Bag top folder and labeler

The bag top folder and labeler includes bottom and side conveyor assemblies for conveying a filled bag to extend between a pair of folder subassemblies wherein, with the bag top extending above the subassemblies, a second subassembly is operable to in cooperation with a first subassembly reversely fold the bag top relative to the second subassembly center folder and flap tuckers to form a generally Z-shaped bag top closure including ears extending outwardly in opposite directions and elevator mechanism for elevating the bag relative to the first subassembly to compensate for different densities of product in filled bags. Thereafter labeler mechanism applies labels to the folded bag top including to the ears, folds the ears downwardly along the end walls and wipes the labels to adhere to the ears and the bag front and rear end walls below the ears.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for folding the tops of filled bags and applying labels thereto.

In prior art with bag top closures that have a single fold, at times insects move between the folded portion of bag top and the adjacent part of the bag and manage to get into the interior of the bag. In order to provide an improved bag top closure with labels, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus includes a bottom conveyor assembly that is vertically moveable and a side conveyor assembly that is horizontally movable for conveying a filled bag with bag top portions of its end and side walls extending above the product in abutting relationship in a forward direction to a folding station to extend between a pair of bag top folder subassemblies. The folder subassemblies are operated to move the bag top to provide a generally Z-shaped fold. Then the bag is elevated relative to at least one of the folder subassemblies in abutting relationship therewith to compensate for varying densities of the product in the filled bag and thence the labeler mechanism moves down to fold the ears of the folded bag top downwardly and apply pressure sensitive labels to the generally horizontal top part of the fold, the ears and the part of the bag below the ears to retain the bag top in the folded relationship to remainder of the bag. After the folder subassemblies have returned to the positions they had prior to there folding operation, the labeler impresser pads have been retracted and the bag lowered relative to the bottom conveyor assembly, the side and bottom conveyor assemblies are operated to move the bag forwardly of the folding station.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel bag top closure. Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel means for folding the bag top portions of a filled bag. In furtherance of the last mentioned object, it is another object to provide new and novel means for providing a new and novel type folding of the top portion of the filled bag and applying a pressure sensitive label to the folded bag top closure to retain the folded bag top in its folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in particularly toFIGS. 1,2and4of the drawings, the apparatus of this invention includes a frame F having vertical rear frame members11,12, vertical front frame members13,14, bottom longitudinally frame members16extending between the front and rear vertical frame members, top longitudinal frame members15extending between and joined to the top and rear vertical frame members, top front and rear transverse frame members17respectively joined to frame members13,14and11,12, rear transverse and intermediate transverse frame members22,23mounted to frame members16, a longitudinally intermediate, vertical frame member21joined to frame members15,16, a vertically intermediate, longitudinal frame member27joined to frame members12,21, transversely intermediate, vertical frame member24,25joined to frame members22,23respectively and horizontal transverse frame members28,29joined to frame member27and the top of frames members24,25respectively and a longitudinal frame member30joined to frame members28,29above frame members24,25.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3and15, the bottom conveyor assembly, generally designated35, includes longitudinally spaced mounting plates37extending transversely on longitudinally opposite surfaces of frame members24,25with brackets38mounted thereto to vertically slidably abut against longitudinal surfaces of frame members24,25. The transversely opposite side portions of the frame members24,25have vertically spaced chain mounts39mounted thereto for mounting vertically elongated chains40in abutting relationship to the frame members24,25.

The mounting plates37rotatably mount a horizontal shaft41that have sprockets42keyed thereto to engage the chains for vertically moving the mounting plates as the shaft is rotated. Also referring toFIG. 18, mounted to each of the mounting plates at a substantially lower elevation than the shaft41is a cam follower190to have its roller190A bear against the surface of the respective frame member24,25adjacent the respective chain40to prevent binding of the brackets as the elevation of bottom conveyor assembly is varied. One end of the shaft41is connected through coupling mechanism44to a motor45for rotating the shaft in the desired angular direction in response to suitable controls47. A beam43is mounted to the mounting plates on the same side of the frame members24,25as the shaft.

On longitudinally opposite sides of the frame members24,25the mounting plates mount brackets49which in turn mount a longitudinally elongated conveyor side plate50while a second side plate51is mounted in parallel relationship thereto, in part by spacers54(only one being shown). Longitudinally opposite ends of the side plates mount timing pulleys53while the front pulleys are drivenly connected through a shaft52to a gear box58and therethrough to a motor59which is mounted by brackets71to the adjacent side plate. A pair of endless timing belts55are mounted by pulleys53and in engagement with idler pulleys57,57A and adjustment pulley mechanism59(details not shown).

Referring toFIGS. 4-6, the side conveyor assembly E includes side conveyor subassemblies, generally designated75,77, that at one longitudinal ends are dependingly mounted from adjustment nuts87by brackets89. The nuts are mounted by a transverse rear shaft88having oppositely threaded portions (threads not shown) whereby when the shaft is rotated in one angular direction, the nuts are transversely moved apart and when rotated in the opposite direction, move transversely toward one another. The rear shaft88at one end is mounted by a bracket (not shown) to frame member11and at the opposite end by a bar78to frame member30whereby the side conveyor subassemblies are at a higher elevation than the bottom conveyor assembly to have a filled bag B conveyed therebetween. A bracket82which is mounted to frame member14and a bar81which is mounted to frame member30mount a transverse front shaft83. The front shaft also mounts adjustment nuts87to be transversely moved as indicated relative to the rear shaft, brackets90dependingly mounting the subassemblies from the front adjustment nuts87. The one ends of shafts83,88mount sprockets84which in turn mount a chain85whereby as a crank (not shown) mounted to the opposite end of the front shaft causes the shafts to rotated for appropriately transversely moving the adjustment nuts and thereby the brackets mounted thereto in the desired transverse direction to change the transverse spacing of the side conveyor subassemblies.

Each of the subassemblies75,77includes a longitudinally elongated, horizontal mounting plate91mounted by the respective set of brackets89,90. Mounted by angle irons92,92A to transversely adjacent edge portions of the mounting plates91are longitudinally elongate side guides (side plates)93,94respectively to extend above and below the mounting plates for having a bag on the bottom conveyor assembly longitudinally moved therebetween. Each of the side guides has a longitudinally elongated slot95.

Mounted to the rear portion of each of the mounting plate91to rotate about vertical axes is a rear pulley99and a longitudinally intermediate driven pulley98, each set of pulleys mounting an endless belt100at the elevation of the slots95. Dependingly mounted to each of the mounting plates are a pair of longitudinally spaced cylinders103to be transversely intermediate the inner run100B and the outer run100A of the respective belt100and longitudinally intermediate the pulleys98,99, the runs of the belts transversely adjacent one another being considered the inner runs. Each cylinder has piston rods112,113extending transversely outwardly of opposite ends of the cylinder for respectively mounting longitudinal elongated belt guides101,102to abut against the adjacent, longitudinal elongated portions of the belt runs100B,100A respectively. Fluid under pressure is applied to the cylinders103through ports105to selectively move the piston rods112in a direction whereby an elongated portion of each inner run100B is transversely moved toward the other and the piston rods113toward each other, and alternately in the opposite transverse direction. The direction of movement of the piston rods is controlled through conventional valving mechanism107which is in turn controlled by controls47. The movement of the inner runs toward one another move through the slots95in the side guides is to apply pressure to the side walls of a filled bag being conveyed between the side guides and alternately away from one another to discontinue the application of pressure on the bag.

To each mounting plates93,94there is mounted a bracket115which in turn mounts gear mechanism110and a motor109that is powered by fluid from a conventional controlled source111which is controlled by controls47for selectively operating the motor. Each motor109is drivingly connected through the gear mechanism110to drivingly rotate the respective pulley98.

Referring in particular toFIGS. 7-9and15, the bag top folder assembly W which is at the bag folding station includes folder subassemblies, generally designated117and118respectively, subassembly117being mounted to a longitudinal frame member30longitudinally intermediate frame members24,25to extend transversely toward and transversely spaced from subassembly118which is mounted to a longitudinal frame member121. Frame member30is mounted to frame members28,29to extend about the longitudinal length thereof while frame member121is mounted to frame members11,14.

Subassembly117includes a wiper mount122which is mounted to frame member30and mounts longitudinally spaced gusset folders123to extend thereabove in abutting relationship to frame member30. A guide plate124is mounted to the wiper mount for transverse slidably movement beneath the guide plate by slide guides125. Further, a wiper (wiper plate)127is mounted above the wiper mount for transverse movement, the wiper including fingers127A extending longitudinally outwardly of the wiper main body127B and has a longitudinal central terminal edge portion127C more closely adjacent to subassembly118than the corresponding longitudinal terminal edges126of the fingers and the adjacent longitudinal terminal edge of the guide plate.

The wiper127is mounted to the guide plate124to move therewith by mounting pins131extended through spacers129which extend through a transversely elongated slot134in the wiper mount. The spacers129together with wear strips (not shown) retain the wiper spaced from the wiper mount. A cylinder139is mounted beneath the guide plate124and to the wiper mount122by mounting pins138extended through spacers137which extend through a transversely elongated slot140in the guide plate124. The spacers together with wear strips (not shown) retain the cylinder139spaced from the guide plate124and the guide plate spaced from the wiper mount. The cylinder139is part of a piston cylinder combination that includes piston rods141(only one shown) attached to a bar142which is mounted to the guide plate124transversely remote from subassembly118. When the piston rods141are in their extended positions, the guide plate124and the wiper127are in their furthermost transverse position from subassembly118and when retracted, the guide plate and wiper are moved more closely adjacent to the subassembly118to extend close to the path of movement of the bag top of a filled bag without interfering with the movement thereof by the conveyor assemblies.

Referring to FIGS.7and11-15, the subassembly118includes a wiper mount150mounted to the frame member121to extend transversely toward the subassembly117with folder gussets151mounted to the frame member121and dependingly mounted to the wiper mount. A cylinder158of a piston cylinder combination that includes piston rods159is mounted to the wiper mount by pins138extended through spacers161which extend through the transversely elongated slot156in the center folder (folder plate)157. The piston rods are transversely extended through a generally rectangular slot154in the link plate153and attached to a block170which is mounted to the longitudinal edge portion of the center folder157that is remote from the subassembly117.

A cylinder174of a piston cylinder combination that includes piston rods175is mounted to an actuator mount172, which may be T-shaped, by mounting pins178with the actuator mount in turn being mounted to longitudinally spaced blocks173. The blocks173are mounted to wiper mount with the block170being longitudinally therebetween. The transversely extending piston rods175mount a bar177which in turn mounts the longitudinally center part of the link plate153with the link plate being transversely between the cylinders158,174when the piston rods175are in their retracted position and the piston rods159are in their extended position. The longitudinally opposite end portions of the link plate mount tucker angles152which in turn mount lower flap tuckers155to extend toward the subassembly117. The flap tuckers have longitudinally adjacent, transverse edges extended in transverse grooves145in the center folder. The flap tuckers have longitudinal terminal edges155A and the center folder has a longitudinal terminal edge157A that are more closely adjacent to the subassembly117than the rest of the flap tuckers and the center folder when the guide plate is in its retracted position as shown inFIGS. 7 and 11.

As shown inFIG. 14, the piston rods175are in their retracted position and the piston rods159in their extended positions. As the piston rods159are retracted, the center folder along with the link plate are moved relative to the wiper mount to be transversely more closely adjacent to the subassembly117. When the piston rods175are extended, the flap tuckers are moved to have their flap tucker edges155A located more closely adjacent to the subassembly117and in substantial longitudinal alignment with center folder edge157A. The slot154is of a size and shape that when the piston rods159are in their extended position and piston rods175are in their retracted position such as shown inFIGS. 11,14, the cylinder158is entirely to the left of the link plate while in their retracted position, the cylinder158in part extends to the right of the link plate and the center folder and flap tuckers155are transversely extend more closely adjacent to the subassembly117. When the piston rods159are retracted both the center folder157and the flap tuckers155are moved more closely adjacent to the subassembly117.

Referring in particular toFIG. 7, operative valve mechanism180is connected to the ports of cylinder139for controlling the extension and retraction of the piston rods141. Similarly, operative valve mechanism182is connected to the ports of cylinder158for controlling the extension and retraction of the piston rods159while operative valve mechanism183is connected to the ports of cylinder174to control the extension and retraction of the piston rods175. Valve mechanisms180,182and183are of a conventional construction, the operation of which is controlled by controls47. Similarly the cylinders139,158and174are of a conventional construction.

Referring to FIGS.1and15-17, transversely aligned with the bag folder assembly W and vertically at a lower elevation is an elevator subassembly, generally192, that is mounted to bottom conveyor side plates50,51. The elevator subassembly includes a piston cylinder combination193,194with the cylinder being mounted between and to the side plates50,51by a cylinder mount195. The piston rod193mounts a longitudinally elongated elevator center plate199in transverse centered relationship to the upper runs of belts55. The center plate dependingly mount center brackets200with the cylinder longitudinally centered therebetween, the center brackets each mounting a bar201extending transversely away therefrom in each direction. The transversely opposite end portions of each bar mounts an end bracket202to extend thereabove, the bars and end brackets extending transversely outward through slots205in the side plates50,51to be vertically moveable a limited amount relative to the belts55(slots shown inFIG. 1). The end brackets on the one transverse ends of the bars mount a longitudinally elongated elevator end plate204as do the end brackets on the transverse opposite ends of the bars201. The end plates are spaced from the center plate to have the upper runs of the belts55extend between the center plate and the respective end plate.

When the piston rod193is in a retracted position, the elevator plates199,204are at least a slightly lower elevation than the top surfaces of the belts and when at its extended position, the plates are at a sufficiently higher elevation than the belts to lift a filled bag above the surfaces of the belt upper runs. In the piston rod elevated position and the piston rods141,159in their retracted position, the plates199,204will elevated the bag sufficiently that product in the bag may be compressed as a result of the guide plate124limiting the upward movement of the filled portion of the bag, this to compensate for different densities of the product in filled bags.

Referring toFIGS. 1,15and19-21, to retain the bag top in a generally Z-shaped folded condition and fold the ears downwardly, there are provided convention right hand and left hand labeler assemblies, generally designated210and211respectively that are mounted to a labeler subframe, generally designated212. The subframe includes longitudinal frame members215and transverse frame members218joined to one another to provide an open rectangular subframe. Vertical members216are joined to frame members15to extend thereabove for mounting the subframe. Transverse support members214are mounted to frame members215that in turn mount longitudinal rods217.

Each of the labeler assemblies is mounted by a plate220, and plate223and arm227with the plates in turn being dependingly mounted to the rods217by clamps221for adjustable longitudinal adjustment. A vertical support member225is dependingly secured to the plate223and has horizontal arms226,227,233and240mounted thereto. Since the right and left hand assemblies are conventional, for example ones sold by Accraply, Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn., many structural features for feeding web material with labels thereon from the supply reel230to the peeler arm231and winding the web with the labels removed will not be described but rather are indicated by the box222since such is known in the prior art. The structure indicated by the box is mounted to one or more of arms226,227,233and240and does not form part of this invention. Further, since the assemblies are the same other than one is a left hand subassembly and the other is a right hand subassembly, for the most part only the subassembly211will be described hereinafter.

Referring toFIGS. 19 and 20, the subassembly211includes arm240mounting a bar224which in turn mounts a main mounting block234. Block234mounts a cylinder236with its piston rod235mounting the mount238of labeler applicator mechanism, generally designated241, for vertical movement relative to block234. Guide rods237are mounted to mount238to move therewith and are slidably extended through the main block234. The applicator mechanism includes a mounting plate239mounted to mount238to move therewith. One end portion of a vertically elongated mounting bracket245is pivotally mounted on a pivot246which in turn is mounted by a block247to the underside of plate239. A coil spring248has one end portion connected to the vertical mid-portion of the bracket145while the opposite end is connected to the mounting plate239to constantly urge the bracket to pivot in the direction of the arrow249about pivot246. Such pivotal movement is limited to a vertical position by a stop250mounted to the plate239abutting against a tab245A of the bracket.245. The end of the bracket opposite the pivot (lower end) mounts an impresser pad254to which a vacuum is applied for vacuumly gripping one end portion of a label L as it is separated from the web.

A cylinder255is mounted to plate239to move vertically therewith, a rod256being extended into cylinder255to mount the impresser pad257to have its bottom surface at substantially the same elevation as that of the first impresser pad254when the piston rod237is in its retracted position ofFIG. 20but applying a downward force to the pad257while the cylinder255is moved downwardly relative to the rod256as a result of the downward movement of the plate239. For example, a spring (not shown) and appropriate stops in the cylinder (not shown) permit the cylinder255moving relative to the rod256as described herein. Guide rods258are fixed to the pad257and are slidably extendable through the plate239as the plate239moves downwardly relative to the pad257and the plate239moves downwardly relative to the block234. The impresser pad257vacuumly engages the end portion of a label opposite that gripped by the impresser pad254. With reference thereto, the maximum longitudinal spacing of the pads257of the subassemblies210,211is less than the longitudinal spacing of the end wall portions185X,186X of a filled bag B while the minimum longitudinal spacing of the pads254in their elevated position is greater than the corresponding spacing of said end wall portions.

A wiper mechanism, generally designated270, includes a diagonally extending cylinder271fixedly mounted to the bracket245and a piston rod272that mounts a wiper roller273to extend between the pads254and257when the piston rods235and272are in their retracted positions. The piston rod272in being extended with the roller abutting against a label being applied to a folded bag top closure results in the bracket245being pivoted in a direction opposite arrow249against the action of the spring248. When the piston rods235,272are retracted, the pads are located to have a label peeled from the web to extend beneath the impresser pads254,257to be vacuumingly gripped prior to being completely separated from the web232.

In use, a bag is filled and the bag have top side and end wall portions that are above the product in the bag are in abutting relationship and may have a conventional reclosable bag top zipper type seal (not shown), or its adjacent terminal edge portions181in a sealed condition, or the terminal edge portions otherwise retained in a closed condition. Then with the bag top portions extending generally vertically above the product, a filled bag B is moved onto the bottom conveyor assembly35. The level of product in a filled bag is indicated by dotted line275inFIG. 26wherein bag top side wall portions K, N that that are joined to lower side wall portions185X,187X converge upwardly and than substantially vertically along the parts designated T to the terminal edge portions181. For simplicity, the top end wall portions are not specifically shown.

Now, with the elevating plates in their lowered position and the inner runs of the side conveyor belts inner runs along the length of the belt guides101being transversely more closely adjacent to one another than the bag side guides93,94as a result of the piston rods112being in their extended position, the inner runs abut against the filled portion of the bag, the filled bag is conveyed forwardly by the side and bottom conveyor assemblies. Before the filled bag is moved between the folder subassemblies, piston rods141retract to transversely move guide plate124and wiper127to extend more closely adjacent to the bag top portion T when it is moved longitudinally adjacent thereto but not interfere with the forward movement of the bag. When the bag is moved above the elevating plates199,204with the bag top extending between the folder subassemblies and extending thereabove together with bag side wall184being adjacent the wiper and guide plate and bag side wall187being adjacent to the center folder157, the bottom and side conveyors discontinue moving the bag forwardly, the bag being at the bag top folding station. Then the piston rods159are retracted to move the center folder157along with the link plate153and the lower flap tuckers155toward the wiper127and the guide plate. Also the piston rods175are extended to move the flap tuckers relative to the center folder to extend more remote from frame member121with edges155A,157A being substantially the same transverse spacing from the frame member121. The wiper fingers127A are of dimensions to extend longitudinally in overlapping relationship to the flap tuckers when the piston rods141,159are in their retracted positions and piston rods175are in their extended position.

The vertical spacing of the guide plate124from the wiper127is sufficiently great to have the center folder and portion of the bag top portion extend vertically between the guide plate and center folder and vertically between the center folder and wiper. Further, the longitudinal dimension of the center folder edge157A is about the same as the corresponding dimension of the filled bag while the longitudinal dimension of the guide plate and wiper edge portion127C may be less. Thus, as the center folder moves transversely toward subassembly117, it extends between the plates124,127and abuts against bag top side wall187to force the part of the bag top portion that abuts against edge portion157A to move toward the wiper mount122. Accordingly, the part of the bag top portions between the center folder and guide plate includes the part184B of side wall184that is joined to the generally vertically extending part184X extends generally horizontally beneath the guide plate and then is reversely bent to extend above the guide plate along part184C while part187B that is joined to the generally vertical part187X of the other side wall and joined to part187F extend generally horizontally above bag part184C and beneath the center folder and then is reversely bent along part187C to extend above the center folder to the side wall terminal edge portion181A. Joined by the reversely curved parts that are joined to parts184C and187F are parts184F,187C respectively to extend horizontally above the center folder and below the wiper127in a direction toward to side wall portion187X and have the terminal edge portions181A with part184F above part187C.

During the folding referred to in the preceding paragraph, the end wall portions extending above product in the bag are also folded. For example, referring in particular toFIG. 24there is formed a generally triangular end wall part186A having one edge integrally joined to the generally vertically extending end wall part186X which abuts against the product, a second edge joined to a first edge of a generally right triangular part186B and a third edge joined to a first edge of a generally right angle triangular part186H. The second edge of the triangular part186B is joined to the adjacent transverse edge of side wall part184B while the second edge of triangular part186H is joined to the side wall part187B. The third edge of triangular part186B is joined to the minor base edge of a generally trapezoidal part186C which extends transversely relative thereto while the third edge of triangular part186H is joined to a longitudinal minor base edge of a trapezoidal part186D to extend transversely relative thereto. The opposite longitudinal major base edge of part186C is joined to rectangular part186F which has its opposite longitudinal edge providing part of the bag top terminal peripheral edge181A while the opposite longitudinal edge of part186D is joined to part186E which has it opposite edge providing part of the peripheral terminal edge181A. Part186F along one transverse edge is joined to side wall part184F while its opposite transverse edge is joined to part186E. The opposite transverse edge of part186E is joined to side wall part187C. One transversely extending edge of part186C is joined to a corresponding edge of part186D. The transverse opposite edge of part186C is joined to side wall part184C. Part186D has one transversely extending edge joined to side wall part187F and its opposite edge joined to side wall part186D. Parts186C,186F are reversely folded at their juncture as are parts186C,186B are correspondingly folded but open in the opposite transverse direction. Parts186E,186D are reversely folded at their juncture to open transversely in the opposite direction from the opening of parts186C,186B. Thus, the side wall parts184B,184C,184F extend in a generally Z shaped relationship to one another as do parts186B,186C,186F.

When the center folder and the flap tuckers155have transversely moved relative to the wiper and guide plate to fold the bag top parts186A,186B,186C,186D,186E,186F and186H, an ear J is formed that extends horizontally longitudinally outwardly of the side wall portion186X but in the opposite longitudinal direction from side wall portion185X from which an ear H is formed by corresponding parts designated185A,185B,185C,185D,185E,185F and185H respectively that extend longitudinally outwardly relative to side wall portion185X and are joined to one another in the same manner as those with the prefix186. During the formation of ear J, a flap tucker extends between parts186E,186D with part186F extending between the part186E and the adjacent finger127A and the other flap tucker extends between parts185E,185D with part185F extending between the part185E and the adjacent finger127A during the formation of the ear H.

The bag top wall portions in being folded results in forming the ears to extend horizontally longitudinally in overlapping relationship to the flap tuckers155. After the completion of the folding of the bag top by members124,127,155and157, the piston rods175are retracted to retract the flap tuckers from extending beneath the ears.

After the ears are folded over the flap tuckers and the side conveyor belt inner runs100B are moved to their transverse spread apart position, the elevating cylinder194raises the elevating plates199,204to lift the filled bag above the lower conveyor belts to have the folded top portion184B abut against the guide plate124to compensate for different bulk densities of the product in filled bags. Prior to the impresser heads257of the subassemblies210,211being lowered, the impresser heads257,254have vacuumly gripped pressure sensitive labels L that have been peeled by the peeler arms231from the webs230. Piston rods235are extended to lower mounts238which lowers the impresser pads254,257of both of the subassemblies210,211. The pads with the labels are lowered such that the pads257press the adjacent end portions188of the labels against the longitudinal opposite ends portions of the side wall fold part184F which through the underlying end portions of fold part187C clamp the end portions of the labels end and fold parts184F,187C against the longitudinal end portions of the center folder157. The longitudinal terminal edge portions126of the fingers127A are sufficiently transversely offset in a direction toward frame member30from edge portion127C so as not to interfere with the downward movement of the pads257or wiper rollers and the fingers do not extend beneath pads254or257. With the longitudinal adjacent end portions188of the labels and folds parts184F,187C clamped against the center folder, the piston rods235continue to extend to further lower the mounts239without any significant lowering of impresser pads257. As a result, the impresser pads254are further lowered together with the piston rods272being extended whereby the rollers273force the ears to be folded down along the adjacent end walls of the bag and wipe the labels off the impresser pads254to extend beneath the ears and adhere to the front and rear bag walls beneath the ears. Thus the labels are of dimensions to extend above product in the bag and downwardly along the ears and in adhered relationship to the front and rear end walls of the bag below the ears. The wiping of the labels against the ears and the end walls of the bag is facilitated by the brackets245pivoting against the action of springs248as the piston rods235,272extended. Prior to the retraction of piston rod235, the application of vacuum to the impresser pads is discontinued.

After the labels are applied to the filled bag, the piston rods141,159are extended to transversely move the plates124,127and157to their maximum spread apart datum position. Thereafter, the elevating plates are lowered so that the filled bag resides on the bottom conveyor assembly belts and the cylinders103are actuated to move the inner runs of the belts to extend transversely more closely adjacent one another than the side guides93,94and to be in abutting relationship to the bag side walls. Further the vacuum is no longer being applied to the impresser pads and the piston rods235,272are retracted so the impresser pads and wiper rollers are elevated and thereafter the conveyor belts are operated to conveyor the filled bag forwardly. Sensors (not shown) may be provided to sense whether or not the ears have been folded and labels applied and if not, the operation is automatically stopped.