초록 ▼

An assembly (10) to dispatch bags (14). The assembly (10) includes a conveyor (12) that provides rows of bags (14), with the rows of bags (14) supported on a first delivery assembly (18) that moves each row downward to form stacks (47) of bags (14) on a second delivery assembly (34). Stacks (14) of

An assembly (10) to dispatch bags (14). The assembly (10) includes a conveyor (12) that provides rows of bags (14), with the rows of bags (14) supported on a first delivery assembly (18) that moves each row downward to form stacks (47) of bags (14) on a second delivery assembly (34). Stacks (14) of the bags (14) are then moved downward to be moved into containers or boxes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bag stacking assembly to stack bags, the bag stacking assembly including: a first delivery assembly to receive a plurality of the bags at a first receiving position and sequentially move the bags downward along a passage to a first delivery position; anda second delivery assembly to receive onl

1. A bag stacking assembly to stack bags, the bag stacking assembly including: a first delivery assembly to receive a plurality of the bags at a first receiving position and sequentially move the bags downward along a passage to a first delivery position; anda second delivery assembly to receive only the bags from the first delivery assembly, at a second receiving position that is adjacent the first delivery position, so that stacks of the bags are sequentially formed in the passage and supported by the second delivery assembly, with the second delivery assembly moving each stack downward, to a second delivery position, as each stack is being formed; anda control device coordinating operation of the first and the second delivery assemblies in a manner so that the stacks are formed;a backing member adjacent the passage and having a plurality of upwardly extending slots; andwherein the first delivery assembly includes at least one first platform to which the bags are delivered at the first delivery position, the first platform being moved down the passage to the first delivery position, and the second delivery assembly includes at least one second platform, the second platform being movable down the passage from the second receiving position to accommodate transfer of the bags from the first platform to be supported on the second platform to provide for stacking of the bags being supported by the second platform, with the first platform being a plurality of fingers that pass down the slots. 2. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, wherein the first delivery assembly includes at least one further platform, and the first delivery assembly includes a drive, the drive being operable to move the first platform at a different speed to the further platform. 3. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, wherein the second platform includes a plurality of fingers, with adjacent fingers of each platform being separated by a slot, with the fingers of both platforms extending generally transverse relative to said passage when located therein, and being generally parallel. 4. The bag stacking assembly of claim 3, wherein the drive moves the second platform about a closed loop. 5. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, further including at least one backing member extending downwardly adjacent to said passage to aid in retaining the bags on the platforms. 6. The bag stacking assembly of claim 5, includes two backing members, the backing members being spaced so as to be on opposite sides of the passage, the backing members cooperating to retain the bags on the platform. 7. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, wherein both platforms are generally horizontally oriented when passing along said passage, and the platforms when moving along said passage along a generally linear path. 8. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, further including a stack transfer member, the stack transfer member being located adjacent the second platform delivery position, and movable to transfer the stacks from the passage. 9. The bag stacking assembly of claim 8, wherein the assembly includes at least one door closing a portion of said passage, the door being movable to an open position to provide for transfer of the stacks from within the passage. 10. The bag stacking assembly of claim 9, wherein said door pivots about a generally horizontal axis, and includes a portion that projects into the passage when providing for the delivery of the stacks, the portion being positionable to engage the stacks to ensure that the stacks have a desired height. 11. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, further including a conveyor to deliver the bags to the first platform receiving position, the conveyor being angularly movable to provide for the delivery of bags to each first platform so the bags can be arranged in a generally horizontal row, and said control device coordinate operation of the conveyor with the delivery assemblies. 12. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, wherein the delivery assemblies are located on opposite side of the passage. 13. The bah stacking assembly of claim 1, wherein each platform is maintained in a fixed orientation. 14. A method of stacking bags, the method including: delivering a plurality of the bags to a first receiving position at which the bags are supported by a first support, and arranging the bags in a horizontal first row on the first support;lowering the row to a first delivery position at which row is delivered to a second support at a second receiving position;lowering the second support from the second receiving position,delivering at least one further row of the bags to the first support at the first receiving position so to as to be supported by the first support;lowering each further row to the first delivery position; andtransferring each further row so as to be supported on the first row so as to form a stack. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein each stack is transferred in a predetermined direction to the second delivery position. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined direction is downward. 17. The bag stacking assembly of claim 1, further including a drive that moves the first platform around a closed loop.