Apparatus for supplying valved sacks to a filling nozzle

In an apparatus for successively supplying to the filling nozzle (11) of a serial packaging machine (12) a block bottom sack (10) having valve means (10a) at one end thereof, said packaging machine including a source of valved sacks (16), separating means (17) for supplying a sack from said source, means for opening the valve means of said sack, transporting means for transporting the sack in a suspended inverted condition from the separating means to the filling nozzle, and valve sealing means (S) associated with said filling nozzle for sealing the valve means,

• the improvement wherein said transporting means comprises:
• (a) first linear conveyor means (14) for linearly transporting said sack from said separating means to a waiting position (18) spaced from said filling nozzle a distance at least as great as the width of the sack, said first linear conveyor means including:
• (1) support plate means (38,39) for engaging the top portion of the sack to support the sack in a valve-open condition, said support plate means being at the same height as, and arranged on the opposite side of said waiting position from, said filling nozzle;
• and
• (2) first endless conveyor means (33) arranged below and adjacent said support plate means for engaging opposed first side portions of the sack adjacent said sack top portion and for transporting the valve-open sack from said source toward said waiting position;
• and
• (b) second linear conveyor means (15) arranged colinearly of said first endless conveyor means for engaging said opposed first side portions of the sack and for conveying the sack to said filling nozzle.