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AssigneeHood Packaging Corporation
InventorsManuel Chiu, Robert Lauzon, Malcolm Spenceley, Ken McLaughlin, Laurens Vanpagee, Slaven Nedic, Chris Latour, Brent Bell, Chris Girard, Christine Burns, Craig Courteau
Estimating the term…
An automatic handle attaching system and method for precisely securing a plastic handle on an edge of a preformed plastic bag is described. The system comprises a delivery conveyor for conveying spaced-apart groups of flat plastic bags with each group having two or more bags disposed one on top of the other and offset along a leading straight edge thereof which is oriented approximately transverse to a conveying direction of a conveyor. Two or more automated bag handling mechanisms are disposed spaced-apart adjacent the conveyor at respective bag transfer stations. Each of the bag handling mechanisms are independently operated and have an orientable bag engaging hand secured to an articulated arm. The bag handling mechanisms are independently controlled by a controller whereby to orient the bag engaging hand in alignment with a top one of the groups of bags at its transfer station and to transfer the bag to a handle securing station where the bag is precisely positioned with respect to a handle which is then welded thereto. After the handle is welded its relationship with respect to other parts of the bag is verified and the bag with the handle is then transferred to a magazine for accumulation to form bag bundles which are then automatically transferred for bundle securement and shipping.
An automatic handle attaching system for precisely securing a plastic handle on an edge of a preformed plastic bag, said system comprising a delivery conveyor for conveying spaced-apart groups of flat plastic bags, each group of bags having two or more bags disposed one on top of the other and offset along a leading straight edge thereof oriented approximately transverse to a conveying direction of said conveyor, two or more automated bag handling mechanisms are disposed spaced-apart adjacent said delivery conveyor at respective bag transfer stations, each said bag handling mechanism being independently operated and having an orientable bag engaging hand secured to an articulated arm, detection means at each said bag transfer station to detect the orientation and position of a top one of said bags of one of said groups at said bag transfer stations, control means to position said bag engaging hand to engage said top one of said bags at its associated bag transfer station as said groups of bags are conveyed by said conveyor, said articulated arm displacing bag engaging hand to position said leading straight edge of said bag at a precise location at a handle securing station having bag position detection means and handle attachment means, and means to transfer said bag with said handle secured thereto and to position a further handle in said handle attachment means at said handle securing station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.