Bulk bag filler with hook latch mechanism
AssigneeFlexicon Corporation
InventorsKeith Sterner, David Gill, John Simonof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bulk bag filler is provided having a frame assembly, a bag filling head, rotatable hooks for engaging bag loops and latch assemblies to engage the rotatable hooks. Each of the latch assemblies include an actuatable latch pin to release the rotatable hook, and upon release, the latch assemblies are gravity driven to return to a latching position in which the rotatable hooks are re-engageable. A method for loading a bulk bag with a bulk material is also provided.
Claims20
A bulk bag filler comprising:
- a frame assembly;
- a bag filling head connected to the frame assembly;
- a plurality of rotatable hooks, to which bulk bag loops are connectable, located on the bag filling head;
- and
- a plurality of latch assemblies, each of the latch assemblies allocated to one of the rotatable hooks and located on the bag filling head adjacent to the one of the rotatable hooks, and the latch assemblies each comprising an actuatable latch pin to release a hook support arm that supports the rotatable hook, and upon release, the latch assemblies are gravity driven to return the hook support arm to a latching position in which the rotatable hooks are re-engageable.
A releasable attachment system for a bulk bag filler having a bag filling head, the attachment system comprising:
- a plurality of rotatable hooks, to which bulk bag loops are connectable, for connection to a bag filling head;
- and
- a plurality of latch assemblies, each of the latch assemblies allocated to one of the rotatable hooks and located on the bag filling head adjacent to the one of the rotatable hooks, the latch assemblies each comprising an actuatable latch pin to release the rotatable hooks, and at least one gravity driven component for returning the latch assemblies to a latching position in which the rotatable hooks are re-engageable.
A releasable attachment system for a bulk bag filler having a bag filling head, the attachment system comprising:
- a plurality of rotatable hooks, to which bulk bag loops are connectable, for connection to a bag filling head;
- and
- a plurality of latch assemblies, each of the latch assemblies allocated to one of the rotatable hooks and located on the bag filling head adjacent to the one of the rotatable hooks, the latch assemblies each comprising:
- a latch base;
- a hook support arm pivotably attached to the latch base at a first pivot point, the hook support arm being in removable contact with a respective one of the plurality of rotatable hooks;
- a locking arm pivotably attached to the latch base at a second pivot point, the locking arm being in removable contact with the hook support arm for retaining the hook support arm in a latching position;
- a reset weight arm pivotably attached to the at least one latch base, the reset weight arm being in removable contact with the hook support arm for biasing the hook support arm in the latching position;
- and
- an actuatable latch pin in removable contact with the locking arm to release the locking arm.
A method for loading a bulk bag with a bulk material, the method comprising:
- connecting the bulk bag to a bag filling head of a bulk bag filler by connecting a plurality of bulk bag loops of the bulk bag to a plurality of positionable hooks connected to the bag filling head;
- moving the plurality of positionable hooks to a latching position in which each of the positionable hooks is engaged by one of a plurality of gravity driven latch assemblies connected to the bag filling head;
- filling the bulk bag with a bulk material;
- disengaging each of the plurality of gravity driven latch assemblies to release each of the plurality of positionable hooks and allowing the latch assemblies to return to the latching position through gravity induced motion;
- and
- disconnecting the filled bulk bag from the bag filling head by removing the bulk bag loops of the bulk bag from the plurality of positionable hooks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.