Packaging machine for inserting articles into bags

A packaging machine for inserting semi-compressible articles into preformed bags of the kind having one side thereof extended at the open end of the bag so as to define a main portion and an extension portion, the machine comprising a plate for supporting a stack of said bags substantially beneath their main portions, a stationary upper gripping member for engaging the upper surfaces of said extension portion of said bags, a movable lower gripping member supporting the extension portions of said bags in opposition to said upper gripping member, means carried by the lower gripping member for temporarily retaining the bags of the stack of bags relative thereto;

• means for inserting articles through the open end of the upper bag of the stack;
• and, linkage means connecting said lower gripping member and said support plate for effecting differential vertical movement therebetween;
• means for raising said lower gripping member upwardly toward said upper gripping member to clamp said extension portions therebetween;
• and means for permitting said lower gripper member to release the extension portions, said gripping members being maintained in clamping pressure about said bag extension portions while the articles are inserted into the upper bag, said articles undergoing limited compression against the end wall of the bag after which the clamping pressure is released by movement of said lower gripping member, permitting the filled bag to move relative to the upper and lower gripping members under the influence of said article inserting means, the force applied to the bag being sufficient to overcome the restraint imposed by the temporary retaining means.