US3653111A

US3653111A - Apparatus and method for obtaining a predetermined and repeatable fill measure in a bag-in-can dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3653111A
Application number: US846136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger K Bruce
Original assignee: Sterigard Corp
Current assignee: Sterigard Corp; STERIGARD CO
Priority date: 1969-07-30
Filing date: 1969-07-30
Publication date: 1972-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-04

Abstract

A pedestal carries a bag indexer to index an arch-shaped bottom of a bag that has been attached to the body by a bag applicator. The bag indexer has a pair of vacuum tubes for drawing an attached bag into a dispenser body against the mouths of the tubes and a shaft which engages and supports the apex of the bag''s arch during indexing. The position of the bag indexer is adjustable to adjust the bag''s fill measure. The bag indexer is extended from a retracted position after a dispenser body is received on the pedestal for transport to the bag applicator to facilitate dispenser body removal and placement on the pedestal from an input conveyor. The bag indexer is also retracted to facilitate removal of a dispenser body from the pedestal after a bag has been attached and indexed.

Description

United States Patent Bruce 1451 Apr. 4, 1972 [72] Inventor: Roger K. Bruce, Costa Mesa, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Sterigard Company, Santa Ana, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 30, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 846,136

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1966 Carpenter ..93/36.0l 8/1967 McGee..... 7/1968 McArdle ..93/36.01

l 1 I 1 1 i l I 3,395,623 8/1968 Baker ..93/36.01 3,463,059 8/1969 Vonk ..53/175 3,523,492 8/1970 Bruce ..93/36.0l

Primary Examiner.lohn F. Campbell Assistant Examiner-Donald P. Rooney Attorney-Christie, Parker & Hale [5 7] ABSTRACT A pedestal carries a bag indexer to index an arch-shaped bottom of a bag that has been attached to the body by a bag applicator. The bag indexer has a pair of vacuum tubes for drawing an attached bag into a dispenser body against the mouths of the tubes and a shaft which engages and supports the apex of the bags arch during indexing. The position of the bag indexer is adjustable to adjust the bags fill measure. The bag indexer is extended from a retracted position after a dispenser body is received on the pedestal for transport to the bag applicator to facilitate dispenser body removal and placement on the pedestal from an input conveyor. The bag indexer is also retracted to facilitate removal of a dispenser body from the pedestal after a bag has been attached and indexed.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING A PREDETERMINED AND REPEATABLE FILL MEASURE IN A BAG-IN-CAN DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the art of fabricating dispensers and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method used in the attachment of a flexible bag to a dispenser body to obtain an accurate and predetermined fill measure in the bag.

Pressurized dispensers have become increasingly popular. One of the most effective pressurized dispensers is described in US. Pat. No. 3,393,842 to J. K. Bruce et al. This pressurized dispenser has a flexible bag or tube for a product disposed within its body. The pressure of a propellant urges against the side of the bag opposite the product for forcing the product out of the bag through an actuated dispensing valve. The bag is attached to the dispenser body by a bag or tube applicator which stretches the mouth of the bag over the top of the dispenser body and down its outside. The bag is of thinwalled plastic tubing with a heat seam closing its bottom. When the bag is in the dispenser body, its bottom takes an arch-shaped configuration. This arch-shaped configuration admits to propellant charging of the dispenser, by providing space below the apex of the arch for a gassing needle, while maximizing the dispenser's product volume by bag space below and to one side of the apex.

As was previously mentioned, the bag is attached to the dispenser body by a bag applicator which stretches the mouth of the bag so that it may be received by the top of the body. Fingers of the bag applicator hold the mouth of the bag open for body receipt. After receipt, the fingers contract in against the outside of the body just below an upper flange of the body. The body is then lifted away from the bag applicator to pull the bag from the fingers and allow the mouth of the bag to contract into direct tensioned contact with the outside of the body and over the bodys upper flange.

This attachment procedure is extremely effective but it does not assure an accurate and repeatable fill measure or volume for product within the bag.

There is a need, therefore, for a means to ensure accurate and repeatable fill measure of the product volume in a bag ofa bag-in-can dispenser of the typejust described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a bag indexing apparatus used in conjunction with a bag applicator, to draw a bag attached to a dispenser body into the body a predetermined distance to assure an accurate and repeatable bag fill measure.

In one form, the present invention contemplates a pedestal with a dispenser body supporting surface and a bag indexer having a profile conforming to the shape of the arch which is developed in the bottom of a bag attached to a dispenser body and disposed within it. Means are provided to effect a vacuum within a dispenser body to draw a bag, which has been attached by a bag applicator to the body, into the body against the bag indexer.

In more specific form, the position of the bag indexer above the pedestal is adjustable to vary the fill measure of a bag. In addition, the bag indexer is capable of being retracted into the pedestal for the presentation of a flat support surface for a dispenser body received from an input conveyor, and for the discharge of the dispenser body onto an output conveyor after a bag has been attached and indexed.

A specific form of the bag indexer includes a pair of vacuum tubes having axes which lie in a common plane and an apex supporting member. The tubes have mouths which are angled to conform to the angle of the arch of the bag. The tubes and apex supporting member are carried by a coordinating member disposed within a hollow interior of a head of the pedestal. The coordinating member is carried by a shaft for movement in response to means for reciprocating the bag indexer longitudinally in the hollow interior of the head to withdraw the bag indexer into the head for dispenser body receipt and to extend it for bag indexing. Vacuum is applied through the tubes to draw a bag into a dispenser body and against the bag indexer.

Means may be provided to elevate the pedestal from a dispenser body input conveyor to a bag applicator for the attachment of a bag to the dispenser body, and to subsequently retract the pedestal from the bag applicator for the discharge of a dispenser body having an attached and indexed bag.

The present invention provides an apparatus for reliably and repeatedly producing a predetennined fill measure in a bag of a bag-in-can dispenser. After a bag has been attached to a dispenser body by expanding the mouth of the bag over the outside of the upper end of the body, the bag is drawn into the body by vacuum against the bag indexer. The vacuum pulls the expanded mouth of the bag up the outside of the body until the bags developed arch comes against the bag indexer. Because the bag indexers position within the dispenser body is fixed, an accurate and repeatable bag fill measure is assured.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly fragmented and partly in half section, of the preferred form of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bag indexing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective, elevational view showing the placement of a dispenser body on the bag indexing apparatus of the previous two Figures, an input conveyor for dispenser bodies, and an output conveyor for dispenser bodies having attached and indexed bags;

FIG. 4 is an elevational, schematic view of the bag indexing apparatus of the previous Figures elevated into the interior of a bag applicator and of the application of a bag or tube to a dispenser body;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, elevational view of a bag being drawn into the hollow interior of a dispenser body by the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view depicting the indexing of an arch ofa bag attached to a dispenser body on the bag indexer of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a pneumatic circuit diagram illustrating a means for the operation of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram for the pneumatic circuit of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention. In general, the apparatus includes a pedestal 12 which is carried for reciprocating movement by an air cylinder 14. A bag indexer 16 is carried by the pedestal and is capable of reciprocating movement with respect to the pedestal along a longitudinal axis 18 of the two. This movement is effected through an air cylinder 20. The bag indexer includes a pair of

vacuum tubes

22 and 24 which are secured in a coordinating member 26. An apex supporting member in the form of a shaft 28, having threads 30, is threadedly received in the coordinating member and extends along the longitudinal axis to a tip 32. This tip is at the desired position of an apex of an arch of a bag attached to a dispenser body. Thus the bag indexer has an inverted V- shaped periphery.

To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a brief reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 will be made. In these FIGS, 2 bag or tube applicator 34 is shown schematically. This ap plicator has a plurality of radially disposed fingers 35 which are actuated by a cam plate, not shown. These fingers are capable of radial contraction toward longitudinal axis 18 of pedestal 12 and of radial expansion away from this longitudinal axis. A flexible bag 36 is placed onto these fingers when they are contracted. The bag is of seamless tubing and is heatsealed at one end, as indicated by reference numeral 38. The mouth of the bag, indicated by reference numeral 40, is that portion of the bag which is engaged by the fingers. Radial expansion of the fingers expands the mouth of the bag for receiving a dispenser body 42. The dispenser body is of the standard metal construction associated with many pressurized dispensers. it has an upper flange 44 and a lower flange 46. In the assembled dispenser, these flanges form a part of the seams which secure a cover and a bottom cap, respectively. The bag is preferably secured in the seam between the cover and the body in the manner described in US. Pat. No. 3,393,842.

The fingers expand sufficiently to allow flange 44 of body 42 to pass upwardly through them as the body is being elevated on pedestal 12. When the flange is above the fingers, the fingers contract slightly into a position against the outside unbent, longitudinal surface of the dispenser body immediately below the flange. Continued elevation of the pedestal will strip the bag from the fingers and cause it to contract into direct tensioned contact against the outside surface of the body and around flange 44, as is indicated in FIG. 5. The fingers will then expand again to admit to the withdrawal of the dispenser body, with bag 36 attached to it from the bag applicator.

As is illustrated in FIG. 5, bag 36, once attached to dispenser body 42, must be drawn within its hollow interior. Not only must the bag be drawn within the hollow interior of the dispenser body but it must be drawn into the interior a prescribed amount in order to ensure an accurate and repeatable fill measure on a production basis. It is the function of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention to draw bag 36 into the interior of dispenser body 42 a prescribed amount. This is done by pulling mouth 40 of the bag over flange 44 until the bag is indexed against the extended bag indexer 16.

A more detailed description of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention will now be presented. The apparatus includes a head 60 which has a hollow interior 62 defined by the cylindrical wall 64 of a bore. The hollow interior of head 60 has a sufficient longitudinal dimension to allow bag indexer 16 to retract into head 60 and extend out of the head to an indexing position, while allowing adjustment of the extended position.

The bag indexer includes coordinating member 26,

tubes

22 and 24, and shaft 28. The tubes are secured in holes in the coordinating member as by a press fit. These tubes are longitudinally hollow, as indicated by reference numerals 66 and 68. The tubes are thus in vacuum communication with hollow interior 62. The tops or mouths of the tubes are angled to conform to the inverted V-shaped periphery of the arch developed in a bag.

Shaft 28 is threaded throughout its length for threaded receipt in coordinating member 26 and in a shaft 70. The position of shaft 28 with respect to

tubes

22 and 24 is, therefore, adjustable. Adjustment of the longitudinally extended position of the bag indexer as a unit is effected by threading, in one direction or the other, the bag indexer as a unit on shaft 70. In short, an adjustment in the position of bag indexer is in reference to shaft 70 and because shaft 70 is indexed with reference to pedestal 12, the bag indexer is adjustable with respect to the pedestal. It should be noted that the coordinating member is capable of abutting an interior surface 72 of the head to define a stop position. The stop position corresponds to the maximum extended position of the bag indexer. Shaft 28 is secured in coordinating member 26 by a pair of nuts 74 which are threaded onto the threads of the shaft against the coordinating member.

Shaft 70 extends longitudinally within a bore 76 of a barrel 78 for a thread couple to shaft 80 of air cylinder 20. The bore is in vacuum communication with hollow interior 62 of head 60 and thus with

tubes

22 and 24. The body of the air cylinder is coupled to the barrel by a threaded fitting 82 thereof which is secured in female threads at the bottom of barrel 78. Fitting 82 has an internal diameter sufficient to admit to the receipt of shaft 70 during the retraction of the bag indexer. A vacuum seal is provided at the junction of the air cylinder proper and the barrel by an O-ring 84. A vacuum fitting 86 and a vacuum hose 88 are in vacuum communication with bore 76 of barrel 78. The vacuum hose is from a vacuum source.

Head 60 is secured to barrel 78 by longitudinally extending screws 90. These screws, as shown in FIG. 2, are recessed in head 60 in order that an upper surface 92 thereof be smooth and without protrusions for the receipt, support and discharge of dispenser bodies. A radially inward directed flange 94 is disposed in sealing relationship with a cylindrical surface of the barrel. An annular raised flange 96 of barrel 78 provides a seat for the head. A bracket 98 having a collar 100 is secured to the barrel by any suitable means. The bracket extends radially of the barrel to a second collar 102. A shaft 104 of air cylinder 14 is secured in this collar by any suitable means. Actuation of air cylinder 14 will then elevate the entire bag indexing apparatus by an amount equal to the displacement of shaft 104.

Air cylinder 20 provides for the extension of bag indexer l6 and for its withdrawal within head 60. The displacement of shaft 80 is constant. As a consequence, the longitudinal position of bag indexer 16 with respect to shaft 80 determines the extended position of the bag indexer and the fill measure of a bag.

Each of the

air cylinders

14 and 20 preferably have a bias spring to return their controlled assemblies to a retracted position. The retracted position of the bag indexer apparatus of the invention is below tube applicator 34.

With reference to FIG. 3, an input conveyor provides a supply of cans from a source, not shown. The input conveyor is driven by a motor 122 in a standard manner. Guards 123 are disposed on either side of the input conveyor to maintain the dispensers bodies on the conveyor. A stop 124 allows accu mulation of dispenser bodies on conveyor 120 for placement on pedestal 12. A pneumatically operated cylinder 125 has a head 126 to push a dispenser body off the input conveyor and onto supporting surface 92 of head 60. The head is contoured at 127 to confirm to the cylindrical periphery of a dispenser body. The supporting surface is in the same plane as the top surface of the input conveyor. A dispenser body 42 on head 60, which has had a bag 36 attached to it and the bag indexed, is pushed from the head onto an output conveyor 128. Output conveyor 128 is driven by a motor 130 and has guards 132 to maintain dispenser bodies on it.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, pneumatic and electrical circuits are shown to effect the operation of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention.

In HO. 7, bag applicator 34 has an arm 134 which is coupled to the displaceable shaft of a pneumatic cylinder 135. The pneumatic cylinder has an internal biasing spring to urge its shaft inwardly of the cylinder. This inward position corresponds to the radially contracted position of fingers 35.

A normally closed limit switch LS2 is disposed to sense the uppermost position of a dispenser body with respect to bag applicator 34. This position corresponds to the position where a dispenser body has been moved upwardly to strip a bag from fingers 35 into direct tension contact with the outside surface of the dispenser body. Air valve AVS controls the pneumatic circuit to air cylinder 135 from an air source, as illustrated. Air valve AVS is normally closed and controlled by an air valve solenoid AVSS.

Pneumatic cylinder 125 has an internal spring to urge head 126 away from pedestal 12. Air valve AV3, which is normally closed, controls the actuation of air cylinder AC3. Air valve soienoid AV3S controls the actuation of air valve AV3.

A source of vacuum is connected in series through an air valve AV4, which is normally closed, to the bore of barrel 78 of pedestal 12. Air valve AV4 is controlled by an air valve solenoid AVSS.

Bag indexer 16 has its reciprocating motion determined by air cylinder 20. Air cylinder has a spring to urge its shaft downwardly from the pedestal which carries the cylinder. Actuation of cylinder 20 is determined by the actuation of a normally closed air valve AV2. Air valve AV2 has an air valve solenoid AV2S which, when energized, opens the air valve.

Pedestal I2 is elevated and retracted by air cylinder 14. This air cylinder, as in the previous ones, has a spring to bias its shaft into a retracted position wherein the pedestal presents its supporting surface 92 in the same plane as the conveying surfaces of input conveyor 120 on output conveyor 128. A normally closed air valve AVI, actuated by an air valve solenoid AVIS, controls the actuation of air cylinder 14.

A normally open limit switch LSI is disposed to sense the lower position of pedestal 12. A normally open limit switch LS3 is disposed to sense a dispenser body discharged from pedestal I2 onto output conveyor 128. A normally closed limit switch LS4 is disposed to sense the pedestal as it rises into bag applicator 34, after a dispenser body 42 is within the expanded mouth of a bag and a flange 44 of the dispenser body is above the extended fingers. A normally open limit switch LS5 is disposed to be actuated by the pedestal as it descends from the bag applicator after a dispenser body leaves the vicinity of the fingers.

FIG. 8 is the electrical circuit used with the pneumatic circuit shown in FIG. 7. This circuit includes a source of alternating current 138. An on-off switch 140 determines the energization of the balance of the circuit.

Normally open limit switch LS3 is connected in series with solenoid AVlS to ground. A control relay CRI is in series with normally open limit switch LS3 but in parallel with solenoid AVIS. Similarly, air valve solenoid AV2S and air valve solenoid AV4S are in series with normally open limit switch LS3 but in parallel with each other as well as with control relay CR1 and air valve AVIS. Normally open contacts CRIA of control relay CR1 are in series with normally closed limit switch LS2. This series branch is connected at the junction between normally open limit switch LS3 and air valves AVIS, AV2S and AV4S, and control relay CR1.

A series branch consisting of normally open limit switch LS1, normally closed contacts CRIB of control relay CRI and solenoid AV3S is connected between on-off switch 140 and ground. Normally open contacts CRID of control relay CRI, normally closed limit switch LS4 and air valve solenoid AVSS are in series with each other and are connected between onoff switch I40 and ground. A series combination of normally closed contacts CRIC of control relay CR1 and normally closed contacts CR3A of a control relay CR3 is connected between on-off switch 140 and the junction between normally closed limit switch LS4 and solenoid AVSS. Normally open limit switch LS5 and control relay CR3 constitute a series combination connected between on-off switch 140 and ground.

The operation of the bag indexing apparatus of the present invention will now be describedv Initially, with reference to FIG. 3, input conveyor 120 provides a supply of dispenser bodies from a source, not shown. Air cylinder I is actuated when limit switch LS1 is closed. This occurs when limit switch LS1 senses pedestal 12 at the bottom of its stroke or its lower position. Head 126 of air cylinder I25 pushes a dispenser body 42 onto pedestal 12 as well as pushing a dispenser body which has had a bag attached to it and indexed onto output conveyor 128. The discharged dispenser body will momentarily close normally open limit switch LS3. This energizes control relay CRI. With the energization of control relay CR1 its contacts CRIB open to open the circuit to solenoid AV3S and drop air cylinder 125 out of pneumatic circuit with the air source. Head 126 will then retract.

With the energization of control relay CRI, its holding contacts CRIA close. Limit switch LS3 will open because output conveyor 128 will have transported the actuating dispenser body away from it. Normally closed limit switch LS2 is not actuated until the dispenser body carried by pedestal 12 reaches its uppermost position. Thus, solenoids AVIS, AV2S and AV4S are energized. With the energization of solenoid AV4S, air valve AV4 is open to communicate the vacuum source with the interior of pedestal 12. With the energization of solenoids AVIS and AV2S, air valves AVI and AV2 are open to pressurize

air cylinders

14 and 20, respectively. This initiates the raising of pedestal I2 and bag indexer 16.

When air cylinder 14 raises the bag indexing apparatus into bag applicator 34 for the attachment of a bag 36 around the outer surface of a dispenser body 42, fingers 35 have expanded the preplaced bags mouth for the acceptance of the dispenser body. The fingers contract inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the dispenser body at a predetermined time while the bag indexing apparatus continues to elevate to strip the bag from the fingers. As the bag is stripped, the bag contracts tightly against the outer surface of the dispenser. At this point, air cylinder 20 has been actuated to raise bag indexer 16 into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. A vacuum acting through

tubes

22 and 24 draws the bag downwardly into the interior of the dispenser body. It will be noted that fingers 35 are expanded to receive a dispenser body, contracted for the stripping of a bag from the fingers onto the dispenser body, and again expanded to admit to the dispenser body being withdrawn from the fingers. In addition, the fingers contract after the dispenser body leaves them for the placement of another bag.

The expansion and contraction of the fingers are effected as follows.

As pedestal I2 rises, it actuates limit switch LS4 to open it and drop air valve AV5 out of circuit. With air valve AV5 out of circuit, air cylinder contacts fingers 35. The position of limit switch LS4 is such that this contraction occurs when flange 44 of a dispenser body 42 is slightly above the fingers. The pedestal continues to rise but in doing so limit switch LS4 is still actuated to maintain fingers 35 contracted during the time that the bag is stripped from the fingers. When the dispenser body with its attached bag reaches limit switch LS2, it opens the limit switch to drop control relay CRI out of circuit. This closes contacts CRIC of relay CRI. With the closing of contacts CRIC, a circuit to air valve solenoid AVSS is established. Air cylinder 135 is then actuated to expand fingers 35.

With the opening of limit switch LS2, air valve solenoids AVIS, AV2S and AV4S are dropped out of circuit. As a consequence, air cylinder 14 is dropped from pneumatic circuit to begin the withdrawal of pedestal I2 from bag applicator 34, air cylinder 20 is dropped out of circuit to retract bag indexer I6, and air valve AV4 is closed to terminate vacuum communication with bag indexer I6. The vacuum is terminated to enable removal of a dispenser body with its attached and indexed bag from the pedestal without affecting the developed fill measure.

As pedestal 12 lowers, limit switch LS5 will be closed to establish a circuit to control relay CR3. This opens control relay contact CR3A to drop solenoid AVSS out of circuit. Fingers 35 will then contract because air cylinder 135 is out of pneumatic circuit. A bag is then placed on the fingers. Limit switch LS5 continues to be actuated by the pedestal for a sufficient time for the placement of the bag on the fingers. Ultimately, however, normally open limit switch LS5 will open to break the circuit to control relay CR3 and expand the bag by reestablishing a pneumatic circuit to air cylinder 135.

When pedestal 12 returns to its lower position, the cycle begins again.

Bag indexing occurs when the bag has been attached to the outside of the dispenser body during the ascent of pedestal 12. As was previously mentioned, the bag develops an arch upon its drawing into the dispenser body in response to the vacuum therein. However, the position of the developed arch determines the fill measure of the bag. The position of the arch is determined by the vacuum drawing the bags arch into contact with bag indexer 16. This effects a pulling of mouth 40 of the bag over flange 44 of the body to foreshorten the amount of bag on the outside of the dispenser body, as is indicated by comparing FIGS. and 6.

The developed arch in bag 36, shown by reference numeral 150 in FIG. 6, has a first and a second triangular side, 152 and 154, respectively. These sides have seam 38 bisecting them. The apex of the arch, indicated by reference numeral 156, constitutes a common base for the triangular sides. Side 152 is drawn onto the mouth of tube 22, while side 154 is drawn onto the mouth of tube 24 by vacuum in the tubes. When

sides

152 and 154 are drawn onto the mouths of

tubes

22 and 24, the vacuum to the interior of the dispenser body is cut off. Shaft 28 meets apex 1S6 midway between its ends to prevent the sides of the arch from being pulled into the tubes.

ln the event that the fill measure of the bag is to be changed, the elevated or extended position of the bag indexer is changed. This is done by removing head 60 from barrel 78 and threading shaft 28 up or down with respect to shaft 70 an amount necessary to change the fill measure.

After a bag has been attached and indexed in a dispenser body, and pedestal l2 lowers to its initial position, air cylinder 125 will push the thus assembled dispenser body onto output conveyor 128 for further assembly.

In a further assembly, a cover and a bottom are seamed onto the dispenser body, a product is charged into the bag, a dispensing valve is mounted on the cover, and the resulting dispenser is pressurized with a propellant.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus to develop a predetermined fill measure in a flexible bag of a bag-in-can dispenser of the type having the bag attached to the top of the dispensers hollow body with an arch in the bottom of the bag, the arch having an apex lying transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and a pair of sides meeting at the apex and diverging away therefrom toward the bottom end interior wall of the body, the apparatus comprising:

a. a head having a dispenser body supporting surface;

b. a bag indexer on the head having an inverted V-shaped periphery above the supporting surface conforming to the shape of the exterior surface of the arch, the indexer being adapted for receipt within the dispenser body;

c. means for creating a vacuum in the dispenser body through the bag indexer to draw the sides of the arch against the bag indexer; and

d. means to move the head from a dispenser body receiving position to a bag applicator for the attachment of the bag to the dispenser body.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag indexer includes:

a. a pair of aligned tubes spaced from and disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head, the tubes extending from the supporting surface of the head, each tube having a mouth for contacting one of the sides of the arch of the bag, each tube mouth being at an angle substantially the same as the angle of its associated arch side from the longitudinal axis of the bag; and

b. an apex support member disposed on the longitudinal axis above the supporting surface of the head in position to support the apex of the arch in the bottom of the bag.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 including:

means to move the bag indexer from a position within the head to an extended position for indexing the bag and for retracting the bag indexer into the head after the bag has been indexed.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the bag indexer includes:

a coordinating member disposed within a hollow interior of the head for reciprocating movement therein;

a pair of aligned tubes disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the head and secured to the coordinating member, the tubes extending longitudinally through the supporting surface of the head when the bag indexer is extended, the mouth of each of the tubes having an angle to conform it to the angle of the side of the arch on its tubes side of the longitudinal axis of the head,

an apex support member carried by the coordinating member on the longitudinal axis of the head to support the apex of the bag when the sides of the arch of the bag contact the mouths of the tubes; and

the vacuum means being operable through the hollow interior of the head and tubes.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein means is provided to adjust the extended position of the bag indexer above the body supporting surface to vary the fill measure in the bag.

6. An apparatus to develop a predetermined fill measure for the product volume of a bag in a bag-in-can type dispenser of the type having its bag attached to its dispenser body with an arch in the bottom of the bag, the apparatus comprising:

a. a pedestal having a head, a hollow, longitudinally extending interior, and a dispenser body supporting surface on the head;

b. a bag indexer having:

i. a coordinating member disposed in the hollow interior of the pedestal for movement therein;

ii. a pair of hollow tubes to contact the sides of the arch, the tubes being carried by the coordinating member and received in a pair of complementary holes in the head for movement to an extended, indexing position above the head within the dispenser body and a retracted position below the dispenser body supporting surface; and

iii. an apex supporting member carried by the coordinating member and disposed on the longitudinal axis of the pedestal for movement with the tubes to support the apex of the arch in the bag;

c. means to selectively move the bag indexer between its ex tended and retracted position;

d. means for moving the pedestal from a dispenser body receiving position to a bag attachment position; and

e. means to create a vacuum within the dispenser body through the tubes.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein:

means is provided to vary the extended position of the bag indexer above the dispenser body supporting surface to adjust the fill measure of the bag.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 7 wherein:

each of the tubes has an end to contact a side of the arch which is angled to conform to the side of the arch.

9. The apparatus claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the apex supporting member is a shaft.

10. A system for attaching a flexible bag to a dispenser body and developing a predetermined product volume within the bag comprising:

a. input means for transporting the dispenser body to a discharge position;

b. a pedestal at the discharge position having a dispenser body supporting surface;

c. means for removing the dispenser body from the input means onto the supporting surface of the pedestal;

d. a bag indexer carried by the pedestal having an inverted V-shaped periphery conforming to the shape of an arch to be developed in the bottom of the bag and within the dispenser body, the bag indexer being displaceable from a first position within the pedestal below the dispenser body supporting surface to a second extended position above the dispenser body supporting surface and within the dispenser body to present the profile of the indexer to the arch of the bag to determine the bag 5 fill measure;

e. means to displace the bag indexer between its first and second position;

f. means to displace the pedestal from a first dispenser body receiving position for receiving the dispenser body from the removing means to a second bag attachment position;

g. means for attaching the bag to the dispenser body at the bag attachment position with the bag disposed about and in tensioned contact with the outer surface of the dispenser body;

h. means for creating a vacuum within the dispenser body to draw the attached bag into it and into contact with the periphery of the indexer; and

i. means for discharging the dispenser body having the bag attached to it with a predetermined fill measure from the pedestal.

11. The system claimed in claim 10 wherein means is provided to vary the second position of the bag indexer with respect to the supporting surface to adjust the fill measure of the bag.

12. The system claimed in claim 11 wherein the bag indexer includes:

a coordinating member disposed within a hollow interior of the pedestal;

a pair of aligned tubes carried by the coordinating member disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the pedestal in position to contact the sides of the arch, the mouths of the tubes conforming to the angle of the sides of the arch, the tubes being extendable through the supporting surface between the first and second position of the bag indexer; and

an apex support member carried by the coordinating member on the longitudinal axis of the pedestal to support the apex of the bag when the bag contacts the mouths of the tubes.

13. The system claimed in claim 12 wherein the apex supporting member is a shaft aligned with the tubes.

14. A system for attaching a flexible bag to a dispenser body and for developing a predetermined product volume within the bag, the system comprising:

a. a dispenser body support having a dispenser body receiving position and a bag attachment position;

b. input means for transporting the dispenser body from a source thereof to a discharge position;

c. means for removing the dispenser body from the input means at the latters discharge position and for placing the removed dispenser in position for engagement on the bottom thereof by the dispenser body support in the latters receiving position;

d. a bag indexer on the dispenser adapted to fit into the dispenser body and having an inverted V-shaped periphery conforming to the shape of the arch to be developed in the bottom of the bag within the dispenser body, the inverted V-shaped periphery of the bag indexer including a pair of sides diverging from an apex of the indexer which apex lies across and is normal to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser body support;

e. means to move the dispenser body support between its receiving and attachment positions;

f. means for attaching the flexible bag to the dispenser body at the bag attachment position of the dispenser body support with the bag being in tensioned contact with the outer surface of the dispenser body;

g. means for creating a vacuum within the dispenser body through the bag indexer to draw the attached bag into the dispenser body, develop the arch in the bottom of the bag, and bring the arch into register with the periphery of the bag indexer; and

h. means for discharging the dispenser body having the bag attached to it with a predetermined fill measure.

15. The system claimed in claim 14 wherein the vacuum means is operable through the pair of sides of the bag indexer.

Claims

1. An apparatus to develop a predetermined fill measure in a flexible bag of a bag-in-can dispenser of the type having the bag attached to the top of the dispenser''s hollow body with an arch in the bottom of the bag, the arch having an apex lying transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and a pair of sides meeting at the apex and diverging away therefrom toward the bottom end interior wall of the body, the apparatus comprising: a. a head having a dispenser body supporting surface; b. a bag indexer on the head having an inverted V-shaped periphery above the supporting surface conforming to the shape of the exterior surface of the arch, the indexer being adapted for receipt within the dispenser body; c. means for creating a vacuum in the dispenser body through the bag indexer to draw the sides of the arch against the bag indexer; and d. means to move the head from a dispenser body receiving position to a bag applicator for the attachment of the bag to the dispenser body.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag indexer includes: a. a pair of aligned tubes spaced from and disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head, the tubes extending from the supporting surface of the head, each tube having a mouth for contacting one of the sides of the arch of the bag, each tube mouth being at an angle substantially the same as the angle of its associated arch side from the longitudinal axis of the bag; and b. an apex support member disposed on the longitudinal axis above the supporting surface of the head in position to support the apex of the arch in the bottom of the bag.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 including: means to move the bag indexer from a position within the head to an extended position for indexing the bag and for retracting the bag indexer into the head after the bag has been indexed.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the bag indexer includes: a coordinating member disposed within a hollow interior of the head for reciprocating movement therein; a pair of aligned tubes disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the head and secured to the coordinating member, the tubes extending longitudinally through the supporting surface of the head when the bag indexer is extended, the mouth of each of the tubes having an angle to conform it to the angle of the side of the arch on its tube''s side of the longitudinal axis of the head, an apex support member carried by the coordinating member on the longitudinal axis of the head to support the apex of the bag when the sides of the arch of the bag contact the mouths of the tubes; and the vacuum means being operable through the hollow interior of the head and tubes.

6. An apparatus to develop a predetermined fill measure for the product volume of a bag in a bag-in-can type dispenser of the type having its bag attached to its dispenser body with an arch in the bottom of the bag, the apparatus comprising: a. a pedestal having a head, a hollow, longitudinally extending interior, and a dispenser body supporting surface on the head; b. a bag indexer having: i. a coordinating member disposed in the hollow interior of the pedestal for movement therein; ii. a pair of hollow tubes to contact the sides of the arch, the tubes being carried by the coordinating member and received in a pair of complementary holes in the head for movement to an extended, indexing position above the head within the dispenser body and a retracted position below the dispenser body supporting surface; and iii. an apex supporting member carried by the coordinating member and disposed on the longitudinal axis of the pedestal for movement with the tubes to support the apex of the arch in the bag; c. means to selectively move the bag indexer between its extended and retracted position; d. means for moving the pedestal from a dispenser body receiving position to a bag attachment position; and e. means to create a vacuum within the dispenser body through the tubes.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein: means is provided to vary the extended position of the bag indexer above the dispenser body supporting surface to adjust the fill measure of the bag.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 7 wherein: each of the tubes has an end to contact a side of the arch which is angled to conform to the side of the arch.

9. The apparatus claimed in claim 8 wherein: the apex supporting member is a shaft.

10. A system for attaching a flexible bag to a dispenser body and developing a predetermined product volume within the bag comprising: a. input means for transporting the dispenser body to a discharge position; b. a pedestal at the discharge position having a dispenser body supporting surface; c. means for removing the dispenser body from the input means onto the supporting surface of the pedestal; d. a bag indexer carried by the pedestal having an inverted V-shaped periphery conforming to the shape of an arch to be developed in the bottom of the bag and within the dispenser body, the bag indexer being displaceable from a first position within the pedestal below the dispenser body supporting surface to a second extended position above the dispenser body supporting surface and within the dispenser body to present the profile of the indexer to the arch of the bag to determine the bag''s fill measure; e. means to displace the bag indexer between its first and second position; f. means to displace the pedestal from a first dispenser body receiving position for receiving the dispenser body from the removing means to a second bag attachment position; g. means for attaching the bag to the dispenser body at the bag attachment position with the bag disposed about and in tensioned contact with the outer surface of the dispenser body; h. means for creating a vacuum within the dispenser body to draw the attached bag into it and into contact with the periphery of the indexer; and i. means for discharging the dispenser body having the bag attached to it with a predetermined fill measure from the pedestal.

12. The system claimed in claim 11 wherein the bag indexer includes: a coordinating member disposed within a hollow interior of the pedestal; a pair of aligned tubes carried by the coordinating member disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the pedestal in position to contact the sides of the arch, the mouths of the tubes conforming to the angle of the sides of the arch, the tubes being extendable through the supporting surface between the first and second position of the bag indexer; and an apex support member carried by the coordinating member on the longitudinal axis of the pedestal to support the apex of the bag when the bag contacts the mouths of the tubes.

14. A system for attaching a flexible bag to a dispenser body and for developing a predetermined product volume within the bag, the system comprising: a. a dispenser body support having a dispenser body receiving position and a bag attachment position; b. input means for transporting the dispenser body from a source thereof to a discharge position; c. means for removing the dispenser body from the input means at the latter''s discharge position and for placing the removed dispenser in position for engagement on the bottom thereof by the dispenser body support in the latter''s receiving position; d. a bag indexer on the dispenser adapted to fit iNto the dispenser body and having an inverted V-shaped periphery conforming to the shape of the arch to be developed in the bottom of the bag within the dispenser body, the inverted V-shaped periphery of the bag indexer including a pair of sides diverging from an apex of the indexer which apex lies across and is normal to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser body support; e. means to move the dispenser body support between its receiving and attachment positions; f. means for attaching the flexible bag to the dispenser body at the bag attachment position of the dispenser body support with the bag being in tensioned contact with the outer surface of the dispenser body; g. means for creating a vacuum within the dispenser body through the bag indexer to draw the attached bag into the dispenser body, develop the arch in the bottom of the bag, and bring the arch into register with the periphery of the bag indexer; and h. means for discharging the dispenser body having the bag attached to it with a predetermined fill measure.