Patent ID: 8670860
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. Bag top registration apparatus for removing bags from a supply of flat folded bags having bag bottoms and bag top portions with bag top edges that may be of different lengths from the bag bottoms to the bag top edges and subsequently transferring bags with their bag top edges at the same elevation for further operations, comprising: a frame having longitudinal and transverse dimensions, first means for supporting a bag in an inclined position with its bag bottom at a lower elevation than its bag top portion, the first means having a lower end portion and an upper end portion in transverse spaced relationship to the lower end portion, means for mounting the first means on the frame at an angle of inclination that a bag in being moved thereunto will slide downwardly toward the lower end portion, operable bag clamps for clamping engaging the bag bottom of a bag on the first means and transverse moving the bag on the support means and releasing the clamped bag when its bag top edge is at a preselected registration position on the first means, operable means for moving the bag clamps with a clamped bag to have its bag top edge at the registration position if not already in said registration position and subsequently releasing the clamped bag, infeed means mounted to the frame removing a bag from a magazine and feeding it to the first means to slide downwardly with its bag bottom more closely adjacent to the bag clamp means than its bag top edge portion, a conveyor assembly on the frame that is operable between a first position for receiving a flat folded bag at a given position with its bag top edge at a preselected elevation and a second position for conveying the bag away from a position it was received while retaining its bag top edge at said preselected, elevation, operable pick-up means on the frame for transferring a bag that has its bag top edge at the registration position and has been released by the clamp means to the conveyor assembly with its bag top edge at said preselected elevation and control means for automatically sensing the position of the bag top edge of each of the individual bags on the first means and automatically operating the operable means to clamp a bag on the first means and automatically moving the clamp to move the individual bag that is on the first means, if necessary, to have its bag top edge at the registration position, thence the operable clamp means to release the clamped bag and thereafter the pick-up means for transferring the bag to the conveyor assembly.