# US 11,299,310 B2 · Apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,310 B2 - Document ID: US11299310B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/760,944 - Filed: 2018-10-30 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-03 - Assignees: Main Tech S.R.L. - Applicants: Main Tech S.r.l. - Inventors: Renato Pegoraro; Stefano Rostin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299310B2 ## CPC - B65B 69/0008: {Opening and emptying bags} - B06B 1/161: {Adjustable systems, i.e. where amplitude or direction of frequency of vibration can be varied} - B65B 69/0033: {by cutting (B65B69/0008-B65B69/0025 take precedence)} - B06B 1/10: making use of mechanical energy (B06B1/18, B06B1/20 take precedence) - B65B 2210/10: Means for removing bridges formed by the material or article, e.g. anti-clogging devices - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract An apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material. The apparatus comprises a cutting member for cutting the bags and a support grid including a row of rods arranged downstream of the cutting member and onto which the bags are carried once they have been cut. The rods are associated with a motovibrator designed to cause the rods to vibrate, facilitating the emptying of the bags. Furthermore, a resilient spacer is interposed between each pair of adjacent rods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material, comprising: a cutting member for cutting the bags; a support grid including a row of rods arranged downstream of the cutting member with respect to an advancement direction of the bags and on which the bags are carried once they have been cut; a motovibrator associated with the rods and configured to vibrate the rods and aid the process of emptying the bags; and a resilient spacer interposed between each pair of adjacent rods. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rods each have opposite end regions and are free in at least one end region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rods are free at both opposite end regions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rods each have a median zone and are strictly tightened in the median zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of heads and wherein the rods are held between the pair of heads connected to the median zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motovibrator is connected to the pair of heads. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rods each have a median zone and wherein the motovibrator vibrates the rods in the median zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rods substantially extend along the advancement direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rods comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the second portion inclined with respect to the advancement direction and between the first and third portions that are substantially parallel to the advancement direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressurized gas circuit configured to blow a jet of gas towards the bags once the bags are cut by the cutting member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support grid has opposite sides and the pressurized gas circuit has a plurality of nozzles arranged along the opposed sides of the support grid and oriented towards the support grid, substantially perpendicular to the advancement direction, with each nozzle having an adjustable head allowing adjustment of the direction of the jet of gas. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material, comprising: a cutting member for cutting the bags; a support grid including a row of rods arranged downstream of the cutting member with respect to an advancement direction of the bags and on which the bags are carried once they have been cut, wherein the rods each have a median zone and opposite end regions, are free in at least one end region, and are strictly tightened in the median zone; a motovibrator associated with the rods and configured to vibrate the rods in the median zone of the rods and aid the process of emptying the bags; and a resilient spacer interposed between each pair of adjacent rods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rods are free at both opposite end regions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of heads and wherein the rods are held between the pair of heads connected to the median zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the motovibrator is connected to the pair of heads. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rods substantially extend along the advancement direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rods comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the second portion inclined with respect to the advancement direction and between the first and third portions that are substantially parallel to the advancement direction. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material, comprising: a cutting member for cutting the bags; a support grid including a pair of heads and a row of rods arranged downstream of the cutting member with respect to an advancement direction of the bags and on which the bags are carried once they have been cut, wherein the rods each have a median zone and opposite end regions, are free at both opposite end regions, and are strictly connected to and held between the pair of heads in the median zone; a motovibrator connected to the pair of heads, associated with the rods, and configured to vibrate the rods in the median zone of the rods and aid the process of emptying the bags; and a resilient spacer interposed between each pair of adjacent rods. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rods substantially extend along the advancement direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rods comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the second portion inclined with respect to the advancement direction and between the first and third portions that are substantially parallel to the advancement direction.