US3789573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic bagging machine
Assignee: AG PAK INC A NY CORP
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An automatic bagging machine for produce or the like includes bag feeding, holding and tying devices and an electro-pneumatic control system for actuating and deactuating such devices in timed sequence wherein the bag feeding device feeds and partially opens each empty bag in series, the bag tying device ties each filled bag, and the bag holding devices enters, spreads and clamps each bag fully open for the bag filling operation, closes and swings each filled bag to the tying device for the tying operation, exits from and releases each tied filled bag and returns to the bag holding device for entering the next empty bag in series. In combination with an automatic weighing machine, the two machines are especially adapted to operate together and thereby form an automatic weighing and bagging system, with each machine controlling the operation of the other.
Inventors
- 👤 J Crabb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B57/00; B65B57/02; B65B57/04; B65B57/10; B65B57/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
411 words
An automatic bagging machine comprising support means, bag feeding means mounted on said support means, bag tying means mounted on said support means in opposed spaced relationship to said feeding means, bag holding means mounted on said support means between said feeding means and tying means and including rocking means, spreading means, clamping means and swinging means, and an electrical control system for actuating and deactuating said feeding, holding and tying means in timed sequence, said electrical control system including rocker control means energized and latched by said holding means when moved to said feeding means by said swinging means to actuate said rocking means to insert said spreading means into an empty bag partially opened by said feeding means, one clamp control means energized and latched by said actuated rocking means to actuate one of said clamping means to clamp one side of the empty bag on one of said spreading means, spreader control means simultaneously energized by said actuated rocking means to actuate said spreading means to spread open and remove the empty bag from said feeding means, another clamp control means energized and latched by said actuated spreadIng means to actuate the other of said clamping means to clamp the other side of the empty bag on the other of said spreading means prior to the bag filling operation, closer control means responsive to completion of the bag filling operation, with said closer control means being energized and latched to deenergize said spreader control means to deactuate said spreading means while both of said clamping means remain actuated to collapse and close the filled bag following the bag filling operation, swinger control means simultaneously energized by said latched closer control means to actuate said swinging means to move said rocking, spreading and clamping means to said tying means, tyer control means energized upon said holding means reaching said tying means to actuate said tying means to tie the closed and filled bag, and recycle control means deenergized by said tying means when the bag is tied to simultaneously unlatch said rocker, one and other clamp, and closer control means and deenergize said swinger control means, thereby deactuating said rocking means to remove said spreading means from the tied bag, deactuating and opening both of said clamping means to release the tied bag, and deactuating said swinging means to move said holding means from said tying means to said feeding means for reenergizing and latching said rocker control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
411 words
An automatic bagging machine comprising support means, bag feeding means mounted on said support means, bag tying means mounted on said support means in opposed spaced relationship to said feeding means, bag holding means mounted on said support means between said feeding means and tying means and including rocking means, spreading means, clamping means and swinging means, and an electrical control system for actuating and deactuating said feeding, holding and tying means in timed sequence, said electrical control system including rocker control means energized and latched by said holding means when moved to said feeding means by said swinging means to actuate said rocking means to insert said spreading means into an empty bag partially opened by said feeding means, one clamp control means energized and latched by said actuated rocking means to actuate one of said clamping means to clamp one side of the empty bag on one of said spreading means, spreader control means simultaneously energized by said actuated rocking means to actuate said spreading means to spread open and remove the empty bag from said feeding means, another clamp control means energized and latched by said actuated spreadIng means to actuate the other of said clamping means to clamp the other side of the empty bag on the other of said spreading means prior to the bag filling operation, closer control means responsive to completion of the bag filling operation, with said closer control means being energized and latched to deenergize said spreader control means to deactuate said spreading means while both of said clamping means remain actuated to collapse and close the filled bag following the bag filling operation, swinger control means simultaneously energized by said latched closer control means to actuate said swinging means to move said rocking, spreading and clamping means to said tying means, tyer control means energized upon said holding means reaching said tying means to actuate said tying means to tie the closed and filled bag, and recycle control means deenergized by said tying means when the bag is tied to simultaneously unlatch said rocker, one and other clamp, and closer control means and deenergize said swinger control means, thereby deactuating said rocking means to remove said spreading means from the tied bag, deactuating and opening both of said clamping means to release the tied bag, and deactuating said swinging means to move said holding means from said tying means to said feeding means for reenergizing and latching said rocker control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 in combination with a weighing machine including chute means for delivering a predetermined weight of material to fill the open empty bag, weighing means including conveyor means for delivering said predetermined weight of material to said chute means, movable gate means for restraining said material in said weighing means until said predetermined weight is reached, and electrical control means for actuating said gate means upon said predetermined weight of material being reached to deliver the same to said chute means, for deactuating said gate means, and for energizing said closer control means upon such delivery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said electrical control system of said automatic bagging machine includes enabling control means enabled by said actuated one clamping means upon the bag being hung properly on said one spreading means, and energized by said latched other clamp control means upon the bag being hung on both of said spreading means, to enable said electrical control means of said weighing machine to actuate said gate means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said one spreading means include means preventing enabling of said enabling control means by said actuated one clamping means if the bag is not hung properly on said actuated one spreading means, and said other spreading means include means preventing energizing and latching of said other clamp control means if the bag is not hung on both of said spreading means, thereby preventing energizing of said enabling control means and enabling of said electrical control means of said weighing machine to actuate said gate means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said electrical control means of said weighing machine automatically determines said predetermined weight of material and includes fail safe relay means energized and latched by said energized enabling control means for actuating said gate means, weigher time delay relay means energized by said latched fail safe relay means and self-latched upon delivery of such predetermined weight of material for deactuating said gate means to recycle the weighing operation without awaiting completion of the bag filling operation, and for simultaneously energizing said closer control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said closer control means include holding relay means energized and latched by said latched weigher time delay relay means to unlatch said fail safe relay means which unlatches said weigher time delay relay means, and bagger time delay relay means energized simultaneously with said holding relay means by said latched weigher tIme delay relay means, maintained energized by said latched holding relay means following unlatching of said weigher time delay relay means and self-latched upon completion of the bag filling operation for simultaneously deenergizing said spreader control means and energizing said swinger control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said feeding means include suction means on said support means, and wicket means on said suction means supporting an empty bag partially opened by said suction means, and said rocking means are mounted on said swinging means for movement toward said feeding means to insert said deactuated spreading means into the partially open bag between said wicket means and suction means and for opposite movement to remove said deactuated spreading means from the tied bag.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 7 wherein said rocker control means include normally open switch means closed by said holding means when moved to said feeding means by said deactuated swinging means, solenoid means energized by said closed switch means for moving said rocking means toward said feeding means to insert said deactuated spreading means into the partially opened bag between said wicket means and suction means, and relay means energized and latched by said closed switch means to maintain said solenoid means energized until said relay means are unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said one clamping means include one clamp arm means mounted on said one spreading means for movement toward said one spreading means to clamp one side of the empty bag thereon and away from said one spreading means to release said one side of the filled bag therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 9 wherein said one clamp control means include switch means actuated by said actuated rocking means, solenoid means energized by said actuated switch means for moving said one clamp arm means toward said one spreading means to clamp said one side of the empty bag thereon, and relay means energized and latched by said actuated switch means to maintain said solenoid means energized until said relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said one and other spreading means include one and other spreader arm means mounted on said rocking means for relative movement apart to spread open and remove the empty bag from said feeding means and together while both of said clamping means remain actuated to collapse and close the filled bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 11 wherein said spreader control means include switch means actuated by said actuated rocking means, solenoid means energized by said actuated switch means for moving said one and other spreader arm means relatively apart to spread open and remove the empty bag from said feeding means, and relay means energized and latched by said actuated switch means to maintain said solenoid means energized until said solenoid means is deenergized by said latched closer control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said other clamping means include other clamp arm means mounted on said other spreading means for movement toward said other spreading means to clamp the other side of the empty bag thereon and away from said other spreading means to release the other side of the filled bag therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 13 wherein said other clamp control means include switch means deactuated by said actuated spreading means, solenoid means energized by said deactuated switch means for moving said other clamping means toward said other spreading means to clamp the other side of the empty bag thereon, and relay means energized and latched by said deactuated switch means to maintain said solenoid means energized until said relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The automatic bagging mAchine of claim 1 wherein said one and other spreading means include one and other spreader arm means mounted on said rocking means for relative movement apart to spread open and remove the bag from said feeding means and together while both of said clamping means remain actuated to collapse and close the filled bag.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 15 wherein said closer control means include relay means energized and latched in response to completion of the bag filling operation, and said spreader control means include solenoid means deenergized by said latched relay means for moving said one and other spreader arm means relatively together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said swinging means are mounted on said support means for movement between said feeding means and tying means, said rocking means are mounted on said swinging means, said spreading means are mounted on said rocking means, and said clamping means are mounted on said spreading means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 17 wherein said closer control means include relay means energized and latched in response to completion of the bag filling operation, and said swinger control means include solenoid means energized by said latched relay means for moving said swinging, rocking, spreading and clamping means from said feeding means to said tying means, with said solenoid means remaining energized until said relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said tyer control means include normally open switch means closed upon said holding means reaching said tying means, and solenoid means energized by said closed switch means for actuating said tying means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 19 wherein said recycle control means include normally closed switch means in circuit with said latched rocker, one and other clamp, and closer control means and opened by said tying means when the bag is tied for simultaneously unlatching said rocker, one and other clamp, and closer control means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said electrical control system includes enabling control means enabled by said actuated one clamping means upon the empty bag being hung properly on said one spreading means, and energized by said latched other clamp control means upon the empty bag being hung on both of said spreading means, to permit energizing of said closer control means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 21 wherein one spreading means include means preventing enabling of said enabling control means by said actuated one clamping means if the empty bag is not hung properly on said one spreading means, and said other spreading means include means preventing energizing and latching of said other clamp control means if the empty bag is not hung on both of said spreading means, thereby preventing energizing of said enabling control means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 21 wherein said closer control means include holding relay means energized and latched by said energized enabling control means, and time delay means energized simultaneously with said holding relay means by said energized enabling control means, maintained energized by said latched holding relay means and self-latched upon completion of the bag filling operation for simultaneously deenergizing said spreader control means and energizing said swinger control means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said electrical control system includes disabling control means in circuit with said tyer control means, deenergized by failure of said spreading means to deactuate upon deenergizing of said spreader control means because of material becoming lodged between said one and other spreading means, and preventing energizing of said tyer control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 1 wherein said feeding means include upright open suction means on said support meAns, and wicket means on said suction means and suspending the trailing sides of an upright stack of empty bags, with the leading side of the leading bag being partially opened by said suction means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 25 wherein said feeding means include follower means removably mounted on said wicket means for feeding the bags one by one to said suction means and for replenishing the bag supply during operation of said bagging machine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 25 wherein said suction means are actuated by said deactuated spreading means prior to the initial bag filling operation and following each subsequent bag filling operation, and deactuated by said actuated spreading means prior to each bag filling operation, to provide suction only when needed to partially open each leading empty bag on said feeding means for entry by said deactuated spreading means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
152 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 25 wherein said rocking means include rocker plate means pivotally mounted on said swinging means for vertical movement downwardly toward said feeding means upon energizing of said rocker control means and for vertical movement upwardly upon deenergizing of said rocker control means, fluid motor means operatively associated with said rocker plate means and said swinging means, and rocker valve means operatively associated with said rocker motor means and rocker control means, and said one and other spreading means include respectively leading and trailing spreader arm means pivotally mounted at their rear ends on said rocker means and terminating at their front ends in depending leading and trailing spade means, for horizontal movement relatively apart to separate said spade means and spread open the empty leading bag and together to collapse said spade means for closing the filled bag and for entering the partially opened leading bag.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
148 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 28 wherein said rocker control means include normally open rocker switch means on said support means and closed by said trailing spreader arm means, rocker solenoid means energized by said closed rocker switch means and actuating said valve means which actuates said motor means which moves said rocker plate means downwardly to insert said collapsed leading and trailing spade means of said deactuated spreading means into the partially open upper end of the leading bag between said wicket means and suction means, and rocker relay means energized and latched by said closed rocker switch means to maintain said rocker solenoid means latched following opening of said rocker switch means by said trailing spreader arm means upon energizing of said other clamp control means by said actuated spreading means and until said rocker relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 29 wherein said one clamping means include leading clamp arm means pivotally mounted at its upper end on said leading spade means and terminating at its lower end in leading clamp means for vertical movement downwardly and inwardly toward said leading spade means to clamp the leading side of the empty leading bag thereon and upwardly and outwardly from said leading spade means to release the leading side of the closed filled bag therefrom, fluid leading clamp motor means operatively associated with said leading spade and clamp arm means, and leading clamp valve means operatively associated with said leading clamp motor means and one clamp control means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
134 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 30 wherein said one clamp control means include normally deactuated, two-way switch means on said support means and actuated by said trailing spreader arm means, leading clamp solenoid means energized by said actuated two-way switch means and actuating said leading clamp valve means which actuates said leading clamp motor means which moves said leading clamp means downwardly and inwardly to clamp the leading side of the empty leading bag on said leading spade means, and leading clamp relay means energized and latched by said actuated two-way switch means to enable said other clamp control means and maintain said leading clamp solenoid means energized following deactuation of said two-way switch by said trailing spreader arm means upon energizing of said other clamp control means by said actuated spreading means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
69 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 31 wherein said one and other spreading means include fluid spreader motor means operatively associated with said leading and trailing spreader arm means for moving said leading spreader arm means apart from and toward said trailing spreader arm means to collapse and separate said spade means respectively, and spreader valve means operatively associated with said spreader motor means and said spreader control means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
167 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 32 wherein said spreader motor means is pivotally connected at its leading end to said leading spreader arm means and at its trailing end to said rocker means, said rocker means include front and rear stop means, and said trailing spreader arm means include flange means engageable with said front stop means when said spreading means are deactuated to ensure entry of said collapsed spade means into the partially opened upper end of the empty leading bag between said wicket means and suction means, and engageable with said rear stop means when said spreading means are actuated to permit limited movement of said trailing spreader arm means with said leading spreader arm means under bag tension to remove the empty bag from said wicket means through said open suction means, and said holding means includes resilient means operatively associated with said trailing spreader arm means and rocker means and normally biasing said flange means into engagement with said front stop means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
145 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 32 wherein said spreader control means include said deactuated two-way switch means, spreader solenoid means enabled by said unlatched closer control means, energized by said deactuated two-way switch means and actuating said spreader valve means which simultaneously deactuates said suction means and actuates said spreader motor means which moves said leading spreader arm means apart from said trailing spreader arm means to spread open the empty leading bag, with said trailing spreader arm means being pulled along with said leading spreader arm means under bag tension to remove the empty leading bag from said wicket means through said open suction means and to deactuate said two-way switch means, and said energized and latched leading clamp relay means maintaining said spreader solenoid means energized following said deactuation of said two-way switch means until deenergized by said latched closer control means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
112 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 34 wherein said other clamping means include trailing clamp arm means pivotally mounted at its upper end on said trailing spade means and terminating at its lower end in clamp means for vertical movement downwardly and inwardly toward said trailing spade means to clamp the trailing side of the empty bag thereon and upwardly and outwardly from said trailing spade means to release the trailing side of the closed filled bag therefrom, fluid trailing clamp motor means operatively associated with said trailing spade and clamp arm means, and trailing clamp valve means operatively associated with said trailing clamp motor means and said other clamp control means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
117 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 35 wherein said other clamp control means include said two-way switch means, trailing clamp solenoid means enabled by said latched leading clamp relay means, energized by said deactuated two-way switch means and actuating said trailing clamp valve means which actuates said trailing clamp motor means which moves said trailing clamp means downwardly and inwardly to clamp the trailing side of the empty bag against said trailing spade mEans, and trailing clamp relay means enabled by said latched leading clamp relay means and energized by said deactuated two-way switch means to maintain said trailing clamp solenoid means energized until said trailing clamp relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
106 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 36 wherein said closer control means include holding relay means energized and latched in response to the bag filling operation, and time delay relay means energized simultaneously with and maintained energized by said latched holding relay means and self-lathced upon completion of the bag filling operation to simultaneously energize said swinger control means and deenergize said spreader solenoid means which reverses said spreader valve means which deactuates said spreader motor means which pivots said leading spreader arm means toward said trailing spreader arm means, while said leading and trailing clamping means remain actuated to collapse and close the filled bag.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
66 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 37 wherein said swinging means include swinger plate means pivotally mounted on said support means for horizontally moving said rocking, spreading and clamping means between said feeding means and tying means, fluid swinger motor means operatively associated with said support means and swinger plate means, and swinger valve means operatively associated with said swinger motor means and swinger control means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
84 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 38 wherein said swinger control means include swinger solenoid means energized by said latched time delay relay means and actuating said swinger valve means which actuate said swinger motor means which move said swinger plate means, rocking means, spreading means and clamping means from said feeding means to said tying means, and said latched time delay relay means maintains said swinger solenoid means energized until said time delay relay means is unlatched by said deenergized recycle control means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
125 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 39 wherein said tying means include housing means having throat means, packer means mounted on said housing means for movement between operative and inoperative positions to gather the closed filled bag in said throat means and loop tape around such gathered bag in said operative position, tape feeding means on said housing means and actuated by said packer means in one of said positions to feed the tape to said packer means, tape cutting means on said housing means and operatively associated with said packer means in said operative position to cut the looped tape, and tape twisting means actuated by said packer means in said operative position to twist the cut looped tape and tie the gathered bag.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
61 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 40 wherein said tyer control means include normally open tyer switch means on said housing means and momentarily closed by the closed filled bag entering said throat means, and tyer solenoid means momentarily energized by said closed tyer switch means for momentarily actuating said packer means to said operative position for the bag tying operation.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
185 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 41 wherein said recycle control means include normally closed recycle switch means on said housing means, in circuit with said rocker, leading and trailing clamp, holding, and time delay relay means, and momentarily opened by one of said packer means and tape twisting means when the bag is tied to simultaneously unlatch said rocker, leading and trailing clamp, holding and time delay relay means, thereby deenergizing said rocker solenoid means which reverses said rocker valve means which deactuates said rocker motor means to pivot said rocking means upwardly and remove said collapsed spade means from the tied bag, deenergizing said leading and trailing clamp solenoid means which reverse said leading and trailing clamp valve means which deactuate said leading and trailing clamp motor means which pivot said leading and traiLing clamp arm means upwardly and outwardly and release the tied bag, and deenergizing said swinger solenoid means which reverses said swinger valve means which deactuates said swinger motor means which pivots said holding means back from said tying means to said feeding means for reclosing said rocker switch means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
88 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 42 wherein said electrical control system includes enabling control means including normally open enabling switch means on said leading clamp arm means, closed upon clamping movement of said leading clamp arm means by engagement with the leading side of the empty bag when hung properly on said leading spade means, and energized by said latched leading clamp relay means upon the empty bag being hung on both of said leading and trailing spade means, to permit energizing of said holding relay means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
100 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 43 wherein said leading spade means include opening means receiving and preventing closing of said enabling switch means if the empty bag is not hung properly on said leading spade means to cover said opening means, and said trailing spreader arm means include bracket means engaging and maintaining said two-way switch means actuated to prevent deactuation thereof if the empty bag is not hung on both of said leading and trailing spade means, thereby preventing energizing and latching of said trailing clamp relay means and energizing of said enabling switch means, notwithstanding closing thereof.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
130 words
The automatic bagging machine of claim 44 wherein said electrical control system includes disabling control means including disabling switch means on one of said leading and trailing spreader arm means, in circuit with said tyer switch means and tyer solenoid means, opened by disengagement between said leading and trailing spreader arm means upon actuation of said spreader motor means, and prevented from closing by failure of said leading spreader arm means to collapse said spade means and close the filled bag upon deactuation of said spreader motor means because of material becoming lodged between said leading and trailing spade means during the bag filling operation, thereby preventing energizing of said tyer solenoid means and actuation of said packer means notwithstanding later closing of said tyer switch means by the bag.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2763458A
Cited
US3498020A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |