Automatic reclosable bag filler

An apparatus for filling a reclosable bag with objects, the bag having a rear track, and a mating front track selectably engagable with the rear track, wherein a bag mouth is defined between the front track and the rear track above a bag interior, and wherein a slider is operable to open and close the bag mouth, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a right bag engaging assembly mounted to the frame and positioned to engage a first end of a reclosable bag;
• a left bag engaging assembly mounted to the frame and positioned to engage a second end of said reclosable bag opposite the first end, with the bag mouth located between the first end and the second end;
• and
• a spreader assembly mounted to the frame and having a retractable insert member with a narrow dimension and a wide dimension of greater dimension than the narrow dimension, the insert member being vertically movable between a first position spaced above the reclosable bag mouth, and a second lower position in which the insert member is inserted into the bag mouth and interposed between the rear track and the front track of the reclosable bag, the insert member being rotatable about a vertical axis to permit the wedge to be rotated between an initial inserted orientation in which the narrow dimension separates the rear track from the front track a first amount, and a filling orientation, in which the wide dimension separates the rear track from the front track a second, greater amount to define a filling opening for the receipt therein of objects.

An apparatus for filling a reclosable bag with objects, the bag having a rear track, and a mating front track selectably engagable with the rear track, wherein a bag mouth is defined between the front track and the rear track above a bag interior, and wherein a slider is operable to open and close the bag mouth, and the bag having a left support member which extends from the bag above the bag mouth, and a right support member which extends from the bag above the bag mouth, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a first rail mounted to the frame and extending in a front to back direction;
• a second rail mounted to the frame parallel to the first rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail have downwardly opening channels defined therein, such that the first rail channel engages the bag left support member, and the second rail channel engages the bag right support member;
• a pusher assembly mounted to the frame for frontward motion between a retracted position and an advanced position;
• a right indexer assembly mounted to the frame, and having a downwardly opening channel which communicates with the second rail channel to receive a right bag support therein;
• a left indexer assembly mounted to the frame and having a downwardly opening channel which communicates with the first rail to receive a left bag support therein;
• a spreader assembly mounted to the frame and movable between a first position spaced from a bag mouth, and a second position in which an insert member is inserted into a bag mouth and interposed between the rear track and the front track of said bag;
• an upper product chute mounted to the frame, and in communication with a source of ice;
• a lower product chute mounted to the frame and having an upper opening into which ice enters, and a lower opening, out of which product is discharged, the lower product chute being movable between a first position in which the lower product chute lower opening is spaced from said bag mouth, and a second position in which the lower product chute upper opening is in communication with the upper product chute, and the lower product chute lower opening is in communication with the bag mouth, to permit product to pass from the source of product to the interior of said bag;
• a controller operable to activate the pusher assembly to advance a frontmost bag to engage the left support member of the frontmost bag with the left indexer assembly, and to engage the right support member with the right indexer assembly, and wherein the indexer assemblies are operable to move away from each other to apply tension to the bag at the mouth, and to move closer to each other to introduce slack into the bag at said mouth to allow the mouth to be opened by the insertion of the wedge of the spreader assembly.

A method for filling a reclosable bag with product, the bag having a rear track, and a mating front track selectably engagable with the rear track, wherein a bag mouth is defined between the front track and the rear track above a bag interior, and wherein a slider is operable to open and close the bag mouth, and the bag having a left support member which extends from the bag above the bag mouth, and a right support member which extends from the bag above the bag mouth, the method comprising the steps of:

• advancing the bag frontwardly to a forward position and engaging the bag left support member with a left shuttle, and the bag right member with a right shuttle;
• blocking rearward motion of the bag;
• increasing the distance between the bag left support member and the bag right support member to apply tension to the bag mouth;
• engaging the bag slider and moving it to open the bag mouth;
• decreasing the distance between the bag left support member and the bag right support member to release tension on the bag mouth;
• inserting a wedge into the open bag mouth and adjusting the position of the web to increase the maximum width of the mouth into the bag interior;
• inserting a product fill chute through the bag mouth;
• discharging product through the fill chute into the bag interior;
• retracting the fill chute and the wedge from the bag mouth;
• increasing the distance between the bag left support member and the bag right support member to apply tension to the bag mouth;
• engaging the slider and advancing it to close the bag;
• and
• releasing the engagement between the bag left support member and the left shuttle, and the bag right member with the right shuttle, to discharge the closed bag, with product contained therein to a customer.

An apparatus for filling a reclosable bag with objects, the bag having a rear track, and a mating front track selectably engagable with the rear track, wherein a bag mouth is defined between the front track and the rear track above a bag interior, and wherein a slider is operable to open and close the bag mouth, and the bag having a first side and a second side on opposite sides of the bag mouth, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a first indexer assembly mounted to the frame which engages the first side of the bag;
• a second indexer assembly mounted to the frame which engages the second side of the bag;
• the second indexer assembly being movable toward and away from the first indexer, the second indexer being operable to in a first position apply tension to the bag mouth, and in a second position spaced more closely to the first indexer, to relieve tension on the bag mouth;
• a slider assembly mounted for movement between the bag first side and the bag second side, the slider assembly having portions which are positioned to engage the bag slider and cause it to move with the slider assembly;
• and
• a controller which controls the motion of the slider assembly and the second indexer.