US3830038A

US3830038A - Automatic bag pickup, opening and placement machine

Info

Publication number: US3830038A
Application number: US00303259A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Propst
Original assignee: VENTURA Mfg CO
Current assignee: VENTURA Mfg CO
Priority date: 1972-11-02
Filing date: 1972-11-02
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20

Abstract

The invention presents a portable machine for attachment to a weighing and pouring machine whereby the machine will automatically pick-up, open and place the opened bag on the material dispensing spout of the weighing and pouring machine. The machine of this invention is operated exclusively by a pneumatic-suction control system whereby electrical motors, switches and other electrical components capable of creating explosions in an explosion producing atmosphere due to dust particles of the material being bagged are eliminated, as well as use of complicated cams, chains and other mechanical components are avoided. The pneumatic-suction control system of this invention is further arranged whereby each step or operational movement in the sequence from picking up a folded bag to the placement of a loaded bag onto a conveyor is interrelated so that the improper placement of a bag on the pouring spout or the lack of a bag being picked up from the bag supply will not permit the load of material being loaded to be dumped.

Description

United States Patent [191 I Propst AUTOMATIC BAG PICKUP, OPENING AND PLACEMENT MACHINE [75] Inventor: James P. Propst, Treasure Island,

Tex.

[73] Assignee: Ventura Manufacturing Company,

San Antonia, Tex.

22 Filed: Nov. 2, 1972 21 Appl.No.:303,259

[52] US. Cl. 53/190, 53/386 [51] Int. Cl... B65b 43/30, 1365b 43/44, 1365b 43/54 [58] Field or Search 53/188, 190, 386, 384, 53/55, 59 R, 67, 69

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,191 7/1954 Dolman 53/386 X 3,498,020 3/1970 Eppenberger 3,501,893 3/1970 Peterson 3,566,578 3/1971 Thorne et al.

3,619,981 11/1971 Burke et al. 53/190 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-l-lorace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlbert L. Carter 1 Aug. 20, 1974 57 ABSTRACT The invention presents a portable machine for attachment to a weighing and pouring machine whereby the machine'will automatically pick-up, open and place the opened bag on the material dispensing spout of the weighing and pouring machine. The machine of this invention is operated exclusively by a pneumaticsuction control system whereby electrical motors, switches and other electrical components capable of creating explosions in an explosion producing atmosphere due to dust particles of the material being bagged are eliminated, as well as use of complicated cams, chains and other mechanical components are avoided.

The pneumatic-suction control system of this invention is further arranged whereby each step or operational movement in the sequence from picking up a folded bag to the placement of a loaded bag onto a conveyor is interrelated so that the improper placement of a bag on the pouring spout or the lack of a bag being picked up from the bag supply will not permit the load of material being loaded to be dumped.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED M20 1914 AUTOMATIC BAG PICKUP, OPENING AND PLACEMENT MACHINE The invention relates to an automatic bag pick-up, opening and placement for loading machine accomplishing the automatic placement of an open bag onto the pouring spout of an automatic weighing and dispensing device, which device is known in the prior art, and more specifically, this invention provides for such a machine utilizing a pneumatic-suction control system combined with portability to the extent it need only be mounted to or hung from such prior art pouring spout.

Prior art devices having the same functional purpose as this invention consist of arrangements whereby they constitute a substantial structure adjacent or proximate the pouring spout of a material weighing device such that any breakdown or inoperativeness of the device results in shutdown of the pouring and bagging operation so that repairs can be accomplished. Additionally, through the use of a completely pneumatic-suction control system, the device of this invention can be safely utilized in those operations where the material being bagged creates a substantial dust atmosphere capable of sustaining an explosion that can be initiated by a spark or arc from electrical operated control equipment. In addition to the portability and safety features of this invention, by a programmed or controlled sequence of the control system an inadvertant dumping or spilling of the material being loaded or bagged is prevented should anyone of the control units malfunction or should the supply of empty bags become depleted.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a bag opening and placing machine that is of fully pneumatic-suction operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bag opening and placement mechanism that is extremely lightweight and compact, being capable of being mounted overhead to the pouring spout of existing weighing machines, while at the same time is quickly removable and permit manual bag placement without interruption of the production line should a malfunction occur in the operation of the machine' Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag opening and placement machine that does not require a special or complicated, self-compensating empty bag magazine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bag opening and placement machine with a control system of fail-safe features whereby if a bag is not available, or does not open, or is dropped, the machine will not permit the material load that would normally be placed in the missing or unopened bag being dumped or spilled from the pouring or loading spout.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following explanation when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the machine of this invention mounted to the pouring spout of a conventional weighing and dumping mechanism in a conventional or typical production line installation;

FIGS. 2 through 5 depict the sequence of movement of portions of the embodiment of this invention in FIG. 1 as they move through one complete cycle of picking up an empty bag, opening it, and placing it in the material receiving position on the pouring or delivery spout; and,

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the pneumaticsuction control system of the machine embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of this invention in a typical bagging production line operation consisting of bag machine 10 mounted to the pouring spout ll of an automatic weighing machine 12; the spout l1 and machine 12 forming no part of this invention. The general sequence of operation of machine 10 as viewed in FIG. 1 consists of an empty bag picked up from a bag supply pile 13; transferring the bag to a swinging and opening mechanism 17 to swing the bag into a material receiving position on pouring spout 11; and clamping the open empty bag onto the pouring spout 11 until the material is loaded therein: all of these operations explained more fully hereinafter. Once loading of a bag is accomplished, the release of the clamping mechanism 18 permits the loaded bag to drop onto a continuously moving conveyor belt 14 where the loaded bag is moved to a bag sewing position 15, which after the bag is sewn it continues on conveyor 14 to a storage or other appropriate area.

The machine 10 includes three primary operating mechanisms or systems, identified as a bag pick-up mechanism 16, a bag swinging and opening mechanism 17, and a bag clamping and holding mechanism 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pick-up mechanism 16 consists of a pneumatic powered actuator 19 whose cylinder is secured to the frame of machine 10 and a piston rod extension 20 connected to a suction cup support and manifold frame 21 to which are mounted a plurality of vacuum controlled suction cups 22. A vacuum-suction actuation of suction cups 22 is accomplished through a control line 23 connected to a valve controlled vacuum-suction source as explained in more detail hereinafter.

Operation of pick-up mechanism 16 is accomplished by the pneumatic extension of actuator 19 downwardly from machine 10 until the suction cups 22 come into contact with the uppermost bag on supply pile 13, whereupon the presence of a vacuum-suction to suetion cups 22 through control line 23 will result in the lifting of the empty bag from pile 13 to a position for its next movement; the lifting of the bag accomplished by retraction of actuator 19 afterthe bag is secured to suction cups 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, the bag swinging and bag opening mechanism 17 includes a pneumaticspring controlled actuator 24 having section cups 25 at the end thereof adjacent to the surface of the bag the suction cups 22 of pick-up mechanism 16 contact. Also included is an obtuse angulated arm 26 having an articulated arm 27 connected thereto at pivot 28. At the end of arm 27 opposite the pivot 28 is a pneumaticspring controlled actuator 29 having suction cups 30 connected to the end of the extension rod thereof. Arm 26 is securely cantilevered in an angular direction to a crank plate 31 which is mounted for pivotal motion or rotation about a pivot 32; such motion of plate 31 around pivot 32 controlled by a pneumatic actuator not shown, but located on the other side of plate 33 with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to that of actuator 19. The articulation of arm 27 about arm 26 at pivot 28 is controlled by a pneumatic actuator 34 so that upon extension of actuator 34, the suction cups 30 will swing about pivot 28 in the direction shown by arrow 35 in FIG. 2 and into contact with the underside of a bag located in the proximate position as shown in FIG. 2.

The fixed or stationary end of actuator 24 is mounted or connected in any appropriate manner so that actuator 24 will also swing about pivot 32 in a manner simultaneous and concurrent to the movement of plate 31.

With specific reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation of mechanism 17 occurs by extension of actuator 24 with the simultaneous retraction of pick-up actuator 19 (or immediately following thereafter) so as to place suction cups 25 into contact with the bag held by suction cups 22. While the transfer of bag retention from suction cups 22 to suction cups 25 occurs, extension of actuator 34 causes suction cups 30 to swing in the direction of arrow 35 to come into contact with the lower or under surface of the bag. As arm 26 and actuator 24 pivot or rotate about pivot 32 to swing the bag in the direction of arrow 36 in FIG. 3 toward the loading position, the bag is opened by the combined retraction of

actuators

24 and 29. The bag continues swinging in the direction of arrow 26 until the edges of the opened bag come into register with the open clamp jaws of the bag clamping and holding mechanism 18 as best seen in FIG. 4.

Mechanism 18 includes a pair of

clamshell doors

37a and 37b pivotally connected in any appropriate manner over the opening of spout 11. A pair of

clamping members

38a and 38b are also pivotally mounted in any appropriate manner to the frame of machine with member 380 interconnected by tie rod 39 to door 37a and member 38b interconnected by tie rod 40 to door 37b. Pivotal movement of clamping

members

38a and 38b are controlled by

pneumatic actuators

41 and 42 respectively, and which both are secured to the frame of machine 10.

In operation of the mechanism 18, when the bag swinging and opening mechanism 17 places the bag in the proximate position as shown in FIG. 4, the extension of actuator 41 rotates member 38a towards door 37b while at the same time, through the interconnection of tie rod 39, door 37a is caused to rotate towards clamp member 38b. Likewise, the simultaneous extension of actuator 42 causes the rotation of clamp member 381; towards door 37a along with movement of door 37h towards member 38a through tie rod 40. In this manner, the edge of one side of the bag becomes clamped between the confronting edges of door 37b and member 38a while the edge of the other side of the bag becomes clamped between the confronting edges of door 37a and member 3812, in which position the doors 37a and 371) are opened for the material load to be placed into the bag now being dumped or discharged through the spout 11.

During the operations described above with regard to

mechanisms

16, 17 and 18, it is to be understood that as mechanism 17 begins its swinging and opening operation, mechanism 16 begins a new bag pick-up operation, and while mechanism 18 is performing its bag clamping and holding operation, mechanism 17 begins a new bag swinging and opening cycle beginning by the return of the mechanism 17 to its beginning point; these simultaneous cyclic operations effected through the control system of machine 10 as explained more fully hereinafter.

For a more detailed understanding of the control system of machine 10, reference is made to the schematic of FIG. 6 in conjunction with the following description; it being noted that components shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 carry the same identification numerals in the schematic of FIG. 6. Likewise, it is believed that an appropriate description of the control system will be gleaned from an explanation of the operation cycle of the control system.

As machine 10 operates, the indicated vacuum source will be in continuous operation as well as there will be a positive pneumatic pressure input to all of the symbolized air supply points.

To begin the cyclic operation of machine 10, reference is first made to valve 41 which is a pilot or vacuum actuated valve that is spring loaded off when pilot pressure or vacuum is absent thereto; valve 43 shown in its on or open position. Valve 43 opens upon either the buildup of suction in the vacuum pilot line by the presence of a bag being held by

suction cups

25 and 30 of the bag swinging and opening mechanism 17, or the supply of pilot air thereto through starting valve 44, also shown in its open position, and which is spring loaded so as to require depression momentarily when machine 10 is being started until power control valve 45 is shifted from the position shown; the pilot air from valve 43 passing to valve 45 through an on-off valve 46.

For further description purposes, it is assumed that the machine 10 is already in operation and there is a bag held by the swinging and opening mechanism 17 as shown in FIG. 1. Thusly, valve 43 is opened by the vacuum buildup in vacuum pilot line 47 as the bag is held by

suction cups

25 and 30. The shift of valve 45 supplies air pressure to the retract side of pneumatic actuator 48, which begins to rotate mechanism 18 in the direction of arrow 36 in FIG. 3: actuator 48 being the one referenced as not being shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 in the description of mechanism 17 above.

As actuator of cylinder 48 begins retraction, a spring loaded pilot control valve 49 is released to close the position opposite that shown to release pilot pressure from the diaphragm of pilot or vacuum actuated valve 50, which is spring loaded to shift valve 50 from the position shown when pilot pressure or vacuum is removed from the diaphragm. Due to the fact there is no vacuum on the diaphragm of valve 50, valve shifts to supply air pressure to cylinder or actuator 19 of bag pick-up mechanism 16 to extend the vacuum cups 22 down into Contact with the top bag of the bag supply 13.

During the early part of the swing of mechanism 18 in the direction of arrow 36 (FIG. 3), which is caused by the retraction of cylinder 48, a pilot control valve 51 is contacted by an appropriate opening device of the retracting cylinder 48 to open valve 51 to the position shown; valve 51 being spring loaded or biased closed except when opened by the contact from cylinder 48 during its retraction cycle. This opening of valve 51 supplies pilot pressure to shift power control valve 52 to the position opposite that shown which serves to release the air pressure from

cylinders

24 and 29 and in turn cause both cylinders to retract due to spring biasing therein resulting in the relative motion of

vacuum cups

25 and 30 away from each other so as to open the bag as best seen in FIG. 3 as mechanism 17 swings in the direction of arrow 36 of FIG. 3. The duration of cylinder 48 contact with valve 51 to cause valve 51 being open merely sufficient in time to accomplish the shifting of valve 52.

Upon the complete retraction of cylinder 48, mechanism 17 has placed the open bagin the position as shown in FIG. 4 where the bag clamping and holding mechanism 18 is ready to take over control of this specific bag. This is accomplished by the opening of pilot control valves 53 and 54 to the positions shown at the end of cylinders 48 retraction; valves 53 and 54 normally being spring biased closed to the positions opposite those shown when cylinder 48 is in a position other than fully retracted. The opening of valves 53 and 54 causes several actions simultaneously.

As mechanism 17 completes its swing of arrow 36 (FIG. 3), the presence of the bag on suction cups and causes a vacuum buildup to open valve 43 (as explained above) andpass pilot pressure to valve 53. The opening of valve 53 upon the complete retraction of cylinder 48 passes pilot pressure to power control valve 55, shifting it to the position shown whereby air pressure is supplied to extend

cylinders

41 and 42 of mechanism 18 whereby the bag is clamped and

clamshell doors

37a and 37b are opened and ready for the material to be loaded into the bag to be released by weighing machine 12 through spout 11.

It is to be noted here that should the specific bag now under discussion fail to open or become dropped during its swing to the spout 11, the loss of vacuum on either of vacuum cups 25 and/or 30 will cause valve 43 to close, the shifting of valve 55 is preclused, notwithstanding the fact that valve 53 is open since 43 will have been closed by the loss of vacuum. In this way, the

cylinders

41 and 42 cannot be extended to a position where

clamshell doors

37a and 37b become opened, and thusly, the material being loaded cannot be inadvertantly dumped through the lack of a bag being present and clamped by mechanism 18.

The end of the retraction cycle for cylinder 48 also opens pilot control valve 54 which passes pilot pressure to vacuum control valve 56 to shift valve 56 to the position opposite that shown, as well as to pass pilot pressure to power control valve 57 to shift valve 57 into the position shown: the pilot pressure to

valves

56 and 57 passing through

needle valve

58 and 59 respectively for slight time delays to be explained more fully hereinafter.

Vacuum control valve 56, when shifted by the pilot pressure from pilot control valve 54 serves to shift the vacuum source from

vacuum cups

25 and 30 of mechanism 17 to vacuum cups 22 of mechanism 16. The reason for the slight time delay controlled by needle control valve 58 is to assure against the premature loss of vacuum on

cups

25 and 30 before the clamping

cylinders

41 and 42 are extended to clamp the bag.

Power control valve 57, when shifted to the position shown by the pilot pressure from pilot control valve 54 serves to retract cylinder 34 so as to move arm 27 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5. The reason for the time delay controlled by needle valve 59 is to assure against the premature retraction of cylinder 34 before the clamping

cylinders

41 and 42 are extended to clamp the bag. Also, it is to be noted that it is preferable for the time delay of needle control valve 59 to be slightly longer than that of valve 58 in order to assure that the vacuum on cups 30 has been removed before the movement of cups 30 away from the bag by retraction of cylinder 34.

As discussed above, cylinder 19 began its extension operation when pilot pressure was released from valve 50 through closure of valve 49 by the retraction of cylinder 48, and now at this point of time in the cycle should have suction cups 22 placed on the uppermost bag of supply 13. Also, with valve 56 now shifted to direct the vacuum source to suction cups 22, the buidup of a vacuum in line 23 will also build up the vacuum in the vacuum pilot line leading from suction cups 22 to the diaphragm of valve 50 so as to shift valve 50 to the position shown whereby cylinder 19 retracts lifting the bag from the supply pile 13 to the position shown in FIG. 1. It is to be noted that should the upper bag of supply 13 not be grasped by the suction of cups 22, or

should the bag supply 13 be exhausted, the cylinder 19 I will not retract since valve 50 will not shift to the position shown. Likewise, should the bag drop or be released from the suction cups 22 while being raised, the loss of vacuum on the diaphragm of valve 50 will backshift valve 50 to the position opposite that shown.

Upon the complete retraction of cylinder 34 to the position shown, pilot control valve 60, which is spring biased closed is opened by contact with cylinder 34 when completely retracted and directs pilot pressure to shift valve 45 to the position shown thereby passing the operating or air pressure to cylinder 48 for extension thereof. This serves to return mechanism 17 from the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to that shown in FIG. 2.

As cylinder 48 reaches its utmost extension position, valve 49 is opened to the position shown whereby several activities occur simultaneously: it also being noted again that valve 51 is adapted not to be moved or affected by the extension of cylinder 48.

The opening of valve 49 by the completion of extension by cylinder 48 passes pilot pressure to valve 55 to shift it from the position shown whereby the clamping

cylinders

41 and 42 are retracted thereby dropping or unclamping the bag from the clamp and hold position of mechanism 18 and clamshell doors 37a and 3712 are closed.

Likewise, the opening of valve 49 passes pilot pressure to the diaphragm of valve 50 so as to retract cylinder 19 as well as to present pilot pressure to pilot control valve 61 which is normally biased close and opened by contact with cylinder 19 when the cylinder 19 is completely retracted as shown. Once valve 61 is open, pilot pressure passes to valve 52 to shift it to the position shown for directing operating pressure to extend the

bag opening cylinders

24 and 29. Pilot pressure is also passed through valve 61 to shift valve 57 to the position opposite that shown whereby cylinder 34 is extended for the movement or rotation of arm 27 in the direction of arrow 35 in FIG. 2. The passage of pilot pressure through valve 61 to valve 56 is directed through a needle control valve 62 to allow a slight time delay in the shift of valve 56 to the position shown; this in turn delaying the transfer or shift of the vacuum source from suction cups 22 to

suction cups

25 and 30 at a time after

cylinders

24 and 29 are positioned as previously extended since valve 50 would have already been in its open position due to the vacuum suction on the diaphragm occurring by the securing of cups 22 to the bag through vacuum line 23 and the vacuum pilot line in turn to valve 50. The only purpose of the pilot pressure to valve 50 upon the opening of valve 49 is to assure the retraction of cylinder 19 to open valve 6] should the bag supply 13 be exhausted; the necessity of valve 61 being open serving to shift

valves

52, 56 and 57 for subsequent operational cycles once the bag supply is replenished.

At this time, the mechanisms l6, l7 and 18 of machine 10 are now in the positions occupied at the time of explanation of the foregoing cycle was started, and the machine 10 will continue to operate in the sequence presented until the machine 10 is shut off by valve 46 or the bag supply 13 becomes exhausted.

As can be understood from the above, this invention provides a machine of compact portability in that it is easily mounted and removable from the pouring spout of an automatic weighing machine, while at the same time automatically controlled in operation through a pneumatic-suction control system affording operation with a great degree of safety in an explosion producing atmosphere by the lack of electrically operated motors or components.

It is also to be noted that the speed of operation of machine 10, or the speed of any portion of the cycle is accomplished by utilization of appropriately controlled exhaust restrictors (not shown) on the exhaust lines of any one or more

power control valves

45, 52, 55 and 57.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic bag handling machine for mounting to a material pouring spout and cooperating with a vertically stationary empty bag supply station comprising in combination:

a first mechanism means adapted to reciprocate linearly between a first and second position, said first means including means to pickup and retain an empty bag from a vertically stationary bag supply station when said first means is in its first position and said pickup and retaining means adapted to retain such bag as said first means moves to its second position, the linear distance between said first and second positions of said mechanism means being inversely variable to the height of the empty bag supply located in the stationary bag supply statron;

a second mechanism means adapted to reciprocate between a first and a second position, said second means including means to obtain an empty bag from said first means in its second position while said second means is in its first position and to retain such empty bag during movement of said second means to its second position;

a third mechanism means adapted to reciprocate between a first and a second position wherein said first position permits said second means to move an empty bag to its second position and said second position of said third means clamps such empty bag in position to receive material from the pouring spout the machine is connected to;

a control system means interconnecting said first,

second and third mechanism means for reciprocating each of said means between their respective first and second positions in predetermined concurrent cyclical order;

and means dependingly mounting said first, second and third mechanism means and said control system means to a material pouring spout whereby said mechanisms means and said control system means are solely supportable by such dependency from the material pouring spout.

2. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first mechanism means includes a pneumatiecylinder means for reciprocating said first means between said first and second positions.

3. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pickup and retaining means includes a vacuum cup means, and said control system means includes a vacuum source which is interconnected to said vacuum cup means by said control system means when said first mechanism means is in its first position, said vacuum cup means remaining interconnected to the vacuum source until said first means is moved to its second position by said pneumatic cylinder means.

4. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second mechanism means includes a pneumatic cylinder means for reciprocating said second means between said first and second positions.

5. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bag obtaining and retaining means includes at least a pair of confronting vacuum cup means which contact both sides of a bag held by said bag pickup and retention means of said first means when said first means is in its second position and said second means in its first position, said control system means includes a vacuum source which is interconnected to said vacuum cup means by said control system means when said second mechanism means is in its first position, said vacuum cup means remaining interconnected to the vacuum source until said second means is moved to its second position by said pneumatic cylinder means.

6. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 5 including a pair of opening cylinder means each having an actuable rod that is connected to one of the confronting vacuum cup means for movements of the confronting vacuum cup means toward and away from each other, each said bag opening cylinder means comprising an actuator that is extended by pneumatic pressure and retracted by spring biasing upon release of the pneumatic pressure, and said control system means including a valve means controlling introduction of pneumatic pressure into both said bag opening cylinder means for concurrent extensions thereof to move the confronting vacuum cup means toward each other when said second mechanism means returns from its second position to its first position and release of pneumatic pressure from both said bag opening cylinder means for concurrent retractions thereof to move the confronting vacuum cup means away from each other during the movement of said second mechanism means from its first position to its second position whereby a bag retained by said confronting vacuum cup means is opened. I

7. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third mechanism means includes:

a pair of pivotally mounted clamping members; a pair of confronting closure members located interand said control system means includes a valve means controlling pneumatic pressure. to both said pneumatic cylinder means for simultaneous extension and retraction thereof whereby retraction of both said pneumatic cylinder means places said third mechanism means in its first position and extension of both said pneumatic cylinder means places said third mechanism means in its second position.

8. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control system means is powered selectively by a pneumatic pressure source and a vacuum source.

9. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said control system means includes means controlling the speed of operation of the machine cycles comprising needle control valves in the pneumatic pressure and vacuum lines.

Claims

1. An automatic bag handling machine for mounting to a material pouring spout and cooperating with a vertically stationary empty bag supply station comprising in combination: a first mechanism means adapted to reciprocate linearly between a first and second position, said first means including means to pickup and retain an empty bag from a vertically stationary bag supply station when said first means is in its first position and said pickup and retaining means adapted to retain such bag as said first means moves to its second position, the linear distance between said first and second positions of said mechanism means being inversely variable to the height of the empty bag supply located in the stationary bag supply station; a second mechanism means adapted to reciprocate between a first and a second position, said second means including means to obtain an empty bag from said first means in its second position while said second means is in its first position and to retain such empty bag during movement of said second means to its second position; a third mechanism means adapted to reciprocate between a first and a second position wherein said first position permits said second means to move an empty bag to its second position and said second position of said third means clamps such empty bag in position to receive material from the pouring spout the machine is connected to; a control system means interconnecting said first, second and third mechanism means for reciprocating each of said means between their respective first and second positions in predetermined concurrent cyclical order; and means dependingly mounting said first, second and third mechanism means and said control system means to a material pouring spout whereby said mechanisms means and said control system means are solely supportable by such dependency from the material pouring spout.

2. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first mechanism means includes a pneumatic cylinder means for reciprocating said first means between said first and second positions.

6. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 5 including a pair of opening cylinder means each having an actuable rod that is connected to one of the confronting vacuum cup means for movements of the confronting vacuum cup means toward and away from each other, each said bag opening cylinder means comprising an actuator that is extended by pneumatic pressure and retracted by spring biasing upon release of the pneumatic pressure, and said control system means including a valve means controlling introduction of pneumatic pressure into both said bag opening cylinder means for concurrent extensions thereof to move the confronting vacuum cup means toward each other when said second mechanism means returns from its second position to its first position and release of pneumatic pressure from both said bag opening cylinder means for concurrent retractions thereof to move the confronting vacuum cup means away from each other during the movement of said second mechanism means from its first position to its second position whereby a bag retained by said confronting vacuum cup means is opened.

7. An automatic bag handling machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third mechanism means includes: a pair of pivotally mounted clamping members; a pair of confronting closure members located intermediate said clamping members and pivotally mounted to form an extension passage of the material pouring spout; a linkage pivotally interconnecting each of the clamping members with the closure member proximate the other clamping member; a pneumatic cylinder means connected to each clamping member for pivotal movement of that clamping member and the corresponding closure member linked thereto; and said control system means includes a valve means controlling pneumatic pressure to both said pneumatic cylinder means for simultaneous extension and retraction thereof whereby retraction of both said pneumatic cylinder means places said third mechanism means in its first position and extension of both said pneumatic cylinder means places said third mechanism means in its second position.