Bag opening and filling apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for filling a bag that has a bag pick-up assembly movable from a pick-up position to pick up a flat folded bag from a magazine to a bag release position, a table for supporting the released bag in a generally horizontal condition, a bag opening assembly for grippingly engaging the mouth edge portions of the bag on the table and opening the bag mouth portion, the bag opening assembly including stationarily mounted lower vacuum cups on the table and vertically movable upper cups, a spout assembly for clampingly engaging an opened bag, transferring the clamped bag from a bag transfer position to a filled bag release position, discharge a weighed charge into the clamped bag, and release the filled bag, the spout assembly including spout jaws and bag holders to clamp the opened bag to the jaws, a bag transfer assembly for moving the opened bag on the table to the spout in the bag transfer position, the transfer assembly including a pair of fingers that are movable toward one another and into the bag that is held open by the bag opening assembly and then apart to support the opened bag after it is released by the bag opener assembly, and after the bag is clamped to the spout, moved out of the bag mouth, and controls for the above assemblies. While a bag on the spout is being filled, the transfer assembly is returning to a position for extending the fingers into another opened bag mouth. In a second embodiment a piston cylinder combination and control elements are provided to shift the pick up assembly a limited amount in the event a picked up bag was longitudinally offset on the bag magazine.