Patent ID: 6789963
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A packaging apparatus for printing information on each bag of a continuous strip of bags and positioning the bag for loading with a product, the apparatus comprising:a support frame; a bag feeding assembly mounted to the support frame, the bag feeding assembly including a drive roller operable to receive the continuous strip of bags and advance the continuous strip of bags through the packaging apparatus; and a printer assembly pivotally mounted to the support frame and movable between a loading position and a printing position, the printer assembly including a supply of printer ribbon and a print head movable independently of the movement of the printer assembly between a printing position and a retracted position, the print head being operable to print selected information onto each individual bag as the bag moves through the printer assembly, the printer assembly further including a tension roller positioned to create an infeed nip with the drive roller when the printer assembly is in the printing position; wherein the printer assembly is pivotally movable between the loading position in which the print head and tension roller are spaced from the support frame and drive roller of the bag feeding assembly to allow the continuous strip of bags to be fed over the drive roller and a printing position in which the tension roller engages the drive roller to create the infeed nip and the print head is adjacent the bag feeding assembly.