Flange alignment and grasping assembly for bag handling apparatus
AssigneeGates Automation, Inc.
InventorChristopher G. Gates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flange alignment and grasping assembly is adapted to straighten the flanges of a bag in a filling and sealing apparatus so that the flanges may be clamped by the assembly. The assembly includes opposed guides that engage the side of the bag in the general location of the flange. The guides position the flange in an extended position between the jaws of a clamp where the clamp will pinch the flange when the clamp closes. The invention also provides an apparatus for grasping a bag and pulling a portion of the bag tight. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes arms that swing upwardly and inwardly to position jaws with respect to the bag.
Claims42
An assembly for grasping a flange on a flexible bag;
- the flange being movable between collapsed and extended positions;
- the assembly comprising:
- a base having a longitudinal direction;
- first and second jaws carried by the base;
- the jaws movable between open and closed positions;
- the jaws having a leading end, a following end, and a front edge;
- the front edge defining an opening when the jaws are in the open position;
- the front edge being closed when the jaws are in the closed position;
- and
- a guide disposed adjacent one of the leading end and the following end;
- the guide adapted to engage the flange of the bag to move the flange to an extended position where the flange may be clamped by the jaws.
A method for grasping a flange on a bag in a bag handling apparatus;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- moving a grasping arm from a resting position toward a bag having a flange;
- the grasping arm having a grasping jaws and a guide;
- moving the flange to an extended position with the guide;
- and
- grasping the flange with the grasping jaws.
In a bag handling machine having a bag filling station where a bag is filled with a material;
- the improvement comprising:
- a pair of grabber arms disposed on opposite sides of the bag;
- each grabber arm including jaws adapted to grasp a portion of the bag;
- and
- a drive assembly adapted to move the jaws along an arc that moves inwardly and upwardly with respect to the bag so that the jaws will engage the bag;
- the jaws moving upwardly with respect to the bag when the jaws initially engage the bag.
In a bag handling machine having a bag filling station where a bag is filled with a material;
- the improvement comprising:
- a pair of grabber arms disposed on opposite sides of the bag;
- each grabber arm including a bag engaging device adapted to engage a portion of the bag;
- and
- a drive assembly adapted to move the bag engaging device along an arc that moves inwardly and upwardly with respect to the bag so that the bag engaging device will engage the bag;
- the bag engaging device moving upwardly with respect to the bag when the bag engaging device initially engages the bag.
An assembly for grasping a flange on a flexible bag;
- the flange being movable between collapsed and extended positions;
- the assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a flange clamping device carried by the base;
- the flange clamping device adapted to clamp the flange on a flexible bag when the flange is in the extended position;
- a guide disposed adjacent the flange clamping device;
- the guide adapted to move the flange to the extended position where the flange may be clamped by the flange clamping device.
A method for grasping a flange on a bag in a bag handling apparatus;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- moving a grasping arm from a resting position toward a bag having a flange;
- the grasping arm having a flange clamping device and a guide;
- moving the flange to an extended position with the guide;
- and
- clamping the flange with the flange clamping device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.