Abstract: A spout and hood assembly for an air flow bag packer in which the spout consists of an inner product supply tube surrounded by a shell providing a vent area to which a vacuum is supplied to evacuate the air from the bag as it is filled. The shell is tapered and oval-shaped to conform to the bag sleeve and so that the vent area cross section increases toward the vacuum source to prevent plugging of the vent area. The bottoms of the supply tube and the shell engage one another to reduce the possibility of any product escaping through the vent system during the filling cycle. The spout is affixed to and surrounded by a generally cylindrical dust hood which is also vented to a dust collection system. A dust shield, attached within the hood, surrounds the spout with a clearance so as to provide a venturi effect to better draw any dust into the dust collection system.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically mounting valve bags on filling spouts of either a rotary or stationary type filling machine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a multiplicity of bag pickup and release means mounted about a rotational axis. A bag storage and feed means is provided for feeding a plurality of bags to the bag pickup and release means, positioned at a bag pickup station adjacent to the generally arcuate path defined by the rotating pickup and release means. The apparatus further comprises a combined gripping and valve opening means for gripping the bag and effecting the opening of the valve of the bag and simultaneously releasing the bag from the pickup and release means.

Abstract: To place the bags on a filling spout, the bags are hurled one at a time w the valve flange through a shaping tube, which is distanced from the spout as to allow the filled bag to be removed from the spout without displacing the tube. The bag is hurled at high speed by at least one continuously moving belt engaging the bag body along the entire length of the tube, as to be placed on the spout substantially when the valve flange leaves the tube. This latter is formed of two symmetric parts, the distance between which is adjustable by means of double screws having two ends threaded in opposite directions and engaging corresponding holes of the two parts of the tube.

Abstract: A method and system for filling and for sealing valve bags of the type having a water activated sealing means on the interior of the filling valve. A fill spout or nozzle is provided to maintain the filling valve free from contamination by the material being dispensed into the bag. The nozzle has an air conduit that supplies air to a location adjacent the water activated sealing means during the filling operation and a water spray conduit that supplies a water spray to activate the sealing means at completion of the filling operation. A suction source is connected to the material supply passage of the nozzle and is actuated momentarily while the nozzle is being removed from the filling valve and prior to the end of the filling valve entering the water activated region of the valve in order to prevent material from falling from the end of the nozzle onto the activated portion of the sealing means. A sealing nozzle separate from the filling nozzle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve bag with an opening in one corner adapted to receive a spout for filling the bag, the opening having an insert therein, which insert has a light coating of a lubricant on its inner surface, so that when the bag is slipped on the filling spout some of the lubricant will be transferred to the spout and lubricate the spout for the next bag to be slipped on the spout.

Abstract: A hollow housing is mounted in a wall of the dunnage bag and defines a chamber having an exterior opening in a portion of the housing on the exterior of the bag, and an interior opening in a portion of the housing communicating with the interior of the bag. A tube is provided for supplying pressurized gas or air adjacent the housing on the dunnage bag and has an alignment frame on one end for locating the tube relative to the housing and in alignment with the chamber in the housing. The alignment frame is substantially open to permit free flow of ambient air past exterior portions of the tube into the chamber. One or more orifices are located on a portion of the tube to allow discharge of jets of high pressure gas or air therethrough.

Abstract: A hand held gun-type air injection device is provided for rapidly filling an inflatable dunnage bag with entrained ambient air to a predetermined maximum stabilized pressure level. The injection device is adapted for use specifically with a dunnage bag having a housing defining a chamber extending from an opening on the exterior of the bag to an opening in the interior of the bag. A tube assembly is provided for supplying pressurized gas or air adjacent the housing on the dunnage bag. A ring-like alignment frame is provided on one end of the tube for locating the tubing relative to the housing and in alignment with the chamber in the housing. The alignment frame is substantially open or apertured to permit free flow of ambient air past exterior portions of the tube into the chamber. One or more orifices are located on a portion of the tube to allow discharge of jets of high pressure gas or air therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic insertion of a valved bag of paper or other flexible sheet material on to a charging nozzle of a machine adapted to fill the bag with material in granular or powder form, in which the bags are fed from a supply thereof sequentially by means of a distributing device to an inserting device. The inserting device includes means for picking up a bag from the distributing device, means for opening the valve and for testing the operativeness of the valve, means for discarding a bag with an inoperative valve and means for feeding a bag with an operative valve to the charging nozzle of the bag-filling machine.

Abstract: A process for opening the valves of valved bags and for inserting the opened bags on spigots to fill the bags with bulk material, comprises the following steps: consecutively advancing the bags in a substantially horizontal plane towards the spigots, while the bag valve is oriented in the advancing direction of the bags and guiding each bag by a free edge of the bag top; pivoting, during the advancing step, the top of each bag about a top fold line from a horizontal orientation, in which it is substantially coplanar with the bag body, into a predetermined inclined position; pivoting, subsequent to the preceding pivoting step, that half of the bag top which is oriented towards the bag body, about the top fold line, into a predetermined inclined position with respect to the bag body, whereby the bag top assumes an inverted V configuration; pivoting, subsequent to the preceding pivoting step, the bag body downwardly into a vertical orientation; raising, subsequent to the preceding pivoting step, at least the val

Abstract: In combination with sealable valve bags and a valve bag packer, a valve bag sealer comprising a bag transfer assembly for removing a filled valve bag from the filling tube of the packer and positioning the filled bag adjacent a sealing head assembly, said sealing head assembly including a pair of heated jaws for engaging the valve sleeve of said filled bag, a folding horn for inserting the valve sleeve between the jaws for closing the jaws to crimp and heat seal the valve sleeve and for opening the jaws after sealing is completed, a stuffing blade for stuffing the sealed valve sleeve of the bag into an adjacent pocket in the bag and means for releasing the sealed bag from the transfer assembly and moving the transfer assembly into a ready position in preparation for the next operating cycle.

Abstract: In combination with sealable valve bags and a valve bag packer, a valve bag sealer comprising a bag transfer assembly for removing a filled valve bag from the filling tube of the packer and positioning the filled bag adjacent a sealing head assembly, said sealing head assembly including a pair of heated jaws for engaging the valve sleeve of said filled bag, a folding horn for inserting the valve sleeve between the jaws for closing the jaws to crimp and heat seal the valve sleeve and for opening the jaws after sealing is completed, a stuffing blade for stuffing the sealed valve sleeve of the bag into an adjacent pocket in the bag and means for releasing the sealed bag from the transfer assembly and moving the transfer assembly into a ready position in preparation for the next operating cycle.

Abstract: An impeller shaft turning device is disclosed, for use in rotating the shaft of an impeller within a housing in a revolving machine, to aid in impelling material into a bag, the impeller shaft turning device comprising motor means operative to rotate the shaft of an impeller and hydraulic means operative to control the motor means.

Abstract: A housing for an impeller is disclosed, which is mounted on an impeller shaft and is capable of moving material, the housing comprising an enclosure within which the impeller, mounted on an impeller shaft, may be placed; a plurality of shaft openings in the enclosure through which the impeller shaft may extend; material entrance means in the enclosure through which the material may be placed in the enclosure; material exit means through which the material may leave the enclosure; and access means in the enclosure allowing access for maintenance purposes.