544 to operate correctly.

An embodiment includes rotating the first station at the first speed while simultaneously rotating the rollers at the additional first speed. Thus, the rollers operate at high speed when the turret is rotating at slow speed and the rollers operate at low speed when the turret is rotating at high speed.

An embodiment includes the PLC (or one of a plurality of PLCs) changing the additional first speed from a first value to a second value (that is unequal to the first value) and/or changing the first speed from a first value to a second value that is unequal to the first value. This is an advantage due to use of a PLC(s). The use of a controller(s) (e.g., FIG. 12) allows these speeds to be changed to accommodate differently sized bags, that may take longer fill times and the like. For instance, the bags may have different sizes because they have different volumes (one for limes and one for grapefruits).

An embodiment includes rotating the rollers at the first speed in response to rotating the first station at the first speed. Thus, the roller may start/stop based on the rotation of the turret. In an embodiment when the turret initially moves (e.g., begins a 90 degree rotation) the rollers 541 start and the rollers 541 stop when the turret no longer moves.

Thus, the embodiments of FIGS. 5-10 include various advantages over previous systems.

First, the bag open arms 522 are located on each head. The arms 522 travel with the head 502 at all times and are an integral part of the opening and filling of the bag. They are driven by an air cylinder(s) 523 and a bell crank linkage (for timing purposes) which opens the two bag sides at exactly the same rate (i.e., same initiation of movement and same rate of movement). In contrast to conventional technologies, the arms 522 do not park in one place, wait for the bag to appear under them, then open the bag (possibly while the bag is moving horizontally), race along with the bag while it is filled, and then rapidly backtrack horizontally to be in position for the next bag. Having multiple sets of arms (instead of just one set that “hustles” back and forth as described immediately above) that travel with the stations keeps this bag opening operation simple and at a slow even speed.

Second, the bag pinch clamps 521 and bag open arms 522 are controlled by a PLC(s) that is coupled to the turret of the machine. Other machines control bag pinch clamps and bag open arms by cams, springs, or cylinders mounted on the fixed frame, essentially making these machines turret sections dumb machines (no ability to change to accommodate differently sized bags and/or adjust speeds of belt in real time or “on the fly”). However, an embodiment controlled by a PLC is a smart machine that can be easily changed to allow for different bags, product, speed changes, and the like.

Third, an embodiment includes takeoff belts 542 that receive the bag from the machine. These belts start and stop and, in an embodiment, do not run continuously. They are driven by a servomotor/gearbox. When the turret rotates it moves 90 degrees in two steps. The first third of the rotation (30 degrees) is done at a slow speed. During this slow speed part of the rotation the bag is handed to the takeoff belts which are signaled to start as soon as the machine rotates. The belts 541 also run at 2 speeds of which the first speed is faster than the second speed. Using the slow speed of turret rotation for the first third of the rotation of the turret lets the machine hand the bag off gently to the belts. This is important when the machine is packing fragile products (e.g., apples, electronics) so the machine does not bruise or damage the merchandise during the acceleration of the bag. As soon as the first step is finished and the bag is released from clamps 521 the machine jumps to its top speed to finish the final two thirds (60 degrees) of the 90 degree rotation. The purpose of the two speeds of the takeoff belts is to match the turret speed at bag handoff then slow the bag down (this is why the second speed of the rollers is slower than the first speed of the roller) before it enters the sealer. The sealer runs at a slightly higher speed than the takeoff belts which stretches out the bag top to make sure it is flat and straight before being sealed

Conventional systems do these motions (e.g., roller speed) at a single speed, either sacrificing production by running slowly to not damage the product or running at high speed and damaging the product due to the rapid acceleration.

Referring now to FIG. 12, shown is a block diagram of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Multiprocessor system 1000 is a point-to-point interconnect system, and includes a first processor 1070 (such as the PLC mentioned above) and a second processor 1080 coupled via a point-to-point interconnect 1050. Each of processors 1070 and 1080 may be multicore processors such as SoCs, including first and second processor cores (i.e., processor cores 1074a and 1074b and processor cores 1084a and 1084b), although potentially many more cores may be present in the processors. In addition, processors 1070 and 1080 each may include a secure engine 1075 and 1085 to perform security operations such as attestations.

First processor 1070 further includes a memory controller hub (MCH) 1072 and point-to-point (P-P) interfaces 1076 and 1078. Similarly, second processor 1080 includes a MCH 1082 and P-P interfaces 1086 and 1088. MCH's 1072 and 1082 couple the processors to respective memories, namely a memory 1032 and a memory 1034, which may be portions of main memory (e.g., a DRAM) locally attached to the respective processors. First processor 1070 and second processor 1080 may be coupled to a chipset 1090 via P-P interconnects 1052 and 1054, respectively. Chipset 1090 includes P-P interfaces 1094 and 1098.

Furthermore, chipset 1090 includes an interface 1092 to couple chipset 1090 with a high performance graphics engine 1038, by a P-P interconnect 1039. In turn, chipset 1090 may be coupled to a first bus 1016 via an interface 1096. Various input/output (I/O) devices 1014 may be coupled to first bus 1016, along with a bus bridge 1018 which couples first bus 1016 to a second bus 1020. Various devices may be coupled to second bus 1020 including, for example, a keyboard/mouse 1022, communication devices 1026 and a data storage unit 1028 such as a non-volatile storage or other mass storage device. As seen, data storage unit 1028 may include code 1030, in one embodiment. As further seen, data storage unit 1028 also includes a trusted storage 1029 to store sensitive information to be protected. Further, an audio I/O 1024 may be coupled to second bus 1020.

Program instructions may be used to cause a general-purpose or special purpose processing system that is programmed with the instructions to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the operations may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the operations, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components. The methods described herein may be provided as (a) a computer program product that may include one or more machine readable media having stored thereon instructions that may be used to program a processing system or other electronic device to perform the methods or (b) at least one storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a system to perform the methods. The term “machine readable medium” or “storage medium” used herein shall include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions (transitory media, including signals, or non-transitory media) for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methods described herein. The term “machine readable medium” or “storage medium” shall accordingly include, but not be limited to, memories such as solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM (EEPROM), a disk drive, a floppy disk, a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), flash memory, a magneto-optical disk, as well as more exotic mediums such as machine-accessible biological state preserving or signal preserving storage. A medium may include any mechanism for storing, transmitting, or receiving information in a form readable by a machine, and the medium may include a medium through which the program code may pass, such as antennas, optical fibers, communications interfaces, and the like. Program code may be transmitted in the form of packets, serial data, parallel data, and the like, and may be used in a compressed or encrypted format. Furthermore, it is common in the art to speak of software, in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure, process, application, module, logic, and so on) as taking an action or causing a result. Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of stating that the execution of the software by a processing system causes the processor to perform an action or produce a result.

A module as used herein refers to any hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Often module boundaries that are illustrated as separate commonly vary and potentially overlap. For example, a first and a second module may share hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, while potentially retaining some independent hardware, software, or firmware. In one embodiment, use of the term logic includes hardware, such as transistors, registers, or other hardware, such as programmable logic devices. However, in another embodiment, logic also includes software or code integrated with hardware, such as firmware or micro-code.

FIG. 13 includes a method 1300. Block 1301 includes providing a system comprising a pivot, (a) a first station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (a)(i) first clamps configured to secure a first bag, and (a)(ii) first panels configured to insert within the first bag and move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag, (b) a second station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (b)(i) second clamps configured to secure a second bag, and (b)(ii) second panels configured to insert within the second bag and move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag, and (c) a third station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (c)(i) third clamps configured to secure a third bag, (c)(ii) third panels configured to insert within the third bag and move a front side of the third bag away from a back side of the third bag. Block 1302 includes rotating each of the first, second, and third stations around the pivot to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage, the second station at a second rotation stage, and the third station at a third rotation stage. Block 1303 includes clamping the first clamps to the first bag at the first station. Block 1304 includes moving the second clamps towards each other to open the second bag at the second station and moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station. Block 1305 includes filling the third bag with produce at the third station.

In an embodiment the first, second, and third stations are simultaneously deployed in three different stages (each stage 90 degrees from another stage). For example, one station includes clamps clamping onto a bag (with the bag taken from a bag magazine) while simultaneously a second station includes clamps pinching towards each other (to form a small bag opening in which panels are inserted to further open the bag while simultaneously a third bag is being filled). This does not necessarily mean that clamps are in the process of being moved to clamp onto a bag while panels are dynamically moving away from each other to spread a bag (however, in some embodiments that is indeed the case). Instead, “the first, second, and third stations are simultaneously deployed in three different stages” means three locations in the rotation of the turret are occupied by three bags that are respectively in locations where they are (a) being clamped, opened, and filled, (b) have been clamped, opened, and filled, or (c) soon will be clamped, opened, and filled.

While examples have shown a station, such as station 501, at a first stage (e.g., taking a bag from a magazine and clamping clamps to the bag) that same station 501 will then rotate to a second stage (e.g., opening the bag), and then that same station 501 will then rotate to a third stage (e.g., bag filling). The head or station hardware (e.g., clamps 511 and arms 513) will rotate along with the station.

While embodiments discuss clamps 511, other means for coupling to a bag (or container) are within the scope of embodiments and include air pressure cups, electrostatic tools, and the like.

While embodiments discuss panels 512, other means for spreading the bag (or container) are within the scope of embodiments and include extension (sticks or rods), air pressure cups, electrostatic tools, and the like.

While embodiments discuss pouch bags, other bags (bags with wicket holes or finger holes or voids that serve as handles) are within the scope of embodiments.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. This description and the claims following include terms, such as left, right, top, bottom, over, under, upper, lower, first, second, etc. that are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. The embodiments of a device or article described herein can be manufactured, used, or shipped in a number of positions and orientations. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Persons skilled in the art will recognize various equivalent combinations and substitutions for various components shown in the Figures. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a turret,

a first station, coupled to the turret, comprising: (a)(i) first clamps configured to secure a first bag, (a)(ii) first panels configured to insert within the first bag and move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag, (a)(iii) first pneumatic cylinders configured to move the first clamps towards each other to open the first bag and to move the first panels away from each other to open the first bag;

a second station, coupled to the turret, comprising: (b)(i) second clamps configured to secure a second bag, (b)(ii) second panels configured to insert within the second bag and move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag, (b)(iii) second pneumatic cylinders configured to move the second clamps towards each other to open the second bag and to move the second panels away from each other to open the second bag;

a third station, coupled to the turret, comprising: (c)(i) third clamps configured to secure a third bag, (c)(ii) third panels configured to insert within the third bag and move a front side of the third bag away from a back side of the third bag, (c)(iii) third pneumatic cylinders configured to move the third clamps towards each other to open the third bag and to move the third panels away from each other to open the third bag;

at least one memory;

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, to perform operations comprising: rotating each of the first, second, and third stations around the turret to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage, the second station at a second rotation stage, and the third station at a third rotation stage; clamping the first clamps to the first bag at the first station; moving the second clamps towards each other to open the second bag at the second station; moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station; and filling the third bag with produce at the third station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station comprises simultaneously moving one of the second panels at a first speed and another of the second panels at the first speed.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising rollers, wherein the operations comprise rotating the rollers to advance the third bag away from the third station once the third bag is filled with product.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the operations comprise rotating the first station from the first rotation stage to the second rotation stage while simultaneously rotating the second station from the second rotation stage to the third rotation stage.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the operations comprise rotating the first station a first distance between the first and second rotation stages at a first speed and then rotating the first station a second distance between the first and second rotation stages at a second speed that is faster than the first speed.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the operations comprise rotating the rollers to advance the third bag away from the third station an additional first distance at an additional first speed and then an additional second distance at an additional second speed that is slower than the additional first speed.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the operations comprise rotating the first station at the first speed while simultaneously rotating the rollers at the additional first speed

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the operations comprise rotating the first station at the second speed while simultaneously rotating the rollers at the additional second speed.

9. The system of claim 6 the operations comprising changing the additional first speed from a first value to a second value that is unequal to the first value.

10. The system of claim 5 the operations comprising changing the first speed from a first value to a second value that is unequal to the first value.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the first clamps are configurable to secure both the first bag having a first volume and a fourth bag having a fourth volume that is unequal to the first volume; and

changing the first speed from a first value to a second value that is unequal to the first value in response to reconfiguring the first clamps to secure the fourth bag instead of the first bag.

12. The system of claim 4 the operations comprising rotating the rollers at the first speed in response to rotating the first station at the first speed.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein the operations comprise rotating the rollers to advance the third bag away from the third station a first distance at a first speed and then a second distance at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the operations comprise:

discontinuing rotating the rollers in response to rotating the rollers at the second speed;

rotating the rollers at the first speed in response to discontinuing rotating the rollers; and

rotating the rollers at the first speed in response to rotating the rollers at the first speed.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an automatic bagger.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes a rack to include the first, second, and third bags before the first, second, and third bags are coupled to any of the first, second, and third clamps.

17. A system comprising:

a pivot,

a first station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (a)(i) first clamps configured to secure a first bag, and (a)(ii) first panels configured to insert within the first bag and move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag,

a second station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (b)(i) second clamps configured to secure a second bag, and (b)(ii) second panels configured to insert within the second bag and move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag;

at least one processor, coupled to at least one memory, to perform operations comprising: (c)(i) rotating each of the first and second stations around the pivot to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage and the second station at a second rotation stage, (c)(ii) clamping the first clamps to the first bag at the first station; moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station; and filling the third bag with a product at the third station.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the operations comprise rotating the first station from the first rotation stage to the second rotation stage while simultaneously rotating the second station from the second rotation stage to the third rotation stage.

19. A method comprising:

providing a system comprising a pivot, (a) a first station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (a)(i) first clamps configured to secure a first bag, and (a)(ii) first panels configured to insert within the first bag and move a front side of the first bag away from a back side of the first bag, (b) a second station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (b)(i) second clamps configured to secure a second bag, and (b)(ii) second panels configured to insert within the second bag and move a front side of the second bag away from a back side of the second bag, and (c) a third station, coupled to the pivot, comprising: (c)(i) third clamps configured to secure a third bag, (c)(ii) third panels configured to insert within the third bag and move a front side of the third bag away from a back side of the third bag;

rotating each of the first, second, and third stations around the pivot to simultaneously locate the first station at a first rotation stage, the second station at a second rotation stage, and the third station at a third rotation stage;

clamping the first clamps to the first bag at the first station;

moving the second clamps towards each other to open the second bag at the second station and moving the second panels away from each other to open the second bag at the second station; and

filling the third bag with produce at the third station.