Patent ID: 9718568
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B65B

Claim:
1. A system for packaging a foodstuff, comprising: a ramp; a bag dispenser adjacent and aligned longitudinally with the ramp and dispensing a bag into a load position, the bag closed with a mouth of the bag substantially aligned with a top surface of the ramp in the load position; a paddle aligned longitudinally with the ramp, pivotable about a hinge arranged above the ramp, and comprising a leading edge opposite the hinge and engaging the ramp, the paddle extensible between a retracted setting and an extended setting, the leading edge of the paddle in contact with the ramp in the retracted setting and inserted into the mouth of the bag, in the load position, in the extended setting; an actuator coupled to the paddle and extending the paddle between the retracted setting and the extended setting, the paddle running along the ramp and into the mouth of the bag between the retracted setting and the extended setting; and a conveyor substantially aligned with the ramp and the bag dispenser, comprising a carriage supporting a foodstuff, and advancing the carriage toward the bag dispenser, the carriage contacting a bottom surface of the paddle in the extended setting and pivoting the paddle about the hinge, the leading edge of the paddle separating an upper layer of the bag from a lower layer of the bag in response to contact with the carriage, the carriage inserting the foodstuff into the bag.