WO2000067971A2 - Bag folding method and apparatus - Google Patents

Bag folding method and apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000067971A2
WO2000067971A2 PCT/NZ2000/000069 NZ0000069W WO0067971A2 WO 2000067971 A2 WO2000067971 A2 WO 2000067971A2 NZ 0000069 W NZ0000069 W NZ 0000069W WO 0067971 A2 WO0067971 A2 WO 0067971A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bag
folding
fold
foldable portion
edge
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2000/000069
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2000067971A3 (en
Inventor
James Langley Grogan
David Richard Gross
Original Assignee
Ashton Group Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ashton Group Limited filed Critical Ashton Group Limited
Priority to AU44404/00A priority Critical patent/AU4440400A/en
Publication of WO2000067971A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000067971A2/en
Publication of WO2000067971A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000067971A3/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/02—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
    • B65B7/06—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks by collapsing mouth portion, e.g. to form a single flap
    • B65B7/08—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks by collapsing mouth portion, e.g. to form a single flap and folding

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automated folding of filled bags
  • Apparatus which enable closing, folding and sealing the tops of filled bags are well known.
  • such apparatus include means for conveying a filled bag, with its top portion held closed, through a fold guide member which folds a top part of the bag over on itself.
  • Means are provided for securing the folded portion, for example by adhesion.
  • Apparatus such as this can form part of an automated system for filling bags. Usually such systems will convey the filled bag to a closing station where the filled bag will be closed.
  • optimum folding is meant a folded bag top which keeps the distance between the product level in the bag and the bottom of a folded part of the bag to a minimum, ie, minimising the head space in the bag. Excess space between product in a bag and the closed top of the bag results in a finished product which may not have a uniform shape, which is insufficiently compact and which may be more difficult to handle than would be a uniform, compact product.
  • the invention in a first aspect, is a method of folding a filled bag, by automated means, said method including the steps of:
  • the method further includes closing the upper, unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
  • the foldable portion already includes a first fold.
  • the closing step may include flattening the foldable portion prior to folding.
  • the method further includes the step of securing the fold.
  • securing the folded portion may be by adhesion.
  • the invention in a second aspect, is a bag folding apparatus adapted to fold a top portion of a filled bag on conveying means, the apparatus including:
  • holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents; feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means;
  • folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line intermediate the first and second edges
  • adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
  • the holding means is further adapted to close the upper unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
  • the holding means may include rollers which flatten the foldable portion prior to folding.
  • the holding means is adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag which already includes a first fold.
  • the bag folding apparatus further includes securing means to secure the fold.
  • the folding means includes a first foldover guide adapted to fold the foldable portion, along the fold line, through substantially 90°, and a second foldover guide adapted to fold this folded portion from substantially 90° to substantially 1 80° .
  • the second foldover guide is adjustable between an engaged configuration adapted to complete the fold and a disengaged configuration adapted to enable release of a bag from the folding means.
  • the apparatus further includes release means adapted to disengage the holding means and/or feeding means from a bag.
  • the invention Ih a fourth aspect, Is a bag folding apparatus
  • the apparatus including:
  • holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag deflried by" ⁇ Uppter, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents;
  • feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means
  • folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line Ihterftiediat ⁇ the first and second edges
  • adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
  • the invention in a fifth aspect, is a bag folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • the invention in a sixth aspect, is a method of folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • Figure 1 Shows a front view of bag folding apparatus of the invention in one preferred form
  • Figure 2 Shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 Shows an expanded view of the adjustment means of the folding apparatus
  • Figure 4 Shows a front view of the foldover guides of the apparatus of the invention with the second foldover guides in: A. an engaged configuration and B. a released configuration.
  • the apparatus of the invention is designed to be included as a part of a bag filling, conveying and sealing apparatus.
  • filled bags for example of a gussetted type would be presented to the folding apparatus of the invention, supported at their base on a conveyer and with some means of guiding the open upper end of the bag.
  • the type of bag presented to the folding apparatus could be any type of bag as would be known to a skilled person including pillow, flat tube or gusseted bags for example.
  • the folding apparatus 1 includes infeed rollers 2, carrier belts 3, folding guides 4, compression rollers 5 and folding guide adjustment means 6.
  • the bag then passes through the fold guides 4 (best seen in Figures 4A and 4b - details of which are provided below), resulting in a part of the foldable portion being folded over on itself. That folded part is then fed through the compression rollers 5 to ensure secured adhesion of the fold.
  • fold guides 4 best seen in Figures 4A and 4b - details of which are provided below
  • a glue applicator or other similar securing device, as would be known to a skilled person, is a very preferred element of the apparatus. While the folding apparatus could be provided without such a securing means this is a less preferred alternative as it would entail the provision of separate securing means (if it was desired to secure the bag) .
  • the apparatus also includes carrier belt adjustment means, in the form of positioning cylinders 9. These cylinders enable adjustment of the carrier belts between a closed configuration in which the belts grip the bag, and a spaced-apart configuration in which the belts release a bag so that it may be removed mid-cycle, if necessary.
  • the carrier 3 belts may be V-belts, driven by a drive motor 10.
  • Other types of belts could also be used, such as flat belts and the like, as would be known to a skilled person.
  • One belt has fixed rollers, whilst the second has spring-loaded roller beds so that the grip pressure is maintained.
  • the fold guides include fold support blade 40, first foldover guide 41 and second foldover guide 42.
  • the top edge 43 of the fold support blade 40 forms a fold line in the foldable portion of a bag.
  • the first foldover guide 41 causes a top part of the foldable portion of a bag to be folded through 90° as it moves through the folding apparatus, and the second foldover guide 42, in its engaged configuration (see Figure 4A) causes that semi-folded portion to be folded through to 1 80° so that the folded portion contacts the rest of the foldable portion of the bag.
  • the second foldover guide 42 is adjustable by a release cylinder 44 between an engaged configuration as shown in Figure 4A and a release configuration, as shown in Figure 4B. In the release configuration the second foldover guide 42 is raised so as to release the folded portion of a trapped bag.
  • This adjustment facility of the second foldover guide 42 in combination with the carrier belt adjustment means which enable separation of the carrier belts 3, facilitates the quick release of any bag trapped in the folding apparatus.
  • the ability to quickly and easily release a bag trapped in the folding mechanism is an inherent additional advantage of the mechanism.
  • the overall height of the folding apparatus 1 of the invention may be adjusted in relation to the feed conveyer (not shown) on which a bag is supported. This enables the filled height of a bag to be adjusted in relation to the level of the carrier belts 3. For any given size of bag the carrier belts 3 should engage the bag as close as possible to the filled level. The carrier belts 3 must always be above the product level in the bag.
  • the adjustment means 6 enable adjustment of the distance between the fold line (defined by the top edge 43 of the fold support blade 40) on a bag and the level at which the carrier belts grip the bag.
  • the distance between the carrier belts and the fold line can be increased so that the height of the fold increases and the top edge of the bag, when folded, comes as close as possible to the level of product in the bag.
  • apparatus without such adjustment means would be permanently set to form a fold of a set height. If it was set to fold a maximum height of say 1 3cm, then to fold the top of a smaller bag it would be necessary to raise the overall height of the folding apparatus to ensure that at least some of the top of the bag was above the fold line, whilst retaining product below any carrier belts. The result is that the amount of bag available for folding over may be considerably smaller than the largest possible fold. When that smaller fold is formed and secured there will remain an extra head space in the bag, ie, the space between the bottom of fold and the contents of the bag. That extra space means that the package is not fully compact, the shape of bags will vary and handling will be less easy than with a compact product.
  • the adjustment means 6 of the present invention provides that key features of the folding apparatus are adjustably supported on shafts.
  • shafts In the embodiment shown there are a series of substantially vertically oriented shafts 20, at the bottom of which are engaged the fold support blade 40, first foldover guide 41 and second foldover guide 42.
  • a hand wheel 21 , or automated drive means 22 (see Figure 1 only) is coupled to a drive sprocket 23 via a worm box.
  • the sprocket 23 drives a chain 25 which in turn drives a number of additional sprockets 24.
  • These sprockets 24 are drilled and tapped such that in conjunction with a non-rotating threaded shaft 20, they create worm drives which move the fold support blade and first and second foldover guides up and down.
  • the glue applicator 7 is preferably also included in the folding apparatus and may also be height adjustable, and interlinked with the adjustment means for the folding components.
  • the additional shaft 26 and sprocket 27 are shown in Figures 2 and 3.
  • the apparatus may also include a photo cell 29 to control the application of hot melt glue onto the foldable portion of the bag, from the glue applicator 7, preferably above the fold line.
  • the adjustment means (indicated at 6 in Figures 1 and 2) enables the distance from the fold line to the carrier belts to be adjusted. It is anticipated that the adjustment means will allow adjustment of the fold line for folds in the range of about 6 to about 13cm. As will be readily apparent to a skilled person, the adjustment range could be varied as desired, dependant on the size of the bags and their content. This will essentially be a function of apparatus and bag size.
  • the apparatus of the invention is also adapted to introduce an adjustable height secondary fold on the top of a bag.
  • a secondary fold may be required for added strengthening, or to reduce excess space in a bag where there is a long foldable portion at the top of the bag.
  • the apparatus of the invention may be used in conjunction with a conventional folder which would introduce the first fold.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for folding a filled bag by automated means. The method including the steps of: holding a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge defined by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents; adjusting the position of folding means (4) to define a fold line between the first and second edges which results in the first edge after folding, being substantially adjacent the second edge; and, folding the foldable portion intermediate the first and second edges, to form the fold line, by feeding the foldable portion of the bag through the folding means (4).

Description

BAG FOLDING METHOD AND APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automated folding of filled bags
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Apparatus which enable closing, folding and sealing the tops of filled bags are well known. In general, such apparatus include means for conveying a filled bag, with its top portion held closed, through a fold guide member which folds a top part of the bag over on itself. Means are provided for securing the folded portion, for example by adhesion. Apparatus such as this can form part of an automated system for filling bags. Usually such systems will convey the filled bag to a closing station where the filled bag will be closed.
Conventional machinery only enables a fold of a fixed height to be formed. Thus, there is a fixed distance between a line at which the fold is formed and a line beneath this at which the top portion of the bag is held. This means that the apparatus is only useful for folding the tops of bags of particular dimensions, or that the fold formed will not be optimal for bags of different dimensions.
By "optimum folding" is meant a folded bag top which keeps the distance between the product level in the bag and the bottom of a folded part of the bag to a minimum, ie, minimising the head space in the bag. Excess space between product in a bag and the closed top of the bag results in a finished product which may not have a uniform shape, which is insufficiently compact and which may be more difficult to handle than would be a uniform, compact product.
Further difficulties that can arise with conventional folding apparatus relate to the problem of removing a bag trapped during the folding operation.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which reduces or overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative.
Other objects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, in a first aspect, is a method of folding a filled bag, by automated means, said method including the steps of:
holding a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge defined by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents; adjusting the position of folding means to define a fold line between the first and second edges which results in the first edge, after folding, being substantially adjacent the second edge; and
folding the foldable portion intermediate the first and second edges, to form the fold line, by feeding the foldable portion of the bag through the folding means.
Preferably the method further includes closing the upper, unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
Preferably the foldable portion already includes a first fold.
Preferably, the closing step may include flattening the foldable portion prior to folding.
Preferably, the method further includes the step of securing the fold.
Preferably, securing the folded portion may be by adhesion.
The invention, in a second aspect, is a bag folding apparatus adapted to fold a top portion of a filled bag on conveying means, the apparatus including:
holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents; feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means;
folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line intermediate the first and second edges; and
adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
Preferably, the holding means is further adapted to close the upper unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
Preferably, the holding means may include rollers which flatten the foldable portion prior to folding.
Preferably, the holding means is adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag which already includes a first fold.
Preferably, the bag folding apparatus further includes securing means to secure the fold.
Preferably, the folding means includes a first foldover guide adapted to fold the foldable portion, along the fold line, through substantially 90°, and a second foldover guide adapted to fold this folded portion from substantially 90° to substantially 1 80° .
Preferably, the second foldover guide is adjustable between an engaged configuration adapted to complete the fold and a disengaged configuration adapted to enable release of a bag from the folding means. Preferably, the apparatus further includes release means adapted to disengage the holding means and/or feeding means from a bag.
The invention, Ih a fourth aspect, Is a bag folding apparatus
* adapted to fold a fop portion of a filled bag on a conveying means, the apparatus including:
holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag deflried by" ύ Uppter, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents;
feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means;
folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line Ihterftiediatδ the first and second edges;
- securing means to secure the fold of the foldable portion; and
adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
The invention, in a fifth aspect, is a bag folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention, in a sixth aspect, is a method of folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Other aspects of the present invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 : Shows a front view of bag folding apparatus of the invention in one preferred form;
Figure 2: Shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3: Shows an expanded view of the adjustment means of the folding apparatus;
Figure 4: Shows a front view of the foldover guides of the apparatus of the invention with the second foldover guides in: A. an engaged configuration and B. a released configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The apparatus of the invention is designed to be included as a part of a bag filling, conveying and sealing apparatus. Thus, filled bags, for example of a gussetted type would be presented to the folding apparatus of the invention, supported at their base on a conveyer and with some means of guiding the open upper end of the bag. The type of bag presented to the folding apparatus could be any type of bag as would be known to a skilled person including pillow, flat tube or gusseted bags for example.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the folding apparatus 1 includes infeed rollers 2, carrier belts 3, folding guides 4, compression rollers 5 and folding guide adjustment means 6.
An unfilled top portion of a filled bag is fed into the infeed rollers 2 and gripped by the carrier belts 3. Any trapped air in the top portion of the bag is expelled by the infeed rollers, so that the top portion of the bag is flattened. Glue is applied to at least a portion of this foldable portion of the bag from a glue applicator 7.
The bag then passes through the fold guides 4 (best seen in Figures 4A and 4b - details of which are provided below), resulting in a part of the foldable portion being folded over on itself. That folded part is then fed through the compression rollers 5 to ensure secured adhesion of the fold.
The inclusion of a glue applicator, or other similar securing device, as would be known to a skilled person, is a very preferred element of the apparatus. While the folding apparatus could be provided without such a securing means this is a less preferred alternative as it would entail the provision of separate securing means (if it was desired to secure the bag) .
The apparatus also includes carrier belt adjustment means, in the form of positioning cylinders 9. These cylinders enable adjustment of the carrier belts between a closed configuration in which the belts grip the bag, and a spaced-apart configuration in which the belts release a bag so that it may be removed mid-cycle, if necessary. The carrier 3 belts may be V-belts, driven by a drive motor 10. Other types of belts could also be used, such as flat belts and the like, as would be known to a skilled person. One belt has fixed rollers, whilst the second has spring-loaded roller beds so that the grip pressure is maintained.
Turning now to the fold guides 4, reference is made to Figure 4 which shows these features in greater detail. The fold guides include fold support blade 40, first foldover guide 41 and second foldover guide 42. The top edge 43 of the fold support blade 40 forms a fold line in the foldable portion of a bag.
The first foldover guide 41 causes a top part of the foldable portion of a bag to be folded through 90° as it moves through the folding apparatus, and the second foldover guide 42, in its engaged configuration (see Figure 4A) causes that semi-folded portion to be folded through to 1 80° so that the folded portion contacts the rest of the foldable portion of the bag.
The second foldover guide 42 is adjustable by a release cylinder 44 between an engaged configuration as shown in Figure 4A and a release configuration, as shown in Figure 4B. In the release configuration the second foldover guide 42 is raised so as to release the folded portion of a trapped bag.
This adjustment facility of the second foldover guide 42, in combination with the carrier belt adjustment means which enable separation of the carrier belts 3, facilitates the quick release of any bag trapped in the folding apparatus. The ability to quickly and easily release a bag trapped in the folding mechanism is an inherent additional advantage of the mechanism.
The overall height of the folding apparatus 1 of the invention may be adjusted in relation to the feed conveyer (not shown) on which a bag is supported. This enables the filled height of a bag to be adjusted in relation to the level of the carrier belts 3. For any given size of bag the carrier belts 3 should engage the bag as close as possible to the filled level. The carrier belts 3 must always be above the product level in the bag.
The adjustment means 6 enable adjustment of the distance between the fold line (defined by the top edge 43 of the fold support blade 40) on a bag and the level at which the carrier belts grip the bag. Thus, for a bag with a larger head space the distance between the carrier belts and the fold line can be increased so that the height of the fold increases and the top edge of the bag, when folded, comes as close as possible to the level of product in the bag.
It will be appreciated apparatus without such adjustment means would be permanently set to form a fold of a set height. If it was set to fold a maximum height of say 1 3cm, then to fold the top of a smaller bag it would be necessary to raise the overall height of the folding apparatus to ensure that at least some of the top of the bag was above the fold line, whilst retaining product below any carrier belts. The result is that the amount of bag available for folding over may be considerably smaller than the largest possible fold. When that smaller fold is formed and secured there will remain an extra head space in the bag, ie, the space between the bottom of fold and the contents of the bag. That extra space means that the package is not fully compact, the shape of bags will vary and handling will be less easy than with a compact product.
With reference to Figure 3, the adjustment means 6 of the present invention provides that key features of the folding apparatus are adjustably supported on shafts. In the embodiment shown there are a series of substantially vertically oriented shafts 20, at the bottom of which are engaged the fold support blade 40, first foldover guide 41 and second foldover guide 42. A hand wheel 21 , or automated drive means 22 (see Figure 1 only) is coupled to a drive sprocket 23 via a worm box. The sprocket 23 drives a chain 25 which in turn drives a number of additional sprockets 24. These sprockets 24 are drilled and tapped such that in conjunction with a non-rotating threaded shaft 20, they create worm drives which move the fold support blade and first and second foldover guides up and down.
The glue applicator 7 is preferably also included in the folding apparatus and may also be height adjustable, and interlinked with the adjustment means for the folding components. The additional shaft 26 and sprocket 27 are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The apparatus may also include a photo cell 29 to control the application of hot melt glue onto the foldable portion of the bag, from the glue applicator 7, preferably above the fold line.
The adjustment means (indicated at 6 in Figures 1 and 2) enables the distance from the fold line to the carrier belts to be adjusted. It is anticipated that the adjustment means will allow adjustment of the fold line for folds in the range of about 6 to about 13cm. As will be readily apparent to a skilled person, the adjustment range could be varied as desired, dependant on the size of the bags and their content. This will essentially be a function of apparatus and bag size.
Whilst the invention is described with reference to introducing a first fold at the top of a filled bag, the apparatus of the invention is also adapted to introduce an adjustable height secondary fold on the top of a bag. Such a secondary fold may be required for added strengthening, or to reduce excess space in a bag where there is a long foldable portion at the top of the bag. To introduce a secondary fold, the apparatus of the invention may be used in conjunction with a conventional folder which would introduce the first fold.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A method of folding a filled bag, by automated means, said method including the steps of:
holding a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge defined by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents;
adjusting the position of folding means to define a fold line between the first and second edges which results in the first edge, after folding, being substantially adjacent the second edge; and
folding the foldable portion intermediate the first and second edges, to form the fold line, by feeding the foldable portion of the bag through the folding means.
2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of closing the upper, unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the foldable portion already includes a first fold.
4. The method according to any one of the proceeding claims further including the step of flattening the foldable portion prior to folding.
5. The method according to any one of the proceeding claims further including the step of securing the folded position.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of securing the folded portion is by adhesion.
7. A bag folding apparatus adapted to fold a top portion of a filled bag on conveying means, the apparatus including:
- holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents;
- feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means;
folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line intermediate the first and second edges; and
adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the holding means is further adapted to close the upper unfilled portion of the bag to form the foldable portion.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the holding means includes rollers which flatten the foldable portion prior to folding.
0. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein the holding means is adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag which already includes a first fold.
1 . The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the apparatus further includes fold securing means.
2. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 1 1 wherein folding means includes a first foldover guide adapted to fold the foldable portion, along the fold line, through substantially 90°, and a second foldover guide adapted to fold this folded portion from substantially 90° to substantially 1 80° .
1 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 2 wherein the second foldover guide is adjustable between an engaged configuration adapted to complete the fold and a disengaged configuration adapted to enable release of a bag from the folding means.
14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 1 3 wherein the apparatus further includes release means adapted to disengage the holding means and/or feeding means from a bag.
1 5. A bag folding apparatus adapted to fold a top portion of a filled bag on a conveying means, the apparatus including:
holding means holding means adapted to hold a foldable portion of the bag defined by an upper, unfilled portion of the bag and having a first edge formed by the top of the bag and a second edge adjacent the bag contents; feeding means to feed the foldable portion of the bag through folding means;
folding means to fold the foldable portion at a fold line intermediate the first and second edges;
securing means to secure the fold of the foldable portion; and
- adjustment means adapted to enable adjustment of the position of the fold line in relation to the bottom edge.
6. A bag folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
7. A method of folding apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
PCT/NZ2000/000069 1999-05-07 2000-05-08 Bag folding method and apparatus WO2000067971A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU44404/00A AU4440400A (en) 1999-05-07 2000-05-08 Bag folding method and apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ33567199 1999-05-07
NZ335671 1999-05-07

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Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000067971A2 true WO2000067971A2 (en) 2000-11-16
WO2000067971A3 WO2000067971A3 (en) 2001-02-22

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2219269A (en) * 1988-06-03 1989-12-06 Haver & Boecker Apparatus for filling and closing open top bags
DE4127485A1 (en) * 1991-08-20 1993-02-25 Hans Lissner Sack transporter moving between filling and closing stations - has U=shaped frame with sack clamps vertically movable on horizontally movable carriage
US5271206A (en) * 1991-07-11 1993-12-21 Windmoller & Holscher Method for making, filling, and sealing sacks
EP0768242A1 (en) * 1995-10-13 1997-04-16 Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH Device for closing open filled bags

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2219269A (en) * 1988-06-03 1989-12-06 Haver & Boecker Apparatus for filling and closing open top bags
US5271206A (en) * 1991-07-11 1993-12-21 Windmoller & Holscher Method for making, filling, and sealing sacks
DE4127485A1 (en) * 1991-08-20 1993-02-25 Hans Lissner Sack transporter moving between filling and closing stations - has U=shaped frame with sack clamps vertically movable on horizontally movable carriage
EP0768242A1 (en) * 1995-10-13 1997-04-16 Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH Device for closing open filled bags

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Publication number Publication date
AU4440400A (en) 2000-11-21
WO2000067971A3 (en) 2001-02-22

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