Abstract:
A bag-loading machine and a bag-filling machine and combination thereof, the bag-loading machine including bag-carrying frame, a first motor coupled to the bag-carrying frame for moving it between a lower and a higher position, a bag-opening frame, a second motor for moving the bag-opening frame between an away position an a toward position wherein it pulls the front side of a bag away from the rear side while the bag-carrying frame is in its lower position, a blower mounted on the bag-carrying frame for maintaining the front side of the bag away from the rear side, the bag-filling machine including a second blower for blowing the bag to a fully opened position preceding the movement of first and second closed pads on a conveyor trough over the fully opened bag, the first motor thereafter moving the bag-carrying frame to its upper position so that the first and second closed pads are received within the open mouth of the bag, a third motor on the conveyor trough thereafter moving the first pad to clamp the front side of the bag between the first pad and an abutment on the conveyor trough and simultaneously causing the rear side of the bag to be detached from the bag-carrying frame so that it engages the second pad, the first motor thereafter lowering the bag-carrying frame after the rear side of the bag is forced against the second pad, a fourth motor on the conveyor trough for moving a third pad into engagement with the second pad with the rear side of the bag there-between, filling the bag, releasing the filled bag from the conveyor trough, and a control system for effecting the foregoing sequence of operations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/232,932, filed Jan. 19, 1999, is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,891. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved bag-loading machine and to an improved bag-filling machine and to a combination thereof and to an improved method for loading bags onto a carousel-type of bag-filling machine. 
     By way of background, carousel-filling machines are known in the art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709. In the past, bags were manually loaded onto this type of machine while it was rotating. However, insofar as known, there was no efficient way of automatically loading bags onto a rotating carousel-type of bag-filling machine. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved bag-loading machine for automatically loading bags onto a continuously rotating carousel-type of bag-filling machine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a carousel-type of bag-filling machine having improved structure which permits it to be used in conjunction with an automatic bag-loading machine which loads bags onto the carousel-filling machine while the latter continuously rotates. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of automatically loading bags onto a continuously rotating carousel-type of bag-filling machine. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter. 
     The present invention relates to a bag-loading machine comprising a main frame, a bag-carrying frame mounted on said main frame, a bag-opening frame mounted on said main frame, a first motor mounted on said main frame, a first linkage coupling said first motor to said bag-opening frame, a vacuum hose carried by said bag-opening frame, a second motor mounted on said main frame, a second linkage coupled between said second motor and said bag-carrying frame, and a blower mounted on said bag-carrying frame. 
     The present invention also relates to a bag-loading machine as set forth in the preceding paragraph in combination with a bag-filling machine, a bag-filling machine frame on said bag-filling machine, a second blower on said bag-filling machine frame, a movable trough-carrying member on said bag-filling machine frame, a trough on said trough-carrying frame, an air duct coupled relative to said trough, and said air duct being movable with said trough to a position between said second blower and said bag-carrying frame. 
     The present invention also relates to a conveyor trough of a carousel-type of bag-loading machine comprising a trough frame, spaced sides extending upwardly from said trough frame, a conveyor between said spaced sides, inner and outer ends on said trough frame, a first pad fixedly mounted on said outer end of said trough frame, a second pad on said trough frame between said first pad and said inner end of said trough frame, an abutment on said trough frame between said second pad and said inner end of said trough frame, a first motor coupled to said second pad for moving said second pad toward and away from said first pad and into and out of engagement with said abutment, a third pad, and a second motor mounted on said outer end of said trough frame and coupled to said third pad for moving said third pad into and out of engagement with said first pad. 
     The present invention also relates to a carousel-type of bag-filling machine comprising a frame, a plurality of conveyor troughs mounted on said frame, each of said conveyor troughs including a trough frame, spaced sides extending upwardly from said trough frame, a conveyor between said spaced sides, inner and outer ends on said trough frame, a first pad fixedly mounted on said outer end of said trough frame, a second pad on said trough frame between said first pad and said inner end of said trough frame, an abutment on said trough frame between said second pad and said inner end of said trough frame, a first motor coupled to said second pad for moving said second pad toward and away from said first pad and into and out of engagement with said abutment, a third pad, and a second motor mounted on said outer end of said trough frame and coupled to said third pad for moving said third pad into and out of engagement with said first pad. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of loading bags onto a bag-filling machine having a plurality of conveyor troughs mounted on a continuously rotating carousel comprising the steps of mounting an assemblage of bags on a bag-loading machine proximate said carousel, initially opening a bag while it remains mounted on said bag-loading machine, blowing the bag to a fully open condition, raising the fully opened bag as a conveyor trough passes over it, and clamping the opposite sides of the bag to said conveyor trough. 
    
    
     The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in phantom, of a combined produce-weighing, automatic bag-opening and bag-filling machine; 
     FIG. 1A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  1 A— 1 A of FIG.  1  and showing the mounting for the bag-opening blower; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3A is a fragmentary view of the wicket plate taken substantially in the direction of arrows  3 A— 3 A of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3  and showing the mounting of the motor for driving the bag-opening frame toward and away from the bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3  and showing the mounting for the motor for moving the bag-carrying frame between its lower and upper positions; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, taken substantially along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6  and showing the attachment between the bag-filling machine frame and the automatic bag-loading frame; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  6  and showing the connection between the bag-opening frame and its driving motor with the bag-opening frame being in an away position remote from the bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the position of the bag-opening frame when it is in a toward position wherein it contacts the side of a bag which is to be opened; 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, taken substantially along line  12 — 12  of FIG.  6  and showing the linkage between the bag-carrying frame and its driving motor when the bag-carrying frame is in its lower position; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the position of the linkage when the bag-carrying frame is in its upper position; 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  15 — 15  of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a plastic bag of the type which is carried by the bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary schematic side elevational view of the bag-opening frame showing its away position in phantom and showing its toward position wherein the suction tube contacts the short side of a bag mounted on the bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  18 — 18  of FIG.  6  and depicting the bag-carrying frame in its lower position; 
     FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but depicting the bag-carrying frame in its upper position; 
     FIG. 19A is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 19 but showing another embodiment of a bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 19B is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  19 B— 19 B of FIG. 19A; 
     FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of a conveyor trough mounting the bag-clamping mechanism and also showing the blower motor mounted on the main frame of the bag-filling machine; 
     FIG. 20A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  20 A— 20 A of FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 20B is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of a conveyor chute taken substantially in the direction of arrows  20 B— 20 B of FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 20C is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  20 C— 20 C of FIG. 20B; 
     FIG. 20D is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  20 D— 20 D of FIG. 20B; 
     FIG. 21 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveyor trough and bag-clamping mechanism taken substantially in the direction of arrows  21 — 21  of FIG.  20  and showing a portion of the bag-clamping mechanism; 
     FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  22 — 22  of FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 23 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  23 — 23  of FIG.  20  and showing primarily the bag-clamping mechanism in a position for receiving an opened bag mounted on the bag-carrying frame; 
     FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23 but showing a bag clamped onto the outlet of the conveyor trough by the bag-clamping mechanism; 
     FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing the bag-carrying frame in its upper position with the clamping pads of the bag-clamping mechanism located in the open end of the bag; 
     FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing a portion of FIG. 25 with the bag clamped on the conveyor trough by the bag-clamping mechanism; 
     FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG.  26  and showing the clamped opened bag after it has received produce from the conveyor trough; 
     FIG. 28 is a schematic view showing the various relationships between the bag-opening machine and the conveyor troughs on the carousel bag-filling machine and the bag-weighing machine and other related structure; and 
     FIG. 29 is a schematic electrical and pneumatic diagram. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Summarizing briefly in advance, the combined machine  10  of the present invention includes an automatic bag-loading machine  11 , a carousel bagging machine  12  and a produce-weighing and dispensing machine  13 . The automatic bag-loading machine  11  automatically provides opened plastic bags to each of the conveyor troughs  14  of the continuously rotating carousel bagger  12  as they pass by the automatic bag-loading machine  11 . A bag-clamping mechanism, which is described in detail hereafter, associated with each of the conveyor troughs  14 , receives an opened bag from the automatic bag-loading machine and clamps the open bag onto each conveyor trough, and thereafter as each conveyor trough  14  passes underneath hopper  15  of the produce weighing and dispensing machine, one of the doors  17  or  19  of hopper  15  alternately opens to deposit a load of produce, such as potatoes, into the conveyor trough  14  which is then immediately below it. The sections  22  and  23  of hopper  15  receive the potatoes alternately from weighing machines  20  and  21 , respectively. The weighing machines and hopper arrangements  15  are well known in the art and are schematically shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709 which is incorporated herein by reference. However, in its more specific aspects, weighers  20  and  21  alternately dump a weighed amount of potatoes into sections  22  and  23 , respectively, of hopper  15 . Sections  22  and  23  are separated by a partition  24 . Weigher  20  dumps its weighed amount of potatoes into section  22 , and weigher  21  alternately dumps a weighed amount of potatoes into section  23 . As a conveyor trough  14  passes underneath hopper  15 , one of the doors  17  will open to discharge its load into that hopper, and as the next conveyor trough  14  passes underneath hopper  15 , the other door  19  will open to dump its load of produce into that conveyor trough. Each conveyor trough  14  will dump the produce into a bag which is clamped onto the conveyor trough, and, at a predetermined portion of the movement of the carousel, the bag of produce is removed from the carousel. 
     The weighers  20  and  21  are well known in the art and are products, in this particular instance, of the Newtec Manufacturing Company and they are identified by Model No. 2008. The carousel bagger  12  has a carousel rotating mechanism and conveyor drive mechanism which are substantially identical to these structures described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709, which is incorporated herein by reference. More specifically, the carousel and conveyor drive structure is shown in FIGS. 2-5, 5A, 8 and 8A-8E of U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709 and is described between column 4, line 19 to column 5, line 22 and between column 6, line 16 to column 6, line 39 of this patent. Each conveyor trough 14 has a pair of plates 63 a  (FIGS. 20B, 20C, 20D) which mount it on table 38 a  which is mounted on four rollers 43 a  which are mounted on frame 47. A tubular brace 67 a  has its opposite ends welded to plates 63 a . Plates 63 a , table 38 a,  rollers 43 a,  brace 67 a  and frame 47 correspond to plates 63, table 38, rollers 43, brace 67 and frame 39, respectively, of U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709. Bolts 67 b  couple brace 67 a  to table 38 a.  Beams 26 are welded to the top edges of plates 63 a,  and downwardly extending struts 28 are welded to the remote ends of beams 26. The frame portions 125 (FIGS. 20B and 20C) are welded to the lower ends of struts 28. The sides 36 of conveyor troughs 14 have flanges 36′ which are welded to the tops of beams 26. Tubular braces 35′ and 37′ have their opposite ends welded to beams 26. However, as will appear hereafter, the bag-clamping mechanism which is associated with each of the conveyor troughs 14 differs from that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709. The carousel bagger  12  also differs from the carousel bagger disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,555,709 in that it has twelve conveyor troughs 14 rather than the eight conveyor troughs shown in said patent. Additionally, the carousel rotates at about five revolutions per minute and thus the machine is capable of bagging sixty bags of produce per minute. 
     The automatic bag-loading machine  11  (FIGS. 1-15) includes a frame  25  consisting of a pair of spaced horizontal members  27  (FIG. 6) and a pair of vertical posts  29  extending upwardly therefrom. A horizontal strut  30  (FIGS. 2,  4  and  6 ) extends between vertical posts  29 . A plate  31  (FIGS. 4 and 6) has its opposite ends  32  secured across horizontal members  27 . A plate  33  (FIG. 4) has one end welded to plate  31  and its opposite end  34  welded to strut  30 . A pair of extension members  35  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  7 ) are telescopically received in horizontal frame members  27 . A motor  37  with a suitable gear drive is mounted on plate  31  and it has a linear actuator which includes an elongated threaded rod within tube  39  rotated by the gear reducer to cause a nut attached within rod  40  to move rod  40  in and out of tube  39  as required. Rod  40  has its outer end bolted to tab  41  by bolt  42  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). Tab  41  is welded to plate  43  which has its opposite ends  44  welded to the ends of telescoping members  35 . Thus, when motor  37  is actuated, telescoping members  35  can be moved in and out of horizontal members  27  to thereby vary the distance between plate  43  and the operating portions of the automatic bag loading machine  11 , as required, to properly fit the bag-loading machine relative to the carousel bagging machine. Plate  43  is bolted by bolts  49  to frame member  45  (FIGS. 1,  3  and  6 ) of the frame  47  of the carousel bagger  12 . Thus, the automatic bag-loading machine essentially becomes a part of the carousel bagger  12 . However, it can be rolled away from the frame of the carousel bagger  12 , after bolts  49  are unbolted, because it is mounted on rear wheels  50  at the junctions of frame members  27  and  29  and on front wheels  51  which are part of casters secured to the outer ends of telescoping extension members  35 . 
     A bag-carrying frame  52  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6 ,  18 ,  19  and  25 ) is mounted on frame members  29 . More specifically, bag-carrying frame  52  includes spaced arms  53  (FIG. 6) having their inner ends pivotally mounted in bearing structures  54  on frame members  29 . A wicket bar  55  (FIGS. 2,  3 ,  3 A and  6 ) is secured to the ends of arms  53  by bolts  57 . Wicket rods  59  (FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  3 A,  6 ,  18 ,  19  and  25 ) extend rearwardly and upwardly from wicket bar  55 . An assemblage  60  of plastic bags  61  (FIG. 16) is mounted on wicket rods  59 . In this respect each bag  61  has a rear side  62  which has an upper portion  63  which extends upwardly beyond the upper edge  64  of front side  65 . The upper portion  63  has spaced holes  67  which receive the wicket rods  59 . 
     A bag opening frame  69  (FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  6  and  17 ) has spaced parallel vertically extending frame members  70  which have their lower ends secured in spaced relationship on shaft  71 , the opposite ends of which are mounted in bearings  72  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  4  and  6 ) on plate  31 . A plate  73  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  17 ) has its opposite ends bolted across the upper ends of frame members  70  of bag-opening subframe  69 . A tube  74  (FIGS. 3 and 6) extends through plate  73  with its open end  75  facing the bag assemblage  60 . A vacuum hose  77  is in communication with tube  74  and is in communication with a suitable source of vacuum (not shown) which may be a vacuum pump mounted on bag-loading frame  11 . 
     The bag-opening frame  69  is driven toward and away from the bag assemblage  60  by electric motor  79  (FIGS. 1-4,  6  and  8 - 11 ) which includes base members  80  (FIGS. 4,  8  and  10 ) which are bolted to plate  33  by bolts  81 . A crank  82  is mounted on motor shaft  83 , and an adjustable crank arm  84  (FIGS. 8-11) has end  85  pivotally mounted on crank pin  87  and its opposite end  89  pivotally mounted on pin  90  extending outwardly from arm  91  secured to a frame member  70  of bag-opening frame  69 . The central portion  92  of crank arm  84  is threaded so that it essentially constitutes a turnbuckle structure in conjunction with rod ends  85  and  89  to thus adjust the throw of bag-opening frame  69 . 
     A structure is provided on bag-carrying frame  52  for biasing the assemblage  60  of bags  61  toward bag-opening frame  69 . A lever  46  (FIGS. 3,  18  and  19 ) is pivotally mounted at  48  on one of the arms  53  (FIGS. 18,  19  and  6 ), and it has a lower horizontal bar  56  (FIGS. 18,  19 ,  6  and  2 ) which is biased across the rear of bag assemblage  60  by spring  58  which connects the upper portion of lever  46  to vertical post  29 . The positions of lever  46  in the lower and higher positions of bag-carrying frame  53  are shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively. 
     In FIGS. 19A and 19B an alternate and preferred structure is provided for biasing the assemblage of bag  61  toward bag-opening frame  69 . Certain numerals in FIGS. 19A and 19B correspond to structure previously described relative to FIGS. 18 and 19 and therefore these items of structure will not be further described. The embodiment of FIGS. 19A and 19B includes a plastic yoke  52 ′ which straddles wicket rods  59 . A metal plate  53 ′ is attached to yoke  52 ′ by screws  54 ′. A cylindrical weight  55 ′ is mounted on rod  57 ′ which is mounted on plate  53 ′, and the end of rod  57 ′ bears against flexible resilient plate  59 ′, the lower end  60 ′ of which bears against bag assemblage  60 . 
     The operation of the various parts of the entire system is controlled by programmable logic controller  94  (FIG. 29) (hereafter PLC) which is energized when switch  96  is closed. Thereafter, a circuit is completed through PLC  94  to bag-carrying frame motor  104  (FIGS. 1-3,  5 ,  6 ,  12 - 15  and  29 ) to cause the bag-carrying frame  52  to be in its lower position. Once this has been accomplished, the bag-loading procedure may commence, as described hereafter. 
     At the beginning of a bag-opening cycle and while the carousel bagger  12  is rotating, the bag-opening frame  69  is in an away position of FIGS. 3 and 6, and the bag-carrying frame  52  is in its lower position of FIGS. 3 and 18. A proximity switch  93  (FIGS. 3,  23 ,  24 ,  28  and  29 ) is mounted on the frame  47  of the carousel bagger  12 , and when the head of adjustable metal screw  86  mounted on a strut  117 ′ (FIGS. 20B,  20 C and  23 ) of each conveyor trough  14  passes in proximity thereto, switch  93  will close to complete a circuit to PLC  94  to thereby cause the PLC  94  to internally complete a circuit to bag-opening frame motor  79 . This will energize motor  79  to rotate its shaft  83  360° from its position in FIG. 8 back to its position in FIG. 8 where it will stop because proximity switch  97  will cause PLC  94  to open a circuit to motor  79 , which is of the type which has an internal braking system which causes it to stop at the precise position where frame  69  is in its farthest position away from the bag-carrying frame  52 . Motor  79  is of the type which is manufactured by SEW Eurodrive and is Model No. R32DT71D4BM. When the bag-opening frame  69  is at its midway 180° position it will occupy the position of FIG. 10, and at this time the open end  75  of tube  74  will engage the short side  65  of plastic bag  61  and pull it away from its rear side  62 . The total time required for the 360° rotation of the motor shaft  83  is approximately 0.28 seconds. Thus, at this point the front side  65  of the bag  61  is pulled away so that the bag is partially opened while its rear side  62  remains mounted on the wicket rods  59 . 
     A blower  99  produces a current of air which blows into bag  61 , at this point, to retain the short side  65  away from the rear side  62 . Blower  99  is mounted on frame  100 . More specifically, legs  101  (FIG. 6) of frame  100  have their lower ends bolted at  106  to sides  53  of bag-carrying frame  52 , and blower  99  is mounted on plates  102  (FIG. 6) which are secured to bars  98  (FIGS. 3 and 6) which extend outwardly from bar  108  (FIGS. 2 and 6) which extends across the upper ends of legs  101 . 
     As the carousel  12  continues to rotate a conveyor trough  14  toward a position over an open bag  61 , a second continuously operating blower  129  (FIGS. 1,  1 A,  2 ,  3  and  20 ), which is driven by an electric motor, blows air into bag  61  to blow it to a fully open position. Blower  129  is mounted on horizontal frame member  130  (FIGS. 1A and 2) of main frame  131  which mounts the produce-weighing and dispensing machine  13 . In this respect, main frame  131  includes two legs  132  and two legs  133 . Frame member  130  is located at the upper ends of legs  133  (FIG.  2 ). In its more specific aspects, blower  129  is suitably mounted on a plate  134  (FIG. 1A) which is bolted by bolts  134 ′ to frame member  130 . Blower  129  is actually mounted on plate  136  which is attached to sleeves  135  (FIGS. 1A,  2  and  20 ) which are movable to adjusted positions on spaced bars  137  mounted on plate  134  and retained in position by set screws  138 . 
     As the conveyor trough continues its rotation, blower  129  directs its air into a duct  140  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  20  and  21 ) which is mounted at its upper end on plate  142 . The duct  140  has an open upper end  141  which is flush with plate  142 , the opposite edges of which are bolted to flanges  150  of adjacent conveyor troughs  14  by bolts  151  (FIG.  21 ). A clear plastic plate  143  (FIGS. 20,  21 ,  23  and  24 ) has a flange  144  which is bolted to plastic flap  145  of conveyor trough  14  by a plurality of bolts  147 . The edges  149  of plate  143  are bolted to flanges  150  (FIG. 20) of conveyor trough  14  by bolts  151 . Blower  129  has an outlet  152  (FIG.  20 ), and the open end  141  of duct  140  passes underneath blower outlet  152  as the carousel rotates. Thus, a stream of air produced by blower  129  will pass into duct  140  and the lower open end  153  of duct  140  (FIGS. 3 and 20) will direct this air into the opened bag  61  to inflate it to a fully opened condition with short side  65  of the bag away from rear side  62  preparatory to clamping the bag to the conveyor trough  14 . Blower  129  operates continuously, and plates  143  and  141  prevent its air stream from being directed toward bag  61  except through duct  140 . At this point, it is to be again noted that each conveyor trough  14  has a plate  143  thereon and that a plate  142  extends between each pair of adjacent conveyor troughs  14  and has its opposite edges secured to flanges  150  by bolts  151  (FIGS.  20  and  21 ). 
     The carousel rotates in the direction of arrow  154  in FIGS. 20 and 28. Thus, the air from duct  140  will be applied to the opened bag  61  before the clamping pads  112  and  113 , which are in a back-to-back closed condition on the conveyor trough  14 , reach the opened bag  61 . The air from duct  140  will thus maintain the bag  61  in a fully blown open condition. The carousel, in its rotation, will move the conveyor trough  14  to a position wherein it approaches alignment with the automatic bag-loading machine  11 . As the carousel reaches a position wherein the closed pads  112  and  113  reach the initial portion of the open mouth of bag  61 , and while the carousel continues to rotate, a timer circuit within PLC  94  will complete an internal circuit therein a predetermined time after proximity switch  93  has been actuated by metal screw  87  on that conveyor trough, and this will energize motor  104  to cause bag-carrying frame  52  to rise from its lower position of FIG. 18 to its upper position of FIG. 19 to thereby receive closed pads  112  and  113  within the mouth of open bag  61 . More specifically, the PLC  94  closes a switch therein to bag-carrying frame motor  104  (FIGS. 1-3,  5  and  12 - 15 ) which is mounted on plate  105 ′ secured to the outer end of arm  105  (FIG. 5) extending outwardly from frame member  29 . A crank  107  (FIGS. 12-15) is secured to shaft  109  of motor  104 , and proximity switches  110  and  111  are mounted on brackets secured to motor  104 . Crank  107  is connected to one end  106  of arm  108  and the other end  106 ′ of arm  108  is connected to an arm  53  of bag-carrying frame  52  through slotted plate  116  (FIGS. 3,  12  and  14 ). A clamping member  108 ′ has a central portion  109 ′ which extends through slot  116 ′ in plate  116 , and the clamping of central portion  109 ′ in a desired position in slot  116 ′ will determine the fine limit of movement of bag-carrying frame  52 . The coarse limits of movement can be adjusted by threading arm  108  relative to arm ends  106  and  1061 . When the open bag reaches the above-noted position wherein the leading portion of its open mouth receives closed pads  112  and  113  mounted on the underside of conveyor trough  14 , the PLC will close its internal switch to thereby complete a circuit to motor  104  to thereby cause crank  107  to move from its lower position of FIG. 12 to its upper position of FIG.  14  and stop for a predetermined period of time, namely, approximately 0.14 seconds to thereby cause the open mouth of the bag  61  to receive closed pads  112  and  113  (FIG.  23 ). The stopping of motor  104  in its 180° position is due to the fact that proximity switch  110  causes PLC  94  to terminate the flow of current to motor  104 , and the internal braking system associated with motor  104  will cause it to stop. Motor  104  is of the same type noted above relative to motor  79 . While the carousel continues to rotate and while the bag-carrying frame  52  is in its upper position, pad  113  immediately thereafter is caused to move from its closed position of FIGS. 23 and 25 to its open position of FIGS. 24 and 26 away from stationary pad  112 , as explained in detail hereafter. 
     The carousel bagger  12  includes a pneumatic circuit (FIG. 29) which causes pad  113  to move rearwardly to clamp bag front side  65  between it and abutment  117  on bar  118  (FIG. 24) of the conveyor trough  14 . Bar  118  extends between supports  117 ′ (FIGS. 20,  20 B,  20 C,  21  and  22 ) which are welded to the undersides of frame portions  125 . A predetermined time after proximity switch  93  has been actuated, the PLC  94  also momentarily energizes four-way valve  200  mounted on the frame of the carousel bagger  12  to route compressed air from conduit  201  leading from a compressor  198  (FIG. 28) mounted on the frame  47  of the carousel bagger  12 , to chamber  206  of pneumatic cylinder  202 , mounted on the frame  47  of the carousel bagger  12 , to thereby momentarily raise piston  203  to cause pad  204  mounted thereon to actuate air switch  205  mounted on conveyor trough  14  as it rotates relative thereto. The position of valve  200  in FIG. 29 is its actuated position. However, it is normally in its other position under the bias of spring  200 ′ so that after valve  200  has been momentarily actuated, it returns to its other position wherein the flow of compressed air from conduit  201  routes air to chamber  208  of cylinder  202  to thereby draw pad  204  downwardly. The momentary actuation of switch  205  will route compressed air from conduit  205 ′ to chamber  207 ′ of four-way valve  207  to cause piston  208 ′ to move valve  207  to route compressed air to chamber  113 ′ of pneumatic cylinder or motor  114  mounted on bar  114 ′ (FIGS.  21 - 24 ), which has its opposite ends welded to frame portions  125  (FIG.  20 C), to drive piston  116  in the direction of arrow  115  (FIG. 23) to in turn drive pad  113  mounted on the end thereof toward abutment  117  mounted on frame member  118  of the conveyor trough with bag side  65  therebetween. 
     The foregoing action will cause movable pad  113  to clamp the short side  65  of bag  61  against abutment  117  mounted on frame member  118  on the underside of conveyor trough  14 . Pad  113  is guided for rectilinear movement by rods  119  (FIG. 22) which have ends  120  (FIG. 22) secured to the sides of pads  113  and which have their central portions guided through sleeves  121  mounted on bar  114 ′ of the frame of the conveyor trough  14 . Pad  112  is mounted on plate  168  which is mounted on bar  122  which is a portion of C-shaped subframe  123  having legs  124  (FIG. 22) which telescope into frame portions  125  so that the position of pad  112  can be adjusted relative to stationary pad  117  for different sizes of plastic bags and held in an adjusted position by screws  127 . 
     During the foregoing movement of pad  113  into engagement with abutment  117 , the rear side  62  of bag  61  will be ripped from wicket rods  59  because its upper portion  63  (FIG. 16) has slits  157  which extend downwardly to within one-eighth inch of wicket mounting holes  67 , and these one-eight inch portions will be severed so that the rear bag side  62  with its extension  63  will be torn from wicket rods  59 . Thereafter, the rear side  62  of bag  61  will be forced against stationary pad  112 , as depicted in FIG.  26 . At this time, immediately after the bag  61  has been fully removed from the bag assemblage  60 , and while the conveyor trough  14  continues its rotation, the PLC  94  actuated motor  104  will cause crank  107  to return to its original position and thus return bag-carrying frame  52  to its lower position of FIG. 18 from its upper position of FIG.  19 . The bag-carrying frame  52  will stop in its lower position because proximity switch III will cause PLC  94  to terminate the flow of current to motor  104 , and the internal braking of motor  104  will cause it to stop in its precise lowermost position. 
     After the bag-carrying frame  52  has been lowered and as the conveyor trough  14  continues its rotation, clamping arm  160  (FIGS. 3,  20 ,  21   23  and  24 ) will be actuated to drive clamping pad  161  into engagement with stationary pad  112  with the upper edge  162  (FIG. 24) of bag side  62  therebetween. More specifically, clamping arm  160  consists of two arms  163  (FIGS. 20,  20 A,  21 ,  23  and  24 ) which have their ends pivotally mounted at  164  on tabs  165  (FIGS. 20A,  21  and  23 ) extending outwardly from bar  167  mounted on plate  168  which is secured to bar  122  of conveyor trough  14 . The opposite ends of arms  163  are welded to pad  161  at  169  (FIG.  21 ). The arm  160  is moved between its unclamping position of FIG. 23 to its clamping position of FIG. 24 by pneumatic cylinder or motor  170  which has its upper end pivotally mounted at  171  on link  172 , the lower end of which is welded at  173  to the side of tab  165  which is welded to bar  167  (FIG.  20 A). The pneumatic motor  170  is caused to move from its position of FIG. 23 to its position of FIG. 24 immediately after bag-carrying frame  52  moves to its lower position, and the clamping is complete before the clamped bag reaches its position underneath hopper  115 . 
     In order to effect the foregoing movement which clamps the rear side  62  of bag  61  between pad  112  on plate  168  and pad  161 , the pneumatic circuit operates in the following manner. A pneumatic switch  209  (FIGS. 20B,  20 C,  20 D and  29 ) is mounted on the frame of the conveyor trough  14 , and when rod  119  moves to a position wherein pad  113  clamps the front side  65  of bag  61  to abutment  117 , the end of rod  119  will actuate switch  209  (FIG. 20C) mounted on conveyor trough  14  which will route compressed air from conduit  210  to chamber  210 ′ of pneumatic cylinder  170  to thereby drive piston  176 , which is pivotally mounted to pin  176 ′ (FIGS. 20A and 21) which extends between arms  163 , downwardly to effect the clamping of bag side  65  between pads  161  and  112 ,as noted above. At the same time, the chamber  211  of cylinder  170  will be exhausted through conduit  212 , tee  213 , conduit  216 ′ and four-way valve  207 . 
     As the conveyor trough  14  continues its rotation beyond the bag-mounting operation described above, an electric eye  215  (FIGS. 1 and 28) mounted on the frame of the bagger  12  will detect if a bag  61  is properly hung on the conveyor trough  14 , and, if it is, the proximity switch  93 , by detecting the position of a conveyor trough then passing It in combination with the signal from electric eye  215 , will indirectly be sensing the position of another conveyor trough  14  relative the hopper  15 , and the PLC will cause the hopper  15  to release a load of produce. If the electric eye does not detect that a bag is properly hung on a conveyor trough, hopper  15  will not release a load of produce. 
     After the produce  177  has been loaded into a bag  61 , as described above, the carousel bagger  12  continues its rotation, and four-way valve  207  is reset in the following manner. An air switch  214  (FIGS. 20B,  20 C and  29 ), which is mounted on each conveyor trough  14 , will be triggered by engaging a protrusion  217  (FIGS. 28 and 29) on the frame  47  of the bagger  12  to thereby momentarily route air to chamber  214 ′ of four-way valve  207  and cause piston  218 ′ to reset valve  207 . Protrusion  217  is located 180° from hopper  15 . After four-way valve  207  has been reset, compressed air will be routed to chamber  215 ′ of cylinder  114  and chamber  113 ′ will be exhausted through conduit  217 ′ so that cylinder  114  will return pad  113  back to a position adjacent stationary pad  112 , and the accompanying movement of rod  119  will release air switch  209 , and thus air can be routed from four-way valve  207  to conduit  216 ′ and tee  213  and through conduit  212  to chamber  211  of cylinder  170  to thereby raise pad arm  160  to its position of FIG.  23 . Chamber  210 ′ of cylinder  170  is vented through conduit  210  and valve  209 , which is vented when it is not actuated by rod  119 . Valves  205  and  214  are also vented when they are not actuated. The four-way valve  200  is spring-biased by spring  200 ′ to a position wherein the air flow therethrough maintains piston  203  of cylinder  202  in a down position wherein pad  204  is not in a position to actuate air switch  205 . As noted above, the actuation of four-way valve  200  by PLC  94  is only momentary. Therefore, once four-way valve  207  has been shifted by the air switch  205 , as explained above, it remains in a thus shifted position until it is shifted back to its other position by air switch  214 , as also explained above. 
     A loaded bag  61  is released after the above-described bag clamping structure has been returned to a position for receiving another bag. The released bag  61  can then be handled in any desired manner by commercially available units which may seal the top of the bag and convey it away from the carousel bagger  12 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.