Patent ID: 6123654
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B31B,B65D

Abstract:
An apparatus for loading a preformed empty interior liner enclosure of a flexible material having spaced apart ends, at least one sidewall extending between and interconnecting the ends and an opening in at least one end, into a preformed empty container made of a flexible material and having spaced apart ends, at least one sidewall extending between and enclosing the ends and an opening in at least one end, the apparatus comprising:a stand alone device havingan elongate tube means having a circumferentially continuous sidewall, having an open inlet end and an axially opposed open outlet end, the sidewall of the tube means having a length greater than the length of the uncompressed sidewall of the container, whereby the container is slid over the exterior of the sidewall of the tube means from the opening in one end of the container in such a way that the inlet end of the tube means is outside and spaced from the opening in the one end of the container and the outlet end of the tube means is inside and closely adjacent to the other end of the container;the tube means having a circumference substantially less than the circumference of the sidewall of the liner, whereby the liner extending through the inlet end of the tube means and through the interior of the tube means with the one end of the liner adjacent the one end of the container adjacent the inlet end of the tube means and the other end of the liner extending through the outlet end of the tube means and immediately adjacent the other end of the container to permit gripping of both the container and the liner beyond the outlet end of the tube means to simultaneously pull both the container and the liner off the tube means; from the exterior of the tube means;a funnel with a tapered sidewall having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being substantially smaller than the inlet and substantially smaller than the circumference of the empty liner, the outlet of the funnel being adjacent to and aligned with the inlet of the tube means, and the funnel being constructed and arranged to fold the preformed liner upon itself as the liner is advanced through the funnel;a stand for receiving a plurality of empty liners connected in end-to-end relationship and located adjacent the inlet end of the funnel for supplying empty liners through the funnel to the tube means;a frame connected to the tube means adjacent only the inlet end of the tube means and beyond the container received on the exterior of the sidewall of the tube means, whereby the tube means with the container encircling the sidewall of the tube means and the liner in the sidewall of the tube means is carried by the frame; andthe tube means being constructed for movement of each empty container generally longitudinally in one direction to receive the container over the exterior of the tube means and simultaneous movement of the container and the liner in the opposite direction to remove the container and the liner from the exterior and interior of the tube means, dispose the empty liner within and generally aligned with the empty container and draw an immediately succeeding preformed liner through the funnel to fold the succeeding preformed liner and draw the folded succeeding liner through the interior of the sidewall of the tube means and partially through the outlet end of the tube means all without filling the liner and bag with any contents.