Bag-filling machine
AssigneeGolden Gate Mechanical, Inc.
InventorsMark E. Ensor, Thomas J Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To fill bags, a hopper is used to stored fill material. Bag holders are mounted on a transport mechanism. At one or more operator stations, an operator attaches a bag to one of the bag holders. At one or more fill stations, fill material from the hopper is used to fill a bag attached to a bag holder. A conveyer mechanism conveys the bag, after it has been filled, away from the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism transports the bag holder with the attached bag from an operator station to a fill station. The transport mechanism also transports the bag holder from a fill station to an operator station.
Claims20
A bag-filling machine comprising:
- a hopper in which is stored fill material;
- a plurality of bag holders mounted on a transport mechanism;
- at least one operator station at which an operator attaches a bag to a bag holder of the plurality of bag holders;
- at least one fill station where the fill material from the hopper is used to fill the bag attached to the bag holder of the plurality of bag holders;
- and
- a conveyor mechanism that conveys the bag, after it has been filled, away from the transport mechanism;
- wherein the transport mechanism transports the bag holder with the attached bag from the at least one operator station to the at least one fill station;
- wherein the transport mechanism transports the bag holder from the at least one fill station to the at least one operator station;
- wherein each bag holder of the plurality of bag holders comprises:
- a plurality of sides connected together by a plurality of hinges,
- a plurality of clips, each of the plurality of clips being attached to one side of the plurality of sides, wherein the plurality of sides are in a flat configuration and the plurality of clips are disengaged when the operator attaches the bag to the bag holder of the plurality of bag holders, wherein the plurality of sides are in an open configuration and the plurality of clips are engaged when the fill material from the hopper is used to fill the bag attached to the bag holder of the plurality of bag holders, and wherein the plurality of sides are in a flat configuration and the plurality of clips are disengaged when the bag is conveyed away from the transport mechanism;
- and
- wherein each clip of the plurality of clips includes a tab that is depressed to disengage the clip and is released to engage the clip;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sides comprise more than two sides and the plurality of hinges comprise more than two hinges.
A bag holder for a bag-filling machine, the bag holder comprising:
- a plurality of sides connected together by a plurality of hinges;
- and
- a plurality of clips, each of the plurality of clips being attached to one side of the plurality of sides;
- wherein the plurality of sides are in a flat configuration and the plurality of clips are disengaged when an operator attaches a bag to the bag holder;
- wherein the plurality of sides are in an open configuration and the plurality of clips are engaged when fill material from a hopper is used to fill the bag attached to the bag holder;
- wherein the plurality of sides are in a flat configuration and the plurality of clips are disengaged when the bag is conveyed away from a transport mechanism;
- wherein each clip of the plurality of clips includes a tab that is depressed to disengage the clip and is released to engage the clip;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sides comprise more than two sides and the plurality of hinges comprise more than two hinges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.