Abstract: An apparatus for filling sacks is disclosed which has opposed clamps for engaging the initially collapsed sacks adjacent to the side portions of their opening-defining edges, suction devices included in the clamps, which engage mutually opposite side walls of the sacks adjacent to their opening-defining edges and pull said side walls apart, and a filling pipe. The carriers for the suction devices are provided each on each side of the sack at least below the suction device or suction devices with a transversely extending bar, which is made of elastomeric material and urges the pulled apart edge portions of the sacks into sealing contact with the side walls of the filling funnel.

Abstract: An apparatus for bagging foodstuffs such as potatoes includes a carousel having a number of hopper recesses defined in a top surface and an electric motor and transmission assembly for rotatably moving the carousel. Each of the hoppers terminates in a chute for guiding the foodstuffs, and the carousel is vibrated in two separate directions in order to prevent the foodstuffs from becoming stuck. An automatic bag gripping mechanism is provided beneath each of the chutes, and is adapted to close when a bag is placed into position between its grippers when the carousel is in a first position. A control and interface unit continuously moves the carousel from the first position to a second loading position, and interfaces with a commercially available weighing machine to control the transfer of a load of foodstuffs from the weighing machine into one of the hoppers.

Abstract: A sanitary packaging system and method of using the same for the packaging of a sanitary product comprising a sanitary housing portion, a product bag, a sliding adjustment tube and a product tube. The product tube extends inside the sanitary housing portion and is flexibly attached to the sliding adjustment tube to which the product bag is attached. The sanitary product under pressure passes through the product tube, sliding adjustment tube and into the product bag to complete packaging. Sanitized air is blown through the sanitary housing enclosure to create a positive pressure therein, whereby in the case of a leak within the product bag, sliding adjustment tube or product entry tube, sanitary product leaks outwardly therefrom rather than allowing contaminates to be pulled inwardly and contaminate said sanitized product.

Abstract: An elongated sleeve made of a plurality of substantially rigid panels interconnected with one another in folding relationship. When in the stored condition, the sleeve is folded flat. When in condition to be used for its intended purpose, the sleeve is unfolded to form an open ended sleeve closed on the sides. The sleeve is adapted to positively retain and support a collapsible bag at the top while the bag is being filled by filling the interior of the sleeve. Handles are provided in the top edges of the sleeve to facilitate removal of the sleeve from the full bag. The panels are internally laminated with a water repellant adhesive while the inside of the sleeve is coated with a moisture resistant compound.

Abstract: A method for separating a pair of plastic bags, connected together at a transversely disposed parting line, comprises the steps of intermittently moving the pair of bags along a path disposed in a horizontal plane, stopping the bags and placing the parting line over an opening extending transversely relative to the path and positioned between a pair of platens, clamping the pair of bags to the platens and severing the parting line to separate the pair of bags from each other by moving a cutting blade in a horizontal direction and transversely through the opening.

Abstract: A storage canister for process liquid includes a receptacle having a top side formed with two apertures. The receptacle houses two leakage proof pouches of elastic material each having an opening closed by a control valve. An upper part of respective valve housing projects through the aperture and is secured thereto while the lower part of the valve housing within the corresponding pouch extends up to the bottom of the receptacle. The pouches are arranged one above the other between the top cover and the bottom of the receptacle and being extendable to such an extent that their combined volumes correspond approximately to the volume of the receptacle. Preferably, the receptacle has the form of a flat parallel epiped so that a plurality of equal storage canisters are inserted into a drawer of wet processing apparatus and the normally closed control valves are activated by suction or by over-pressure from suction or pressure devices in the processing apparatus.

Abstract: A blood reservoir having a rigid shell portion defining a cavity and a flexible membrane attached with a liquid tight seal to the shell portion around the periphery of the shell. The assembled reservoir forming a liquid tight and variable volume with blood inlet and outlet ports integrally formed in the rigid shell portion. The shell portion further including a rib member laterally extending across the bottom of the rigid shell. The rib member is positioned adjacent the blood outlet port to force the flexible membrane to bridge the blood outlet port to further facilitate drainage from the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting confetti and air into a balloon by utilizing an air pump in conjunction with a separate container for storing confetti and guiding the air flow provided by the air pump. As the pump is operated, the air flow from the attached container mixes with the confetti and the air-confetti mixture injected into a balloon attached to the container. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting confetti and gas into a balloon by utilizing a standard flex-tip balloon inflation regulator in connection with the confetti container and a gas cylinder.

Abstract: A leaf disposal bag is formed from a large diameter thin plastic circular sheet. A drawstring is woven through a plurality of evenly spaced apertures provided around a peripheral edge of the circular sheet. A pair of radially extending tabs are formed at diametrically opposed locations on the sheet and each receive a ground insertion spike for retaining the circular sheet in a flat open condition on the surface of the ground. In use, leaves to be disposed are piled upon the upper surface of the circular sheet. Upon collection of a sufficiently large volume of leaves, the ground insertion spikes are withdrawn from the ground and the drawstring is tightened to close the circular sheet into a closed bag. The ground insertion spikes may be formed as a separable enlarged head portion and a sharpened shank portion having a mating frusto conical plug and socket connection.

Abstract: There is disclosed equipment for discharging material from an intermediate bulk container having a liner provided with a discharge spout located within an outer bag and comprising a discharge duck and apparatus for sealably connecting the lower end of the spout with the upper end of the duct. Preferably the spout is arranged with an upturned cuff which is clamped between the mouth of the duct and a moveable clamping apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for making mixtures of pharmaceutical liquids has a plurality of supply vessels for the mixture components. The supply vessels are connected via a tubing system to a container to be filled with the mixture. The tubing system includes a drip chamber. The container is arranged in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber has a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor which are connected to a control device. For preparing the mixture, and using the law of the general gas equation, each mixture component is sequentially drawn, via the drip chamber, to the container by the vacuum in the chamber. The pressure and temperature in the vacuum chamber are monitored so that when the particular predetermined volume of one component is reached in the container, the supply vessel for that component is closed off, and the supply vessel for another component is opened.

Abstract: A vapor/fuel seal for a fuel tank filler tube. The vapor/fuel seal includes an expansible seal member having inlet and outlet ends. The inlet end is sealingly mountable on the inlet end of a vehicle filler tube. The outlet end is normally closed. However, the outlet end is expansible to receive the end of a fuel dispensing nozzle therethrough. Intermediate between the inlet and outlet ends of the seal member is a sleeve member which defines an expansible fluid flow body portion. The sleeve member is expansible to receive a fluid dispensing nozzle and yet remain in sealing contact with the periphery of the nozzle. The vapor/fuel seal has a biasing member monted at the inlet end and extending into the fluid flow body portion to maintain the expansible seal member in position during insertion and removal of the fluid dispensing nozzle. The biasing member has at least two prong members which extend within the fluid flow passage and maintain the sleeve member in position during insertion and retraction.

Abstract: A bag filling machine for use in holding a larger empty bag by a plurality of bag loops, the bag being filled while being held by the machine and then being released from the machine to be transported to a remote location is disclosed.The machine comprises a plurality of downwardly and inwardly inclined members fixedly attached to the frame of the machine with the inclined members holding the empty bag by the plurality of bag loops usually used on an empty bag. A generally C-shaped hook is pivotably mounted on each inclined member and is moved from a holding position to a release position by a plurality of linkage rods connected to an activating mechanism. The inclined members and the C-shaped hooks co-act to permit the filled bag to release itself by gravity from the inclined members upon an activation of the C-shaped hooks by the activating mechanism. The activating mechanism may be a manual one such as a human being, a hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder and an electric solenoid among other types.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically filling bags with a material after separating each bag from a continuous chain of bags along perforations where each bag is joined to its neighbor has a guide section for guiding the chain of bags, a separating section for separating the chain of bags into individual bags at the perforations, a mouth opening device for opening a mouth located at one side edge of each bag, and a filling section for blowing air into the bag through its opened mouth and for filling the bag through the opened mouth. The mouth opening device has a pressing assembly supported above the mouth of the bag, and a chuck assembly situated at one side of the mouth.

Abstract: An agricultural bag loading machine having an improved mechanical assembly for automatically effecting controlled, continuous compression and delivery of compacted animal feed material into a flexible agricultural storage bag via a compression and delivery chamber. The compressed, delivered feed material has a uniform, air tight side wall density throughout the bag-delivered, sausage shaped feed material mass. The loading machine has additional features, including a pneumatic bladder assembly for changing the forming chamber dimensions and configuration, an improved agricultural bag attachment and continuous feeding mechanism which eliminates bag fold-over and wrinkling problems during filling, and an integral forming chamber cleanout mechanism which enables clearing and cleaning of the forming chamber at the end of an agricultural bag loading operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag filler apparatus (20) for filling bags (105) with a powdered product, the bags (105) commonly having side walls interconnecting an open top portion and a closed bottom portion. The bag filler apparatus (20) includes a support framework (78) supporting a surge hopper (28) and a scale hopper (60) interconnected so as to provide a path for the flow of the powdered product from the surge hopper (28) to the scale hopper (60). A feed auger (30) is provided for conveying the powdered product to the surge hopper (28) while a butterfly valve (66) controls the flow of the powdered product into the scale hopper (60) from the surge hopper (28). The scale hopper (60) is provided with weight sensitive elements (76) for sensing the weight of the powdered product in the scale hopper (60). A butterfly valve (86) and a fill chute (98) provide for discharge of the powdered product from the scale hopper (60).

Abstract: An item is placed into a relatively close fitting pliant bag by first turning the bag inside out over a horizontal ring mounted over a work surface on at least one upright support leg. Desirably, at least half of the peripheral extent of the ring is unsupported to facilitate pulling the bag over the ring and to facilitate removal of the bagged item. The item is placed within the ring in contact with the interior surface of the bottom of the bag and then moved downward through the ring, pulling the open top of the bag up, over, and through the ring. This turns the bag right side out, with the item inside. The ring has circumferentially spaced openings on its upper surface leading to a hollow interior that communicates via a valve to a source of pressurized air.

Abstract: There is provided a sealed container for accommodating a plurality of product in bulk form, and providing limited access thereto for a user to withdraw a portion of said products from said container, the sealed barrier formed by a bottom wall, side walls, a top wall and a front wall, one of the walls provided with a first aperture bound by a perimeter delineating an opening for access to the interior confines of the container, a flexible pouch barrier having a perimetric opening and being sealed around the perimeter of the first aperture, the flexible pouch barrier positioned within the interior confines of the container, the flexible barrier being sufficiently flexible and pliable to adjust to the contour of the hand of the user, and a second aperture formed in the wall which accommodates the first aperture, the second aperture being positioned adjacent to the first aperture and providing an exit pathway from the interior confines of the container to permit the removal of product from the container while the

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: The invention relates to processes and devices for automatically depositing and pressing continuous tows in containers moved to and fro on a traversing device, wherein the start of the tow is transferred via a chute to a catch box on the container and is retained there, the container is weighed during each traversing movement because of the extension of a weighing platform and, when the nominal weight is reached, the fed tow is held and severed in a cutting and fixing device, the tow ends obtained are fixed and marked, and the tow end belonging to the deposited material and the start of the tow are introduced into the full container from the catch box.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling bags and simultaneously providing complete, controlled collection and discharge of dust generated from particulate material with which the bags are filled. The discharge end of a spout positioned under a hopper is formed by a pair of closure members movable between open and closed positions on which the mouth of a bag may be clamped by clamping devices movable into clamping engagement with the top, opposed faces of the bag against the outside of the spout closure members. Dust collectors are provided on the spout and are so located as to be in fluid flow communication with the interior of the top of a bag hung on the spout discharge end. Suitable conduits connect the dust collectors with a vacuum source to remove all dust generated when particulate material is discharged from the hopper, through the spout, into a bag. A flexible liner is also hung inside the spout to contain the prevent the escape of dust during bag filling operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and means for filling of bulk material, especially fluidized material, is filled into a flexible container through a filling pipe while the container is hanging on a double, load carrying hook and simultaneously is resting against a supporting plate. Lifting loops of the container are stretched out during the entire filling operation. When filling of the container is completed, the hook and the supporting plate or plane are lowered simultaneously and the plane is also moved sideways, whereby the filling pipe is freed from the container. An external lever is then put into the lifting loop and the hook is opened, whereupon the container can be removed from the filling apparatus without having had any opportunity to tilt. The filling apparatus comprises a double hook with a lower section which can be opened while the hook is still in load carrying operation. The hook is connected to a holding device which preferably is movably connected to the plane for carrying the container.

Abstract: An assembly or kit to enable the individual automobile owner to drain and change engine oil conveniently and economically at regular intervals without the necessity of visiting a service station and encountering higher cost. A compact package suitable for displaying in supermarkets, department stores and the like contains all the elements necessary to drain engine oil in a clean and convenient manner and to add new oil to the engine. The packaged components include an easily erectable drain receptacle and liner, a strainer and a funnel, with integral foldable supports for the strainer on the receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling bags and providing completely controlled handling of bags from pickup through their movement to a bag closing station. A pair of elongated forming bars supported for up and down movement and traversing movement between a bag filling hopper and a laterally spaced bag closing station grip, flatten, and assist in forming gusseted bags after filling while the bags are still clamped on a filling spout, and thereafter controllably lower the filled bags to a conveyor and support the bags on the conveyor in traversing movement to a final bag closing station. A pair of gusset arm assemblies supported for lateral shifting movement on opposite sides of a filling spout each include a pair of gusset clamping fingers which are disposed inside of the mouth of a bag during filling. The clamping fingers are actuated in a predetermined sequence to hold and form the gusset pleats of the bag while permitting the bag to be opened over its full width during the filling operation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for filling bulk material into flexible containers. The filling is carried out through a filling pipe or spout while the container is hanging on a hook. The impervious part of the container, which may be in form of an inner bag, is fastened around the spout and kept in place during the filling operation without any special fastening means. This is obtained by first hanging at least one lifting loop on the hook before the pipe is put into the container. Then the remaining loops are hooked onto the hook during simultaneous or subsequent filling of the container with air. The loops are secured together while the container is hanging on the hook. Thus, the container will be made ready for further transport as soon as it is filled and its impervious bag is closed. The apparatus comprises a batch weigher, storage bin having an outlet into a funnel with a pipe for supplying air.

Abstract: Flexible heat-sealable plastic bags to be filled with a fluid or loose particulate material without exposure to the atmosphere are connected to the elliptical nozzle of the filling machine by use of overlapping ellipses. A filling hole, either elliptical or circular, cut in a corner from another otherwise sealed bag will readily slip over the larger elliptical nozzle. The bag is then tightly clamped by a movable member pressing against the rear surface of the elliptical nozzle of the filling machine while the bag is filled with its material through the nozzle. The bag is subsequently heat-sealed around the hole with a heated ring, and a suction stem is inserted into the sealed-off filling hole to withdraw any residual fluid.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a combination dust pan and refuse container constructed of inexpensive lightweight materials which is highly transportable and repositionable from an upright refuse transporting position to a horizontal refuse collecting position. The combination pan and container is made up of a framework which distends and substantially encloses a conventional disposable trash bag, four circumferentially spaced ground contacting wheels and a dust pan which depends outwardly from the frame near the mouth of the bag. In the transporting position, all four wheels contact the ground and provide a stable base. In the collecting position, the outwardmost edge of the dust pan and two of the wheels which are on a common axle contact the ground. A handle is provided which projects upwardly in both the transporting and collecting positions to facilitate mobility of the pan/container combination.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging products such as dusty powders are provided. The apparatus is an enclosed housing (e.g., a glove box) with an open lower end and having two glove openings with gloves attached, an opening for attaching a waste disposal bag thereto, and an optional opening for attaching a bag for product samples. The glove box has means for securing a bag in a filling position around the lower end and has the discharge end of a product fill pipe extending into the open lower end. There are vacuum means for applying a vacuum to the inside of the glove box and for applying a vacuum from the inside through apertures circumferentially arranged around the lower edge of the glove box.

Abstract: In an agricultural bag loading apparatus (10), a primary shaft (52) has a plurality of teeth (46). Rotation of the primary shaft (52) causes the teeth (46) to force silage into an agricultural bag (12). Silage is fed toward the shaft (52) by the rotation of a feeder shaft (60) having a plurality of angle irons (62) mounted thereon. The brake force of a brake (110) is applied through a drum (20), a cable (18), and a backstop (16) to the end of the agricultural bag (12) to control the degree of silage compression within the bag.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for use in high-speed packaging of liquid-bearing substances, particularly foods. The apparatus comprises means to shield a sealable, particularly a heatsealable, portion of each of a series of packages with a protective and disposable shield means.

Abstract: This invention is a vacuum bagging device which consists of a receiving bag separated from the product to be conditioned by a flexible and deformable spout. This spout is electropneumatically operated. The receiving bag is made of a material which can be thermo welded. It receives under vacuum the product to be conditioned which remains in this state until the welding operation takes place, the latter being achieved by thermocompression of the upper part of the bag. The operations are synchronized by a programming electromechanical circuit. This invention can be used for fast conditioning and bagging of powdery, granulated or pulverized products, whatever their quantity.

Abstract: A trash bag holding stand that may be manually assembled without the use of tools to support a pliable bag (such as a plastic bag) in open fillable position.The stand includes a rectangular frame with its corners formed of right angle pipe elbows having sockets disposed at right angles to each other. The sides of the frame are elongated members such as pipes which are telescoped into the respective sockets of the elbows to form the frame. The elbows also have leg-receiving sockets into which legs are telescoped to support the frame. Upstanding pins are disposed on the top surface of the elbows for detachably receiving the plastic bag. The stand may be provided with a cloth bag for receiving the plastic bag to protect it from breaking. A funnel may be provided to facilitate flow of waste material into the plastic bag.

Abstract: A vibrating conveyor (10) is disclosed. The conveyor (10) includes a conveying table (14) and a frame (12) for supporting the table (14) for vibratory motion. The table (14) has an inlet area disposed generally in the middle of the table (14) for receiving particulate material to be conveyed. A first dispensing outlet (72) is disposed on a first side (26) of the table (14) and a second dispensing outlet (74) is disposed on the second side (34). A first pneumatic vibrator (116) is disposed on the first side (26) for vibrating the table (14) and conveying particulate material from the inlet area to the second outlet (74). A second pneumatic vibrator (118) is coupled to the table (14) on the second side (34) for vibrating the table (14) and for conveying particulate material from the inlet area to the first outlet (72).

Abstract: An improved bag holder and collector for receiving grass clippings, leaves, etc., in a top hopper for discharge into a collection bag removably mounted below the hopper. The hopper is formed by a pair of downwardly inwardly sloping end walls and a pair of vertical side walls which terminate with a rectangular-shaped horizontal bottom wall. A circular discharge opening is provided in the center of the bottom wall, with the remaining portion of the bottom wall forming a flat shelf area surrounding the opening. A cylindrical collar is mounted beneath the bottom hopper wall concentric with the discharge opening. Clamping ring means removably mounts a collection bag on the collar for receiving the materials discharged through the hopper opening. The hopper is supported between a pair of upstanding end panels having wheels attached to the bottoms thereof for movably supporting the hopper.

Abstract: Leaf collecting equipment and a method for its use comprises a blanket having a central hole through it and an attachment means around the hole to which the blanket is secured, the attachment means having provisions for removably attaching a trash bag to it to receive leaves dropped through the blanket hole and the attachment means directly into the bag.

Abstract: A de-aeration and vacuum packaging apparatus includes porous closeable disks and a tight closing, anti-pollution filler device. The apparatus is suitable for use with a machine adapted for filling packages with a freely flowing material which includes bag supporting means comprising a clamping part formed intergral with a horizontal support which is equipped at each end with slides serving as a guide for sliding supports, each slide including side sections fitted with grips linked together by hinges or by a flexible belt. Portions of the apparatus subjacent to the vertical hinges, along with a flexible spout are distortable in the lower part thereof through hinged plates connected to the vertical hinges. Reciprocating means connected to opposite sides of the hinged portions provide lateral pressure to conform the hinged portions to the distortable part of the spout in order to prevent escape of pollutive materials during the filling process.

Abstract: A closed system for filling a container with a load of powdered, granular, or other dry fluent material and for unloading the load substantially without the emission of dust to the atmosphere. The container has an opening in its top which may be sealingly secured to a filling head during during filling and closed by a removable cover. The filling head is connected to a dust receiver for removing dust laden air displaced from within the container as the load is delivered to the container. The container used with this system may be adapted for fluidized unloading of the powder substantially without the release of dust.

Abstract: A bag filling apparatus has sealing facilities for forming an enclosed chamber around an unclamped portion of the open top of a bag surrounding a filling spout so that contaminates exiting through bulges in the unclamped portion of the top of the bag are prevented from escaping.

Abstract: In a volumetric bagging apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of particulate material, such as fertilizer, into a bag position on the apparatus for receipt thereof, a rotating drum fills a clamped empty bag until a magnetic cam comes into controlled magnetic proximity to a first magnetic proximity micro switch. As the magnetic cam passes by the first magnetic micro switch, the then filled bag is released. A second magnetic proximity micro switch may be provided which is positioned after the first magnetic micro switch in the direction of rotation of the drum, with the actuation of the second magnetic proximity micro switch disengaging the drive means for the drum and locking the drum brake, thereby completing the bagging cycle. In this manner, the improved volumetric bagging apparatus is indexed by magnetic actuation.

Abstract: A funnel-drainer device for collecting waste liquids and the like is disclosed. The device comprises a continuous side wall defining a container having a vertical axis. The container has an inlet adapted to receive the liquid which inlet is disposed along the vertical axis, and an outlet which is disposed through the side wall of the container. A removable receptacle is selectively coupled to the container adjacent the outlet such that the waste liquid and the like flows through said inlet into said container and exits through the outlet into the receptacle. After the waste liquid has been collected, the receptacle is then removed and the liquid is disposed of in an ecologically acceptable manner.

Abstract: A tool for use by an automobile mechanic when changing an oil filter, and which prevents the mechanic from being burned by hot oil running out of the engine block; the tool consisting of an adapter to which a disposable plastic bag is attachable, the adapter and bag being fitted around a lower portion of the engine block and the downwardly depending oil filter which extends into the bag, thus permitting the mechanic to place a wrench around the outer side of the bag in order to grasp the oil filter, for unscrewing the same from the engine block, so that the removed oil filter then drops into the bag together with the dripping oil, so that the oil does not run out on the mechanic's arms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for introducing material such as cement into sacks of the valve type which are positioned in a magazine adjacent a rotary packing means having a plurality of material filling spouts distributed thereabout and means to supply the material to the spouts. The method relates to positioning the sack magazine adjacent the rotary packing means in a manner such that the foremost sack is positioned adjacent the rotary path defined by the spouts while rotating the rotary packing means in a direction such that the spouts successively and repeatedly approach the bag carrying means in the general direction of rotation.

Abstract: It is well known that food to be frozen, if placed in an evacuated container before it is frozen, will better retain the flavor and freshness of the food. However, there is no apparatus available and known to the applicant which permits evacuation of a container for food to be frozen in the home. The instant invention overcomes this deficiency by providing a system for evacuating flexible containers for food to be frozen in the home. The system includes a hollow retainer member adapted to receive the open end of the container, and a cap member which is adapted to fit over the outside surface of the retainer in airtight engagement therewith. A flexible tube extends downwardly through the bottom end of the cap member and upwardly above the cap member, and means are provided on the upward part of the tube for opening and closing the passage in the tube.

Abstract: A device which forms a closed compartment for an expandable container to permit a vacuum to be created around the flexible container so as to reduce the pressure inside the container and thereby permit the transfer of fluid materials into the expandable container. The vacuum device is simple in its construction in that it comprises a cover and base member forming a compartment which houses the expandable container and through which a vacuum line is interconnected. In a preferred manner, the cover has a pocket which supports the expandable container and positions it in a slanted manner such that a sealable inlet port is in a raised position as it extends through the cover. The cover member also has means to release the vacuum in the compartment. As a further embodiment, an electrical inlet and outlet are provided in the base which by means of a switch can operate a vacuum pump in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover.

Abstract: A package comprises a relatively stiff rectangular backing board with a transparent substantially rectangular bag of a smaller size secured to the backing board along a small marginal area adjacent its top edge. The backing board advantageously includes a fold down top edge or collar which engages over an upwardly extending portion of the underside of the bag and the bottom edge of the collar is spaced from the opening edge on the top side of the bag and the bag may be torn off the backing board by tearing it along the lower edge of the collar. The backing board advantageously includes one or more recesses which are engageable by a driver member to move the package assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural bag loading machine having an improved mechanical assembly for automatically effecting controlled, continuous compression and delivery of compacted animal feed material into a flexible agricultural storage bag via a compression and delivery chamber. The compressed, delivered feed material has a uniform, air tight side wall density throughout the bag-delivered, sausage shaped feed material mass. The loading machine has additional features, including a pneumatic bladder assembly for changing the forming chamber dimensions and configuration, an improved agricultural bag attachment and continuous feeding mechanism which eliminates bag fold-over and wrinkling problems during filling, and an integral forming chamber cleanout mechanism which enables clearing and cleaning of the forming chamber at the end of an agricultural bag loading operation.