FR2550762A1 - Device for conveying bags to a bagging station. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bag-handling device intended for delivering folded bags to a bagging station. The device comprises a magazine 60 which opens in the upward direction and which is laterally offset from the bagging station 30, a depression head 126 facing downwards and which can, when it is applied against a stock of folded bags, withdraw the uppermost bag, and a transport device 118 associated with the said depression head 126 and able to move it in order to bring it into contact with the uppermost bag 61 in the magazine 60, then able to move the head 126 and a single attached bag upwards, then laterally and then downwards to a working position with respect to the station 30. Application: bagging and palletising of articles.

Description

 The invention relates generally to an apparatus for handling and packaging can lids, and more particularly to an apparatus capable of receiving a continuous stream of manufactured lids, packaging a pre-counted stack of lids, and then palletizing the individual packages for their subsequent transport, all these functions being carried out automatically.

 Most can users, such as canneries, breweries and bottlers of soft drinks, do not manufacture the basic components of boxes, which are purchased from manufacturers specializing in the manufacture of these components.

Basically, the items purchased include the bodies of boxes having an open end and the tips or lids of the boxes which are used to close the bodies after the filling or canning operation.

The ends of the boxes are packaged and transported separately from the body of the boxes, and the usual practice is to transport the ends in elongated kraft paper bags. The quantity of ends per packaging varies according to the diameter of the ends of the boxes; however, by way of example, with respect to typical beverage cans, each filled bag preferably contains 300 or 360 tips. To avoid any interruption in canning or bottling operations, it is extremely important to be able to obtain a precise count of ends according to each packaging. Not only an imprecise account risks interrupting the canning operation, but, when an imprecise account is detected by the quality control team of the cannery or brewery, it is necessary for the tip manufacturer to fill in the gap, and these "top-up requests" are costly and take time.

 The problems and necessities of providing an apparatus for packaging a precise count of ends of boxes have long been recognized in the art.

In this regard, reference can be made to United States Patent No. 3,878,945. This patent describes in detail the problems which arose in the prior art at that time. In addition, this patent illustrates and describes an apparatus capable of handling a flow or direct current of manufactured ends, of dividing this current of ends into a precisely counted pile, the ends being in contact face to face, then of delivering the counted pile. at a bagging station in which manual or automatic bagging can be carried out.

 The apparatus as illustrated and described in the aforementioned patent has proven, over the years, to be reliable and efficient for handling the ends of boxes and producing packages filled with a precise count of ends. However, even using the semi-automatic and automatic counting and bagging device described in the aforementioned patent, it is still necessary for the operator to manually palletize the filled bags to prepare their transport to the user final. As described in more detail below, the invention uses the fundamental concepts of the aforementioned patent with regard to the handling, counting, division and bagging of the ends, while bringing improvements to the bagging operation. , and it also offers an apparatus by which the filled bags are palletized automatically. In addition to the automatic palletization of the bags, the apparatus according to the invention is capable of interlacing strips of tying or strapping between the respective layers of palletized bags, filled, so as to retain the individual bags in their palletizing position during transport.

 In summary, the apparatus and method of the invention provide a means of handling and bagging items such as box ends or lids, and then positioning the filled bags on a pallet so as to form multiple layers palletized and filled bags. The term "stacked" used in this specification applies to the lids of boxes or articles arranged one against the other, face to face, horizontally or vertically. Consequently, in the apparatus according to the invention, a direct current of stacked lids enters a receiving station where the tips or lids are divided into individual stacks each containing a predetermined count of lids or articles. is then transported to a bagging station in which folded bags are automatically removed from a store, the mouth of a bag is opened and the counted stack of articles or lids is introduced into this bag. From the bagging station, the filled bags are sent to a grouping station in which they are temporarily stored, being arranged horizontally side by side until a predetermined number of filled bags have been received; the predetermined number of filled bags is intended to define a layer of bags once palletized. In addition, in accordance with the invention, the layer of pallet bags is transported from the grouping station on a pallet, automatically and without the assistance of an operator. An additional characteristic of the invention is that it uses a dispenser bacon foil intended to interleave several strips of strip between the respective layers of filled bags in order to keep the layers in their palletized arrangement during subsequent transport.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which
- Figures 1 to 3 show in elevation the apparatus according to the invention, Figure 1 illustrating the receiving station in which the lids are divided into counted stacks, Figure 2 showing the following part of the apparatus which mainly comprises the bagging station, and Figure 3 showing the next part of the apparatus which includes the palletizing station and the strip dispenser
- Figure 4 is a sc; natal exploded perspective view showing the operation of the apparatus according to the invention from the bagging station and in the palletizing and strip dispensing stations;
- Figure 5 is a partial elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the front part of the bagging station, showing a bag held in the open position, in preparation for the insertion of a filling horn in the open mouth from the bag;
- Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, but showing the horn inserted into the bag and a stack of counted lids arranged in the bag using the hollow horn
- Figure 7 is an elevation of the improved bag handling mechanism according to the invention, substantially along line 7-7 of Figure 6
- Figure 8 is a detailed partial elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a vacuum head used to remove a bag from the bag store
- Figure 9 is a top view of the bagging station as well as the folding and closing station in which the open end of the bag is folded and a ribbon is placed on this end to close the bag
- Figure 10 is a partial elevation of the folding and closing station, the device for laying a tape being shown schematically
- Figure 11 is an elevation of the grouping station, in a plane roughly perpendicular to that of Figures 1 to 3, and it shows the device for transporting a filled bag to the folding and closing station and to make then pass a filled and closed bag into the grouping station
- Figure 12 is a partial view at the end of the grouping station of Figure 11, illustrating a device intended to position the respective layers of filled bags in order to establish an offset arrangement when palletizing the bags
- Figures 13 and 14 are similar partial elevations of the grouping and palletizing stations, illustrating a preferred embodiment of a device for unloading the bags on the palletizing station
- Figure 15 is a top view of the grouping station and it also illustrates the bagging station as well as the folding and closing station; and
- Figure 16 is a top view of the palletizing station.

 Initially, the description will relate generally to the apparatus according to the invention and its implementation method, mainly with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. This initial description will refer in part to the aforementioned patent NO 3 878 945. Subsequently, the various stations and elements of the apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail, the grouping and palletizing stations being treated in a particularly detailed manner.

 We will therefore initially refer to Figures 1 to 3 which are partial views together giving an overall elevation of the device which is generally designated by the reference numeral 20. Basically, the device 20 comprises a receiving station 22 which is powered by a direct current of lids or manufactured ends 24. In the receiving station, the lids 24 are counted and separated into stacks 26 in which they are arranged face to face, each stack comprising a predetermined number of lids. Once a counted stack 26 of covers has been separated from the direct current of covers 24 arriving at the receiving station, a transport device 28 passes the stack 26 through the bagging station which is generally designated by the reference numeral 30 and which is mainly represented in FIG. 2. The various elements of the station 22 for receiving the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail below with the general description of the entire apparatus and its method of implementation.

 FIG. 2 is a view showing a part extending that illustrated in FIG. 1, and it essentially represents the middle third of the apparatus 20, namely the bagging station 30 and part of the grouping station, generally designated by the reference numeral 32. As described below, the grouping station 32 receives the filled bags 34 (FIG. 4) from the bagging station 30 and it accumulates and positions a predetermined number of bags for palletizing. Once the prescribed number of filled bags 34 has accumulated in the grouping station, that is to say a sufficient number of bags 34 to form a layer 36 of the palletized stack of bags, the grouping device is used to pass the bags through the palletizing station 38.

It should be noted that it is necessary to vertically move the grouping station 32 in order to align the layer 36 of bags which it carries with the upper layer of bags 36 carried by a pallet 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. To this end, the grouping station 32 comprises vertical drive means 42 consisting of a motor 44 and a relatively conventional transmission 46 which comprises various toothed wheels and drive chains. The overall operation of this transmission will become apparent from the following description of the device.

 The palletizing station 38 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 and it comprises, in addition to the means intended to receive a pallet 40, a strip dispenser indicated generally at 48. As shown in FIG. 3, it should be noted that the various layers 36 of bags are placed on a pallet 40 which, itself, is supported in the palletizing station by a series of rollers 50. Three bands formed from the strip 52, the ends of two of which are visible in Figure 3, these ends being stapled or otherwise fixed directly to the pallet 40, are connected to the pallet 40. The respective strips of strip 52 are continuous and are cut from strip rolls 54 shown in the upper part of. Figure 3, which rollers rest on elements of the strip dispenser 48 described below.

 In the final palletized assembly, the strip strips 52 serve to maintain the stacked layers 36 in the palletized position during transport. As can be seen in Figure 3 and as will become apparent from the description of the other figures below, the respective strips of strip 52 are intertwined between the respective layers 36 of filled bags, the intermediate strip 52 being arranged substantially in opposition to the end strips 52. The resulting effect is that the strips 52 serve to support the respective layers in position and to prevent accidental depalletization of the filled bags 34.

 Reference should also be made to FIG. 3 which represents a part situated in the extension of that of FIG. 2 and which illustrates a layer 36 of bags deposited on the highest of the layers previously palletized. The preferred device for discharging the layer 36 from the grouping station 32 to the palletizing station 38 is an ejection bar or plate 56.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ejection bar 56 is applied against the end of a layer 36 of bags, the element of the grouping station 32 being retracted horizontally to discharge the layer 36. The how the ejection bar 56 and the grouping station 32 operate for this purpose will become clear from the description which follows in FIG. 4.

 Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the operation of the bagging station 30, the grouping station 32 and the palletizing station 38. FIG. 4 also shows a folding and closing station indicated generally at 58, in which the open or entry end of the filled bag 34 is folded, and a ribbon is placed on this end to keep the bag in the state closed. It should be noted that FIG. O is schematic and that a more detailed description of the elements constituting the various stations will be given below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 16.

 Still with reference to FIG. 4, the bagging station 32 comprises a bag store 60 in which a reserve of folded bags 61 is stored. In addition, the bagging station comprises a bag handling mechanism (not shown on FIG. 4, but which will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8) which removes the bags61 from the magazine 60, opens the inlet end of each bag and deposits a counted stack of lids 26 therein to form a filled bag designated by 34. After bagging the counted stack of covers 26, the filled bag 34 is transported to the folding and closing station 58 in which the open end of the bag is closed.

From station 58, the filled bag 34 is then directed to station 32 for grouping.

 The grouping station 32 mainly comprises a tray 62 and a tray support 64, the tray 62 extending above the support 64. The latter and the tray 62 can be moved together in the vertical direction, as indicated by an arrow 66, the plate 62 also being movable horizontally relative to the support 64, which mode of movement is indicated by an arrow 68. Consequently, when the filled bags are ejected from the folding and closing station 58, they are received on the surface upper part of the plate 62. The grouping station 32 comprises means (not shown in FIG. 4, but illustrated and described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12) in which the filled bags are moved laterally across the tray until a series of filled bags 34 is stored horizontally and side by side on the upper surface of the tray 62.

This series of filled bags 34 is only temporarily stored on the tray 62 and it is used to define a layer of bags 36 once palletized.

 The grouping station 32 also includes means for discharging a layer 36 of filled bags 34 from the tray 62 and for depositing this layer 36 in the palletizing station 38. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support 64 of the plate comprises two arms 70 oriented upwards, which can pivot on an ejection plate 56, mentioned previously with reference to FIG. 3. The plate 56 of ejection is mounted so as to be able to pivot overall in the opposite direction to that of clockwise, as indicated in FIG. 4, from its normal vertical position. However, the ejection or release bar 56 is maintained so as not to be able to pivot in the opposite direction, that is to say in the direction of clockwise, for a purpose which will become apparent from the general description of operation, given below.

 In operation, once a layer 36 of filled bags 34 has been accumulated on the tray 62, the general control mechanism of the machine 20 moves the support 64 of the tray and therefore the tray 62 vertically to align this tray 62 on the upper layer 36 of bags filled in the palletizing station 38. The vertical movement executed for this purpose is indicated schematically by the arrow 66 in FIG. 4 and it is controlled by conventional detection means (not shown in FIG. 4) which detect the height of the layers 36 on the pallet 40 and which control the vertical drive mechanism 42 (Figure 2) to achieve the above alignment. Once the plate 62 is properly aligned, the horizontal drive mechanism, intended to move the plate 62 relative to the support 64, is put in place action, so that the tray 62 is moved horizontally to the right as shown in Figure 4. This movement continues until the tray 62 extends above and is superimposed on the upper layer of filled bags 36 carried by the pallet 40. When the plate 62 moves horizontally, the layer 36 of filled bags 40 which it carries comes to bear against the clearance bar 66, which makes it pivot upwards to the position illustrated s ur Figure 4.This movement ae the release bar or ejection allows the filled bags 34 and the tray 62 to pass below the bar 56 to extend above the station 38 palletizing.

This condition is also illustrated in Figure 13.

 Once the layer of filled bags 34 carried by the tray 62 has passed below the ejection bar 56, this bar pivots from the horizontal position in FIG. 4 to its normal position, in which it is oriented slightly. near vertically, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 14, the ejection bar 56 is now placed behind the layer of filled bags 34, but slightly above the upper surface of the tray 62. When this arrangement is reached , the tray 62 and the layer 36 of filled bags 34 which it carries extend above the upper layer 36 of bags resting on the pallet 40. Then the tray 62 is retracted. Due to the positinnnament of the ejection bar 56 behind the filled bags and the fact that this bar cannot pivot clockwise, when the tray is retracted, the layer 36 is separated from the tray 62 and deposited on the upper layer 36 of bags previously palletized. As before, this arrangement in which the bags are unloaded following the withdrawal of the tray 62 appears in FIGS. 3 OF 14.

Still with reference to FIG. 4, once the layer 36 of filled bags 34 is deposited in the palletizing station 38, the strap distribution mechanism 48 is implemented. This mechanism 48 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 in the form of three strip rolls 54 from each of which is unwound a continuous strip of strip 52 *
The rollers are arranged so that the two end rollers are placed on either side of the intermediate roller. Once the layer 36 is deposited in the station 38, the rollers 54 are moved transversely to the palletizing station 38, the end rollers moving to the right, as shown, and the intermediate roller to the left.

The effect of this operation is to interleave a continuous strip of strip 52 from the rollers 54, between the various layers 36 of filled bags resting on the pallet 40.

 The general operation of the machine 20 having now been briefly described, the construction and operation of the various elements of this machine will be reviewed in more detail. In this regard, reference will again be made initially to FIG. 1 which, as indicated above, illustrates the front part of the machine 20, and more particularly the receiving station 22. It should also be noted that the reception station 22 is produced overall in accordance with the concepts of the aforementioned patent NO 3 878 945. As this aspect of the machine is only one element of the present invention and is described more fully in the aforementioned patent, its general construction and its operation will only be described briefly.

 The receiving station 22 comprises a gutter 80 which extends over the entire length of this station 22, as shown in FIG. 1. A continuous stream of manufactured covers 24 arrives at the inlet end of the gutter 80, the covers being stacked face to face by means of a vacuum stacking device 82, of the type described in the aforementioned patent. In this regard, the covers or ends are received by the vacuum stacking device 82 flat and at a distance from each other, from a guide 84 starting from the device for manufacturing the box covers (not represented). Whatever type of mechanism is used to bring the current of covers 24 to the gutter 80, this mechanism propels the covers along the gutter count indicated by the Arrow 86.

The movement of the covers 24 along the gutter 80 makes them bear against two opposite rollers 88 of a counting mechanism 90 which provides a count of the covers 24 beyond the rollers 88.

In the immediate vicinity of the counting mechanism 90, an intermediate chamber 92 is provided through which air is drawn. This air intake is then intended to establish a vacuum which brings the covers 24 out of the rollers 88 at a speed greater than that at which said covers 24 arrive at these rollers 88. Thus, an interval is generated in the current of covers 24 boxes moving in the gutter 80 near the interior of the intermediate chamber 92. In addition, this intermediate chamber 92 includes re-stacking means (not shown) which restore the stack of covers downstream of the interval and rollers 88.

 In the immediate vicinity of the intermediate chamber 92, there is a separation or division mechanism 94 which comprises a carriage 96 movable horizontally and parallel to the gutter 80. The division mechanism 94 comprises a pivoting arm 98-movable between the position shown and an elevated position above the gutter 80. As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 96 and the arm 98 are in an intermediate position. The initial position of the carriage 96 is adjacent to the intermediate chamber 92, the pivoting arm 98 being disposed inside this chamber 92 and being tilted upwards and outwards from the gutter 80, in alignment with the interval generated in the queue of can lids 24. Consequently, the counter 90 detecting the passage of the can lids in front of the rollers 88, once the desired count is reached, the arm 98 is tilted downwards, towards the inside the gutter 80, in order to isolate a counted stack of covers, designated at 26. At the same time as the arm 98 pivots to isolate a counted stack of covers 26, the carriage 96 is actuated and guided along a rail 100, the carriage being propelled by a conventional drive mechanism 102. The intervention of the carriage 96 has the effect of moving a counted stack of covers 26 longitudinally to the gutter 80, approximately to the position shown in FIG. 1. Once this operation has been carried out, the arm 98 pivots upwards and the carriage returns to its initial position adjacent to the intermediate chamber 92 to reposition the arm 98 inside the chamber so that it is applied against the next stack of lids to be counted.

 Following the withdrawal of the carriage 96, the main transport mechanism, generally designated at 28, is put into action. This transport mechanism 28 includes a push bar 106 which is applied against the stack of can lids. The mechanism 28 also includes: a carriage which moves along an elongated bar 108 and which is powered by a conventional drive mechanism 110, similar to that used for the carriage 96 mentioned above. The intervention of the transport mechanism 28 therefore causes the displacement of the counted stack of covers longitudinally at the gutter 80, towards the bagging station 30.

 It should be noted that the various elements of the receiving station 22 are not illustrated or described in more detail for greater clarity, because this receiving station 22 is produced substantially according to the concept described in the aforementioned patent Na 3 878 945 to which can refer for more details.

 The bagging station 30 will now be considered with reference to FIG. 2 as well as FIGS. 5 to 9.

As before, a certain number of concepts used in this post correspond to those described in the aforementioned patent.

 As regards the bagging station 30, this includes a device intended to handle a folded bag 61, then to open the inlet end of the bag, then to position the latter to introduce a counted stack of lids therein. 26. Reference will initially be made to the means intended for storing and handling bags 61, as well as to the magazine 60 for bags mentioned with reference to FIG. 4. The mechanism used for this purpose is partially shown in FIG. 2 and in more detail in Figures 7 and 8.

 Referring first to FIG. 7, we see the mechanism 60 containing a reserve of folded bags 61.

FIG. 7 also represents a tray 112 on which a filled bag 34 is placed. The tray 112 can be moved horizontally as indicated by the arrow 114 by means of a jack 116. A vacuum shuttle device, generally indicated at 118, is used to transport a bag 61 from the magazine 60 to a position, relative to the tray 112 (Figures 5 and 6), in which a counted stack of lids 26 is inserted into this bag.

 As regards the device 118 with vacuum shuttle, it is mounted on an upper horizontal part 120 of the main chassis of the machine 20. As can be seen in FIG. 7, there is provided a conveyor element 122 mounted on a guide and movable guide rail 124, under the action of a conventional drive mechanism (not shown), between the positions illustrated in which it can be aligned on the magazine 60 or on the plate 112. The shuttle device 118 vacuum mainly comprises a vacuum head 126 which is mounted on the conveyor element 122 by means of an extendable and retractable arm 128. The particular embodiment of the vacuum head 126 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. However , we can first consider the general operation of the device 118 with vacuum shuttle.

 With a view to receiving the stack of lids 26 of boxes in the bagging station, the vacuum shuttle 118 is moved to the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 7. The support rod 128 performs an extension movement to bring the vacuum head 126 into contact with the stack of folded bags 61 and the magazine 60. The removal of air from the vacuum head 126 causes a bag 61 to be sucked against the head and, when the arm 128 is retracted, the bag 61 is removed from the magazine 60. Next, the carrier element 122 is moved from the position in which it is shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 to that in which it is represented in broken lines, the along the guide rail 124. The carrier element is brought into alignment with the plate 112, and the arm 128 performs an extension movement to bring the head 126 to vacuum in position above the plate 112, in preparation for the operation of opening the bag, which will be described below.

 The embodiment of the vacuum head 126 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8. In this regard, the vacuum head 126 comprises a base plate 130 which is mounted on a fork-shaped end 132 of the extendable rod and retractable 128 (not shown) by means of a flange 134. A vacuum plate 136 is resiliently mounted on the base plate 130 by means of studs 138 and springs 140.

The studs 138 pass through holes 142 in the base plate 130, thus allowing the vacuum plate 136 to move relative to said base plate to adapt to the level of the bags 61 in the magazine 60.

The vacuum plate 136 has an elongated and relatively wide recess 144 which extends substantially over the length of the plate, which length is approximately equal to the overall length of the folded bag 61 which is shown in contact with the lower surface of the vacuum plate 136. The latter includes a distributor 146 communicating with the recess 144 by several orifices 148 formed by the base element 136. The elimination of air from the recess 144 serves to maintain the bag 61 in contact with plate 136.

 The manner in which the bag is then handled, after having been removed from the magazine 60 by the vacuum head 126, will now be considered with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8. In this regard, as can be seen in the Figure 8, the tray 112 has one or more orifices 150 below which is arranged a series of suction cups 152. Consequently, after the vacuum head 126 has brought a bag 61 into position above the tray, the suction cups 152 are moved upwards, as shown in phantom in Figures 5 and 6, in order to be applied against the folded bag 61. At this stage of operation, the air is no longer evacuated via the distributor 146 , so that, when the suction cups 152 are retracted, they pull the bag 61 downwards towards the plate 112.

 The manner in which the entrance to the bag 61 is opened will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this regard, it should be noted that FIGS. 5 and 6 also illustrate an improved horn device which is used to maintain the bag in the open state during the introduction of a counted stack of lids. More particularly, the chassis of the machine 20, in the zone of the bagging station 30, comprises a vertical part 154 (FIG. 5) in which an opening 156 of gutter is formed.

Immediately above the opening 156, there is a device 157 for pinching the bag comprising a lip 158 and a clamp 160 which is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder and a linkage generally designated at 162, the latter being able to move the clamp 160 between the position illustrated in Figure 5 and a position in which it is oriented approximately vertically.

 Consequently, when the bag 61 is moved downwards by the suction cups 152, a tab 164 situated at the entry end of the bag is applied to the lip 158. The continued movement of the suction cups 152 causes the opening of the inlet end of the bag, the clamp 160 retaining the tongue 164 and thus opening the inlet end of the bag 61, as shown in FIG. 5.

 On the left of the chassis part 154 as shown in FIG. 5, there is shown a hollow horn device, generally indicated at 166.

As can be seen by comparing Figures 5 and 6, the horn is moved longitudinally to the right along the gutter 80, and disposed in the inlet end of the bag. The horn 166 is hollow and, consequently, the counted stack of covers 26 can be introduced inside the bag 61 by passing through this horn.

 As regards the horn device 166, the latter comprises an annular and hollow base element 168 and a nose 170. The latter is defined by several, preferably three, spring fingers 172 mounted so as to be able to pivot and which, in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, give a substantially conical configuration to the nose 170. The basic element 168 comprises a projection 174 which is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 176 which can move the horn relative to the gutter 80. It is also suitable note that a plate 178 mounted so as to be able to pivot near the vertical part 154 of the chassis and partially inside the opening 156, also serves to keep the inlet end of the bag open.

 Once the bag is pinched in the position shown in FIG. 5, by the pinching device 157 constituted by the lip 158 and the clamp 160, the horn 166 is advanced longitudinally to the gutter 80.

While the horn is moving forward, the nose 170 initially bears against the pivoting plate 178 so as to rotate it clockwise, towards the inside of the plate 112, and to perform an action of pinching on the part of the entry end of the bag opposite the pinched tongue 164. While the horn 166 is moving forward, cams 180 associated with each of the pivoting fingers 172 bear against rollers 182 arranged around the periphery of the opening 156 in order to spread the fingers apart, as shown in FIG. 6. In FIGS. 5 and 6, only one of said rollers is illustrated; however, it should be noted that a roller is associated with each finger 172 constituting the conical nose 170 of the horn.

When the latter reaches the position shown in Figure 6, the fingers 172 are in the deployed position in which they cooperate with the various gripping means described above to maintain the inlet end of the bag 61 in a fully open state . Thus, the push rod 106 of the transport device 28 can then be used to completely introduce the counted stack of covers 26 into the bag 61, the movement of the stack taking place in the direction indicated by the arrow 184. The device handling of the bag 61 in the bagging station is similar to that described in the aforementioned patent. Therefore, if necessary, reference may be made to this patent to more fully understand the operation of the bagging station 30. However, it seems that the preceding description with regard to the drawings is sufficient to become aware of this technique.

 Reference will now be made to FIG. 9 which is a plan view of the structure of the machine 20 in the area of the bagging station 30 and the folding and closing station 58. In this regard1 the tray 112 is shown over its entire length and the openings 150 which it has and which house the suction cups 152 also appear. The pneumatic cylinders 116 are connected to the plate 112, at points spaced along its length, and control the horizontal movement of the plate as indicated by the arrow 114 in FIG. 7.

Near the front end of the plate 112, an element 186 of the angle lever type is mounted so as to be able to pivot and is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 188. Once the counted stack of covers 26 is placed inside of a bag 61, the bent lever 186 is tilted from the position in which it is shown in solid lines to a position in which it straddles the plate 112. This movement brings the element 186 into contact with the open end of the bag to partially close this open end but mainly to bear against the stack of covers 26 which the bag contains in order to prevent the covers from falling from the bag while the latter is transported from the bagging station to the folding and closing station 58 , also shown in Figure 9. In this regard, the pneumatic cylinders 116 move the plate 112 laterally and horizontally from the position in which it is shown in solid lines to that shown in line mixed ts, in which said plate 112 is aligned with the folding and closing station. As can be seen on the tray 112 shown in phantom, during transport, the bent lever 186 is in its tilted position in which it straddles the tray and thus prevents any box covers from falling out of the end bag entry.

 FIG. 10 illustrates the mechanism used in the folding and closing station 58 to close the inlet end of the bag and effectively seal it. This mechanism is not illustrated in Figure 9 for clarity. In this regard, the folding and closing station 58 comprises a clamping element 190 which is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 192. It also comprises an L-shaped plate 194, mounted so as to be able to pivot and move between the position in which it is shown in dashed lines and the position in which it is shown in solid lines under the action of a pneumatic cylinder 196 itself mounted so as to be able to pivot. Immediately below this device is the device for laying tapes indicated overall by the reference number 198 and shown diagrammatically.

The particular embodiment of the device for laying tapes is not within the scope of the invention and this device can be acquired as it is, a type of such a device (obtained from the company 3M Company. The device 198 is intended only to cut and lay a ribbon from a roll, on the folded entry end of the bag 61.

 In addition, it should be noted that the front end of the tray 112 is grooved or punched, as indicated at 200 in FIG. 9. The groove or notch 200 actually uncovers the entry end of the bag so that it is taken up by the plate 94 of L-shape and by the device 198 for laying ribbons. In particular, the plate 112 is moved from the bagging station 30 to the folding and closing station 58 by means of the pneumatic cylinder 116. When the plate reaches the folding and closing station 58, the cylinder 192 is actuated to make lower the clamping or clamping element 190 to bring it into contact with the upper part of the inlet end of the filled bag 34. At the same time as this operation, the pneumatic cylinder 188 is actuated to retract the bent lever 186 and, then, the pneumatic cylinder 196 is actuated to pivot the arm 194 of L-shape, from the position in which it is represented in dashed lines in FIG. 10 towards the position in solid lines in which said shaped plate in L folds up the open end of the bag 61. Next, the tape dispenser 198 is actuated to apply a tape to the folded end of the filled bag 34 in order to close it. To facilitate the laying of the ribbon, the L-shaped plate 194 has a notch 202 in its branch 204 pressing against the underside of the filled bag 34, as shown in FIG. 10. This notch 202 constitutes an opening through which the tape can be applied.

 Consequently, after the filled bag has reached the folding and closing station 58, the inlet end of the bag is folded and closed with ribbons and the filled bag 34, now closed, is ready to be directed to grouping station 32. The structure used for this purpose is shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 11 and in the lower part of FIG. 9. In this regard, the plate 112, apart from being able to be moved horizontally by the jack 116, is also mounted so as to be able to pivot as shown in phantom in Figure 11. Immediately below the folding and closing station 58, the apparatus 20 comprises an articulated plate 206 which can be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 208. , once the bag 34 is closed, the pneumatic cylinder 208 is actuated in order to pivot the plate 206 to bring it into contact with the plate 112 and thus cause the pivoting of this plate 112 and the unloading of the filled bag 34 towards a ramp 210. The ramp 210 has several spaced elements 212 and it directs the filled bag 34 towards the plate 62 of the grouping station 32.

 It should however be noted that there may be a condition in which the grouping station 32 is in the process of having a layer 36 of bags in the palletizing station 38 while a filled bag is ready to be unloaded of the folding and closing station 58. To cope with this situation, the machine 20 includes means by which a filled bag 34 can be retained on the ramp 210 before the completion of the palletizing step and the return of the grouping device 32 to its receiving position d 'a bag filled. In this regard, there are provided, with the ramp 210, several elements 214 mounted so as to be able to pivot, interposed between some of the fixed elements 212 of the ramp, as can best be seen in FIG. 9. The elements 214 can be tilted to an extension position as shown in Figure 11, thus forming an obstacle which retains a filled bag 34 on the ramp 210 until the device 32 grouping is in a position allowing it to receive the filled bag 34.

 The description of the apparatus 20 will now relate to the grouping device or station 32 whose operation has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In this regard, it should be recalled that the grouping device comprises the plate 62 and its support 64, the general construction of which was described initially and the operation of which will be explained in more detail. The structure of the grouping device 32 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. However, for the sake of clarity, certain elements have been deliberately omitted from these figures and reference will sometimes be made to other figures in the drawings in which these elements can be seen. The operation of the grouping device will be described with reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15 and also with reference to Figure 4 when necessary.

 It should be recalled that the support 64 and the plate 62 can be moved vertically, the drive mechanism 42 intended to effect this vertical movement having been identified previously with reference to FIG. 2, that is to say the motor 44 drive and chain transmission 46. The plate 62 can also be moved horizontally relative to the support 64 and, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, to allow this relative horizontal movement, the plate 62 has several rollers 216 which are applied against rails 218 mounted on the supports 64. The device 216, 218 with rollers and rails allows a gentle movement of the plate 62 between its extended position in which it is disposed above the palletizing station 38, and its withdrawal position in which it is arranged above the support 64, ready to receive bags filled with the station 58 for folding and closing, as described above. The movement of the plate 62 relative to its support 64 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder 220 which is not shown in FIG. 11, but which can be seen in FIG. 15. The upper surface of the plate 62 which receives the bags filled 34 has two spaced ribs, close to the edges of this plate, the first group of ribs being designated at 225 and the second group at 227.

 Reference will now be made to FIG. 12 which shows that the support 64 of the plate comprises two opposite groups of fingers or pivoting elements, designated respectively at 222 and 224, the purpose of which will become apparent from the description which follows with regard to the operation of the grouping mechanism 32 for receiving and storing a layer 36 of filled bags 34. However, it should be noted that the respective fingers 222 and 224 are mounted so as to be able to pivot on the supports 64 of the tray and can be moved between the positions illustrated in Figure 12 by pneumatic cylinders, only the pneumatic cylinder 226 of the fingers 222 being shown. The limit of movement of the respective fingers 222 and 224 is determined by adjustable stop screws 228 associated with each of the groups of fingers.

 As mentioned above, the grouping device 32 receives and temporarily stores a layer of filled bags 34. In this regard, it is assumed that the plate 62 is in its fully retracted position for the reception of a layer of bags. When the filled bags 34 descend while rolling along the ramp 210, they arrive on the upper surface of the plate 62. At this moment, the group of fingers 224 is in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 12 and it thus allows to the filled bags 34 to pass over the tray 62. Once a bag 34 reaches the tray 62, the fingers 224 are actuated so as to pivot towards the position in which they are shown in solid lines in FIG. 12 and in which these fingers 224 bear against the filled bag 34 and move it laterally across the tray 62 towards the fingers 222. When additional bags arrive on the tray 62, the fingers 224 move them one after the other until the bag 34 initially deposited is applied against the fingers 222. The arrangements of the fingers 224 determine the relative positions of the bags once a complete layer 36 is deposited on the tray 62, and this occurs immediately before nt that the layer 36 of bags is directed towards the palletizing station 38 In the position in solid lines shown in FIG. 12, the initially deposited bag, also shown in solid lines, is disposed between the ribs 225, the last bag of the layer being adjacent to the ribs 227, but not located between the latter. The arms or fingers 224 being in the position shown in phantom in Figure 12, the bags 34, as shown in phantom, are offset by about the radius of the filled bag 34 so that the bags 34-initially received are placed in the immediate vicinity of the ribs 225, but not between the latter, the last bag of the layer being disposed between the ribs 227.

The resulting effect is that by using the arms 222, the relative position of the bags 34 constituting the individual layers 36 can be determined from one layer to another before the respective layers 36 are deposited on the pallet 40.

 The control of the relative position of the filled bags 34 in each layer is important in order to obtain suitable palletization of the various layers 36.

In this regard, attention should be paid to the lower part of Figure 11 where two layers of bags are shown on the pallet 40, a strip of tape 52 being intertwined between the respective layers. In this regard, the individual filled bags 34 have a substantially circular section, such that, when they are placed side by side, in abutment against each other, they define between them a series of hollows or valleys 223. To obtain a suitable palletizing, it is necessary that the superimposed layer 36 is offset with respect to the layer 36 which supports it so that the circumference of the filled bags 34 of the upper layer can be adjusted in the hollows 223 of the lower layer 36. pivoting 222 are used for this purpose to determine the relative arrangement of the bags 34 of each of the layers 36 and to establish the desired offset as illustrated in FIG. 12 when the layers 36 of filled bags 34 are deposited on the pallet 40.

 The way in which the layer 36 of bags 34 is unloaded by the grouping station 32 in the palletizing station 38 will now be considered. In this regard, once a complete layer 36 of bags is received on the tray 62, the arms 214 associated with the ramp 210 pivot upward, as shown in Figure 11, in order to prevent other filled bags 34 to arrive at the grouping station 32 during the discharge operation.

Furthermore, once the desired number of bags 34 is received on the tray 62, the machine control device then triggers the mechanism 42 for vertically driving the support 64 of the tray. A sensor 230 carried by the support 64 scans the layers 36 of bags previously stacked in the palletizing station 38 while the tray is moving vertically. The sensor 230 produces an appropriate control signal in order to deactivate the vertical drive mechanism 42 once the plate 62 is in an appropriate position relative to the upper layer 36 of previously palletized bags 34. The pneumatic cylinder 220 of control of the plate 62 is then actuated to move this plate 62 horizontally relative to the support 64, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 13. As mentioned previously, the support 64 has two arms 70 adjacent to one of its ends which is mounted so as to be able to pivot on the clearance bar 56. The tray 62 and the layer 36 of filled bags 34 move below the clearance or ejection bar 56, which has the effect of rotating this deLvIlere substantially in the opposite direction to that of the needles of a watch , as shown in Figure 13. The movement of the tray 62 continues in the direction indicated by the arrow 232 (Figure 13) until the tray 62 is in the fully extended position and the layer 36 of filled bags is placed above the palletizing station 38. When this provision is reached, the bags are released from the ejection bar 56 and the latter returns by pivoting in its normal vertical orientation substantially as shown in FIG. 14.

 The plate 62 is then retracted. However, due to the position of the clearance bar 56 and the fact that it cannot pivot clockwise, this bar 56 is applied against the layer 36 of bags while the tray 62 is retracted in the direction indicated by arrow 234 (figure 14). The resulting effect is that the layer 36 of bags 34 is unloaded or ejected from the tray 62 and deposited on the upper layer of bags 36 in the palletizing station 38, as shown in FIG. 14.

 Attention will now be paid to FIG. 15 which is a plan view of the apparatus in the state illustrated in FIG. 14 in which the plate 62 returns to its grouping position. As can be seen, the fingers 214 associated with the ramp 210 are in a raised position and have momentarily retained a filled bag 34, while the grouping device 32 has moved. Once the plate 62 reaches the grouping position, the fingers 214 pivot towards their withdrawal position, thus releasing the filled bag 34 which can descend by rolling along the ramp 210 as far as the upper surface of the plate 62.

Thus, the loading of an additional layer of filled bags can begin immediately after returning the tray to the grouping position, or shortly thereafter. At this time, the general control device of the machine 20 adjusts the position of the fingers 222 so that the next layer 36 of filled bags to be received on the tray 62 is offset from the layer of bags previously palletized. It should be noted that the palletization of the bags 34 can reach a height exceeding the normal grouping position of the tray 62 and the support 64, which condition is illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words, the grouping device 32 can go up or down vertically to find the appropriate level of the upper layer -36 of bags on the pallet 40 in the palletizing station 38.

 We will now consider the overall arrangement of the palletizing station 38 and mainly of the strip distribution device 48 which is associated with it, as shown in Figures 3 and 16. In this regard, it should be recalled that Figure 3 is a elevation of the palletizing station 38, illustrating several layers 36 of filled bags having been stacked on the pallet 40. On the other hand, FIG. 16 is a top view of the palletizing station 38.

 The palletizing station 38 is defined by a chassis 236 which comprises means intended to support the rollers 50 on which the pallet 40 is mounted, which rollers 50 facilitate the removal of a filled pallet 40. As can be better see in FIG. 3, the chassis 236 comprises several vertical drive screws 238 which are arranged in the respective angles of the chassis and which can be maneuvered to adjust the relative height of the strip dispenser 48 mounted on said screws 238. Regarding, the vertical drive device of the strip dispenser 48 is constituted by the above-mentioned vertical screws 238 for driving, as well as by a motor 240 (FIG. 16) which is connected to the screws 238 by various means of transmission with pulleys, gears and chains, which are all conventional and which are designated globally at 242. Thus, the strap device 48 can be adjusted vertically as a function of the height of the layers 36 of filled bags arranged on the pallet 40, before being put into action.

 Still with reference to FIG. 3, the general construction of the strip dispenser 48 will be at. present considered. In this regard, the distributor 48 comprises a vertically movable carriage or frame 244 which is functionally connected to the drive screws 238. Consequently, the actuation of these screws 238 by the motor 240 has the effect of adjusting the vertical arrangement of the chassis 244 e, correspondingly, of the distributor 48 for the strip. Several strip distribution units, generally designated at 246 and carried by the frame 244, are designed to each receive a strip reel 54. In the preferred embodiment, three of these units 246 are used; however, it is intended that the intertwining of two strip tapes may be sufficient in some cases. Each of the strip distribution units 246 is carried by an elongated support 248, arranged horizontally. Each support 248 comprises two opposite guides 250 and 252 on which the distribution unit 246 is mounted so as to be able to carry out a horizontal stroke with respect to the aforementioned support 248. The method making it possible to obtain this movement can vary and, in the form preferred embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic drive form is used (not shown). Each strip distribution unit 246 comprises a pin 254 on which the strip roll 54 is mounted, as well as a strip guide 255 . In addition, the carriage 244, movable vertically, carries a sensor 256 which detects the height of the layers 36 on the pallet 40 and which controls the movement of the carriage 244.

 The units 246 supporting the strip are probably best seen in FIG. 16 which shows how the devices are arranged so as to be able to move horizontally along the associated supports 248. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, three of these units strip distribution are used, the intermediate unit 246 being arranged so as to move in opposition to the associated units placed near the edges of the layers 36 of filled palletized bags. As described above, this arrangement makes it possible to interleave the strip tapes 52 so that the intermediate strip 52 is placed in opposition to the strips 52 close to the edges of the palletized layers 36, the strip tapes 52 serving to hold the layers 36 in position during transportation.

 We will now consider the operation of the strap distribution mechanism 48 in conjunction with the palletizing operation. In this regard, once a layer of filled bags 36 is deposited in the palletizing station, the general control mechanism actuates the drive motor 240 in order to adjust the carriage 244 to the appropriate vertical position which is in vertical alignment approximate with layer 36 of recently deposited filled bags. The movement made by the carriage 244 in this respect is determined by the sensor 256. It brings the strip rolls 54 somewhat above the upper layer 36. Next, the drive mechanism of the bacon strip distribution units 246 is used to move these units 246 along the respective supports 248 in order to lay three strip tapes 52 on top of the highest layer 36, recently deposited, and in fact to link this layer to the layers of filled bags, previously palletized. This operation is repeated as the layers 36 of bags 34 accumulate, so that the strips of strip 52 are intertwined with the respective layers so that each layer is held approximately at three separate points and thus cannot be accidentally release from the pallet.

 It seems that the preceding description of the apparatus 20 with reference to the drawings gives a total, complete and suitable explanation of the function of the various elements of the machine 20 according to the invention. The overall operation of this machine will now be reviewed briefly. Initially, the individual box covers arrive at the station 22 for receiving the machine 20 by means of the guide 84. The individual box covers 24 are received by a vacuum stacking device 82 which stacks the covers in contact face to face. inside the gutter 80. The vacuum stacking device 82 applies a horizontal force to the stacked covers 24, as indicated by the arrow 86, forcibly moving the covers towards the counter 90 and the rollers 88 which are associated with it .

In addition, the receiving station 22 includes an intermediate chamber 92 in which an interval is established in the stream of covers 24 moving in the gutter 80 so that the pivoting arm 98 of the dividing mechanism 94 can enter this interval once the desired cover count is reached.

The dividing mechanism 94 is then moved along the guide rod 100 in order to move the counted stack of covers 26 axially to the gutter 80.

This mechanism 94 is then retracted to assist in the division of the stack, now counted, of covers 26, and the transport device 28 is engaged in order to forcibly move the stack 26, previously counted, axially along the gutter 80 up to bagging station 30.

 In the bagging station 30, a bag 61 is removed from the magazine 60 and is suitably placed in order to receive the counted stack 26 of covers, as illustrated overall in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this regard, the horn 166 is arranged to the interior of the flanged inlet end of the bag 61 and the counted stack 26 is force-fitted via the horn 166 into the bag, as shown in FIG. 6. Once the bag 61 is filled, this bag, generally designated at 34, is transferred to the folding and closing station 58 in which its inlet end is folded and a ribbon is placed to close this bag. The filled and closed bag 34 is then directed to the grouping station 32 and it is arranged on the upper surface of the plate 62 associated with this grouping station.

 The apparatus as described above continues to operate until the desired quantity of filled bags 34 is deposited on the upper surface of the tray 62. In this regard, reference should be made to Figures 11 and 12 opposite which the description continues with regard to the operation of the arms 222 and 224. More particularly, the arms 224 forcibly move the bags laterally on the upper surface of the tray 62 until they press against the arms 222 which define the alternate arrangement of the bags 34 of the respective layers 36.

 Once a complete layer 36 of bags is deposited on the tray 62, the vertical drive mechanism 42 of the support 64 of the tray is actuated and the sensor 230 intervenes in order to align the tray 62 with the upper layer 36 in the palletizing station 38. Once the tray is properly positioned, the jack 220 (FIG. 15) is actuated so that the sheet plane 62 is moved horizontally relative to the support 64. The tray 62 and the layer 36 of bags which it carries move below the ejection bar 56 until the plate 62 extends above the previously palletized layers of bags 36. When the plate reaches this position, the layer 36 which it carries is passed below the bar 56 for release or ejection and this bar pivots towards the vertical position in which it is shown in FIG. 14.

Consequently, during the consecutive withdrawal of the plate 62, the bar 56 discharges the layer 36 from this plate 62 and deposits it on the layers 36, previously palletized, supported by the pallet 40 in the palletizing station 38. Following the withdrawal of the plate 62, the general control mechanism of the machine 20 actuates the vertical drive mechanism 42 to return the grouping device 38, including the plate 62, to its appropriate grouping position in view receiving other filled bags 34 which will constitute the next layer 36 to be palletized.

 Following the withdrawal of the plate 62, the general control mechanism also begins to operate the strip distribution device 48.

In this regard, the vertical drive mechanism of the carriage 244 carrying the strap is actuated to adjust the position of the strap distribution units 246 relative to the uppermost layer 36 of palletized bags, the sensor 256 being used to determine the relative vertical position of the carriage 244.Once the strap distribution units 246 are properly positioned, the horizontal drive mechanisms of the respective units are actuated in order to move the units horizontally to the guide 238 This movement of the distribution units 246 of strip causes the unwinding of strip tapes 52 and their laying on top of the layer 36 which has just been deposited while the machine continues to operate, the strip tapes 52 being interleaved between the respective layers 36 progressively that they accumulate in the palletizing station.

 Once the desired level of layers is reached, the operation of the machine is interrupted and the pallet 40, carrying the layers 36 of filled bags 34, is removed and replaced by a new pallet 40.

Before the palletization of filled bags begins, the strip tape 52 is fixed to the pallet 40 as illustrated in the drawings, and the operation of the machine can then resume. The machine 20 therefore automatically counts a stack of box lids, arranges a stack of counted lids inside a bag, closes the inlet end of the bag and, then, groups and pallets layers of filled bags while by automatically interlacing strip tapes between the respective layers, all these operations being carried out without manual manipulation of the covers, folded bags or individual filled bags 34.

 The control device of the machine 20 uses current microprocessing techniques and it is important that the operating cycle can be adjusted according to the size of the box lids and the number of lids to be placed in each bag. The particular details of the control device do not seem critical or necessary for an understanding of the machine 20 according to the invention nor for its operating mode, since the person skilled in the art can design numerous control devices making it possible to operate the machine. machine in the desired operating mode. Consequently, only the details necessary for a complete and total understanding of the invention have been given in the present specification.

 It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the device described and shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

 REXIENDICATIONS  1 * bag handling apparatus intended to deliver folded bags to a bagging station or the like, this apparatus comprising a magazine intended to store a certain quantity of bags in the folded state, and means fixed in the bagging and intended to come into contact with a bag from the store and to remove it from the latter, then to open the mouth of the bag and to maintain said mouth in the open state for the introduction of one or more articles in the bag, the bag handling apparatus being characterized in that the magazine (60) opens upwards and is offset laterally from the bagging station (30), and in that it comprises a head (126) vacuum which is turned down and which is capable, when applied against a reserve of folded bags (61), to remove the highest bag, and a shuttle device (118) associated with said vacuum head (126) which can be moved to bring it into contact with the tallest bag (61) in the store (60), then being able to move said head (126) and a single folded bag (61) upwards, then laterally, then downwards to a working position relative to the bagging station (30).  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum head (126) comprises a base element (130), a vacuum plate (136) elastically connected to the base element (130), an elongated groove and relatively wide (144) formed in the lower surface of the vacuum plate (136), and means (146; 148) for exhausting air from said groove (144).  3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a receiving station (22) intended to form individual stacks (26) of articles (24) arranged face to face, means (94, 96 and 100) for transporting a stack (26) of articles out of said receiving station (22), a bagging station (30) for receiving a stack (26) of articles from the station (22) receiving and placing it inside a bag (61) to form a filled bag (34), and a transfer device (112) for passing a filled bag (34) from the bagging station (30 ) to the grouping station (32).  4. Apparatus according to claim .1, further characterized in that it comprises means (194,196) for closing bags intended to fold the open end of a filled bag (61), and a device (198 ) of laying ribbons intended to close said folded and closed end of the bag.  separated (172) to enter a bag (51).  pass through the annular element (168) and the fingers  to spread them apart so that a stack of articles (26) can  the cam means (180; 182) with the fingers (172)  dXlnsertion having the effect of making contact  5. Apparatus according to claim 1-, characterized in that the post (30) bagging comprises means (152; 157; 166) for holding a bag (61) in a position such as the mouth of the bag is open for receiving a stack (26) of articles, said means comprising a horn (166) intended to penetrate into the open mouth of the bag (61) and this horn comprising an annular element tel68) base and a nose (170) defined by several fingers (172) mounted so as to be able to pivot and brought back into contact with one another to give the nose a conical configuration, cam means (180 182) associated with each of the fingers (172), said horn (166) being movable between a withdrawal position and an insertion position in which the nose (170) is distributed inside the mouth of a bag (61), the movement to said position