Method and apparatus for opening, filling and closing a premade wicketed bag

An apparatus for opening a bag in an automatic bagging system, comprising:

• a holding mechanism for supporting at least one bag having a mouth and a first side in supported engagement with said holding mechanism;
• an air supply;
• a horizontally pivotable plate extendible downwardly from a pivot at an angle to a first position where an edge of said plate, spaced apart from said pivot, is adjacent to the bag, said plate in said first position being oriented to guide air from said air supply into the mouth of the bag, said plate being movable to a second position where said plate extends farther downwardly and into the bag to support the mouth of the bag for loading and to support a second side of the bag;
• an actuator mechanism operable to move said pivotable plate from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a conveyor disposed beneath the bag and in engagement therewith to support the bag while a product supply fills the bag with a product, said conveyor being operative to move the bag filled with the product to a bag closer.

An apparatus for opening a bag in an automatic bagging system, comprising:

• a holding mechanism for holding at least one bag having a mouth and a first side supported by said holding mechanism;
• an air supply;
• a horizontally pivotable plate extendible downwardly from a pivot at an angle to a first position where an edge of said plate, spaced apart from said pivot, is adjacent to the bag, said plate in said first position being oriented to guide air from said air supply into the mouth of the bag, said plate being movable to a second position where said plate extends farther downwardly and into the bag to support the mouth of the bag for loading and to support a second side of the bag:
• an actuator mechanism operable to move said pivotable plate from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a stop operatively associated with said plate, the second side of the bag being clampable between said plate and said stop when said plate is in said second position.
• wherein a clamping side of said plate and said stop comprises a rubber gripping coating.

A method for automatically bagging a product, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one premade wicketed bag having a bag opening;
• directing a flow of air toward the bag opening;
• guiding air into the bag opening by positioning a horizontally pivotable plate extendible downwardly from a pivot at an angle to a first position where the far edge of the plate is adjacent to the wicketed bag to guide air from the flow of air into the wicketed bag opening;
• moving the plate to a second position where the plate supportively clamps the wicketed bag on a first side, the wicketed bag being opened to receive a product as the product is dispensed;
• filling the wicketed bag with a product;
• and
• supporting the wicketed bag on a conveyor while the wicketed bag is being filled.

An apparatus for opening, filling and closing bags of a wicketed bag supply supported by said apparatus, comprising:

• an air blower for opening one bag of the wicketed bag supply;
• a front bag clamp for holding a front portion of the bag as the bag is opened;
• a rear bag clamp and stop assembly comprising a rear bag clamp and a cooperating stop, mounted adjacent to the wicketed bag supply, said rear bag clamp being pivotable to a first position to guide air from said air blower into the bag, and to a second position to secure a rear portion of the bag to said stop;
• a dispensing mechanism, said dispensing mechanism operative to supply a product to the open bag;
• a conveyor disposed beneath the open bag and in engagement therewith to support the bag while a product supply fills the open bag with said product and wherein said conveyor is operative to move the open bag filled with the product from a product supply to a bag closer;
• a process slide mounted for movement away from the wicketed bag supply and comprising a gripping member, wherein said gripping member grasps the open bag and said process slide pulls the open bag from the wicketed bag supply;
• and
• a bag closer operative to close the open bag as said process slide pulls the open bag from the wicketed bag supply.

An apparatus for opening a bag in an automatic bagging system, comprising:

• a holding mechanism for holding at least one bag having a mouth and a first side supported by said holding mechanism;
• an air supply;
• a horizontally pivotable plate extendible downwardly from a pivot at an angle to a first position where an edge of said plate, spaced apart from said pivot, is adjacent to the bag, said plate in said first position being oriented to guide air from said air supply into the mouth of the bag, said plate being movable to a second position where said plate extends farther downwardly and into the bag to support the mouth of the bag for loading and to support a second side of the bag;
• an actuator mechanism operable to move said pivotable plate from said first position to said second position;
• a product supply operative to fill the bag with the product;
• and
• an agitator to keep said product supply from jamming with the product.

An apparatus for opening a bag in an automatic bagging system, comprising:

• a holding mechanism for supporting at least one bag having a mouth and a first side in supported engagement with said holding mechanism;
• an air supply;
• a horizontally pivotable plate extendible downwardly from a pivot at an angle to a first position where an edge of said plate, spaced apart from said pivot, is adjacent to the bag, said plate in said first position being oriented to guide air from said air supply into the mouth of the bag, said plate being movable to a second position where said plate extends farther downwardly and into the bag to support the mouth of the bag for loading and to support a second side of the bag;
• an actuator mechanism operable to move said pivotable plate from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a stop, the second side of the bag being clamped between said plate and said stop when said plate is in said second position.