Bag opening verification system and method for operating a bagging machine

A bagging machine comprising:

• a supply handling assembly configured to support a supply of converted web material and to feed the converted web material toward a bag loading area of the machine, wherein the supply of converted web material comprises a plurality of individual bags connected in a continuous web, with each of the bags having a front and rear side that define therebetween an opening of the individual bags;
• a bag loading assembly configured to open the individual bags of the continuous web as the web enters the bag loading area through a bag inlet, the bag loading assembly comprising:
• a rear film control assembly comprising at least one first film control element operatively associated with the bag inlet to control the rear side of the opening of one of the individual bags;
• a bag opening assembly movable relative to the bag inlet and comprising:
• a second film control element configured to engage the front side of the one of the individual bags and having first and second gripper portions,
• a pressure plate supporting the second film control element and configured to reciprocate relative to the bag inlet for opening and closing the individual bags, and
• a sensor positioned to detect a presence of the front side of the bag between the first and second gripper portions of the second film control element;
• and
• a control system in communication with the sensor and configured to change an operational sequence of the bag opening assembly based on data received from the sensor.