US3381446A

US3381446A - Packaging machine for opening and filling pouch-type bags

Info

Publication number: US3381446A
Application number: US541430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marchand Jacques
Original assignee: Roto American Corp
Current assignee: Roto American Corp
Priority date: 1966-03-09
Filing date: 1966-03-09
Publication date: 1968-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1985-05-07

Description

y 7, 1968 J. MARCHAND 3,381,446

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR OPENING .AND FILLING POUCH-TYPE BAGS Filed March 9, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iil lur-illl llllliillll -l I N VEN TOR.

JACQUES MARCHAND IFFEOHEEXO IF nua'n113IB A TTORWEYS.

May 7, 1968 Filed March 9, 1966 J. MARCHAND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR OPENING AND FILLING POUCH-TYPE BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JACQUES MARCHAND ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1968 J. MARCHAND 3,381,446

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR OPENING AND FILLING POUCHTYPE BAGS Filed March 9, l96

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JACQUES MARCHAND Fran 24M ,fl mf aw ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,381,446 Patented May 7, 1968 3,381,446 PACKAGING MACHINE FOR UPENING AND l' llLlLllNG POUCH-TYPE BAGfi Jacques Marchand, Newark, NJ, assiguor to Roto American Corporation, Paramus, NJ. Filed Mar. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 541,430 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-187) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE There is disclosed apparatus for making and filling pouch-type bags. In sequence the bags are formed from a web, sealed on sides and bottom and cut into separate bags. Each bag is gripped on opposite seams by a pair of grippers which ride on a chain link and cooperate with cam surfaces in a track to pivot and thus open and close the open mouth of the bags. A station is provided for a sector-shaped rotary knife to enter the bag and serve as a channel for a blast of air which opens it. The top edges of the bag are formed about the rotary knife by guidance along a set of vacuum walls to open for carn entry and seal itself about the knife for confining the air blast in the bag. A set of moving funnels follows the bags by means of a cam rail and drop into the bags opened by the grippers to feed from the bottom while being gradually withdrawn. The funnel tops are adjacent to permit simple metering of materials from a continuous stream into the respective tunnels, and dust is Withdrawn from around top bags when loading.

This invention relates to a packaging process and machinery, and more particularly to a process for opening and filling pouch-type bags by a continuous operation and to a machine for carrying out the process.

The invention in certain of its aspects provides improvements over the methods and apparatus described in US. Patent No. 2,923,111, which issued on Feb. 2, 1960. In order to understand the further advantages provided by the present invention, it is helpful to review briefly the operation of the machine described in said patent. The packaging material is fed with a continuous movement and is folded lengthwise as a double strip which is sealed along the bottom and sealed transversely at intervals to form a series of connected bags having closed bottoms and transverse seals arranged to provide the side seals of the pouch-type bags. These connected bags are severed individually at the transverse seals by a revolving knife mechanism which acts to kick or rapidly push the individual severed bag. In this way the individual bags become spaced apart one from another as they enter into the bite of a pair of side by side conveyor chains.

In the machine described in said patent these side by side conveyor chains engage the bottom sealed edge of each severed bag and convey the severed bags past an opening station where the top edges of the bags are pulled apart by a pair of opposed suction cups. Each of these cups circulates with an orbital movement so that they travel along a short distance with the continuously progrossing bag and are reciprocated toward its top edges and then move away from each other to pull the top edges apart. As the top edges of the bag are being pulled apart, the lower end of a filling funnel is moved down into the bag, and a stream of air is directed down through the funnel to aid in opening the bag. The funnels are carried by an overhead endless conveyor chain, and they move continuously one with each bag past one or more filling stations, while a metered quantity of the filling product material is deposited through the funnel into the bag at each station as the bag continues its movement.

After being filled the bags are sealed at the top to form a closed package.

The present invention provides numerous improve ments and advantages over the methods and apparatus described in said patent for handling and filling pouchtype bags. Among these advantages are those resulting from the fact that the bag can be gripped and held at points positioned relatively high up on the leading and trailing edges of the bag and that various sizes of bags can be handled and filled. Moreover, regardless of the depth or width of the bags being handled, each of them is gripped and held at the same distance below the top edges of the bag. In addition, the gripping and holding mechanism enables the top edges of the bag to be slackened or to be pulled taut, as may be desired during the handling and filling operations. Also, this enables the top edges of the bag to be pulled taut and parallel in readiness for sealing the top edges after the bag has been filled. This invention enables gas under pressure to be fed into the bag and to be confined therein for internally pressurizing the bag so as to open it fully clear down to the bottom and out to both bottom corners, so that the full capacity of the bag is made available for subsequent filling. The opposed suction cups described in said patent did not assure complete opening of the bag, and the contents tended to remain localized in a clump near the central region so that the resulting package had a bulging shape with many pronounced wrinkles. Whereas, this invention provides for more complete filling of each bag and thus results in a more efficient utilization of the packaging material and a neat, commercially attractive filled bag is produced.

Among the advantages provided by the bag opening and filling process and apparatus of the: present invention are those resulting from the fact that this invention assures that each bag becomes fully opened clear down to the bottom seal and out to the extreme lower corners of the bag. Moreover, this complete opening of the bag is produced regardless of the stiffness of the material. With bags having gusseted bottoms, the process and apparatus being claimed serve to open the gusset fully out to each lower corner, thus making the full capacity of the bag available for filling with the product. In addition, the product is introduced into each bag by being confined and guided down and released initially into the lower corners of the bag, so that the bag is progressively filled from the bottom corners up to the top. Thus, advantageously the resulting filled package has a uniform thickness rather than bulging out around a single central clump of the material. This process and apparatus enables very finely powdered products and liquid products to be handled cleanly and efficiently as well as granular materials.

In accordance with the process of the present invention in one of its aspects the top of the bag is pre-opened and then is held in enclosed relationship about a source of pressurized gas which fills the bag with gas confined in the bag under pressure. Thus, the bottom and center of the bag becomes fully expanded clear out to the bottom and side seals in readiness for reception of the product.

Then, the top of the bag is reopened and a product confining guide chute is inserted down to the bottom of the bag and is progressively withdrawn as the product progressively fills the bag beginning in the two lower corners. The bag is filled to capacity and the resulting package has a uniformly thick appearance. This uniform fullness of each bag provides the additional advantages of facilitating subsequent packing of the bags in a container such as a box or carton. According to the present invention in another of its aspects the metering of the product material is provided by the continuous movement of overlapping funnels past the mouth of a discharge nozzle. Thus, the amount of product which enters each funnel is a function of the rate of feed of the product from the dispensing nozzle times the length of time that each funnel remains beneath the nozzle.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved process and apparatus for opening and filling pouch-type bags by a continuous set of operations.

Other objects, aspects and important features of the invention will be in part pointed out and in part will become apparent from a consideration of this specification with the accompanying drawings, which together show a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof.

In the drawings wherein each reference number indicates the same respective part throughout:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bag-opening and filling machine for carrying out the process of preopening the bag for internal pressurization to expand fully the lower part of the bag and then for opening the bag to insert a chute for completely and uniformly filling the opened bag from the bottom up with a metered amount of product;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view on enlarged scale of the adjustable chute insertion cam track, which is seen also in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view on enlarged scale of the bag pre-opening and top enclosing station wherein gas is introduced and is confined in the bag under pressure to open the bag fully down to both lower corners;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the machine station in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a revolving member and associated apparatus for introducing the confined gas under pressure in the pre-opened and top enclosed bags;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the tip portion of a telescoping chute which enters the pre-opened bag for confining and guiding the product material into the bags;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of this tip portion as seen from the direction 88 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 are sequential views showing the progressive and uniform filling of the pouch-type bag;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of chain-carried clamps which grip the leading and trailing edges of a pouch;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 12 and showing the rear clamp moved forwardly relative to the front clamp for relaxing the mouth of the bag;

FIGURES 13A and B are enlarged views of the jaw gripping mechanisms;

FIGURE 14 is a cross sectional view shown on enlarged scale taken along the line 14-14 in FIGURE 1 showing the effective entrapment and removal of any fine product dust which may become air-borne during the filling operation.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, in the process of the present invention the pouch-type bags P are continuously advanced as indicated by the arrow 20. The individual pouches are initially pre-opened and reclosed at a pre-opening station which is generally indicated by the reference number 21. Immediately thereafter the pouch bags P are again opened at an opening station 22, and the tip portion of a filling chute is inserted at this station 22 and continues to move down into the pouch. The filling station, generally indicated by the reference number 23 extends for a substantial distance in the direction of travel, beginning at the position 23A and continuing on to the position 23B.

After the bag has been filled, it continues moving in the direction and is suitably closed at the top and is sealed across the top by sealing mechanism which does not form a part of this invention; for example this top sealing mechanism may be similar to that shown in the Patent No. 2,923,111.

In this illustrative embodiment the pouches P are formed of metal foil coated with a heat scalable plastic, and the bottom edge 24 of the bag is gusseted, as seen in FIGURE 9. To convey each of the pouches P, there are respective pairs of front and rear bag clamps 25 and 26 for gripping and holding the front and rear edges of the bag at a level, depending upon the depth of the bag, which is located approximately one-twelfth to one-third of the way down along the front side seam 27 and at the same level on the rear side seam 28. In this example the clamps are located three-fourths to one inch below the top edge. These clamps serve to grip the front and rear side seams firmly so as to hold the pouch P tightly. The respective clamps 25 and 26 include front and

rear brackets

29 and 30 mounted upon slide blocks 31 and 32 which are connected into and form a part of revolving chain means 33. Each of the slide blocks 31 and 32 has a length equal to threee links 34 of the chain means so as to prevent the blocks from cocking and thus to provide a stable mounting for the

clamps

25 and 26. These slide blocks 31 and 32 are guided by stationary ways 35 (FIG. 1) extending along the machine through the various stations. The front bracket 29 is rigidly secured to the slide block 31 so that it remains fixed in position perpendicular to the moving chain means. The rear bracket 30 is pivotally secured to its slide block by a pivot pin 36 so that the rear clamp 26 can be swung forwardly as shown in FIGURE 13 by a cam follower roller 40 which engages with a cam track 39 so as to slacken the top edges of the pouch P.

The individual bags P are fed along in position to be gripped by the

respective clamps

25 and 26 by conveyor means synchronized in motion with the movement of these clamps. For example, in said Patent No. 2,923,111, the individual empty bags are conveyed along in spaced relationship between a pair of side by side conveyor chains, which grip the bottom seal of the bag, with the side seams 27 and 28 being accessible to be gripped by the

respective clamps

25 and 26. The particular gripping mechanism in the clamps and the Way in which it is actuated will be described in detail further below.

As each empty pouch P is conveyed ahead, its top edges are pre-opened and then the top edges are enclosed about a source of pressurized gas which fills the bag with gas 43 (FIG. 6) confined in the bag under pressure to open it fully all the way down. These steps are carried out in the pre-opening station 21 as shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6. The top edges of the bag pass between a pair of vacuum shoes 44 which are identical mirror images. These vacuum shoes 44 include cover plates 45 which abut against each other along a joint 46. A narrow slot 47 is formed at the center of the joint 46, and a revolving pressure source blade member 48 projects down through this slot. This blade member 48 is generally sector shaped and is fastened to a rotating drive shaft 49 which is journaled in a support bearing 50. A supply line 51 for gas under pressure, which is here shOWn as air, is connected through a passage 52 in a block 53, and this passage 52 communicates through a lateral opening with the bore 54 of a hollow inner fixed pin 55 having an axially elongated valve port 56 in its lower surface.

In the revolving member 48 is a radial passage 57 which opens out through its arcuate perimeter and the inner end of this passage 57 is enlarged and communicates with an axially elongated port 58 of a bushing 58a which is press fitted into the hollow hub of the revolving blade 48. This bushing 58a rotates around the hollow pin 55. Thus, the rotation creates its own valving action once each revolution, and compressed air which is fed in through the connection 51 issues at 43 from the mouth of the passage 57 only when the

valve ports

56 and 58 are aligned as shown in FIGURE 4. The leading edge 59 of the revolving member 48 is sharpened to facilitate entry between the top edges of the pouch, so that the pressurized gas flow 43 opens the bottom of the bag and spreads out the gusseted bottoms 24 out to the lower corners 60.

Below the cover plate 45, the vacuum shoes 44 define a converging entrance 61 by which the top edges of the pouch P are guided into a channel 62. This channel 62 widens out at 63 before reaching the space below the revolving member 48, and the diverging Walls of this channel contain a plurality of suction ports 64 which communicate with a pair of header passages 65 in the respective shoes 44. These header passages 65 are drilled into the shoes, being plugged at 66, and a suction line 67 connected to passages 68 in the block 53 maintains a pressure below atmospheric within the headers 65.

Thus, as the top edges of the bag slide along the diverging channel walls at 63, the suction ports 64 draw them apart. After the leading edge 27 has passed below the region of the slot 47, it encounters a converging region 64a of the channel 62 which recloses the leading edges of the pouch. This reclosure of the leading edge of the bag in conjunction with the top cover plates 45 and the narrow clearance between the slot 47 and the revolving member 48 provides a relatively secure gas-tight enclosure about the top of the pouch.

At this instant the pouch P occupies the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, and the revolving member 48, which is synchronized in its rotation with the passage of the

clamps

25 and 26, has its perimeter within the top of the pouch and effectively seals the slot 47 while supplying a blast 43 of gas under pressure which is confined within the pouch by the shoes 44 and cover plates 45 and serves to open it fully.

The pouch becomes reclosed in the region 70 of the channel 62 and then is again opened by the diverging side walls 71 which contain suction ports 72 communicating with suction headers 73 having plugged ends 74. A suction line 75 communicates through drilled passages 76 in the block 53 to maintain reduced pressure within the headers 73 so that the top edges of the pouch cling to the walls 71 and are opened as the pouch advances.

It is noted that the suction pressure which is supplied to the pro-opening ports 64 may be set at a different value from that applied to the main opening ports 72 because the

suction lines

67 and 75 are separate as are the

respective header passages

65 and 73. The suction values which are used depend upon the stiffness of the packaging material and the size of the pouches P. In most cases it is desirable to use only a moderate amount of suction, sufficient to assure pie-opening and final opening of the pouch, without creating undue clinging action and consequent friction on the walls of the channel 62 near the

ports

64 and 72.

The cover plates 45 are cut away to form a V-opening above the diverging walls 71 so that the top of the bag is accessible as it is being opened to receive the chisel tip 77 of a descending product chute 78. The structure of this chisel tip 77 and the lower end of the chute 78 is shown in detail in FIGURES 7 and 8. The way in which the lower end portions of the chutes 78 enter into the respective advancing pouches P is seen in FIGURE 1. These chutes serve to introduce the product material into the pouches in the filling station 23, as will be explained.

The product is supplied in a continuous stream 79 from a discharge nozzle 80 which contains a rotating feedscrew or anger 81 so that a steady stream of the product issues from this nozzle. This product material may be liquid, granular or powdered, and the process of the present invention will handle any of these three different types of products. In this example the product 79 being handled is powdered and contains some fine dust. Passing beneath the nozzle 80 are a series of funnels 84 which progress in the direction at the same speed as the pouches P.

Each of these funnels 84 has a ridged lip 83 projecting over the adjacent edge of the next successive funnel and has upwardly extending walls 85. Thus, as the tunnels pass beneath the nozzle the product stream 79 falls into the funnels and none can fall between them. The ridged lip 83 has an inverted V shape serving as dividing slopes, and therefore the same quantity of product goes into each funnel 84. The amount of this product is controlled by the rate of the feedscrew 81 and by the time of passage of each funnel beneath the nozzle 8! This is an efficient, effective and convenient system for metering the quantity of product into each funnel 334. The position of the nozzle 86 is adjusted by a handwheel and feedscrew 82 as shown in FIGURE 1 depending upon the desired speed 20 of the pouches P so as to allow for the elapsed time of falling of the product 7% down through each chute 78.

As seen most clearly in FIGURE 2, these funnels 84 are secured by brackets 86 to a revolving chain 87 driven by two main sprockets 88. To guide the funnels 84 in the filling station 23, the brackets 86 contain a lower notch 39 (FIG. 1) which engages upon and slides along the top of a track 90. The sprockets 88 are mounted upon vertical main shafts 91, and there is a similar set of sprockets further down on these shafts carrying another revolving chain similar to the chain 87. This lower chain carries brackets 92, and a pair of vertical guide rods 93 extend upwardly from each bracket 92 to the corresponding upper bracket 86.

The chutes 78 are tubular in configuration and include an upper section 78-1 opening into the vertex of the funnels 34 and a lower section 78-2 which; closely telescopes around the upper section. The upper chute section 78-1 is rigidly attached to the funnel vertex, and the lower chute section 78-2 is secured to a traveller slide block '94- which slides up and down along the guides 93 and which surrounds the upper chute section 78-17 The cam track 96 (FIGS. 1 and 3) controls the up and down movement of the traveller 94 and includes a pair of rails 97 with a longitudinal cam channel 98 therebetween. There is a projecting cam follower (not shown) on the back of each traveller 94, and this cam follower engages in the cam Way 98.

The cam track 96 includes a descending section 96-1 and an ascending section 96-2, each having projecting lugs 99 pivotally connected at 100 to a junction block 191. This junction block 161 is vertically adjustable, being secured by bolts engaging in a slot 102 in the machine frame 103, and the block lttl includes a cam way 194 which telescopes with and interconnects the two track sections 96-1 and 96-2.

It is noted that the two ends of the cam channel 104 are concentric about the pivots 106 and are directly aligned with the cam channel 98. Thus, there is a smooth transition between the

cam Ways

93 and 104 regardless of the adjusted height of the junction block 101. Similarly, the upper ends of the two track sections 96- and 96-2 telescope with end sections 196 which are pivoted to the frame 163 by means of pivots 107 so that there is a smooth transition with the fixed cam channels 98a. This block 191 is adjusted by a handwheel and feedscrew to a position such that the tip 77 of the chute is deeply inserted, as shown in FIGURE 9, for example down near to the bottom seal 24 of the pouch P.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the lower chute section 78-2 terminates in a chisel tip 77 having a pair of upwardly diverging plane surfaces 163 which intersect along a line at the tip extending parallel with the maximum plane of the pouch P. These Wall surfaces 108 diverge out at the top to the full diameter of the lower chute section 78-2. A pair of discharge ports 1&9 open out along the front and rear edges of the chisel tip between the diverging surfaces 166. An inverted 'V-shape fillet 111i spans between the diverging walls 168. The smooth eX- terior surfaces of the lower chute section enable it to penetrate into the pouch easily without catching.

Thus, advantageously the product 79 issues in two streams directed into the lower corners 69 of the pouch. As the lower chute section is withdrawn the product uniformly fills the package out to the two

edge seams

27 and 28. The top of the package is left empty to provide for sealing between the top edges thereof.

As the product enters the pouch P it displaces the air, and any dust 111 which may be present tends to rise out of the package. An air flow 112 entraps any such dust and sweeps the dust into a removal duct 113 having a traylike surface 113a to catch dust. This air flow 112 is created by a pressure manifold 114 having an elongated orifice 115 which extends parallel with and directly opposite a funnel opening 116 in the suction duct 113. The plus and minus signs indicate the respective pressures above and below atmospheric. The two orifices 115 and 116 are closely adjacent to the top edges 117 of the pouch P, being just above and just below these edges, respectively.

In order to slacken the top edges 117 of the pouch as shown in FIGURE 13 for insertion of the pressure source member 48 and for insertion of the lower chute section 78-2 the cam track means 39 includes appropriately positioned sloping faces 118 (FIG. 12) and straight sections 119 (FIG. 13) engaging the follower roller 4-0.

As illustrated by the legends in FIGURE 4 the cam track mean 39 is arranged to slacken the top edges 117 as the pouch P passes along the diverging channel section 63 and along the diverging walls 117, with more slack being provided for penetration of the lower chute section. The spring 38 is allowed by the cam track means 39 to pull the rear clamp to tighten the top edges 117 immediately after the air 43 has been introduced. It will be understood that the legends Slack, Taut, Slack, More Slack in FIGURE are intended to indicate the sequence and to indicate the general location in which these respective actuations of the follower roller 40 occur in this machine, but these locations are only generally indicated and they may be lengthened out or shortened depending upon the particular pouch size being handled. Also, after the bag has passed the end of the filling station 2313, again the top edges 117 are pulled taut by the spring 38 so that the edges are parallel and adjacent ready for sealing.

The

clamps

25 and 26 each include similar swingable clamp jaw elements 120, as shown in FIGURES 13A and B which are controlled by links 121 pivoted to movable members 122 which are pivoted at 123 to the

respective brackets

29 and 30 to provide a toggle clamp. A spring 124 closes the jaw elements 120, and a cam follower roller 125 controls these clamps. The jaw element 12% has a U-shaped cross section as seen in FIGURE 13B and is pivoted at 126 to the

respective brackets

29 and 30. The gripping surface is defined by a small tiltable block 127 having a roughened surface 128, and this block 127 is mounted on a chamfered surface at 129 and held by a headed, loosely fitting stud 130 in a projecting end of the element 120. Thus, the jaw block 127 can tilt slightly so that the gripping surface 128 aligns itself with the opposing jaw surface to provide a very secure grip.

When the jaw is closed, the

toggle

121, 122 is near its dead center position so that this toggle multiplies the force of the spring 124 several times. The roller 125 can readily open the jaw because it is connected to one of the toggle elements.

In order to adjust conveniently for different widths of bags, the chain means 33 may include two separate chains travelling closely adjacent and parallel one to the other at the same constant rate of speed. The front slide blocks 31 are included in one chain, and the rear slide blocks 32 are included in the other chain. By changing the relative longitudinal position of one of the chains relative to the other, the distance between the

respective clamps

25 and 26 is increased or decreased as desired to accommodate wider or narrower bags. When the follower rollers 125 are being actuated to open the

respective clamps

25 and 26, then the slack-taut control roller 40 is engaged and suitably restrained by the cam track means 39 so as to prevent the rear bracket 31 from tilting when it is not supposed to tilt.

In this machine the leading clamps 25 may be mounted upon a chain which is adjustable in position relative to a second chain which carries the rear clamps 26 so as to accommodate wider or narrower pouches. This adjustment of the position of one clamp relative to the other changes the position of the vertical centerline of the pouches. To maintain the chutes 78-2 directly aligned with the vertical centerline of the respective pouches into which they are intended to penetrate, the relative positions of the respective upper and lower chute chains 37 may be adjusted forwardly or backwardly as required to keep the desired alignment.

Other embodiments of the invention may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and it is therefore intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the precise embodiment shown and described, the scope of the invention being intended to be limited only by the breadth and spirit of the claims.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalent of the invention described as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming and filling a flowing sequence of receptacles formed into pouch-type bags having a closed bottom, open top and a pair of side seams comprising in combination, a conveyance way for guiding the bags along a path and a pair of grippers passed along said conveyance way spaced to grasp opposite outside edges of the bag near the open top at the two side seams and to convey them along the path, said grippers including camming means, and further camming means placed along said path operable with the camming means on said grippers to move the sides of the bags closer together and further apart at different stations in synchronism with operations such as opening, filling and sealing the bags in said apparatus, suction means engageable with the top edges of each successive bag moving along said path for drawing them apart, a revolving member insertable between the top edges of each bag and having a gas passage therein communicating with the interior of the bag when the revolving member is inserted between said top edges, a source of pressurized gas communicating with said passage, and an enclosure enclosing said top edges and said revolving member for confining the gas in the interior of said bag by virtue of all of which the pressurized gas is confined in each bag in sequence for opening the interior of each bag completely down to the bottom.

2. Apparatus for opening pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 1, in which said suction means comprise a pair of opposed shoes defining a channel therebetween engageable with the outside surfaces of the top edges of the bag, said channel having a diverging portion with suction ports in the diverging walls of the channel for drawing the top edges apart, a suction source communicating with said suction ports, and said revolving member is aligned with said channel following said diverging portion for insertion between said top edges after their separation.

3. Apparatus for opening pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 2, in which a cover extends across said channel above the top edges of the bag, said cover having an opening therein closely fitting about said revolving member, and said cover and channel enclosing said top edges for sealing the pressurized gas within the bags.

4. Apparatus for opening pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 3, in which said channel has a converging portion following said revolving member, and a second diverging portion thereafter having suction ports in the diverging walls of the channel for drawing the top edges apart again after the bottom of the bag has been opened, by virtue of which the bag is fully opened from top to bottom in readiness for filling.

5. Apparatus for opening pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 4, in which said second diverging portion of the channel is open at the top, a plurality of product guiding means, second conveyor means conveying said produet guiding means along above the path of said bags, control means inserting the lower end of said product guiding means down into the bag after the top edges of the bag have been opened by said suction ports along the Walls of said second diverging portion of the channel, and product supplying means for supplying product into said product guiding means, by virtue of all of which the bags are completely opened and then are filled by said product.

6. Apparatus for opening and filling pouch-type bags which have top edges, a closed bottom, and a pair of side seams comprising a conveyor for holding the bags and conveying them along a path, said conveyor including chain means extending along near said path, a plurality of pairs of front and rear clamps mounted on said chain means for gripping the respective side seams of each bag to convey the bags along said path, each pair of front and rear clamps including a front and a rear slide block, each slide block having a length equal to a plurality of links of said chain, a front and a rear bracket secured to the respective slide block and extending therefrom, a jaw element pivotally secured to each of said brackets and swingable between an open and a clamping position, a movable control member pivotally secured to each of said brackets for controlling the jaw element, a link pivotally inter-connecting the control member and jaw element on each bracket forming a toggle linkage, spring means connected between the control member and bracket holding said jaw element in its clamping position as the toggle linkage nears its dead-center position for multiplying the force of said spring means when said jaw element is clamping the side seam of a bag, a camfollower element on said control member for moving said member against the force of said spring means to open said jaw element, means for separating the top edges of the bags as they are conveyed along said path, and funnel guiding means having a lower end insertable between said top edges for guiding a product to be packaged into the bag.

'7. Apparatus for opening and filling pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 6, including product dust catching means extending along said path, said dust catching means comprising a pressure manifold extending along one side or" said path having an opening near the level of the top edges of the bags, and a suction duct extending along the other side of said path having a tray surface to catch dust and a suction intake near said tray surface.

3. Apparatus for opening and filling pouch-type bags as claimed in claim 6 including a cam track controlling the insertion of said funnel guiding means into the respective bags as they are being conveyed by the pairs of front and rear clamps, said cam track having a downwardly extending portion and an upwardly extending portion with junction means interconnecting the lower ends of said track portions, and adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of said junction means for adjusting the depth to which said funnel guiding means are inserted into the bags.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 706,651 3/1965 Canada.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner.