Patent ID: 8307862
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An automatic bag loader having a bag opening assembly, the bag opening assembly comprising: a pair of contra-rotating air-pervious endless belts defining opposing pinch portions for grasping opposing sides of the bag therebetween; belt-supporting means for supporting each belt for rotation thereof such that working flights of each belt are opposingly orientated and diverge from the pinch portions; means to draw a partial vacuum in the space adjacent each working flight so as to hold the sides of the bag against the respective working flight and thereby separate the sides to open the bag while it is advanced between the diverging working flights; wherein at least one of said belts is displaceable for varying the spacing between the pinch portions, and an actuator is operatively connected to the displaceable belt to move the displaceable belt into a position where the pinch portions press together to grasp the sides of the unopened bag and subsequently to a position where the pinch portions are separated to release the opened bag for each bag as it passes through the bag opening assembly.