Abstract: An apparatus for shaping and holding a bag in an open condition, and holding the bag in this condition during loading of the bag with a product, includes an inner stationary ring; a plurality of finger assemblies, each finger assembly comprising a finger adapted to press against the interior of the bag mouth, and a force-transferring member to which the finger is operatively connected; an outer rotatable ring, concentric with the inner ring; a push rod operatively connected to each respective finger assembly; and a motive device adapted to cause rotation of the outer ring relative to the inner ring to effect coordinated radial movement of the fingers relative to the interior surface of the bag. A method of shaping and holding a bag in an open condition, and holding the bag in the shaped, open condition during loading of the bag with a product, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article bagging apparatus designed to reduce impacts caused by stopping at advance and retraction terminal points. The article bagging apparatus has an upper scoop (12) and a lower scoop (14) rectilinearly movable forward and backward together. The upper and lower scoops are advanced and inserted into a bag through an opening thereof, and the upper scoop is displaced upward, thereby expanding the bag vertically. In addition, the upper and lower scoops are retracted to pull the expanded bag, thereby allowing an article placed in the path of retraction to enter the bag. The article bagging apparatus includes a coupling unit (22) that allows the upper scoop to be displaced vertically and that causes the upper and lower scoops to move together forward and backward, an upper guide rail (24) supporting the upper scoop horizontally movably, and an upper drive unit (26) vertically moving the upper guide rail.

Abstract: An ice bagging assembly and related method with a horizontal ice bag cassette, a pair of opposing ice bag ply graspers configured to move an empty ice bag from the horizontal ice bag cassette to a vertical position to receive cubed ice before it is sealed shut and dropped to an ice bag merchandiser. The opposing graspers may be configured as rotating wheels and may have a grasping sensor. The ice bag cassette may be slidably and tiltably supported for easy replacement of horizontal bags. A load sensor, optical or mechanical, may be associated with the ice hopper to sense how much ice has been put in each bag. A pair of angled guides may guide a hopper into a support frame for the system.

Abstract: In an intermittently rotating table type bag filling apparatus, a plurality of pairs of grippers being provided at equal intervals around an intermittently rotating table, the grippers including pairs of left and right swing levers mounted on the intermittently rotating table, gripper arms affixed to swing levers, chuck sections installed in the tip end portions of the gripper arms, and chuck open/close mechanisms that open and close chuck sections. Gripper arms are cylindrical, and air cylinders and link mechanisms that constitute chuck open/close mechanism are installed inside the tube bodies of the gripper arms.

Abstract: A device for opening pre-glued, pre-folded sleeves into cartons. The device includes a cam wheel (20) to which are connected one or more suction arms (22). The cam wheel can be controlled to rotated at different angular velocities. A first angular velocity allows sleeves comprising a certain number of panels to be opened, and a second angular velocity allows sleeves of a different number of panels to be opened.

Abstract: A bag retrieval assembly and bag, which facilitates the covering of a bale of cotton or other fibrous material, are discussed. The bag is configured to be used with the bag retrieval assembly, which is configured to manipulate the bag from a stacked or stored configuration to an open configuration that may be raised and held into a position for further processing.

Abstract: An empty bag supply method and apparatus first lifting up with a first suction member an empty bag of which bag bottom being in contact with and positioned by a first positioning stopper. The lifted bag is then held by chucks and transported upwards so that the empty bag is vertical with the bag bottom facing upward, and then a second suction member suctions the empty bag near the bag mouth and transports it onto a conveyor with the bag mouth facing forward, so that the bag mouth of the bag is stopped and positioned by a second positioning stopper. The empty bag is then lifted up by a third suction member, held by a chuck and transported upward so that the attitude of the bag is changed to vertical with the bag mouth facing upward, and then the bag is transferred to a gripper of a packaging apparatus.

Abstract: A filling machine for open, sealable sacks includes a fill pipe for filling the attached sacks with contents having a tendency to develop dust, and a cleaning device which includes a blow rail for cleaning the inner faces of the sack mouth rim and side folds of a sack by an air flow which emerges from the blow rail. The blow rail is fastened to two-armed levers which can be pivoted about a stationary axis by means of a drive. As a result, the air jets are directed onto the surfaces to be cleaned from different directions during the cleaning process and the layers of the side folds are also separated from one another and cleaned. The filling machine is suitable, in particular, for filling powdery contents.

Abstract: A ribbon of packaging comprises individual packages (11) adjacently and separably arranged for separation prior to filling. The ribbon is preferably drawn under tension from a reel, and the packages are linked by mechanical couplers (FIG. 11) which are separable in a direction orthogonally to the traction force. The packages have a closure (FIG. 8) which is removed and replaced to permit filling. Also disclosed are preferred package couplers, and filling and dispensing arrangements.

Abstract: The bag opening assembly (8) of an automatic bag loader includes a pair of contra-rotating air-pervious endless belts (9, 10). Opposing pinch portions (24, 25) of the belts are provided for grasping opposing sides (5a, 5b) of the hag (1) therebetween and working flights of each belt are opposingly orientated and diverge from the pinch portions. A partial vacuum is drawn in a space (41, 42) adjacent each working flight (38, 39), formed in a shoe (36, 37) which supports the thereby separate the sides to open the bag while it is advanced between the diverging working flights. At least on of the rotary members (26, 27) is displaceable and an actuator (40) is connected thereto to press the pinch portions together to grasp the sides of the unopened bag and to separate the pinch portions to release the opened bag.

Abstract: In a machine for packaging articles into box-like containers, obtained from tubular blanks in flat folded configuration, tubular blanks are conveyed from a feeding station to an erecting station, by an erection unit, moving between the erecting station and a station for vertical introduction of articles into the erected blanks. A folding element cooperates with the unit to fold a second lower flap of the blank by ninety degrees. A horizontal plane supports the blank and articles contained in the blank. The blank is transferred and guided on the horizontal plane while blank flaps are folded. At closing stations a bottom and a cover of the so obtained pack are closed.

Abstract: Poly mesh bags or closely woven poly bags have at least one pair of aligned apertures extending through opposite sides of the top portion of the bags, with one of the apertures slit to the top edge of one of the sides. If the bags are poly mesh bags, a band label may be secured to the top portion of the bags, with the aligned apertures also extending through the band label to give the apertures added strength. Alternatively, the poly mesh bags may have an enlarged selvedge edge adjacent the top portion through which the aligned apertures extend, and a drawstring may be interwoven in the selvedge edge below the apertures. Also a band label may be secured to both sides of the bags below the drawstring. If made of a closely woven poly material, a plurality of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending ventilation strips may be provided around the entire circumference of the bags.

Abstract: feeding mechanism, an expanding mechanism, a folding mechanism for folding front and rear parts of a bottom of a cardboard box, a folding mechanism for folding left and right parts of a bottom of a cardboard box, and a conveying mechanism; the feeding mechanism has a holding space, in which flattened boxes are received; the expanding mechanism includes a horizontally moving member, an expanding arm pivoted to the horizontally moving member, and several suction elements; a cardboard box will be expanded when the horizontally moving member moves with the suction elements applying suction on the box to fix the box thereto, and with the expanding arm pivoting 90 degrees; after a cardboard box has been expanded, the folding mechanisms function one after the other to fold front and rear parts and left and right parts of a bottom of the box.

Abstract: A bag presenter for moving a bag from a bag supply toward a packaging machine filling station, the bag presenter comprising: a bag supply holding area, a gripper for holding a bag in the filling station and a bag handler for moving the bag from the holding area toward the gripper, the bag handler including a bag feeder and a bag conveyor, the bag feeder being operable to pull a bag from a bottom of the bag supply holding area and to pass the bag to the bag conveyor. The bag handler can include a bag opening mechanism and a means for maintaining the bag in an open configuration, once the bag has been opened. The bag presenter is useful for handling non-wicketed bags and can be used to convert a packaging machine from reliance on wicketed bags to use of non-wicketed bags.

Abstract: A portable pouch opener for countertop positioning for opening and filling a bag includes a portable housing positionable upon a desktop bench workspace. The housing has a magazine containing a supply of bags to be opened and filled. A first suction device is mounted for being moved into engagement with a bag in the magazine. The first suction device has a source of vacuum to activate the first suction device when placed into contact with one wall of the bag. Vacuum from the first suction device is withdrawn from the bag, attaching the bag to the first suction device, to remove the bag from the magazine and bring it to an opening position. An opposite facing wall of the bag is in contact with a second suction device having a source of vacuum, so that said opposite facing wall is engaged by said second suction device. Then the first suction device is retracted to separate the walls of the bag to produce an opening into the bag, allowing the bag to be filled and optionally sealed.

Abstract: The invention provides a diameter reducing system for reducing the diameter of a flexible container as the container is filled. The system includes a stretching device to stretch the container at the fill level as the container is filled with a plurality of particles. The stretching device can release a stretched portion of the container substantially at the fill level as the fill level rises. The container can be a flexible, elastic bag. Shrinking of the container at the fill level as the container fills promotes supporting engagement between particles to enhance the structural integrity of the filled container and to reduce the likelihood that particles will be damaged during movement of the filled container.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic opening of bags uses bags in a folded configuration that include a small aperture near the top thereof. The aperture allows a number of bags to be hung in a substantially vertical orientation on an angled protruding member. A vacuum-operated device engages one side of one of a first bag on the side of the bag opposite to the aperture and retracts, thus opening the bag using the force generated between the protruding member and the vacuum-operated device. This allows the bag to be opened without extraction from the protruding member. The open bag is clamped in position and loaded using conventional technology. The fully loaded bag is moved out of the loading position onto a conveyor belt. The movement of the fully loaded bag tears the back portion of the bag near the aperture thus freeing the bag from the protruding member. The loaded bag may be subsequently sealed and processed for shipping.

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.

Abstract: A flange alignment and grasping assembly is adapted to straighten the flanges of a bag in a filling and sealing apparatus so that the flanges may be clamped by the assembly. The assembly includes opposed guides that engage the side of the bag in the general location of the flange. The guides position the flange in an extended position between the jaws of a clamp where the clamp will pinch the flange when the clamp closes. The invention also provides an apparatus for grasping a bag and pulling a portion of the bag tight. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes arms that swing upwardly and inwardly to position jaws with respect to the bag.

Abstract: A vertical bagging apparatus [101] comprises a bag station [105] having multiple stations [403A, 403B, 403C, 403D] for holding a variety of wicket-supported bags. A tooling assembly [107] accepts product for a product line and dispenses the product into an opened bag from the bag station. A bag transfer assembly [109] lowers the filled bag to a bag seal assembly [111] located vertically below the tooling assembly. The apparatus allows high speeds and quick-change of bags and bagged product.

Abstract: A portable pouch opener for countertop positioning for opening and filling a bag includes a portable housing positionable upon a desktop bench workspace. The housing has a magazine containing a supply of bags to be opened and filled. A first suction device is mounted for being moved into engagement with a bag in the magazine. The first suction device has a source of vacuum to activate the first suction device when placed into contact with one wall of the bag. Vacuum from the first suction device is withdrawn from the bag, attaching the bag to the first suction device, to remove the bag from the magazine and bring it to an opening position. An opposite facing wall of the bag is in contact with a second suction device having a source of vacuum, so that said opposite facing wall is engaged by said second suction device. Then the first suction device is retracted to separate the walls of the bag to produce an opening into the bag, allowing the bag to be filled and optionally sealed.

Abstract: A bag manipulating method and assembly including a pair of bag grippers that receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station. The bag grippers are movable in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station. The bag manipulating assembly also includes upper and lower bag spreader assemblies, each having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag. Preferably, the bag grippers move toward each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis while the bag is being spread apart to facilitate opening the bag. To facilitate closing and sealing the bag, the bag grippers move away from each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis after the bag has been filled.

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.

Abstract: A system for compacting organic material such as silage and inserting compacted material into an elongate plastic bag. A feed table delivers material to a rotor that propels and compacts material into an inlet of a tunnel. A proportional valve controlling the hydraulic motor of the feed table controls the rate of which the feed table delivers material. A speed sensor senses the speed of the rotor and transmits a signal to the control unit connected to the proportional valve of the feed table. Overfeeding of material to the rotor results in a reduction of the rotor speed. Such reduction is sensed and the feed table delivery rate adjusted accordingly to optimize filling of the bag.

Abstract: A hag-loading machine and a bag-filling machine and combination thereof, the bag-loading machine including bag carrying frame, motors coupled to the bag-carrying frame for moving it toward and away from the bag-filling machine and between a lower position and an upper bag-filling position, a first blower mounted on the bag carrying frame for maintaining a supported bag in an open condition, a second blower mounted on the bag-filling machine for blowing the supported bag to a fully opened position preceding the clamping of the bag to a conveyor trough, Structure on the conveyor trough for filling the clamped bag, structure on the bag-filling machine for releasing the filled bag from the conveyor trough, and a control system for effecting the foregoing sequence of operations.

Abstract: A filling device for filling bags, in particular with granular bulk material, in which there are provided a closeable filler neck (17) which is in connection with a reservoir and at least one pair of clamping arms (14) which are at least indirectly swivellable about a swivelling axle (2) for holding a bag (16) to be filled. In order to achieve a high degree of imperviousness between the bag to be filled (16) and the filler neck (17) it is provided that the filler neck (17) is made of an elastically deformable material and a pressing device (5, 9; 18, 19) is provided which acts on said filler neck and which presses the filler neck (17) flatly together in its pressing position, with two pairs of clamping arms (14) being provided which are arranged on either side of the pressing device (5, 9; 18, 19) or the filler neck (17) respectively, with the clearance of the pairs of clamping arms (14) exceeding the largest extension of the cross section of the filler neck (17) in its pressed state.

Abstract: A bag-loading machine and a bag-filling machine and combination thereof, the bag-loading machine including bag-carrying frame, a first motor coupled to the bag-carrying frame for moving it between a lower and a higher position, a bag-opening frame, a second motor for moving the bag-opening frame between an away position an a toward position wherein it pulls the front side of a bag away from the rear side while the bag-carrying frame is in its lower position, a blower mounted on the bag-carrying frame for maintaining the front side of the bag away from the rear side, the bag-filling machine including a second blower for blowing the bag to a fully opened position preceding the movement of first and second closed pads on a conveyor trough over the fully opened bag, the first motor thereafter moving the bag-carrying frame to its upper position so that the first and second closed pads are received within the open mouth of the bag, a third motor on the conveyor trough thereafter moving the first pad to clamp the fr

Abstract: Apparatus for opening an open end of a pouch, an overwrap, or the like so as to facilitate the insertion of an object thereinto includes a number of processing stations, such as a storage station where a supply of pouches is stored and an opening station where an open end of a pouch transported thereto from the storage station is opened so as to receive an object. A transporting mechanism, which includes a suction-type gripper, transports a pouch from the storage station to the opening station and then from the opening station to another station, which may or may not be a processing station. The suction-type gripper of the transporting mechanism continuously grips a pouch throughout its movement from station to station. The opening station may be provided with its own pair of suction-type grippers which cooperate to open a pouch which has been transported to the opening station.

Abstract: A method of opening a bag includes the steps of providing a bag including a first panel, a second panel, a first bag edge, a second bag edge, a bag bottom, and a bag mouth; holding the bag mouth between a first means for vacuumizing and a second means for vacuumizing; moving the first and second means for vacuumizing such that the bag mouth disengages from the tape; activating the first and second means for vacuumizing to draw a vacuum through said means; and further moving the first means for vacuumizing such that the bag mouth opens. In an alternative method, instead of holding the bag mouth with the vacuumizing means, the vacuumizing means can be brought into close proximity to the bag mouth, and activated to draw each panel of the bag mouth to a respective vacuumizing means. Thereafter, both vacuumizing means can be moved upward, and the bag mouth opened. An apparatus for opening a bag is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and device move at least one filled sack from a suspended position at an individual filling nozzle into an upright position on a moving conveyor belt for introduction into a sack closure device, where the travel speed of the conveyor belt corresponds to the closure speed of the sack closure device, in which the at least one sack is initially transported horizontally out of an area beneath the filling nozzle before it is then deposited on the conveyor belt, and the horizontal conveying speed of the sack is greater than the travel speed of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An automatic bag opening apparatus for sequentially opening at least one bag, preferably a mesh bag, comprising a frame, a wicket for holding the bag wherein the mesh bag adjacent the forward end of the wicket is the outermost mesh bag, a first clamp disposed adjacent the forward end of the wicket, an air dam slidably mounted to the frame, an opener clamp slidably mounted to the frame, and a nozzle or other means for directing a pressurized fluid through at least a portion of the first, or outer, side of the outermost mesh bag adjacent its open end and onto the air dam. In operation, the first clamp is positioned in contact with the outermost mesh bag, the air dam is located adjacent the open end of the first side of the outermost mesh bag the pressurized fluid is directed through a portion of the open end of the first side of the outermost mesh bag adjacent its open end and onto the air dam, which causes the portion of the mesh bag through which the pressurized fluid is directed to move towards the air dam.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading an article into a bag. The apparatus comprises a loading station which is positioned adjacent a conveyor carrying the articles to be filled in the bags. The loading station comprises a bag delivery plate, a bag bottom opening plate, a bag opening plate and a pusher arm. The bags are folded flat and stored in a hopper. The bag delivery plate retrieves a bag from the hopper and holds the bag in the loading station. The bag bottom opening plate engages the bottom panel of the bag, while the bag opening plate engages a facing panel of the bag. The bag is opened by actuating the bottom and opening plates. When the bag is open, the pusher arm pushes the article from the conveyor into the opened bag. The filled bag is then moved to another conveyor for packing.

Abstract: A sand bagging system is adapted to fill and seal a multiplicity of sand bags in a rapid fashion. Bags are extracted from a cassette of interconnected bags, positioned at a charge station. At the charging station, a charge of bulk material is collected and discharged into the bag, which is subsequently closed and discharged. The sand bagging system is particularly adapted to be used during emergency flooding situations.

Abstract: A packing assist apparatus is provided which assures that articles to be packed can continuously be packed without close contact of the surface of a packing film with the surface of the articles and each packing operation can be performed at improved efficiency. A rotary member is disposed on a support column standing upright from a base board, an arm is fitted to the rotary member, and a holding frame having an opening portion through which the articles can pass is fitted to the arm. Putting means for putting a packing bag on the holding frame is arranged below the rotary member.

Abstract: An ice bagger comprises an ice maker, an ice bagging unit which includes an automatic sanitation system, and a merchandiser. The ice maker delivers particulate ice into a hopper housed within the ice bagging unit. The ice bagging unit includes a bag carrier which retrieves a bag from a bag supply and opens the bag underneath a delivery chute communicating with the hopper via an auger. A scale supports the bag during its filling to measure the weight of the ice delivered into the bag from the hopper. When the scale registers the desired amount of ice, the auger ceases to deliver ice from the hopper into the delivery chute. The ice bagging unit further includes a sealer arm and heating element wherein, after the bag is filled, the sealer arm pivots to detach the bag from the bag carrier and force both sides of the open end of the bag against the heating element. The heating element then activates to seal the bag closed.

Abstract: A high speed bag filling machine utilizing a tiltable spout for attaching a bag in a tilted position and reversing the tilting motor to move the spout and bag over a conveyor. A vertically movable transfer carriage comprises a front forming bar and a pair of horizontally rotatable rotor arms. The bar and rotors clamp the filled bag, lower it to a conveyor, and discharge it. The forming bar then swings forward and upward to clear the rotor arms, which rotate forwardly beneath it to permit the next bag to enter the clamping area. The forming bar then swings down to engage the front face of the bag and the rotor arms continue their rotation to engage the rear face of the bag. The forming bar and rotor arms may include endless belts driven to discharge the bag.

Abstract: A packaging machine for penny packing products, such as bagels, bread, donuts, in pre-made plastic bags includes an endless chain carrying a plurality of regularly spaced bag grippers, the chain being entrained about sprocket wheels to define first and second flights. The bag grippers pick up a topmost bag from a stack while traversing the first flight and carry it to a bag filling station aligned with the second flight. An infeed conveyor has a plurality of transversely extending product trays containing the articles to be packaged which are transported with intermittent motion to the bag filling station in synchronism with the bag grippers. While the tray is stationary, movement of the bag gripper along the second flight draws the bag over the product-filled tray present at the bag filling station. A product pusher, synchronized with movement of the bag grippers and with the infeed conveyor, pushes the bagged products off the infeed conveyor onto a take-away conveyor.

Abstract: Device for packaging products, in particular bread, in bags, comprising a bearing guide (1) which guides a bearing part (2) which is driven in a reciprocating movement. The bearing part bears lower and upper scoops (7, 9) which can move relative to each other. During the movement of the bearing part, the scoops place a bag (13) over product (8). The lower scoop has a supporting surface (30) which, at least during the infeed of a product is inclined downwardly. A horizontal conveyance surface of discharge means (15) extends to just below the lower scoop. The device comprises a tilting unit in order to turn the scoops in such a way that the supporting surface assumes a horizontal position while a bag is being placed.

Abstract: A machine for filling reticulate sacks having closing and holding bands, or the like, has a turning support with four crossed arms. Each arm having two vertical blades. Four stations are located about the support. A first station carries the sacks to the blades. A second station forms a loop and delivers the sack to a suspension device. A third station fills the sack. A fourth station closes the mouth of the sack and fixes such. The machine further includes an initial sack holding device, a loop forming device, a suspension device for each sack arranged at the four arms of the turning support, a hopper unloading the products into the sack and a vertically displaceable platform. A fixing device for the closure of the sack and a device for unleashing the loop on the band from the suspension device are also provided.

Abstract: A bagging apparatus includes a bag storage mechanism arranged to store a number of stacked bags, a bag feeding mechanism arranged under a delivery chute and opposed to the bag storage mechanism, the bag feeding mechanism being provided at its upper end portion with clamping mechanisms for grasping an upper front side portion of a first bag in the stored bags and being tiltably mounted at its lower end portion to be moved toward and away from the bag storage mechanism for feeding the first bag grasped by the clamping mechanisms below the delivery chute, a bag support mechanism having a support rod arranged to support an upper rear side portion of the first bag when it is fed by the bag feeding mechanism and to cooperate with the clamping mechanisms for deploying the upper opening of the first bag, a sealing mechanism arranged to seal the upper opening of the bag when a predetermined amount of articles has been supplied into the deployed bag from the delivery chute, and a tilting mechanism arranged below the ba

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic bag hanging allows far more than 1000 bag hangings per hour. A bag is removed from a bag bucket conveyor by its closed end and is guided, bottom forward, at an approximately right angle around a roller deflection device. The bag is grasped, first in an upright position and so as to be slightly opened already by bag opening claw pairs 23, opened, and simultaneously guided via a double-lever system to a bag filling sleeve and automatically clamped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bagging a cylindrical object in one bag in a plurality of bags. The apparatus includes a finger assembly with fingers that are placed into a partially opened open end of the bag that is to receive the cylindrical object. After insertion into the open end of the bag, the fingers are separated uniformly in all directions and moved away from the rest of the bags, providing an appropriately shaped opening for the object to pass into the bag. The object passes through the expanded plurality of fingers into the opened open end of the bag. After the bag has been filled, a gripper finger grasps one edge of the bag and the finger assembly moves upwardly away from the bag as the bag is pulled onto a conveyor, where the bag is closed in a bag closure machine.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for disposing a sheet adjacent a flexible member. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for transporting the sheet to a loading position and a mechanism, located adjacent the loading position, for receiving and holding the sheet. The receiving and holding mechanism is capable of moving the sheet into juxtaposition with a surface of the flexible member so that the sheet contacts the surface of the flexible member upon being released by the receiving and holding mechanism. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for wrapping the flexible member about itself with the sheet interposed between opposed surfaces of the flexible member.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bagging ice cubes produced by a plurality of cubers with only one bagger when the cubers are stacked side-by-side with the ice produced by each cuber falling into one of two hoppers. The ice is moved from each hopper alternately to the bagger. There each batch of ice cubes is dropped into a bag, the bag sealed, and moved to a storage bin positioned below the bagger. The bags have a short side and a long side with the long side having holes to allow the bags to be supported by horizontal parallel rods extending through the holes. A platen is moved against the short side of a plurality of bags hanging from a first set of parallel rods extending through the holes in the long side of the bags. The air pressure between the platen and the short side of the bag is reduced to cause ambient atmospheric pressure to hold the short side of the outside bag against the platen.

Abstract: A bagging machine having means for holding a plurality of unopened bags wherein the bags have an extended tab, means for manipulating the extended tab, thereby opening the bag and allowing it to be filled, and clamping means for manipulating the mouth of the bag before, during and after filling.

Abstract: A bag detection apparatus (50) for sensing the position and seam integrity of a deformable bag (24) and bag transfer apparatus (53) for gripping and maintaining positive control of the edges (25) of the bag (24) during transfer from a bag filling station to a bag closure station. The bag positioning and seam integrity detecting apparatus (50) includes pneumatic conduits (60-67) mounted on the bag distending assembly (23) of a bag filling apparatus (20) and coupled to pressure switches (68). A controller (101), monitoring increases in pressure at each pressure switch (68), determines the position and condition of the mounted bag (24). The transfer apparatus (52) includes a pair of elongated arms (80) having hook-shaped gripping fingers (82) formed to engage and cooperate with clamping members (83) to grip the bag proximate the upper edge (25). A bag detection method also is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and packaging articles such as can ends is capable of receiving a continuous flow of articles and automatically delivering groups of articles of a prescribed number, disposed in a nested condition, to a packaging station. The apparatus comprises a plurality of generally parallel elongate lanes for simultaneously handling articles, one of the lanes being articles to the packaging station. A transport aligned for delivering arrangement linearly advances articles along at least the one aligned lane toward the packaging station. A pick-and-place device is selectively movable between positions in alignment with each of the lanes for selectively transferring articles to the one aligned lane from the other lanes. A control apparatus controls a predetermined sequence of operation of the transport arrangement and of the pick-and-place device for providing a substantially continuous supply of articles to the packaging station.

Abstract: A plurality of clamps arranged in equally spaced relation on an endless track are intermittently advanced at a pitch equal to the distance of each two adjacent clamps. A switch reactive only to the passage of a sufficiently heavy or filled bag which has been filled with an article is disposed downstream of a filling station, one of the stop positions for clamps. When the passage of a bag is not responded by switch, that is, when an empty or unfilled bag has passed near the switch, the particular clamp by which the empty bag is held is caused to pass through the final stop position and, in turn, through the first stop position before it can again reach the filling station, with the empty bag being held by the clamp all the while.

Abstract: An ice bagging apparatus comprising an ice collecting zone, which has water drain, an auger position below and in communication with the ice collecting zone and in communication with a separated ice delivery and bagging zone. The ice delivery and bagging zone has a weight sensing bottom closure, and a tractor with a vacuum surface for grasping and deploying a bag on the closure positioned for receiving ice delivered from the auger. The ice bagging apparatus is combined with an ice making apparatus and a bagged ice storage zone.