Apparatus for producing a self-standing bag for bales of compressed loose material and a method thereof
AssigneePremier Tech Technologies Limitee
InventorsPatrice Maltais, Jean-François Albert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-standing bag containing a generally rectangular-shaped bale of compressed loose material. The self-standing bag has a generally elongated shape with a height and a base section defined by a first side and a second side. The bag is formed from a tube of impervious flexible material defining an enclosure completely enclosing the bale. The bag comprises a flat bottom end, preferably closed by an end seal. The bottom end is normal to a longitudinal axis of the tube and enables the bag to stand upright. The self-standing bag further comprises a sealed top end. A method for producing such a self-standing bag of compressed loose material is also disclosed.
Claims16
An apparatus for producing a self-standing bale, comprising:
- a frame;
- a compression tube mounted to the frame and extending along a longitudinal axis, the compression tube having a top open end opposite to a bottom end, the bottom end comprising a flat supporting surface closing the bottom end of the compression tube;
- a compressor positioned in alignment over the compression tube to compress the loose material in the compression tube against the supporting surface, thereby obtaining the material in a compressed form;
- setting means for setting a plastic bag having an unsealed top end and a sealed bottom end over the top open end of the compression tube and opening the unsealed top end of the bag;
- spreading means for spreading out the plastic bag within the compression tube;
- feeding means for feeding the loose material into the plastic bag;
- and
- sealing means adjacent to the top open end of the compression tube for sealing the unsealed top end of the plastic bag,
- wherein the setting means, the spreading means and the sealing means are positioned above the compression tube and are laterally movable with respect to said longitudinal axis between a first position in alignment with the compression tube and a retracted position away for the compression tube.
A method for producing a self-standing bale, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an upright compression tube having an open top end and a bottom end, the bottom end comprising a flat supporting surface closing the bottom end of the compression tube;
- b) providing a bag having an unsealed top end and a sealed bottom end;
- c) setting the bag over the open top end of the compression tube using a laterally retractable bag holder carriage device;
- d) opening the unsealed top end of the bag with the retractable bag holder carriage device;
- e) spreading out the bag against the compression tube with a laterally retractable spreading carriage device;
- f) feeding a certain volume of compressible loose material into the bag with a feeding tube, the volume of compressible loose material being greater than a nominal filling volume of the bag;
- g) pushing the compressible loose material downwardly into the bag against the supporting surface with a compressor to obtain a compressed material at a compressed volume equal or less than the nominal filling volume of the bag;
- and
- h) sealing the unsealed top portion of the bag filled with the compressed material with a sealing device, thereby closing the top end portion of a formed bale of compressed material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.