Separator and feeder for a strip of flexible bags

A separator and feeder for separating a strip of flexible bags, having upstanding spouts, at successive longitudinally-spaced transverse joints, comprising a vertically-reciprocable separator member, means for reciprocating the separator member, in-feed conveyor means ahead of the separator member for feeding the strip thereto and discharge conveyor means beyond the separator member for discharging the separated bags, means for driving the conveyor means intermittently, a feeder including a bed plate onto which the separated bags are moved, a longitudinally-extending, spout-receiving guide channel above the bed plate having inlet and outlet ends, said feeder also including a carriage which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating and transverse rocking movements relative to said guide channel, fingers carried by said carriage at longitudinally-spaced intervals so that in a lower rocked position of the carriage they will extend into the channel and in an upper rocked position they will be withdrawn from the channel, means for intermittently moving said carriage longitudinally forwardly to cause it to move in a feeding stroke forwardly when the fingers are down to push the spouts along the guide channel and rearwardly in a retracting stroke when the fingers are up to miss the spouts, and means for rocking the carriage between a position where the fingers are down in the channel and a position where the fingers are up out of the channel;

• a pivoted escapement being provided at the outlet end of the spout channel for stopping the leading spout therein, and yieldable means for normally holding the escapement in a position where the leading spout in the channel will be engaged and stopped.

A separator and feeder for separating a strip of flexible bags, having upstanding spouts, at successive longitudinally-spaced transverse joints, comprising a vertically-reciprocable separator member, means for reciprocating the separator member, in-feed conveyor means ahead of the separator member for feeding the strip thereto and discharge conveyor means beyond the separator member for discharging the separated bags, means for driving the conveyor means intermittently, a feeder including a bed plate onto which the separated bags are moved, a longitudinally-extending, spout-receiving guide channel above the bed plate having inlet and outlet ends, said feeder also including a carriage which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating and transverse rocking movements relative to said guide channel, fingers carried by said carriage at longitudinally-spaced intervals so that in a lower rocked position of the carriage they will extend into the channel and in an upper rocked position they will be withdrawn from the channel, means for intermittently moving said carriage longitudinally forwardly to cause it to move in a feeding stroke forwardly when the fingers are down to push the spouts along the guide channel and rearwardly in a retracting stroke when the fingers are up to miss the spouts, and means for rocking the carriage between a position where the fingers are down in the channel and a position where the fingers are up out of the channel;

• said infeed conveyor for the feeder comprising a horizontal guide and support plate for receiving the bag strip, draw rolls located just ahead of the separator member extending transversely of the plate for gripping the strip, said rolls being formed to grip the strip at points laterally inwardly of the edges thereof, said rolls also being formed with axially-alternating grooves and gripping surfaces, said rolls comprising a lower gripping roll and a pair of axially-spaced upper gripping rolls to provide a passage so that the upstanding spouts on the bag strip can pass between the rolls, said discharge conveyor for discharging the separated bags from the separator comprising a second set of upper and lower transversely-extending gripping rolls just beyond the separator member and spaced ahead of the draw rolls to provide a gap therebetween through which the separator member can reciprocate, said second set of rolls being formed with axially-spaced grooves and gripping surfaces, said rolls comprising a lower gripping roll and a pair of axially-spaced upper gripping rolls to provide a passage so that the upstanding spouts on the strip can pass between said upper rolls;
• a third set of transverse rolls including upper and lower rolls spaced horizontally beyond the second set in parallel relationship thereto to receive gripping bands which are passed continuously around said second and third set in said grooves and are disposed in laterally-spaced relationship, means for intermittently driving all of said rolls, the outermost bands being inwardly spaced from the ends of the rolls, said third set of rolls including a lower transverse roll and a pair of axially alligned upper rolls spaced apart to provide a central spout passage, said bands on the upper rolls being divided into two laterally-spaced groups carried by the upper rolls of the respective second and third sets with a central spout passage therebetween, each group being carried by a frame mounted for swinging movement around the axis of the laterally-spaced upper rolls of the second set, and means for intermittently producing said swinging movement to release the severed bag.