Apparatus for bagging foodstuffs

An assembly for weighing and bagging foodstuffs such as potatoes, comprising:

• weighing machine means for receiving bulk quantities of foodstuffs and separating the foodstuffs into discrete loads of like weight;
• hopper means positioned beneath said weighing machine means for receiving a preweighed load of foodstuffs from said weighing machine means, said hopper means having a downwardly directed chute;
• gripping means, positioned beneath said chute, which is adapted for selectively gripping or releasing a pre-made bag;
• conveying means for moving said hopper means and said gripping means together as a unit in a continuous motion along a closed path;
• and
• means for controlling said gripping means an said conveying means so that said gripping means is caused to (a) grip a bag when said conveying means is in a first position along said path;
• (b) move said conveying means through a second position along said path, whereupon foodstuffs may be loaded into said hopper means;
• and (c) cause the gripping means to release the bag at a third position along said path, said controlling means further comprising means adapted for sending a signal to a weighing machine to dump a load of foodstuffs having a predetermined weight into said hopper means when said conveying means travels through said second position, whereby such foodstuffs may be efficiently bagged.

An apparatus for bagging foodstuffs, comprising:

• a rotatable carousel having an upper surface, said upper surface having a plurality of hopper compartments defined therein, each of said hopper compartments including a downwardly-directed chute;
• means for imparting vibration to said carousel;
• a pair of grippers, positioned beneath each of the said chutes, which are adapted for selectively gripping or releasing a bag;
• a motor for rotating said carousel;
• and
• a controller for controlling said grippers and said motor so that, in normal operation, the grippers grip a bag when said carousel is in a first position;
• the carousel turns through a second position, whereupon foodstuffs may be loaded into one of the hoppers;
• and the grippers are caused to release the bat at a third position, whereby such foodstuffs may be efficiently bagged.