Apparatus for opening microwave popcorn bags

In a device for opening a bag having a top panel, a bottom panel, first and second gusseted sides, and an unsealed end, with each gusseted side including at least a top gusset and a bottom gusset, with the top gusset being pivotally connected to the top panel about a fold line and the bottom gusset being pivotally connected to the bottom panel about a fold line;

• with the device including means for removable securement to the bottom panel and movable from an attachment position to an open position, an arrangement for biasing the separation of the bottom panel from the bottom gussets greater than the top panel from the top gussets comprising, in combination:
• first and second parallel pins positioned generally parallel to and spaced from each other a distance less than the distance between the fold lines of the top gussets and the top panel, means for moving said bags in said operation direction to a position in which the bag with both the bottom and top panels are on one side of the parallel pins and with the pins engaging the bottom panel of the bag below the unsealed end, with the bottom panel deforming around and positioned on the opposite side of the pins as the removable securement means moves from the attachment position to the open position with the first and second pins engaging the top gussets and sandwiching them against the top panel.

Device for opening a bag having a top panel, a bottom panel, a side edge and an unsealed end, with the bag being movable in a lane in an operation direction generally perpendicular to the top panel and the bottom panel, comprising, in combination:

• means for removable securement to the bottom panel;
• a rod extending in a direction generally parallel to the bottom panel of the bag, with the removable securement means being attached to the rod;
• means for moving the rod and the removable securement means attached thereto from a transport position to an attachment position and then to an open position and back to the transport position, with the bag being movable in the operation direction past the removable securement means in the transport position and with the unsealed end of the bag being opened when the removable securement means is moved from its attachment position to its open position, with the rod in the transport position located spaced from the bottom panel in a direction perpendicular to the operation direction and outwardly of the side edge of the bag, with the rod in the attachment position located inwardly of the side edge of the bag and in the operation direction in front of the bottom panel of the bag.

Device for opening a bag having a top panel, a bottom panel and an upper unsealed end, with the bag being movable in a lane in an operation direction generally perpendicular to the top panel and the bottom panel, comprising, in combination:

• means for moving said bags in said operation direction, means for removable securement to the top panel;
• an elongated bar having an elongated length between opposite ends and extending horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the operation direction and parallel to the top panel, with the elongated length being greater than the width of the top and bottom panels, with the removable securement means mounted to the elongated bar intermediate the opposite ends;
• and means located at the opposite ends of the elongated bar and on opposite sides and outwardly of the bag for moving the elongated bar in a direction perpendicular to the operation direction and the elongated bar between a transport position and an attachment position, with the elongated bar and the removable securement means being spaced from the bag in the transport position and being below the unsealed end in the attachment position.

Method for opening a bag having a top panel, a bottom panel, first and second gusseted sides, and an unsealed end, with each gusseted side including at least a top gusset and a bottom gusset, with the top gusset being pivotally connected to the top panel about a fold line and the bottom gusset being pivotally connected to the bottom panel about a fold line, comprising the steps of:

• moving the bag in an operation direction generally perpendicular to the top panel and the bottom panel of the bag to an intermittent position;
• engaging the bottom panel of the bag at said intermittent position below the unsealed end at first and second, spaced, parallel locations generally parallel to and at a distance less than the distance between the fold lines of the top gussets and the top panel, with both the bottom and top panels of the bag located on one side of the first and second engagement locations;
• moving the bottom panel of the bag relative to the top panel to an open position, with the bottom panel deforming around and positioned on the opposite side of the engagement locations as the bottom panel moves to the open position with the first and second engagement locations then engaging the top gussets and sandwiching them against the top panel to bias the separation of the bottom panel from the bottom gussets greater than the separation of the top panel from the top gussets.