GB2046696A

GB2046696A - Filling and sealing valve bags

Info

Publication number: GB2046696A
Application number: GB8005816A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Polymer Films Inc
Current assignee: Polymer Films Inc
Priority date: 1979-02-21
Filing date: 1980-02-21
Publication date: 1980-11-19
Also published as: BE881838A; NL8001055A; DE2944369A1; FR2449596A1

Abstract

An apparatus for filling and sealing valve-type bags includes a clamp (34, Fig. 1) which holds the bag against a filling spout (31) while the bag is being filled causing temporary sealing between the upper portion of the bag valve and the upper portion of the filling spout. The clamp also pushes the bag from the spout after the bag has been filled. The filling spout, through which material is injected under pressure into the bag, includes an arcuate chamber (70) located about its lower half. Air is injected into this chamber at a higher pressure than that at which material is injected into the bag. The air injection results in a lower portion of the bag valve sealing against a lower portion of the filling spout, thereby in combination with the clamp temporarily sealing the bag to the spout. When the bag has been filled water is injected into the chamber (70) as the clamp pushes the bag from the filling spout. The water injection activates a water-soluble polymer sleeve (21) in the valve throat to permit adhesion of opposing surfaces of the polymer sleeve and hence permanent sealing of the bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Filling and sealing bags The present invention relates to devices for filling and sealing valve-type bags with sealable valves therein.

Many types of paper and plastic bags are filled through special integral filling valves, instead of through an open mouth. In a valve-type bag, the bag is essentially closed at both ends and has a valve of paper or other material providing the filling access through a chute, tube or other filling mechanism into the interior of the bag. It is believed that over 50% of all bags produced for commercial utilization are now valve-type bags.

Valve-type bags have several advantages, such as speed of filling, and the elimination of the complicated folding mechanism needed to close an open mouth bag. Valves have been developed which provide sift-proof seals in a convenient and inexpensive manner. For example, in the Gilligan patent application No. 61 9,374, filed October 3, 1975 and now abandoned, a method of producing a positive closure valve on a valve bag was disclosed.The subject matter of that application was continued in application No. 872,039, entitled Method and apparatus for Water-Soluble Closure for Fill Valve for Bags, filed March 28, 1967, and in application No. 933,292, with the same title, filed August 14, 1978. In these applications and in valves of other bags commercially produced, the valve is coated on its interior with an agent which, when activated, seals the bag. In the applications enumerated above, the sealing agent was a water-soluble polymer which, when wetted, sealed the bag.

While sophisticated valve-type bags exist, correspondingly sophisticated filling and sealing devices do not. Most valve-type bags are filled by inserting a tube into the valve and blowing material under pressure into the bag. While this method of filling the bag is effective, the pressurized nature of the filling often causes some of the material to be blown back out of the bag through the narrow spaces existing between the filling tube and the inner wall of the valve. This blowing back of material to the outside has two unfortunate consequences. First, it represents a loss of material which, with exotic materials, represents a needless waste of money. Secondly, the blow back of the material often contaminates the sealing agent with which the valve is coated on its interior. For example, material such as bentonite is often bagged in valve-type bags.With the water-soluble closure material discussed in the application listed above, the blow-back of bentonite contaminates the material to a degree results in an imperfect seal being formed when the material is wetted, thereby also ultimately resulting in the loss of material from the bag.

Various attempts have been made to overcome this problem, all meeting with failure because of their complicated and unwieldy natures.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to fill valve-type bags quickly and rapidly.

It is another object of this invention to fill valvetype bags without contaminating the material used to seal the bag after the bag has been filled.

It is a final object of this invention to quickly and efficiently seal the bag after it has been filled to the desired volume.

The present invention, in one illustrative embodiment, involves an apparatus designed to fill and seal a valvetype bag, the bag being of the type having a filling mouth with a sealable valve therein, the valve forming the interior of the mouth and including a throat coated at least partially with a water-soluble polymer film sealing material.

The apparatus includes a filling tube over which the throat of the bag is positioned. The filling tube extends completely through the throat into the bag, and is so designed to effectively guide the material into the bag. A clamp holds the upper half of the mouth of the bag, and therefore the upper portion of the throat against the upper half of the filling tube. The same clamp also aids in removing the bag from the filling tube when the bag has been filled to the desired volume.

The clamp is operated by a hydraulic actuator.

This actuator positions the clamp against the upper half of the filling tube as the bag is being filled. The weight of the clamp on the bag, plus the force of gravity pulling the bag against the tube thereby forms an effective seal between the upper half of the filling tube and the upper portion of the valve throat. The hydraulic actuator also pushes the clamp, and therefore the bag, outwardly after the bag has been filled, thereby aiding in the removal of the bag from the apparatus.

The material with which the bag is to be filled is injected through the filling tube into the bag.

Simultaneously with the filling process, a stream of high-pressure air is injected into an arcuate chamber formed about the lower half of the filling tube in the open space created between the lower portion of the filling tube and the lower portion of the valve throat. This air injection causes a venturi effect resulting in evacuation of the air space between the filling tube and the lower portion of the valve throat in the area between the chamber and the open end of the filling tube. In this manner, an effective seal is formed between the lower half of the filling tube and the lower half of the valve throat.

Air is injected into the arcuate chamber by means of a small thin conduit located inside of the filling tube and having an opening into the chamber. One or more of these tubes may be provided so as to completely evacuate the area ahead of the chamber to the open end of the filling tube. The other end of the conduit or conduits is connected to a source of pressurized air, the pressurization being done to a level higher than that at which the bag is filled with material.

The simultaneous filling of the bag with material and injection of air into the arcuate chamber about the lower half of the filling tube continues until the bag has been filled with material to the desired volume this particular method and apparatus for sealing the bag prevents any blow back of the material past the filling tube to the outside environment. The prevention of this blow back thereby ensures that the water-soluble polymer or other sealing agent employed will not become contaminated with the material being put into the bag. Thus, the problem of providing a temporary seal between the filling tube and the bag during the filling operation is solved.

When the bag has been filled to the desired level, the filling of the bag and the injection of air into the arcuate chamber are stopped. At this time, the arcuate chamber has injected into it water in either a mist or column form. The injection of water into the arcuate chamber occurs as the bag clamp starts to slide the bag off of the filling tube. The water activates the sealing material and an effective seal is thereby achieved when opposing sides of the valve throat come in contact with each other. The water injection occurs through a slender conduit located in the filling tube. One end of the conduit passes through an opening in the filling tube into the arcuate chamber; the other end of the conduit is connected to a source of water. As is the case with the air injection tubes, several water conduits may be employed to ensure a complete moisturization of the sealing agent.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the end of the filling tube which is inserted into the bag is cut angularly with respect to an axis passing through the tube, the angular design of the end being oriented as to direct the material into the bag.

In accordance with anotherfeature of the invention, the hydraulic activator for the clamp utilizes a hydraulic motor connected to a source of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic motor drives a pair of hydraulic pistons which move the clamp in both a horizontal and vertical orientation.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, material is injected into the filling tube under pressure by means of a blower. The blower is positioned beneath the end of a conveyor connecting to the source of material and is connected to the filling tube. Material is dumped into the blower from the conveyor and is blown down the filling tube and into the bag.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the arcuate chamber about the lower half of the filling tube comprises a closed raised ridge on the lower outer surface of the tube. The closed raised ridge may be formed integrally on the tube or may comprise a loop of wire bonded to the surface of the tube.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, control means may be provided to sense the volume of material in the bag and to activate or deactivate the sources of material, high pressure air, and water.

In accordance with a final feature of the invention, a method is provided for sealing the valve-type bag temporarily while the bag is being filled with material and permanently after the filling operation is completed. Basically, the method consists of injecting air into an arcuate chamber on the lower portion of the filling tube at a higher pressure than that at which material is being injected into the bag. As discussed, the air injection causes a venturi effect resulting in the lower portion of the mouth adhering to the lower portion of the filling tube. This creates a temporary seal of the mouth to the filling tube while the ba'g is being filled. The next step in the method consists of stopping, when the bag is filled to the desired level, the filling of the bag and the injection of air into the chamber.Finally, water is injected into the chamber after the filling operation is completed and the bag is being removed. This injection of water causes the watersoluble sealing material coating the throat of the mouth to adhere together, thereby permanently sealing the bag after the bag has been sealed with the desired quantity of material.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, constructed in accordance with the present invention, for filling and sealing valve-type bags, said view showing, in addition, the positioning of such a bag on the apparatus; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve portion of the bag shown in Figure 1 and also a side view of the fill tube portion of an apparatus constructed according to the present invention, said view showing the positioning of the fill tube in the valve prior to the bag being filled;; Figure 3 shows the operation of the fill tube as material is passed through the fill tube into the bag and as high-pressure air is blown through the side of the tube into the arcuate chamber on the tube, said high-pressure air causing a seal to be formed between the lower portion of the tube and the lower portion of the valve; Figure 4 shows the operation of the filling tube after the bag has been filled to the desired volume, whereupon water is injected into the valve areas as the tube is withdrawn, the injection causing the water-soluble polymer material to fuse together, thereby sealing the bag; Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 2, taken along the plane V-V, showing the positioning of the air injection tubes and the water injection tubes in the filling tube; ; Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 3, taken along the plane VI--VI, showing the adherence of the valve to the lower portion of the filling tube as the bag is being filled; Figure 7 is an end view of the bag shown in Figure 1 after water has been injected into the valve, thereby causing the water-soluble material located therein to seal the bag; Figure 8 is a side view of the type of filling tubes shown in the prior art, said view showing the filling of material into the bag, and also the contamination of the seal area by the material being forced out of the bag; and Figure 9 is a side view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, constructed according to the present invention, for filling and sealing valve-type bags.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a valve-type fill bag, generally denoted 10, mounted on a fill tube 31 portion of an apparatus constructed according to the present invention. The fill bag 10 is generally rectangular in shape, and is constructed of a multilayered material such as paper or plastic. As is seen in the drawings, the fill bag has a front wall 11, a rear wall 14 (see Figure 8), a left end 12, a right end 13 (see Figure 8) and a top end 15. The left end 1 2 of the bag is folded together at the top 1 5, thereby sealing the left top of the bag. Conversely, the top of the right side 1 3 of the bag is initially open, so as to allow the filling tube 31 to be inserted 'nto the top end 15 of the bag.

The internal construction of the top end 1 5 of the bag is shown more clearly in Figures 5 through 8. Attached to the front wall 11 of the bag is a outer flange 17. Attached to the rear wall 14 of the bag is an inner flange 18. The outer flange 17 and the inner flange 1 8 are constructed of paper or similar material in such a manner that the outer flange 1 7 overlays the inner flange 1 8 prior to insertion of the filling tube 31. As mentioned, the top right side 13 of the bag is initially open so as to allow insertion of the filling tube 31. In the area circumscribed by the upper flange 17, the lower flange 18, the front wall 11 and the rear wall 14 is a bag fill valve, generally denoted 20. The bag fill valve 20 comprises a sleeve of water soluble polymer film 21 which is assembled within a reinforcing material sleeve 22.The reinforcing sleeve 22 may be assembled of paper or other similar material. The sleeve of water-soluble polymer film, may be anyone of several polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyurethane (PU), methyl celluiose, or other water-soluble films. Such films, upon exposure to water in liquid or steam form, produce a dissolution resulting in the material adherring to itself as well to surrounding bag surfaces upon its solidification due to evaporation of the applied water.

As seen in Figures 5 and 6, the water-soluble polymer film sleeve 21 is provided with a hollow interior which functions as a valve throat providing filling access to the bag when the sleeve 21 is assembled onto the filling tube 31. Figure 1 shows the positioning of the bag 10 on the filling tube 31. The initial insertion of the bag 10 on the tube 31 may be done manually or by other mechanical means. The insertion of the filling tube 31 into the bag 10 causes the polymer film sleeve 21 and its reinforcing sleeve 22 to take a circular shape. The circular shape also causes the upper flange 1 7 and the lower flange 1 8 to also take a curved shape, thereby retaining the valve 20 within the bag 10.

As is seen in Figure 5, the force of gravity causes the upper portion of the valve throat 20 to take the same shape as that of the fill tube 31, thereby sealing the upper portion of the valve throat to the upper surface of the fill tube 31.

As is seen in Figure 1, the bag 10 is retained on the filling tube 31 by means of a hydraulicallyactuated bag clamp 34. This bag clamp 34 attaches to a mounting block 35. The mounting block 35 attaches to the rod 36 extending from a hydraulic cylinder 37. The hydraulic cylinder 37 attaches to a mounting bracket from a base 33. As is seen more clearly in Figure 9, the hydraulic cylinder 37 is connected by means of hydraulic lines 39 to-a hydraulic motor and its associated source of hydraulic fluid 40. The hydraulic cylinder 37, to which the bag clamp 34 is attached, is also connected to another hydraulic cylinder 41. This latter hydraulic cylinder 41 is attached by means of a beam 42 and a flange 43 to the base 33. The latter hydraulic cylinder 41, as can be seen in Figure 9, is also connected to the hydraulic motor 40 by means of hydraulic lines 44.The purpose of the first hydraulic cylinder 37 is to move the bag clamp 34 in a horizontal direction so as to push the bag 10 off of the filling tube 31 when it has been filled The function of the latter hydraulic cylinder 41 is to move the bag clamp in a vertical direction, so as to allow the bag 10 to be inserted upon and removed from the filling tube 31 without interference from the clamp 34. Thus, prior to the bag 10 being inserted upon the filling tube 31, the bag clamp 34 is in a retracted position away from the filling tube 31. After the bag 10 has been inserted upon the filling tube 31 by manual or mechanical means, the bag clamp 34 is positioned by the hydraulic motor 40 so as to clamp the bag 10 to the filling tube 31. After the bag 10 is filled, the bag clamp 34 pushed it off the filling tube 31.

Figure 2 shows the end of the filling tube 31 in more detail. The filling tube 31 comprises a long cylinder constructed of metal, plastic, or other formable material. The end of the tube 31 which is inserted into the bag 10 is slightly angled at one end 30 so as to better direct the material passing through the tube into the bag 10. Several inches back from the angled end 30 of the tube 31 is formed an arcuate chamber, generally denoted 70, about the lower half of the tube 31. As shown in Figure 2 this arcuate chamber 70 is formed by a ridge 71 which defines the extent of the perimeter of the chamber 70. The ridge 71 may be intergrally formed in the fill tube 31 or may be, for example, a wire bonded to the outer surface of the filling tube 31. In one version of the apparatus, a 12-gauge wire was found to give satisfactory results. The chamber 70 has, as its upper and lower walls, the lower outer wall of the fill tube 31 and the inner wall of the sleeve of water-soluble material 21, respectively.

The purpose of the chamber 70 is to prevent the materials with which bag 10 is being filled from contaminating the film of water-soluble material. As shown in Figure 8, the prior art for devices used to fill valve-type bags simply positioned the fill tube in the bag and pumped the material with which the bag was to be filled through the fill tube into the bag. As this filling was done under pressure, when the material 25, with which the bag was being filled, started to reach the top of the interior 24 of the bag, the resulting pressure build-up caused material 25 to be blown back into the recess 26 between the bottom of the fill tube and the inner surface of the water-soluble sleeve. This backfeeding often contaminated the water-soluble material sleeve 21 and prevented effective bonding of the sleeve from occurring after the filling process had been completed.The arcuate chamber 70 in the apparatus of the present invention prevents this contamination from occurring and is a marked departure from the fill tubes of the prior art.

Figure 2 shows the positioning of the fill tube 31 of the present apparatus in the bag 1 0 prior to the commencing of the filling process. As can be seen from Figure 5, which is a cross-section of Figure 2, a crescent-shaped space is present between the chamber ridge 71 and the inner surface of the water-soluble sleeve 21.

The process for filling the bag 10, once it has been inserted upon the fill tube 31, is as follows.

The material 25 with which the bag is to be filled enters the apparatus on a conveyor 29. This material 25 may be any material which would lend itself to being blown into a fill bag, such as flour, bentonite, etc. The conveyor 29 guides the material 25 to the intake of a blower 28. The blower 28 provides a pressurized stream of material down the fill tube 31 into the bag 10. The material 25 then enters the bag 10 as it reaches the end of the fill tube 31.

Simultaneous with the entry of material into the bag, is the injection of air into the arcuate chamber 70. As is shown more clearly in Figure 3, the chamber 70 has a plurality of air conduits 64 which connect to a source of air at a higher pressure than that of the incoming stream of material. An air stream pressure approximately 50 psi has given satisfactory results. As is shown in Figure 9, the conduits 64 are connected by means of air lines 63 to an air compressor 60. The air compressor 60 draws air from the surrounding environment through an inlet 62 and pressurizes the air to a higher pressure than that of the material entering the bag. As is shown more clearly in Figure 5, the preferred embodiment has two such air conduits 64A and 64B. The air conduits 64 enter the arcuate chamber 70 by means of openings 73A and 73B in the outer wall of the fill tube 31.

The insertion of high-pressure air into the arcuate chamber 70, as shown in Figure 3, causes a venturi effect to result in the chamber. This effect evacuates the area along the bottom portion of the tube 31 between the chamber 70 and the tube end 30. The evacuation pulls the sleeve of water-soluble material 21 and its reinforcing sleeve 22 against the fill tube 31 in the area between the open end of the filling tube 31 and the nearest outer edge of the chamber ridge 71.

As can be seen in Figure 6, this adherence of the water-soluble material 21 and its reinforcing sleeve 22 against the fill tube 31 eiiminates the crescent-shaped space that previously existed between these two members as shown in Figure 5. The adherence of the water-soluble sleeve 21 to the fill tube 31 thereby creates a seal between the lower portion of the fill tube 31 and the watersoluble sleeve 21. This seal prevents the contamination of the water-soluble material 21 that previously occurred with the filling tube devices shown in the prior art. This seal, combined with the seal between the upper portion of the tube 31 and the sleeve 21 caused by the clamp 34 and the weight of the bag 10, effectively provides a complete temporary seal between the tube 31 and the bag 10 while the bag 10 is being filled.

The air forced into the arcuate chamber 70 forces the water-soluble sleeve 21 away from the fill tube 31 in the area adjacent to and behind the chamber 70. This allows the high-pressure air to escape and prevents a buildup of pressure between the water-soluble material sleeve 21 and the fill tube 31.

When the bag 10 has been filled to a desired level, the material air source 28 and the highpressure air compressor 60 are turned off. Such de-energizing may be done manually, by means of manual switches 81 and 83, or control means may be utilized to automatically achieve the same result. The material air blower 28 and the high pressure compressor 60 do not have to be shutoff at exactly the same instant; rather, they need only be turned off at approximately the same time.

When the material compressor 28 and the high pressure 60 have been de-energized, water is injected into the arcuate chamber 70. The water injected may be in mist or column form. As is shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the fill tube 31 also has two other conduits 54A and 54B within it. These conduits 54A and 54B, as seen in Figure 9, connect to a water pump 50 by means of water lines 53. The water pump 50 is connected by a conduit 51 to a source of water. The water pump 5Q pumps water through the water lines 53 into the conduits 54A and 54B. The conduits 54A and 54B enter the arcuate chamber 70 by means of openings 74A and 74B in the wall of the filling tube 31.These openings may be designed such that the water entering the arcuate chamber 7Q is either in the form of a fine mist or in column forms The water is pumped into the arcuate chamber 70 as the bag 10 is being pushed down the filling tube 31 by the clamp 34. The result of spraying water into the arcuate chamber 70 as the bag is removed is that the water soluble sleeve 21 is activated. As mentioned, the contact of water with the water-soluble sleeve causes partial disillusion of the polymer. When opposing surfaces of the wetted polymer film sleeve 21 contact after disillusion due to wetting and after subsequent evaporation of the water through natural or mechanical means, the polymeric material and solidifying becomes welded together as substantially one piece of film.This welding not only seals the valve throat 23, but actually eliminates it. The sealing and elimination of the valve throat 23 achieves a sift-proof seal with respect to the contents 25 of the bag 10.

It is thus seen that the use of the arcuate chamber 70 along with the auxiliary air and water injection accomplishes several purposes and overcomes the failings of the prior art. As discussed, the injection of a high-pressure air stream into the chamber during the filling operation causes a temporary seal to be formed between the polymer sleeve 21 and the filling tube 31 during the filling operation. The injection of water after the filling operation has been completed wets the polymer surface 21 so as to facilitate permanent sealing of bag 10 after it has been filled. As is shown in the preferred embodiment, four discrete tubes 64A, 64B, 54A, and 54B are used to inject the air and water, respectively, into the arcuate chamber 70.

Alternatively, a single tube could be used for the air injection and a single tube could be used for the water injection. In still another alternative, a single tube could provide both the air injection and water injection with the proper gating of air and water through the tube.

The invention described hereinabove also encompasses a method of filling and sealing a bag having a filling mouth with a valve coextensively located therein and coated internally with a watersoluble sealing material. Basically, the method entails placing the mouth of the bag over a fill tube through which material to be inserted into the bag passes. The bag is then clamped to the fill tube, the clamping, along with the weight of the bag, thereby forming a seal between the upper half of the valve and the fill tube. An arcuate chamber is then defined about the lower half of the tube. The chamber has as its upper and lower boundaries, the outer wall of the tube and the inner wall of the valve, respectively. After the filling of the bag has begun under pressure, high pressure air is injected nto the chamber. The injection, as discussed, creates a venturi effect.The venturi effect causes a reduction of pressure in the portion of the chamber nearest the open end of the tube, resulting in the lower half of the valve adhering to the lower half of the tube in the area between the open end of the tube and the chamber. The adherence of the valve to the tube thereby forms a seal between the lower inner surface of the valve and the lower outer surface of the tube. The bag is then filled to the desired volume, whereupon the injection of air into the chamber and the filling of the bag with material ceases. Water is then injected into the chamber as the clamp pushes the bag down the fill tube. The water would activate the polymer film causing opposing sides of the valve to contact, thereby sealing the bag.

In the foregoing description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed. It is to be understood that other mechanical and design variations are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, means other than a hydraulic clamp could be used to attach the bag to the fill tube; a different arrangement of conduits or openings could be used to inject air and water into the arcuate chamber; the arcuate chamber could be defined by means other than a wire bonded to the surface of the filling tube; and means other than a conveyor belt and air blower could be used to propel the material to be inserted into the bag through the fill tube. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement which is illustrated and described in detail.

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling and sealing a valvetype bag, said bag being-of the type having a filling mouth containing a throat, a filling spout insertable into said throat and means for injecting material into said bag through said filling spout -under pressure characterized by: means for injecting air into a chamber formed between said spout and throat at a higher pressure than that at which said material is being injected into said bag to create a venturi effect between said spout and throat causing an evacuation of air between said spout and throat resulting in portions of said throat adhering to portions of said filling spout, thereby temporarily sealing said portions of said throat to said spout during the filling operation.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a water soluble sealing material is provided covering at least a portion of said throat and further characterized by: means for stopping said injection of material into said bag and said injection of air into said chamber when said bag has been filled with said material to the desired volume; and means for injecting water into said chamber when said air injection has ceased, said water injection thereby activating said water-soluble material located in said throat, whereupon said activated material adheres together and permanently seals said bag after said bag has been filled.

3. An apparatus for filling and sealing a valvetype bag as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said filling spout has a smaller outside diameter than that of said mouth whereby an open, crescent-shaped space is generally formed between the lower portion of said filling spout and the lower portion of said mouth and characterized by: means for defining an arcuate chamber about a lower portion of said filling spout in said open space created between the lower portion of said filling spout and the lower portion of said throat, said chamber thereby having its upper and lower sides defined by the lower side of said filling spout and the lower portion of said throat.

4. An apparatus as in Claims 1 through 3 wherein said means for injecting air includes a plurality of air injection tube means located within said filling spout and passing from within said filling spout into said chamber for routing a stream of air into said chamber.

5. An apparatus as in Claims 2 through 4 wherein said means for injecting water includes a plurality of water injection tube means located within said filling spout and passing from within said filling spout into said chamber for routing water into said chamber means.

6. An apparatus as defined in Claims 1 through 5 wherein said filling spout comprises a round tube having an open end cut angularly with respect to an axis passing through the length of said tube, said angular orientation of said open end assisting the entry of said material into said bag.

7. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said arcuate chamber means located about the lower half of said filling spout comprises a closed, raised ridge on the lower outer surface of said filling spout

8. An apparatus as defined in Claim 7, wherein said closed raised ridge comprises a loop of wire bonded to the lower outer surface of said filling spout.

9. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said means for injecting air comprises: slender conduit means located completely within said filling spout for routing a stream of air to said chamber means; passage means running from said conduit means through the wall of said filling spout into said arcuate chamber means for injecting said air into said throat; further passage means, connected to the other end of said conduit means, for connecting the said conduit means to an air source outside of the filling spout.

10. An apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein said means for injecting water comprises: slender conduit means located completely within said filling spout for routing a stream of water to said chamber means; passage means running from one end of said conduit means through the wall of said filling spout into said arcuate chamber for injecting a stream of water into said chamber means; further passage means connected from the other end of said conduit means for connecting said conduit means to a water source outside of said filling spout.

11. An apparatus for filling and sealing a valvetype bag, said bag being of the type having a filling mouth containing a throat in which is located a water-soluble sealing material covering at least a portion of said throat, said apparatus including a filling spout connected to a source of filling material and comprising:: clamping means for holding the upper half of said mouth of said bag against the upper half of said filling spout while said bag is being filled, thereby forming a temporary seal between the upper portion of said throat and the upper portidn of said spout and for pushing said bag away from said spout after said bag has been filled to the desired volume; means for injecting material into said bag through said filling spout under pressure; arcuate chamber means, located about the lower half of said filling spout means;; means for injecting air while the bag is being filled at a higher pressure than that at which said material is being injected into said bag into said chamber means, said air injection creating a venturi effect causing an evacuation of the air between the end of said spout and said chamber, said evacuation resulting in the lower portion of said throat adhering to the lower portion of said filling spout, thereby temporarily sealing said bag to said spout during the filling operation; means for stopping said injection of material into said bag and said injection of air into said chamber when said bag has been filled with said material to the desired volume;; means for injecting water into said chamber when said air injection has ceased, said water injection occurring as said bag is pushed from said filling spout by said clamping means, said water injection thereby activating said water-soluble polymer located in said throat, whereupon said activated polymer adheres together and permanently seals said bag after said bag has been filled.

12. An apparatus for filling and sealing a valvetype bag having a filling mouth with a sealable valve therein, said valve forming the interior of said mouth and including a throat coated at least partially with a water-soluble polymer film sealing material, comprising: filling tube means having an open end inserted into said throat for passing material into said bag, said filling tube means having a smaller outside diameter than that of said mouth, said filling tube means being inserted into said mouth of said bag wherein an open, crescent-shaped space is generally formed between the lower portion of said filling tube means and the lower portion of said mouth;; clamping means for holding the upper half of said mouth of said bag, and therefore the upper portion of said throat, against the upper half of said filling tube means, thereby temporarily sealing the upper portion of said bag during said filling operation, and for pushing said bag off said filling tube means after said bag has been filled; hydraulic actuating means, connected to and controlling said clamping means, for positioning said clamping means against the upper half of said filling tube means as said bag is being filled, an'd for pushing said clamping means down said filling tube means after said bag has been filled, thereby assisting in the removal of said bag; means for injecting, under pressure, into said filling tube means said material with which said bag is to be filled; ; means for defining an arcuate chamber about the lower half of said filling tube means in said open space created between the lower portion of said filling tube means and the lower portion of said throat, said chamber thereby having its upper and lower sides defined by the lower side of said filling tube means and the lower portion of said throat; a plurality of air injection tube means, located within said filling tube means and passing from within said filling tube means into said chamber, for routing a stream of air into said chamber; a plurality of water injection tube means, 'located within said filling tube means and passing from within said filling tube means into said chamber, for routing water into said chamber means;; means for injecting a stream of air, while the bag is being filled, into said air injection tube means at a higher pressure than that at which said material is injected, said injection causing a venturi effect resulting in a reduction of air pressure in the portion of said chamber closest to the open end of said filling tube means, said reduction of pressure thereby causing the lower portion of said throat to adhere to the lower portion of said filling tube means in the area between the open end of said filling tube means and said chamber, said adherence thereby forming a temporary seal between the lower inner surface of said throat and the lower outer surface of said filling tube means as said bag is being filled;; means for injecting water into said water injection tube means after said air injection and said material injection have ceased, said water injection occurring as said bag is being pushed away from said filling tube means by said clamping means, said water injection thereby causing said water soluble polymer coating on opposite sides of said throat to bond together, thereby permanently sealing said bag after said bag has been filled; and control means for starting the injection of material into said bag and air into said chamber means when said bag is placed onto said fill type means, for stopping said material and air injection and for starting said water injection when said bag has been filled to the desired volume, and for continuing said water injection until said bag has been removed from said fill tube means.

13. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said filling tube means comprises a round tube, said open end cut angularly with respect to an axis passing through the length of said tube, said angular orientation of said end assisting the entry of said material into said bag, said filling tube being connected at its other end to said means for injecting material into said bag.

14. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said clamping means comprises: a U-shaped member fitting the curvature of said filling tube means; and means for connecting said U-shaped member to said hydraulic actuating means.

15. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said hydraulic actuating means comprises: a source of hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic motor connected to said source of fluid, said motor raising the pressure level of said fluid to a level required to actuate said clamping means; a first hydraulic piston means, connected to said hydraulic motor, for moving said clamping means downwardly to engage said bag as said bag is being filled; and a second hydraulic piston means, connected to said hydraulic motor, for moving said clamping means in a horizontal orientation along said filling tube means after said bag has been filled.

1 6. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said means for injecting said material into said filling tube means under pressure comprises: conveyor means, connected to the source of said material, for routing said material to said apparatus; blower means, located beneath the end of said conveyor means and connected to said fill tube means, for blowing the material from said conveyor means down said filling tube into said bag; and means for connecting said filling tube means to said blower means.

1 7. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said means for defining an arcuate chamber about the lower half of said filling tube means comprises a closed, raised ridge on the lower outer surface of said filling tube means.

18. An apparatus as defined in CLaim 17, wherein said closed raised ridge comprises a loop of wire bonded to the lower outer surface of said filling tube means.

19. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said air injection tube means comprises: slender conduit means, located completely within said filling tube means, for routing a stream of air to said chamber means; passage means, running from said conduit means through the wall of said filling tube means into said arcuate chamber means, for injecting said air into said throat; further passage means, connected to the other end of said conduit means, for connecting the said conduit means to the area outside of the filling tube means; and air source connection means, passing from the outside of said filling tube means through said further passage means, for connecting said conduit means to said means for injecting a stream of air into said injection tube means.

20. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said water injection tube means comprises: slender conduit means, located completely within said filling tube means, for routing a stream of water to said chamber means; passage means, running from one end of said conduit means through the wall of said filling tube means into said arcuate chamber, for injecting a stream of water into said chamber means; further passage means, connected from the other end of said conduit means, for connecting said conduit means to the area outside of said filling tube means; and water source connection means, attached to said further passage means, for connecting said conduit means to said means for injecting a stream of water into said water injection tube means.

21. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said means for injecting air into said air injection tube means comprises: air compressor means for generating a pressurized stream of air; means for connecting said air compressor means to said air injection tube means; and control means for turning said compressor means on and off.

22. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 2, wherein said means for injecting water comprises: water pump means for injecting a stream of pressurized water into said water injection tube means; means for routing a source of water to said water pump means; means for connecting said water pump means to said fill tube means; and control means for turning said water pump means on and off.

23. An apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said means for injecting water including means for injecting a mist of water.

24. A method of sealing a valve-type bag temporarily while said bag is being filled with material, and permanently after said fillingoperating is completed, said bag being of the type having a filling mouth containing a throat in which is located a water-soluble sealing material covering at least a portion of said throat, said filling being accomplished by positioning said mouth over a filling tube, and starting the filling of said bag by injecting material under pressure through said tube into said bag, said sealing comprising the following steps:: injecting air while the bag is being filled into an arcuate chamber on the lower outside portion of said filling tube, said injection occurring at a higher pressure than that at which said material is being injected into said bag, said air injection thereby creating a venturi effect which evacuates the area between said chamber and the end of said tube within the bag, said evacuation causing the lower portion of said mouth to adhere to the lower portion of said filling tube, thereby temporarily sealing said mouth to said filling tube while said bag is being filled; stopping, when said bag is filled to the desired level, the filling of said bag and the injection of air into said chamber; and injecting water into said chamber and removing said bag from said filling tube, said step of injecting water causing said water-soluble sealing material coating the throat of said mouth to adhere together, thereby permanently sealingasaid bag after said bag has been filled with the desired quantity of said material.

25. A method of filling and sealing a valve-type bag having a filling mouth with a valve located therein and coated internally with a water-soluble sealing material, comprising: placing said mouth of said bag having said valve over the open end of a fill tube through which the material to be put into said bag passes, said placement thereby positioning said valve around said fill tube; clamping the upper half of said mouth to said fill tube, said clamping along with the weight of said bag thereby sealing the upper half of said valve to said fill tube; defining an arcuate chamber about the lower half of said tube, said chamber having as its upper and lower boundaries the outer wall of said tube and the inner wall of said valve, respectively; filling said bag with said material, said filling occurring under pressure;; injecting air under high pressure into said chamber simultaneously with said filling of said bag, said injection causing a reduction of air pressure in the portion of said chamber nearest said open end of said fill tube, said reduction of pressure creating a venturi action which causes the lower half of said valve to adhere to the lower half of said tube in the area between said open end of said tube and said chamber, said adherence thereby forming a temporary seal between the lower inner surface of said valve and the lower outer surface of said tube as said bag is being filled; stopping, when said bag has been filled to the desired volume with said material, the filling of said bag and the injection of air into said chamber; ; injecting water into said chamber causing said water soluble material on the inner surfaces of said valve to activate and permanently adhere together, thereby permanently sealing said bag mouth and therefore said bag.

26. The method of claim 25 including the step of moving said bag away from said fill tube as said water injection is occurring.