Bag manipulating method and assembly for a bag filling station

A device for filling and sealing bags, the device comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading station within the frame and having a horizontal axis extending from one end of the device to another end of the device;
• and
• a bag manipulating assembly including:
• a pair of bag grippers configured to receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in the loading station, the bag grippers movable in a plane substantially normal to the horizontal axis;
• an upper bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• and
• a lower bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• wherein the spreader plate on the upper bag spreader assembly is rotatable into the open end of the bag.

A device for filling and sealing bags, the device comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading station within the frame and having a horizontal axis extending from one end of the device to another end of the device;
• and
• a bag manipulating assembly including:
• a pair of bag grippers configured to receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in the loading station, the bag grippers movable in a plane substantially normal to the horizontal axis;
• an upper bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• and
• a lower bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• wherein the spreader plate on the upper bag spreader assembly is pivotable into the open end of the bag.

A bag manipulating assembly for a bag filling device, the bag manipulating assembly comprising:

• a pair of bag grippers configured to receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station, the bag grippers movable in a plane substantially normal to a horizontal axis of the loading station, the horizontal axis extending from one end of the device to another end of the device;
• an upper bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• and
• a lower bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• wherein the spreader plates are rotatable into the bag.

A bag manipulating assembly for a bag filling device, the bag manipulating assembly comprising:

• a pair of bag grippers configured to receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station, the bag grippers movable in a plane substantially normal to a horizontal axis of the loading station, the horizontal axis extending from one end of the device to another end of the device;
• an upper bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• and
• a lower bag spreader assembly having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag;
• wherein the spreader plates are pivotable into the bag.