Gripper-transfer device for plastic bags

Claim 2

Apparatus for transporting a flexible web material having a first end and a second end, from a first machine station to at least a second machine station, which comprises in combination: an endless conveyor having a first flight adjacent and juxtaposed to said first station and having a second flight adjacent and juxtaposed to said second station; web foldover forming means mounted adjacent said first station, arranged and disposed to coact with a web gripper means said web foldover forming means comprising a plate-like member having a castellated edge; web gripper means mounted on said conveyor adapted to coact with the castellated edge plate-like member of said web foldover forming means while closing to a web gripping position to form a foldover transversely across said web at a preselected foldover locus between said first and second ends of said web, to grip the folded over web through the castellation in the edge of the plate-like member of the foldover forming means, and to continue to grip said web at said foldover while maintained closed in said gripping position; means for closing said web gripper means operably adjacent and juxtaposed to said web foldover forming means; means for maintaining said web gripper means closed on a folded over web during its movement with said conveyor from said first station to said second station; and means for opening said web gripper means operably adjacent and juxtaposed to said second station, whereby said web is folded over and gripped intermediate said webs ends at said first station, is transported in folded gripped position to said second station, and is released at said second station.

Claim 3

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first flight is vertically disposed.

Claim 4

Apparatus for transporting a sealed bottom open mouthed flattened flexible plastic film bag, formed from a tubular film supply, from a bag bottom sealing-cutting station to a bag stacking station comprising, in combination: an endless conveyor having a substantially vertically disposed run adjacent and juxtaposed to the sealing-cutting station and a substantially horizontally disposed run adjacent and juxtaposed to the bag stacking station; bag foldover forming means mounteD adjacent said sealing-cutting station arranged and disposed to coact with a bag gripper means said bag foldover forming means comprising a plate-like member having a castellated edge; bag gripper means mounted on said conveyor adapted to coact with the castellated edge plate-like member of said bag foldover forming means while closing to a bag gripping position to form a foldover transversely across said bag at a preselected foldover line between the bottom and the mouth of said bag, to grip the folded over bag through the castellation in the edge of the plate-like member of the foldover forming means and to continue to grip said bag at said foldover while maintained closed; means for closing said bag gripper means operable adjacent and juxtaposed to said bag foldover forming means; means for maintaining said bag gripper means closed on a folded over bag during its movement with said conveyor from the sealing-cutting station to the stacking station; and, means for opening said bag gripper means operably adjacent and juxtaposed to said bag stacking station, whereby said bag, after being formed in a bottom-sealing cutting operation, is folded over and gripped in the substantially vertically disposed run of the conveyor and released at the bag stacking station while being carrier in the substantially horizontal run of the conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for transporting a sealed bottom open mouthed flattened flexible plastic film bag, formed from a tubular film supply, from a bag bottom sealing-cutting station to a bag stacking station comprising, in combination: an endless conveyor having a substantially vertically disposed run adjacent and juxtaposed to the sealing-cutting station and a substantially horizontally disposed run adjacent and juxtaposed to the bag stacking station; bag foldover forming means mounteD adjacent said sealing-cutting station arranged and disposed to coact with a bag gripper means said bag foldover forming means comprising a plate-like member having a castellated edge; bag gripper means mounted on said conveyor adapted to coact with the castellated edge plate-like member of said bag foldover forming means while closing to a bag gripping position to form a foldover transversely across said bag at a preselected foldover line between the bottom and the mouth of said bag, to grip the folded over bag through the castellation in the edge of the plate-like member of the foldover forming means and to continue to grip said bag at said foldover while maintained closed; means for closing said bag gripper means operable adjacent and juxtaposed to said bag foldover forming means; means for maintaining said bag gripper means closed on a folded over bag during its movement with said conveyor from the sealing-cutting station to the stacking station; and, means for opening said bag gripper means operably adjacent and juxtaposed to said bag stacking station, whereby said bag, after being formed in a bottom-sealing cutting operation, is folded over and gripped in the substantially vertically disposed run of the conveyor and released at the bag stacking station while being carrier in the substantially horizontal run of the conveyor.

Claim 6

An improved method of transporting a ply of flexible web material having a first end and a second end, from the first machine station to at least a second machine station, in a manner sufficient to permit operational steps to be performed on said ply ends at machine stations intermediate said first and second stations, which comprises the steps of: passing said ply to said first station; folding said ply over a castellated edged plate at said first station along a locus between said first and second ends; gripping said folded ply through castellations in a plate overfolded by the ply; and, advancing said gripped folded ply to said second station.

Claim 7

An improved method of transporting a ply of flexible web material having a first end and a second end, from the first machine station to at least a second machine station, in a manner sufficient to permit operational steps to be performed on said ply ends at machine stations intermediate said first and second stations, which comprises the steps of: passing said ply to said first station; folding said ply over a castellated edged plate at said first station along a locus between said first and second ends; gripping said folded ply through castellations in a plate overfolded by the ply; and, advancing said gripped folded ply to said second station.