US2671587A - Bag filling machine - Google Patents

Description

C. W. VOGT BAG FILLING MACHINE March 9, 1954 8 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1948 ZSnnentor (LA/95mm? m V067 a. Gttomegs March 9, c VOGT BAG FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 50, 1948 CL/l/GfA/Cf M967.

(Ittomegs Marbh 9, c VOGT BAG FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 30, 1948 ZSnnentor CZ 420w: 1% 1/067 (Ittornegs March 9, 1954 c. w. VOGT BAG FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 30, 1948 Zmventor CL/IEf/VCE W V067 Qttornegs 0. w. voe'r v BAG FILLING MACHINE March 9, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 50, 1948 Zmnentor CL A/cf/VCE 14/. 1 067? (Iitomegs March 9, 1954 c. w. VOGT BAG FILLING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1948 :s CZ/MEA/QE 14/ QM W 4 C(ttornegs March 9, 1954 W, VOGT 2,671,587

BAG FILLING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTO-R' Clarezzceilfl qg ATTORNEYS March 9, 1954 c, vo -r 2,671,587

BAG FILLING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR "Chfience IKE/b572 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG FILLING MACHINE Clarence W. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn.

Application July 30, 1948, Serial No. 41,497

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for filling and closing bags, and involves a new type of machine which is particularly adapted for filling and closing bags which are connected together as a chain of bags or bag pairs. One form of such chain of bag pairs is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 30,647, filed June 2, 1948, now Patent No. 2,628,013, and various other forms are shown and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 38,477, filed July 13, 1948, now Patent No. 2,647,680.

The present invention provides means whereby bags connected in such chains may be continuously fed through the machine, opened,

filled, closed, sealed, and freed from each other,

or if desired, divided into groups or short chains of filled bags, for shipment, storage and sale.

The invention relates more particularly to the filling, closing and sealing of bags which are connected in series by one or more strips, and the invention provides means whereby one or more of such connecting strips are utilized for supporting and/or advancing the bags to and from filling and sealing stations.

The invention resides not only in the general assembly of parts, but also in the details of construction and operation of different sections or units which act in succession on the bags as they advance.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the chains of bags on the bag supports of the machine, and before filling.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper end of a closed and sealed bag as discharged from the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a bag as discharged from the apparatus shown in Figs. to 14.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing an alternative construction.

Fig. 11 is a section similar to a portion of Fig. 10, but on a larger scale.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2l2 of Fig. 0.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3--l3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section on the line 14-44 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14a is a face view of a portion of the cam for raising and lowering the lower ends of the nozzles.

Figs. 15 and 16 show a pair of filled and sealed bags after separation from each other.

Fig. 17 is a section on the line I7l1 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 16, but showing a rip-cord incorporated in the bag at the time of closing and sealing.

Fig. 19 is a section on the line l9l9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of an apparatus for filling a chain of bags comprising a single row.

Fig. 21 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 2222 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a chain of bags which may be filled by the apparatus shown in Figs. 20 to 22, and

Fig. 24 is a section on the line 2424 of Fig. 21.

Although various details of a machine embodying my invention will vary in accordance with the particular type of bag chains which are to be filled and sealed, I have illustrated embodiments of my invention which are adapted for use with bag chain constructions in which a bagconnecting strip or tape is folded along a line lengthwise thereof to inverted V form, and I utilize this strip to support the bags substantially upright and on opposite sides of a horizontal member positioned in the groove or channel of the strip as the strip moves endwise to bring the bags into registry with bag filling and closing units.

I have illustrated bag chains in which the body portions of the bags A have opposed inverted pleats, and the bottoms of the bags are closed by folding over the lower end portion B. The side panels of a pair of bags at their upper open ends are adhesively secured to a side portion of a strip C. In one form shown there are two rows of bags A secured to opposite edge portions of a strip C to form bag pairs, and the opposite or outer side panels of the bags are connected together by narrow strips D by means of adhesive of a character which permits said strips to be pulled off as hereinafter described. In another form there is a single row of the bags A secured between a pair of the supporting strips C.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive is for use with the first mentioned form of bag chain. The chain of bags with the two bags of each pair extending out horizontally in opposite directions may be supported on a table 20, which at one end presents surfaces which incline downwardly in opposite directions from a center line, and at progressively steeper angles toward the delivery end of the table. Along the center line of the table is a vertically disposed plate 21 which engages the under surface of the center strip C of the bag chain, so that as the chain of bags is pulled toward the right from the table 20 the outer ends of the bags of each suc-.

cessive pair of bags progressively move down the inclined surface of the table until when they reach the end of the table the two bags of each successive pair reach vertical positions, and the bags are supported solely by the (engagement of the mid-portion of the strip C with the upper edge of the vertical plate 2|. constitutes an elongated support or trackfor the bags, and along which they slide. If desired, the lower ends of the bags, particularly after ,they have been filled, may rest on and be additionally or wholly supported by a conveyor belt '22. The progressive advancement of the bags to and through the machine is effected primarily by pulling-on the strips or tape .0, or on the tapes D, or both.

As :the pairs of bags advance along the supporting plate 2.! .theyare progressively opened, then.filled,.and then closed. Toefiect the opening of the bags the two strips D pass around rollers 23 which are spaced away from and on opposite sides of the supporting plate 2|, and to the extent required to open the bags. These rollersare heated, so .that the, heat softens the adhesive on the tapes or strips. Thus the tapes Dmay be pulled laterally and free from the bars by .any suitable means, as for instance, pairs of pull.-rolls,24,,and this pulling of the tapes or strips in opposite directions opens up the bag mouths. The .distance to which they areopened is controlled bythespacing of the two rollers 23. The tapes D are pulled free from the bags as the bags :pass said rollers,.but the bags remain connected together by the supportingstrip C.

Various other means may be employed for opening up .the bags. If the bag walls be very thin and-of thermoplastic material such as polyethyleneor polyvinylidene chloride, or of heat sealing .cellophane, the full opening may be facilitated by air blasts from a pair of nozzles.

After the bags have thus beenopened they are filled with measured quantities of the desired material to be packaged. In the particular mechanism illustrated in Fig. there-is employed a :pair of rotatable measuring members 25 mounted in separate chambers incasings 26, and each having a=plurality.of measuring pockets 21. On the bottom of the casings 26 are a pair of nozzles :28 terminating almost flush with the path of movement of the upper ends of the bags. Thepockets may be filled-in any suitable manner, as :for instance by hoppers or supply-chamberszfl mounted on the top .walls of the casing .26. As the measuring members 25 rotate, the pockets comein-succession intoregistr-y Withthe hoppers and become filled, and after further rotation through 180 they register with the nozzles .28, and-the contents of the pocketsare discharged into the-bags which are directly therebelow.

It will of course be understood that the measuring pockets 21 are moved in timed relationship tothe bag advancing means,,so thatthere will be a-pair of bags directly beneath the pair of nozzles each time the measuring pockets come into registry .with said nozzles. Obviously, there may be only ,asingle measuring member with two concentric rows of pockets for registry with thetwo nozzles.

After the bags have been filled during their progressive advancement, the upper end'portions of "the bags come between belts "3t traveling around'pulleys 3| and 32. The belts in passing from the pulleys M to the pulleys 32 converge and press 'against'the outer sidewalls of the bags at theirupper ends-and progressively close the Thus the plate bags, so that as the bags pass between the pulleys 32 the walls of the bags at their months are tightly pressed together. The pulleys or rollers 32 are preferably heated, so that :the bags are not only closed, but are tightly sealed if -the bag walls be of thermoplastic material, as is preferably the case.

The advancement of the bags after the strips 'D have'been removed is effected by pull rolls 33 acting-on the .center strip 0 to carry the closed bags beyond thepulleys or rollers 32. The heating of the bag walls at the time of closing and sealingalso acts to soften the adhesive connecting the bags to the center strip C, but not sufliciently to insure the bags dropping off .by their own weight.

At a short distance beyond the pulleys 32 there may be provided some form of pusher means which applies downward pressure on the bags, and thus frees them from the center strip C. In the form illustrated, the pushers are rotors on opposite sides of the strip C, and havingarms 35 so positioned that as the rotors 3 rotate, the arms will engage the upper portions of the bags as shown in Fig. 4, and press them downwardly. The bags are free to drop as soon as released vfrom the stripC, and may slide down chutes 3 onto conveyor belts ,37.

The plate 2,! along which the strip C slides terminates shortly beyond the pushers which separate the bags from thestrip, and adjacent to the end of the supporting plate there may be provided an upwardly extending knife 38 which slits the \strip ,C in two along the fold line. The rollers 33 may pull the strip C around roller 33' and laterally. There may be -a,-p air of the rollers .33, and .they may pull the strip C, in which case the rollers 33 maybe omitted. Any other suitable means may be provided for pullingthis strip.

It is important that the bag filling unit operate in proper timed relationship to the bag movement, and that filling begin when the bags are in proper position. In order ,to insure this, any suitable means may be provided, as ,for instance a pair of rollers 39 engaging the outer sides of the bags on their way to the filler, and having pins 48 entering between the bags of onepair and-those of the next, or entering properly spaced perforations or;slits D in the strips D, and between successive bags. Thus, with the bags fed in proper timed relationship to the rollers 38 so'that the pins Ml enter between successive bags, and with the rollers 39 properly geared to all of the rest-pf the mechanism, the various operations .on :the bag will take place as the bags reach the successive stations. The filled, closed, and sealed bag after being freed from the strips CandD will appear as shown in Fig. '7.

To simplify the illustration'I have not shown all of the moving parts of the apparatus connected up to a singlesource of power, withgearing or other power transmitting elements so proportioned anddesignedas toinsure the proper timed relationship of the different operating parts. Such vinterconnecting.meansmay .beprovided by anyone skilled in the art.

It will :be understood that the parts 24 and 33 and other parts which contact sticky adhesive on the bag parts may be sheathed with tefion or coated with a silicone, or otherwise treated to prevent adhesion of the strips or.other bag parts thereto.

In the embodiment of the invention aboverdescribed, the strips D and C are separated from the bags A as the latter advance along their path of movement to leave the bag as shown in Fig. 7. This is not essential, so far as my broad invention is concerned, as at least one of the strips may be left in place on the bags after filling and sealing, and the strip or strips may be out between successive bags into sections, so that the sections of at least one of the strips remain on the filled and sealed bags. 'Such strips may have printing thereon, in a repetitive pattern, indicating the contents of the bag and other desired information. Thus the sections of the strip serve as labels on the bags.

In Figs. to 14 inclusive I have shown a machine which, although it differs in detail from that above described, operates in substantially the same manner, except as to the removal of the strips. In this form the measuring members 25 are rotatable in casings 26 and have measuring pockets Z'i having outlets 21 for delivering material to nozzles 28 and which pockets may be filled from a hopper 29 mounted on the casing. The casing 25 is formed with a bottom plate 26 upon which the measuring members are supported.

In order to extend the time during which the material is delivered through the nozzles, the bottom plates 26 have arcuate slots 4| formed therein along which the nozzles 28 move, as shown in Fig. 14. To insure the delivery of the material down into the pockets, the nozzles may be extensible, and means provided for intermittently moving a section of each nozzle down into the bag. As shown, each nozzle 28 has a sleeve 42 thereon, and the sleeve at one side has a pin t3 extending into a groove in the periphery of a stationary annular band 44. This band may be supported on the frame part 45 of the machine, and the groove along almost its entire length is in a single horizontal plane, so that the sleeves or nozzle extensions will remain in their raised position. For a short distance along the length of the groove and over the path of movement of the bags, the groove makes a sharp dip, as shown in Fig. 1411. This dip is of such width that as the advancing side of the bag passes beneath the nozzle, the sleeve or extension 42 moves down into the bag, as shown in Fig. 13. Before the bag has passed the nozzle, the nozzle is moved back up to its upper position. These extensions preferably have their outer surfaces tapered so as to guide them into the bags and hold the bags open during the filling. In starting the operation the ends of a pair of bags may be pulled open by hand as the bags approach the nozzles. As the bags fill, their outer walls move outwardly, and the outer connecting strips will thus be spread apart thereby to open up the next pair before they reach the nozzle.

After the bags have moved past the nozzles, the upper ends of the bags, still attached to the side strips and the center strip, pass between a pair of pressing and heating rollers 46 which close the mouths of the bags and hermetically seal them as well as sealing the tapes C, D together. Directly beyond the bag closing rollers 46 the supporting rail or plate Zi is provided with an upstanding knife 38 which slits the center and inverted V-shaped strip lengthwise, into separate strips C as shown in Figs. and 16, so as to separate the two rows of bags from each other.

Beyond the longitudinal slitting knife means are provided for cutting all of the tapes or strips in two between each successive pair of bags. As

shown particularly in Figs. 10 and 11, this cutting means includes a hard surfaced roller 41 and a roller 48 having longitudinally extending knives 49 for cutting through the strips between adjacent bags. The knives 49 are spaced apart circumferentially of the roller 48 to distances slightly greater than the width of the closed mouth portions of the bags, and the roller 48 preferably has a peripheral layer 50 of rubber or other resilient material which applies pressure to the bags at their mouths, and provides sulficient traction effect to pull the bags and strips through the machine and deliver the separated or freed bags into a receptacle, which may be in the form of a pair of oppositely inclined chutes The outer strips D are preferably of such width that they extend above and below the edges of the inverted V-shaped strip C, and as previously noted, these outer strips D may have printing thereon, so positioned that each section of the strip as applied to the bag will indicate the contents and other desired information regarding the filled package. In Figs. 15 and 16 the two bags of a pair are shown after the center strip C has been slit and all of the strips cut transversely between successive bag pairs.

While the bag mouths are still open, and while passing from the filling nozzles to the closing and sealing rollers 46, sections of a cord E may be looped, by hand or otherwise, down into each bag. The knives 49 which cut the strips may also cut the cord between successive bags, so that the closed and sealed bag may be as shown in Fig. 18. When it is desired to open the bag it is merely necessary to tear or cut away a portion of the end of one strip so as to be able to grasp an end of the cord and then pull upwardly on one end of the cord. It will not only separate the two opposed strips, but also separate the opposite walls of the bag itself, and completely open the bag for the discharge of its contents.

It will be understood that the cord E should not be of twisted fibers, such as an ordinary cotton thread or cotton string, because it would permit air leakage along the cord. The cord should preferably be a single strand of some plastic material, such as polyvinylidene chloride, sold by Dow Chemical Co. under the trade-mark Saran, and which has high tensile strength.

The particular forms of my improved apparatus hereinbefore described are adapted for the filling and closing of chains of bag pairs, but my invention in most of its aspects may be utilized for filling chains of a single row of bags.

In Fig. 23 I have shown bags A which may be similar in all respects to those hereinbefore referred to, but arranged in a single row, and connected as a chain by two strips C each of which may be similar to one-half of the strip C shown in Fig. 6. Each of these strips C is secured to the outer side wall or panel of each bag of a series, and may have its upper edge flush with the upper edge of the bag wall. Only the top half of the inside faces of these strips are adhesively secured to the bag walls, so that the lower edge portion of each strip may be free of the bag wall and outwardly flared to form an inverted v-shaped groove between the bag wall and the strip, and serving to receive a bag supporting member, the same as does the inverted V-shaped strip C hereinbefore referred to.

Thus a single row of bags may rest on a, pair of supports, instead of two rows of bags resting on a single support as in Figs. 1 to 6 and 10 to 14.

.asthe-measuringpockets-move around thefaxis -of-the sha-ft-58 they come beneath ':theport'- '55, --and--ther pockets-rare filled; =--and they then-move to the positionv where the ports- 60 register with The 'strips may have slits or apenurescs tetween successive bags; and for the same purpose as the slits pr-=apertures D shown in Figj fififnamely t -insure registryer thebhainof -bags with bhefilli-ng mechanism.

- In the apparatus illustrated for filling chains 'I he fed-wheels im advance the chain-of bags and deliver it onto a pair of bars or railgillk 'These havetheir upper edges horizontal an'dtani-lgential to the peripheries "of" the rees wheels, "and in 1 the same vertical -planes as sa'id "wheels, :so that as the wheels advance the ohain the lat- .ter-passes from the-wheels totl'le'rails. T0 insure I the proper feeding =thebags may be held down on -.'the wheels by'a'guard- 'EQ. 1 Intermediate or their r'endsi these rails spread -apart to apan the bags "ta-permit filling,' and"then converge 'to i-close""the -bags,.-' as will be referred tomore in detail hereinafter.

: Su'itablemeans iarevprovide'd for: moving filling nozzles down into-the mags:and advancing them 'with thewbags to' fill; the latter; and then up out of the bags to i-p'ermit 'the' closing. Wh'ile projectingrinto. thebags, valve-i me'ehanism o ens to permit ithe delivery of aimeaswred charge ormaterial intoieach bag.

==In the apparatusrshown? in Figs. 20,-21-and 2 22,- there-deprbvided-asupply: vessel '5 amounted --on awsuitable' frame 54 "and having a dis'charge port 55 "in the bottom'wallrfifi. fiBeneath' -the -bottom wall there isprovidedna measuring mem- .-be1'--51:s'ecuredto. a vertical'-sha;ft =.58;. and: having a series of" pocketsv59; each :of itheirequiredca- -each having a dischargeporthliB. :Beneath' the measuringmember isa StatiOnaryJpIate-G lfwhich --has -.a dischargeslot iiz over-:whichthesportswfifl -.=in the -bottoms of-vthe pocketsmayarmove.

-Thestationary discharge port 55 ofthe2supp1y vessel 53 and thedischarge port -o1- slot atz which "which'are incnon-rotaryipartsxare circumferentiallyspaced: s0--'as-:to beout of registry. Thus,

the portsGZa where the pockets discharge.

Inorder-to keep the material in the supply vesselor hopper agitated,- and:t0 insure free flow into the pockets, there may be provided an-ragitator= 63 "in-the form of an arm -or blade 64 secured to-the upper end of the-sha ft 58 and-movie ablealong the-bottomwallof -the hopper and over the ports 55.

- Below the stationary plate 6 l there -is provided a rotatable nozzle-carrying plate fifi having an annular row of nozzles V 61 extending: down :from. .the portsltil. This-plateissecuredto the shaft 58 so as'torotate-with the annularrowrof pockets l 59,'but the pockets communicate with the nozzles erily-while in registry -with the port 50- in the =stationary--.-plate 6|. Preferably -each;nozzlev61- -has a-'- sleeve or nozzle extension file whichz may '-.be lowered into" a ebag'to properlyidirect the materialrintozthe bag. :These sleeves or nozzle exwt'ensionsi are normally held in raised position, rand. flowered on1y:=when-Jthe :nczzie izeov'er a big.

Asshowh, the frame supports antannularmemher lithaving'a'camv groove: in its peripheral surface, and each nozzle has :a pin "or lug-'69 extending 'into this groove. rThe member 68 overlies the path of movement of theahagsrand dips down at one -'point,'i:or .-at least'rt'he 'groove "does, so thatgas a :nozzle movesto apointn'o'ver -a -ba'-g, the pin 69' moves down: the: incline in vthe groove-"andthen up -againgand the: dwell in the lower position is such that when'thel nozzle' registers with 'the port 62' it willahave its-lower-zend inthebag,aszshowntin Fig.- 21. When the nozzle passes beyon-d said port .the I nozzle ris pulled up out of the bag 'by the reverse incline inthe con- 'trol groove.

Thus it will be seen that the measuring pockets travel Lin a circular 5 path; and while traveling in aware of 1 the 'path they are: over "the bags, and 'discharge through the nozzles which move d0Wn-Zal'ld then :up.

. The feed wheelsr are preferably so spaced that-"the bags between them aare in'flat or-co1- vlapsed acondition, andthexsame appliesto the receiving ends 'Of. the rails" 50%: but as' these rails extend: beneath the. rpath 10f movement of the nozzles they spread apart to openthe bags. 1 The :rails: then'curve to guide the-bags along-an/arcuatepath beneath the nozzle,- and concentric with theshaft 58. After. passing the endToL-thefilling position 0fthenozz1es=the railsthemconverge tox'bring the opposite Walls ofthe bags-together, and thus "close the :bags.

The feed wheels fifi may; bel-id1ers,a-or:-may-:be driven'to advance the bags,-but-,preferably the advancing of thewbags is eifectedmrimarilyby 7:1neans :ata theadischarge end in :oooperation with the filler nozzles. ;-As shown, a pair-ofzpulleys 10 are. positioned "at the deliveryend of the-rails 56 and support :belts -H whichahave parallel IllflS' WhiOh press theastripsec to close the bags and discharge them from the apparatus. The pulleys lfl may-:be heated so-that they will cause the "opposite walls -tolbe sealed together if-said walls be of thermoplastic material,- or will. activate'adhesive and seal the-bags if the mouth rportion of the bags -loe-coa-teclwith adhesive which is non-tacky at ordinary-atmospheric temperature. The same means-shownin- Figs. IO-and '11 maybe employed to' cut the strips into-sections,= or the bagsmay befreed from thestrips as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and.

The central shaft '58: which. advances therotating measuring pockets, and therotatingnozzles, may be'tdriven any suitable manner. As shown, there-is an eleetric motor- 12 -which-may be connected to;the shaft-'58 byxsuitablegearing 73, and this same-motor may serve-to drive the 513111185787 0 and belts-ll,-:and. if desired, drive the -feed rollers-50.

It-v will be noted thatin all forms illustrated the-bagsareconnected by-oneor..-more strips or :l-tapesi which form or coact in :forming inverted vegrooves thatthe bags aretsupported by one :wormore members1 extending intosuch. grooves andthat meansr are :provided for opening the bagsyfilling them; and then closing: them insuccessionzzas they. travel alongthe supports which :areiin said invertew vgrooves.

Inthosecon'structibns or arrangements-where -'--stripsareremoved -from the bags, any portion mfthe adhesive uvhich' remains on thebag -wa11 -'-=may be readily wiped-off or*removedby s'olvent.

AIthough in the drawingsI have shown bags having conventional -fold-=0ver bottoms, it is 0bmamas: that the. bag bottoms mi'gm 'be' provlded with or reinforced by strips or tapes for closing or reinforcing the bottoms, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of my copending application Serial No. 30,647. In such cases the bottoms of all adjacent bags would be severed in the center of the space between the bags prior to the point where they reach slopes on the table 26, and by cutters indexed by the slits or perforations D.

If it is not desired to leave these tapes on the bags they may be previously removed by their reactivation and withdrawal as described for the removal of tapes D. This can be accomplished at the time the bags are made, and not necessarily in synchronism with the bag filling mechanism.

If it is desired that the bags be retained in chain formation during bag filling and sealing, the severing of these bag bottom connecting tapes may be later accomplished by extending the knives ie for the full bag lengths, and providing additional rollers for carrying the knife extensions, similar to the roller 48 and backing roller similar to roller ll, and opposite to the lower part of such elongated knives 49. Such additional rollers would be at the proper elevation to engage these tapes after the bags have been filled.

While I have shown and described types of bag fillers which lend themselves to automatic filling in a continuous manner, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that non-rotating types of hoppers and chute fillers may be juxtaposed over the bags opened by the tapes or tabs. Thus the filling, closing, sealing, and/or separating or unchaining operations can be performed by nonrotating parts at successive stations, by the use of one or more Geneva movements timed to operate in a progressive cycle. By these modifications or any of them, fillers and sealers already well known to the trade may be utilized, but with somewhat lower output er hour.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. An apparatus for filling bags which are connected together at their upper ends as a chain and by means of fiexible strip material connected to the bags adjacent to their upper ends, said apparatus having means for engaging said strip material and thereby supporting said bags in an upright position, means engaging said strip material for advancing the bags along the supporting means, means in the path of movement of the bags for delivering predetermined amounts of material to said bags, means for applying heat and pressure to the top portions of said bags and said strip material to close and seal said bags and cutting means spaced along the path of movement of the bags for severing the strip material transversely between successive bags to separate the bags from the chain after they have been closed and sealed.

2. An apparatus for filling and closing bags which are connected togethera't'their upper ends as a chain of pairs of bags, the two bags of each pair being attached to and along opposite edge portions of a strip bent along a line extending lengthwise thereof to inverted V-shape, and said bags having their outer walls connected together by flexible strips, means for engaging said first mentioned strip for advancing the bags to and from filling position, and means for applying heat and pressure to the second mentioned strips for closing and sealing said bags.

3. An apparatus for filling and closing bags connected together at their upper ends in pairs as a chain by means of a flexible strip, means for 1d advancing said bags and strip, a pair of rotary members for closing the ends of said bags in succession, and means for freeing said bags from said strip after filling and closing.

4. A bag filling and closing apparatus adapted for use with a plurality of bags having their upper open ends connected together at their upper ends in pairs to opposite edge portions of a flexible strip of material bent along a line extending lengthwise thereof to inverted V-shape, and having their outer walls connected in series by flexible strips attached to said bags by adhesive material softening upon the application of heat, and said bags having thermoplastic walls, said apparatus including means engaging said first mentioned strip for advancing the bag pairs in succession to and from filling position, means for applying heat and pressure to said second mentioned strips to close and seal the bags, means for slitting said first mentioned strip lengthwise, and means for cutting all of said strips into sections, and between successive bags.

5. A filling and closing machine comprising a series of bags connected together at their upper ends as a chain by flexible strips, and including a pair ofbars for engaging said strips and supporting said bags, said bars receding from and then approaching each other in the direction of their lengths, whereby said bags in advancing along said bars have their opposite walls moved away from and then toward each other.

6. A filling and closing machine comprising a series of bags connected together at their upper ends as a chain by flexible strips, and including a pair of bars for engaging said strips and supporting said bags, said bars receding from and then approaching each other in the direction of their lengths, whereby said bags in advancing along said bars have their opposite walls moved away from and then toward each other, and means in the path of movement of said bags for discharging a predetermined amount of material into each bag while said walls are moved apart.

'7. A bag filling machine including a seriesof pairs of bags, a pair of bag supports which recede from and then approach each other in the direction of theirlengths, and serving to support flexible strips attached to opposite walls of said series of bags, whereby said bags are opened and then closed as they move along said supports, and means above the path of movement of said bags for delivering charges of material to said bags in succession while moving along said supports.

8. An apparatus for continuously advancing, opening, filling and closing bags comprising a vertically extending bar, a flexible tape, a series of bags connected together at their upper open ends by said tape, said bar engaging said tape to support said bags and hold them upright and suspended, with their filling openings facing upwardly, means for advancing said tape and bags along said bar, means engaging the outer side of said bags and pulling them away from said tape for progressively opening the bags, and means for discharging material into each bag while it is open.

9. A machine for opening, filling and closing bags comprising a vertically extending frame member, a flexible inverted -shaped strip, two rows of bags connected at their open tops to the opposite sides of said V-shaped strip, a pair of,

flexible strips connected to the outer walls of said bags, said frame member engaging in and supporting said V-shaped strip slidably with the bags suspended on opposite sides thereof, and

acvrsev 11 means for: engaging-the pair'of strips connected to the outer sides ofthe bagsto progressively ad- Vance" the bags andprogressively open them.

10. An apparatus for progressively opening, filling and closing bags arranged in two-rows, the bags being secured together in pairs .at their upper ends to a connecting strip, and the bags of each. row being connectedtogether at their upper ends by a separate strip, said apparatus having asupporting member. along which said'first mentionedstrip may slide endwise, means'for engaging. said second mentioned strips and advancing themalong diverging lines to progressively open saidjbagaa.fillingdevice having separate nozzles for filling. each row of bags, and means for acting on. the. outer side of' each bag asit advances to progressively close the filled bags.

11. A bag filling and closing machine for a plurality of' bags connected in series by a pair of strips detachably engaging; the opposite outer sides of the bags at their upper ends, said machine having means for engaging said stripsto advance thev bags to and .from a filling, station, meansfor engagingthe strips andpulling them outwardly. along divergingpaths to openlthe bags at. the. fillingstation, and means beyond said fillingv station. for closing. said. bags.

12;.An apparatus for filling. bags comprising stationary means to.supportv a chain of bags, a flexible tape, a series-ofbags connected to' said tape, said. stationary means engaging and supportingsaidi tape to. hold the bags upright and suspended therefrom,. means for engaging said tape and advancing it and the. bags. connected thereto,.means in the path of movement ofsaid bags. for deliveringv predeterminedv amounts of material; to. said bags in succession,. and. means for. closing saidbags by, pressing. the walls thereof toward said tape andiitsw supporting means.

13,..A machine for filling bags comprising a A verticallyextending bar to support a chain. of bags, a.first flexible. strip presenting an. inverted \L-shaped groove, a.- seriesof bags connected to said strip at.their. upper ends said bar engaging insaid M-shapedgroove and-supporting said strip and:.the bags. connected thereto for-movement along said bar, 1 a. second. flexible strip connected to. the opposite sides .ofrsaidrbags,v means-for pulling. the-first stripwto advance. the-bags to and past filling. position, and means. topress. said K upper ends. of said bags together to -seal. them while they. are connected by-atleast-one of said strips.

14. An apparatus for filling bagswhich are connected. together attheir upper ends as.a. chain and by. means. of. flexible strip-material, said: apparatus having means .for engaging. said; strip material. thereby. to hold thebags upright and suspended, meansior engaging, saidstripsmaterial. to. advance the. bags connected thereto, meansin the path of. movement of. said bags for delivering material to said. bags in succession, means for closing said. bags, and. meansspaced along. the path oii movement. of said bags forsevering said' strip material between successive.

bagsto separate-the bagsfrom the chain. after the bags. have. been sealed.

15. A filling apparatus comprising, bags which are. connected together-at their upper. ends as a chain .of pairsof bags with the two. bags of. each pair attached to and along opposite edge portions of a strip bent along a line-extending lengthwise thereof to' inverted V-shape; and including a bag support extending into'said V and along which said strip may'move'with the twobags of each pair on opposite sides thereof, a filling means having a-pair of discharge spouts overlying said support to dischargematerial into said pairs of bags in succession; means adjacent the end of said support for pressing the open upper ends of saidbags together to seal them, and means spaced along the'path of movement of said bags to sever the chaintoseparate the bags after the bags have been sealed:

16.- A bag filling and closing machine adapted for use with a plurality'of'bags having their open end portions connected together at their upper ends in pairs to opposite edge portions of a flexiblestrip-of sheet material'bent lengthwise to inverted V--shape, said machine including a bag support for engagingsaidstrip within the inverted V, and-along'whichsaid-strip-may moveendwise to advance thebags, means for delivering tothebags measured quantities of material while said stripis'moving along one part of its path of movement'on said' support, a pair'of rollers between which the open-ends of the pairs of bags pass in succession and acting to closesaidends, and means spaced along thepath of movement of said bags to cut saidst-rip transversely to separate said chain intounits comprising not more than two bags.

17-. An apparatus for filling bags comprising a bag support having'an edgeportion, a strip bent to inverted V--shape along a line extending lengthwise of said strip, a plurality of bags attached" at their upper ends to and along opposite edge portions of said strip thereby forming a chainof pairs of'bags, said edge portion of said bag support engaging in said V-shaped strip and supporting saidchain for movement along said edge'portion with the two bags of each pair on opposite sides of said edge portion, means for engaging said'strip to move the latter endwise and thereby advance said bags in succession to and. from a filling position, means adjacent the end of said bag support for engaging and pressing said upper edges of said bags together to seal them, and means spaced along the path of movement of said bags to separate the sealed bags from each other.

CLARENCE W. VOGI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,741 Hoepner Apr. 15, 1913 1,079,628 Arm'bruster Nov. 25, 1913 1,124,459 King et a1. Jan. 12, 1915 1,939,704 Jones Dec. 19, 1933 2,003,337 Brady et'al June 4, 1935 2,146,831 Max-fie1d' Feb. 14, 1939 2,195,740 .Salfisberg Apr. 2, 1940 2,269,532 Howard Jan. 13, 1942 2,272,251 Robinson Feb. 10, 1942 2,356,472 Rothaug Aug. 22, 1944 2,373,010 Brady Apr. 3, 1945 2,390,071 Barnett Dec. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 553,008' Great Britain May 4, 1943

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