초록 ▼

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,

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move

1. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station; andthe bag holder including at least one pull-off hook connected to a frame member; the pull-off hook being adapted to carry the bag; the pull-off hook adapted to allow the bag to be torn from the hook without pinching the bag between the hook and the frame member wherein the pull-off hook has a downwardly curved portion adapted to carry the bag. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the bags are supplied on a wicket having a pair of spaced wicket rods; each of the wicket rods having an end; the bag holder further comprising a receiver having openings adapted to receive the ends of the wicket rods. 3. The machine of claim 1, wherein each pull-off hook is curved 180 degrees. 4. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station; andthe bag filling station including a funnel assembly adapted to remove the bag from the bag holder. 5. The machine of claim 4, further comprising an air knife adapted to direct air into the opening of the bag to open the bag. 6. The machine of claim 4, further comprising a lower support structure adapted to support the bottom of the bag while the bag is being filled. 7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the lower support structure moves with the grabber assembly. 8. The machine of claim 4, wherein the funnel assembly includes first and second halves that are movable between open and closed positions; the open position of the halves adapted to open a bag being held on the funnel assembly. 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the funnel assembly is adapted to direct material between the first and second halves into the bag. 10. The machine of claim 4, further comprising an air supply line adapted to blow air into the bag to open the bag before the bag is filled. 11. The machine of claim 4, wherein the sealing station includes a flexible pinch pad disposed adjacent a sealing apparatus; the pinch pad adapted to hold the bag closed while the bag is being sealed by the sealing apparatus. 12. The machine of claim 4, wherein the grabber assembly pivots to move from the tilling station to the sealing station. 13. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station;the grabber assembly pivoting to move from the filling station to the sealing station; andthe grabber assembly including a pair of grabber arms and a drive rod; the grabber assembly pivoting about the drive rod; the grabber arms being offset from the drive rod. 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the grabber arms initially pivot upwardly away from the filling station. 15. The machine of claim 13, wherein the grabber assembly further includes a grabber disposed at the top of each grabber arm; each grabber being adapted to grasp a top edge of the bag. 16. The machine of claim 15, wherein each grabber includes a finger assembly and a drive mechanism adapted to move the finger assembly along an arc such that the finger assembly drops down onto the top edges of the bag when the finger assemblies are grasping the bag. 17. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the mach ine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;means for filling the bag with material at a bag filling station;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station; the grabber assembly pivoting to move the bag from the bag tilling station to the sealing station; andthe grabber assembly includes grabbers adapted to grasp the bag; the grabber assembly moving the grabbers away from each other as the grabber assembly pivots to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station. 18. The machine of claim 17, wherein each of the grabbers has a base slidably mounted on a slide rod between extended and retracted positions;each of the grabbers further having a hand assembly slidably and rotatably mounted to the base; anda finger assembly connected to the hand assembly; the finger assembly pivoting with respect to the hand assembly. 19. The machine of claim 18, further comprising an actuator mounted to the base of the grabber; the actuator being connected to the hand assembly to pivot the hand assembly with respect to the base. 20. The machine of claim 19, further comprising a stationary cam connected to the base of the grabber; the hand assembly being slidingly mounted to the stationary cam. 21. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;the bag filling station including a funnel assembly adapted to remove the bag from the bag holder;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag; andmeans for moving the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station. 22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the funnel assembly includes first and second halves that are movable between open and closed positions; the open position of the halves adapted to open a bag being held on the funnel assembly. 23. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station;the bag holder including at least one pull-off hook connected to a frame member; the pull-off hook being adapted to carry the bag; the pull-off hook adapted to allow the bag to be torn from the hook without pinching the bag between the hook and the frame member; andthe bag filling station including a funnel assembly adapted to remove the bag from the bag holder. 24. The machine of claim 23, wherein the funnel assembly includes first and second halves that are movable between open and closed positions; the open position of the halves adapted to open a bag being held on the funnel assembly. 25. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the bag; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station;the bag holder including at least one pull-off hook connected to a frame member; the pull-off hook being adapted to carry the bag; the pull-off hook adapted to allow the bag to be torn from the hook without pinching the bag between the hook and the frame member; andthe grabber assembly pivots to move from the filling station to the sealing station. 26. The machine of claim 25, further comprising a lower support structure adapted to support the bottom of the bag while the bag is being filled. 27. The machine of claim 26, wherein the lower support structure moves with the grabber assembly. 28. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag and sealing the b ag; the machine comprising:a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;a sealing station adapted to seal the bag;a grabber assembly adapted to move the bag from the bag filling station to the sealing station;the grabber assembly pivoting to move from the filling station to the sealing station;the grabber assembly including a pair of grabber arms and a drive rod; the grabber assembly pivoting about the drive rod; andthe grabber arms initially pivoting upwardly away from the filling station to reduce height loss in the bag handling machine. 29. The machine of claim 28, wherein the grabber arms are offset from the drive rod. 30. The machine of claim 29, wherein the grabber assembly further includes a grabber disposed at the top of each grabber arm; each grabber being adapted to grasp a top edge of the bag. 31. The machine of claim 30, wherein each grabber includes a finger assembly and a drive mechanism adapted to move the finger assembly along an arc such that the finger assembly drops down onto the top edges of the bag when the finger assemblies are grasping the bag. 32. A bag handling machine for film material into a bag having an upper opening and a bottom; the machine comprising:bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;the bag filling station including a funnel assembly; andthe funnel assembly including first and second funnel members that have open and closed positions; the closed position of the first and second funnel members allowing a portion of the funnel assembly to be fit within the upper opening of a bag;the open position of the funnel members adapted to open the bag being disposed about the portion of the funnel assembly; andan air knife adapted to direct air toward the bag holder and into the opening of the bag to open the bag when the bag is carried by the bag filling station. 33. The machine of claim 32, wherein the bag is removed from the bag holder while a portion of the funnel is disposed in the bag. 34. The machine of claim 32, wherein the funnel assembly pivots up and down with respect to the bag holder. 35. The machine of claim 34, wherein the funnel assembly pivots inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bag holder. 36. The machine of claim 32, wherein the machine further comprises a frame with a number of frame elements, and further comprising a pair of grabbers moveably carried by the frame between first and second positions; the second position of the grabbers allowing the grabbers to grasp the bag positioned on the funnel. 37. The machine of claim 36, wherein each grabber includes a finger that grasps the top edges of the bag when the grabber grasps the bag. 38. The machine of claim 37, wherein the fingers pivot to grasp the top edges of the bag. 39. The machine of claim 36, further comprising a sealing station; the grabbers moving from the second position where they grasp the bag to a sealing position at the sealing station; the sealing position being physically lower than the second position when measured with respect to the frame. 40. The machine of claim 39, wherein the grabbers stretch the bag while moving from the second position to the sealing position. 41. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag having an upper opening and a bottom; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;the bag filling station including a funnel assembly; andthe funnel assembly including first and second funnel members that have open and closed positions; the closed position of the first and second funnel members allowing a portion of the funnel assembly to be fit within the upper opening of a bag;the open position of the funnel members adapted to open the bag being disposed about the portion of the funnel assembly; anda lower support structure adapted to support the bottom of the bag while the bag is being fil led. 42. The machine of claim 41, wherein the bag is removed from the bag holder while a portion of the funnel is disposed in the bag. 43. The machine of claim 41, wherein the funnel assembly pivots up and down with respect to the bag holder. 44. The machine of claim 43, wherein the funnel assembly pivots inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bag holder. 45. The machine of claim 41, wherein the machine further comprises a frame with a number of frame elements, and further comprising a pair of grabbers moveably carried by the frame between first and second positions; the second position of the grabbers allowing the grabbers to grasp the bag positioned on the funnel. 46. The machine of claim 45, wherein each grabber includes a finger that grasps the top edges of the bag when the grabber grasps the bag. 47. The machine of claim 46, wherein the fingers pivot to grasp the top edges of the bag. 48. The machine of claim 45, further comprising a sealing station; the grabbers moving from the second position where they grasp the bag to a sealing position at the sealing station; the sealing position being physically lower than the second position when measured with respect to the frame. 49. The machine of claim 48, wherein the grabbers stretch the bag while moving from the second position to the sealing position. 50. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag having an upper opening and a bottom; the machine comprising:a bag holder adapted to hold the bag before the bag is filled;a bag filling station adapted to fill the bag with material;the bag filling station including a funnel assembly; andthe funnel assembly including first and second funnel members that have open and closed positions; the closed position of the first and second funnel members allowing a portion of the funnel assembly to be fit within the upper opening of a bag;the open position of the funnel members adapted to open the bag being disposed about the portion of the funnel assembly; andthe bags being supplied on a wicket having a pair of spaced wicket rods; each of the wicket rods having an end; the bag holder further comprising a receiver having openings adapted to receive the ends of the wicket rods. 51. The machine of claim 50, wherein the funnel assembly is adapted to direct material between the first and second members into the bag. 52. The machine of claim 50, wherein the funnel assembly pivots up and down with respect to the bag holder. 53. The machine of claim 52, wherein the funnel assembly pivots inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bag holder. 54. The machine of claim 50, wherein the bag is removed from the bag holder while a portion of the funnel is disposed in the bag. 55. The machine of claim 50, wherein the machine further comprises a frame with a number of frame elements, and further comprising a pair of grabbers moveably carried by the frame between first and second positions; the second position of the grabbers allowing the grabbers to grasp the bag positioned on the funnel. 56. The machine of claim 55, wherein each grabber includes a finger that grasps the top edges of the bag when the grabber grasps the bag. 57. The machine of claim 56, wherein the fingers pivot to grasp the top edges of the bag. 58. The machine of claim 55, further comprising a sealing station; the grabbers moving from the second position where they grasp the bag to a sealing position at the sealing station; the sealing position being physically lower than the second position when measured with respect to the frame. 59. The machine of claim 58, wherein the grabbers stretch the bag while moving from the second position to the sealing position. 60. A bag handling machine for filling material into a bag having an opening that defines top edges; the bag being a wicket-style bag having a pair of openings that allow the bag to be supported on a bag wicket; the machine comprising:a frame having a plurality of frame elements;a bag holder carried by the frame; the bag holder configured to hold a plurality of wicket-style bags;a funnel carried by the frame; the funnel adapted to direct the material into one of the bags; the bag being connected to the bag holder when a portion of the funnel is initially inserted into the bag; the bag being torn from the bag holder while a portion of the funnel is disposed in the bag; anda pair of grabbers moveably carried by the frame between first and second positions; the second position of the grabbers allowing the grabbers to grasp the bag positioned on the funnel. 61. The machine of claim 60, wherein each grabber includes a finger that grasps the top edges of the bag when the grabber grasps the bag. 62. The machine of claim 61, wherein the fingers pivot to grasp the top edges of the bag. 63. The machine of claim 60, wherein the funnel opens and closes; the funnel being moveable to an open position when a portion of the funnel is disposed in the bag. 64. The machine of claim 60, further comprising a sealing station; the grabbers moving from the second position where they grasp the bag to a sealing position at the sealing station; the sealing position being physically lower than the second postion when measured with respect to the frame. 65. The machine of claim 64, wherein the grabbers stretch the bag while moving from the second position to the sealing position. 66. The machine of claim 65, wherein the grabbers pivot from the second position to the sealing position. 67. The machine of claim 64, wherein the grabbers are spaced apart a first distance when the grabbers are in the second position and the grabbers are spaced apart a second distance when the grabbers are in the sealing position; the second distance being larger than the first distance.