Closing system for bags and the like

Claim 2

A clipper comprising a pressure providing clip closing means and a means sensing when the pressure provided has reached a satisfactory clip closing quantity, a closed clip freeing means responsively connected to said means sensing when the pressure provided has reached a satisfactory clip closing quantity and responsive thereto to free a clip, means for mounting the neck region of a bagged product in at least somewhat gathered condition at two adjacent spaced apart areas, an open throat means movable to receive said neck region therein and a gate means for closing said throat means, said throat after closure being dimensioned to allow sufficient openness of said neck region to permit evacuation of gas therefrom prior to closing said bag with a clip and sufficiently restrictive to maintain said neck region captive and to cause the inflation of said bag due to internal gas if the exterior of the bag is subjected to reduced gas pressure, a conveying surface for transporting said bagged products, a hood member adapted for engagement with said conveying surface to form therewith a vacuum chamber, a vacuumizing means communicable with said vacuum chamber, at least one product locating means incorporated with said conveying surface, and wherein said clipper is air-operated and incorporated in said hood member and said sensing means includes elements that sense the air pressure in said air-operated clipper and said closed clip freeing means include elements that signal said air-pressure condition to actuating members, said members at a predetermined air pressure level freeing said closed clip and causing said gate means to open and venting said chamber to atmosphere.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 including a frame member and a reinforcing member attached thereto wherein: said conveying surface comprises an intermittently movable endless belt mounted in said frame member, said reinforcing member being positioned beneath at least a portion of said conveying surface, and said conveying surface including opening means communicable with said vacuum source, said hood member is disposed above said endless belt and is reciprocably engageable therewith, said product locating means include product support elements adapted for supporting and positioning said bag during the conveying, vacuumizing, and closing thereof, and said apparatus includes sensing, signaling, and actuating means having 1a. elements for at least indirectly sensing the position of said product, and signaling means responsive to the position of said product for signaling actuating means to actuate the lowering of said hood member onto said belt, and signaling means responsive to the position of said product for signaling actuating means to actuate the stopping said conveyor, 1b. elements for sensing the position of said hood member, and signaling means responsive to the position of said hood member for signaling actuating means to actuate the vacuumizing of said chamber, 1c. elements for sensing the vacuum level in said chamber, and signaling means responsive to the vacuum level in said chamber for signaling actuating means to actuate the clipping of the neck of said bag, 1e. elements for sensing the air pressure in said vacuum chamber, and signaling means responsive to the air pressure in said vacuum chamber that signal actuating means to actuate the rising of said hood member, and 1f. elements for sensing the position of said hood member, and signaling means responsive to the position of said hood member that signal actuating means to actuate the starting of said belt. said clipper''s clip closing means includes a punch means for delivering an open ended clip around said bag neck, and said gate means includes an anvil means against which said punch means drives said clip to Close the neck of said bag.

Claim 4

A clipping apparatus for closing the neck regions of bags and the like comprising means mounting said neck region in at least somewhat gathered condition at two adjacent spaced apart areas, an open throat means movable to receive said neck region therein, a gate means for closing said throat means and a clip applying means for moving a clip through said throat and about said neck region, said throat after closure being dimensioned to maintain said neck region captive and allow sufficient openness of said neck region to permit evacuation of gas therefrom prior to closing said bag with a clip, a vacuum chamber wherein said bag is positionable, means for at least partially evacuating air from said chamber, and sensing, signaling and actuating means for sequencing the events occurring in vacuumizing and closing said bag wherein the condition of a preceding event controls the progression to a subsequent event.

Claim 5

A clipping apparatus for closing the neck regions of bags and the like comprising means mounting said neck region in at least somewhat gathered condition at two adjacent spaced apart areas, an open throat means movable to receive said neck region therein, a gate means for closing said throat means and a clip applying means for moving a clip through said throat and about said neck region, said throat after closure being dimensioned to maintain said neck region captive and allow sufficient openness of said neck region to permit evacuation of gas therefrom prior to closing said bag with a clip, a vacuum chamber wherein said bag is positionable, means for at least partially evacuating air from said chamber, and sensing, signaling and actuating means for sequencing the events occurring in vacuumizing and closing said bag wherein the condition of a preceding event controls the progression to a subsequent event.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3 including a cover means and a surface member wherein said cover means contacts said surface member to form said vacuum chamber therewith, said surface member and said throat means, gate means and clip applying means are incorporated in said cover means.

Claim 7

A clipping apparatus for closing the neck regions of bags and the like comprising means mounting said neck region in at least somewhat gathered condition at two adjacent spaced apart areas, an open throat means movable to receive said neck region therein, a gate means for closing said throat means and a clip applying means for moving a clip through said throat and about said neck region, said throat after closure being dimensioned to maintain said neck region captive and allow sufficient openness of said neck region to permit evacuation of gas therefrom prior to closing said bag with a clip, a conveying surface for transporting said bag and products therein, a hood member adapted for engagement with said conveying surface to form a vacuum chamber therewith, means for at least partially evacuating air from said chamber, and sensing, signaling, and actuating means for sequencing the events occurring in at least partially evacuating the air from bags wherein products are located, wherein the sensing of a predetermined condition of of a preceding event, signals actuating means to actuate a subsequent event.

Claim 8

A clipping apparatus for closing the neck regions of bags and the like comprising means mounting said neck region in at least somewhat gathered condition at two adjacent spaced apart areas, an open throat means movable to receive said neck region therein, a gate means for closing said throat means and a clip applying means for moving a clip through said throat and about said neck region, said throat after closure being dimensioned to maintain said neck region captive and allow sufficient openness of said neck region to permit evacuation of gas therefrom prior to closing said bag with a clip, a conveying surface for transporting said bag and products therein, a hood member adapted for engagement with said conveying surface to form a vacuum chamber therewith, means for at least partially evacuating air from said chamber, and sensing, signaling, and actuating means for sequencing the events occurring in at least partially evacuating the air from bags wherein products are located, wherein the sensing of a predetermined condition of of a preceding event, signals actuating means to actuate a subsequent event.