Abstract:
A carousel bagger including a plurality of troughs each having sides fixed to a rotatable table with a pivotable bottom wall pivoted from a lower product-receiving position to a higher product-dumping position in response to actuation by a linkage running on a cam track as the table rotates. The bottom wall has two longitudinal sections with an obtuse angle therebetween which tends to cause the product to travel in a single file to thereby avoid bridging. The trough dumps product through combined chute and bag-clamping members having sides with outwardly flared upper portions which also tends to avoid bridging.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a carousel bagger with chutes having tiltable bottom walls.  
           [0004]    By way of background, there are in existence numerous types of carousel baggers. However, various types of carousel baggers were either relatively complicated and expensive or they required complex mechanisms associated with their troughs for the purpose of conveying the product to associated bags.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved carousel bagger which is relatively simple in construction.  
           [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved carousel bagger having a simple and efficient trough construction.  
           [0007]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a carousel bagger having a trough construction which tends to align the product being bagged so that it flows smoothly into an associated bag.  
           [0008]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved carousel bagger having changeable trough configurations to suit different types of products being bagged.  
           [0009]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved carousel bagger having improved combined chute and bag-clamping members for supporting a bag which receives product. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily perceived hereafter.  
           [0010]    The present invention relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs, side walls on said troughs fixedly mounted on said table, inner and outer ends on said troughs, a bottom wall in each of said troughs, a pivotal mounting securing each of said bottom walls relative to said side walls proximate said outer ends of each of said troughs, a cam track, and a linkage between said cam track and each of said bottom walls for pivoting said bottom walls about said pivotal mounting.  
           [0011]    The present invention also relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs mounted on said table, inner and outer ends on said troughs, side walls on said troughs, a bottom wall in each of said troughs, a pivotal mounting securing each of said bottom walls proximate said outer ends of each of said troughs, a cam track, and a linkage between said cam track and each of said bottom walls for pivoting said bottom walls about said pivotal mounting, said bottom wall comprising two elongated sections which are at an angle to each other longitudinally of said bottom wall.  
           [0012]    The present invention also relates to a bottom wall for a trough having a length and a width, first and second sections on said bottom wall extending lengthwise thereof, and an angle between said first section and said second section.  
           [0013]    The present invention also relates to an improvement in a bagger having a trough, spaced outer bag-clamping members, and a linkage mounting movable first and second combined chute and bag-clamping members within said spaced outer bag-clamping members, the improvement comprising first and second lower substantially vertical side portions on said first and second combined chute and bag-clamping members, and an outwardly inclined upper portion on at least one of said first and second lower substantially vertical side portions.  
           [0014]    The present invention also relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs, side walls on said troughs fixedly mounted on said table, a bottom wall in each of said troughs, and a pivotal mounting securing each of said bottom walls relative to said side walls.  
           [0015]    The present invention also relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs mounted on said table, a bottom wall on each of said troughs, a pivotal mounting securing each of said bottom walls relative to said side walls, a cam track having an entry portion, a linkage between said cam track and each of said bottom walls for pivoting said bottom walls about said pivotal mounting, and a wheel proximate said entry portion.  
           [0016]    The present invention also relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs, side walls on said troughs fixedly mounted on said table, a bottom wall in each of said troughs, a pivotal mounting securing each of said bottom walls relative to said side walls, spaced outer bag-clamping members, movable first and second inner combined chute and bag-clamping members located within said first and second outer bag-clamping members, and first and second opposed chute sides on said first and second inner combined chute and bag-clamping members.  
           [0017]    The present invention also relates to a carousel bagger comprising a frame, a rotatable table mounted on said frame, a plurality of troughs, side walls on said troughs, bottom walls on said troughs, a pivotal mounting securing each bottom wall relative to said side walls, a cam track, a linkage between said cam track and said bottom wall for pivoting said bottom wall about said pivotal mounting, and a bump-providing member secured to said cam track.  
           [0018]    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  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved carousel bagger of the present invention taken substantially in the direction of arrows  1 - 1  of FIG. 2 with certain parts omitted and also showing in phantom the weighing machine associated therewith;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 with certain parts omitted;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2A is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the conduit for conducting compressed air to the carousel;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 2 and showing a side elevational view of the produce-receiving trough;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  3 A- 3 A of FIG. 3;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3B is a fragmentary enlarged portion of FIG. 3;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the trough and related structure taken substantially in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a partially broken away end elevational view of the trough showing the raising and lowering mechanism and taken substantially in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  of FIG. 3;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5A is a fragmentary view of the roller mounting structure at the upper end of the trough raising and lowering mechanism;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure for adjusting the stationery pads of the bag clamping structure;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  7 - 7  of FIG. 6;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the combined movable chute and pad members;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the structure for adjusting the position of the end surface of the trough for accommodating bags of different sizes;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 3 and showing the linkage for moving the combined movable pads and chutes;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 11 and showing the support structure for the movable linkage which mounts the combined chute and pads;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  13 - 13  of FIG. 11 and showing a partially broken away bag in position prior to being clamped;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  14 - 14  of FIG. 10 and showing the clamp actuating valve structure including its actuating lever;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the bag clamping pads in position for clamping the opposite sides of a bag;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 16 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  16 - 16  of FIG. 15 and showing a partially broken away bag clamped between the clamping pads;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 17 is an end elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  17 - 17  of FIG. 2 and showing a bag in clamped position and the electric eye structure for determining whether a bag has been loaded and the electric eye structure for opening the hopper which dumps produce into the trough;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 18 is a partially broken away view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  18 - 18  of FIG. 2 and showing produce being dumped into the hopper from the weigher;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 19 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  19 - 19  of FIG. 2 and showing the relationship between the hopper and the trough with the bottom wall of the trough being in its lowest position;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 but showing produce being dumped into the chute when the bottom wall of the trough is in its lowermost position;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 21 is a fragmentary partially broken away view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  21 - 21  of FIG. 20;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  22 - 22  of FIG. 21 and showing produce on both portions of the bottom of the trough;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 22A is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  22 A- 22 A of FIG. 22 and showing schematically the path of produce on the two sections of the bottom of the trough;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 23 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the produce which is conducted by the chute at the end of the trough leading to the clamped bag;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 24 is a view showing produce being dumped into the clamped bag as the bottom of the trough is being lifted by linkage which runs along the cam track;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 25 is a partially broken away side elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  25 - 25  of FIG. 24;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 26 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 24 but showing a bumping member mounted on the cam track to provide a jiggling action to the bottom wall of the trough;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 27 is a partially broken away side elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  27 - 27  of FIG. 26;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 28 is a view taken in the direction of arrows  28 - 28  of FIG. 1 and showing the loaded bag after the trough leaves the cam track and the bottom of the trough returns to its lowermost position;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 29 is a fragmentary enlarged portion of FIG. 28 showing the manual clamp release;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 30 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing the combined chute and clamping members returned to their bag loading position with the loaded bag being released;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 31 is a fragmentary view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  31 - 31  of FIG. 2 and showing the automatic bag release control;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 31A is a fragmentary enlarged portion of FIG. 31;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a trough-modifying member which can be mounted on the bottom wall of the trough to confine small items into a more aligned path for loading into a smaller diameter bag;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the bottom wall of the trough;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 33A is a perspective view showing the trough of FIG. 33 with a trough-modifying member which can be selectively mounted on the bottom wall of the trough to modify its produce-conducting characteristic;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 34 is a fragmentary view showing structure for adjusting the height of the carousel frame;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 35A is a fragmentary side elevational view of one form of cam track;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 35B is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  35 B- 35 B of FIG. 35A;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 35C is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  35 C- 35 C of FIG. 35B;  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 36A is a fragmentary side elevational view of another form of cam track;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 36B is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  36 B- 36 B of FIG. 36A;  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 36C is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  36 C- 36 C of FIG. 36B;  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 37 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an adjustable wheel associated with the cam track for providing a jiggling action;  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 38 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a trough in relation to the wheel of FIG. 37;  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 39 is a view taken substantially in the direction of arrows  39 - 39  of FIG. 38;  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 40 is a schematic view of the compressed air system for actuating the various pneumatic devices;  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 41 is a schematic view showing a portion of the pneumatic system; and  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit for opening the hopper only when the hopper is full and a bag is hung on the trough and the trough is directly under the hopper. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0072]    The improved carousel bagger  10  of the present invention is associated with a multi-bay weigher  11  (FIGS. 1, 2 and  18 - 21 ) which periodically opens a computer-selected number of its bays  11   a,    11   b,    11   c,    11   d,    11   g  . . . etc. (FIG. 18) to provide a predetermined weight of produce, such as potatoes, to a hopper  12  which will be described in detail hereafter. The weigher  11 , in this instance, is one which is manufactured by Newtec of Denmark.  
         [0073]    The carousel bagger  10  includes eight troughs  13  mounted on a rotating table top  14  which is mounted on frame  15  having four legs  17  (FIGS. 2, 35C,  36 C) which mount a horizontal square frame portion  19  having four sides each mounting a roller  20 . Rotatable table  14  rests on rollers  20  and it is driven by a motor  21  having a chain drive  22  to shaft  23  which is keyed to rotatable table  14 . Suitable bearings, not shown, are provided for shaft  23 . The structure of frame  15 , rotatable table  14  and associated structure is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709 which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0074]    Each trough  13  includes opposed vertical sides  24  which have outwardly flared upper portions  27 . Sides  24  (FIG. 3A) have flanges  31  at their lower ends which are bolted to tubular frame members  30 . The ends of tubular members  30  are welded to upstanding plates  32  (FIG. 3) which are welded to tubular cross member  33  (FIGS. 3, 11 and  15 ) which is bolted to rotatable table  14  by bolts  36 ′. A pair of tubular struts  34  (FIGS. 3 and 3A) extend between tubular members  30  in the same manner as tubular struts  66  of FIG. 8D of U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,709.  
         [0075]    The trough  13  also includes a bottom wall  35  (FIGS. 21, 22,  22 A,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  33  and  39 ). Bottom wall  35  includes a planar underplate  36  (FIG. 22) which extends for the entire length of trough  13 . A shaft  37  is welded to the underside of underplate  36 . The opposite ends of shaft  37  are pivotally mounted in bearings  39  (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are mounted on plates  40  welded to tubular members  41 ′ (FIG. 3B) telescopically positioned within tubular members  30  and retained in position by a set screw  42  (FIGS. 3 and 3B). Bottom wall  35  also includes two sections  41  and  42  which extend lengthwise of bottom wall  35  (FIGS. 22, 22A,  33  and  38 ) and which have an upstanding planar back  43  at their inner ends, namely, the end closest to the center of table  14 . An obtuse angle (FIG. 22) extends between sections  41  and  42 . However, for certain types of produce or other products, the angle between sections  41  and  42  may be a right angle or even an acute angle. A downwardly extending lip  44  (FIG. 33A) is located at the outer end of plate  36  and is essentially a continuation of section  42 . A triangular plate  38  closes the space between bottom wall section  41  and plate  36 . Also, a plate  46  (FIG. 22) extends between the edge of plate  36  and the top edge of section  41  for the entire length of underplate  36 .  
         [0076]    Structure is provided for moving the bottom wall  35  between a lowermost position, such as shown in FIG. 21, to an uppermost position, such as shown in FIG. 27, so that produce which is dumped on the bottom wall  35  in the lowermost position of FIG. 21 can be routed into a bag as the produce travels downwardly as the bottom wall  35  moves to its uppermost position of FIG. 27 through the intermediate positions between those of FIGS. 21 and 27, as described hereafter. The fact that the bottom wall  35  can pivot relative to the fixed side walls  24  of the trough  13  results in loosening any product which may have bridges between the side walls. In this respect, a cam track  47  (FIGS. 1, 2,  24 ,  35 A,  35 B and  35 C) is affixed to frame legs  17  by struts  49 . A transparent shield  50  is affixed to cam track  47  by a plurality of bolts  48  (FIG. 1). A cam follower arrangement  51  follows cam track  47  as the table  14  rotates. There is a cam follower arrangement associated with each trough  13 . The cam follower arrangement includes a shaft  52  (FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 ) having a roller  53  journaled in bracket  54  mounted at the lower end of shaft  52 . Shaft  52  is guided for vertical movement in bearings  55  which are mounted in bracket  57  having its upper end welded to strut  34  (FIG. 3). A horizontally oriented elongated roller  59  (FIGS. 5, 5A,  19 ,  20 ,  25  and  27 ) is journaled in bracket  60  at the other upper end of shaft  51 . A spring  62  is positioned between upper bearing  50  and bracket  60 . Shaft  52  can rotate in bearings  55  so as to assume a square underlying relationship with planar plate  36  under bottom wall  35 . As the trough raising and lowering structure follows the cam track during rotation of the table  14 , the bottom wall  35  of the trough  13  will be raised and lowered. In this respect, as noted above, it receives the produce at a lowermost position  21  and raises the bottom wall  35  to the degree dictated by the contour of the cam track  47 .  
         [0077]    [0077]FIGS. 36A, 36B and  36 C show a cam track  47 ′ having a different contour as this may be desirable for different types of product. While not shown in the drawings, cam tracks, such as  47  and  47 ′, may be selectively mountable and removable from struts  49  to thereby provide for optimum operation with different types of products. Also cam tracks can be contoured to meet the optimum trough-conveying characteristics of any specific product.  
         [0078]    There are additional structures which can be appended to the cam tracks in order to enhance the process of bagging the products. In this respect, a wheel  64  (FIGS. 2, 37,  38  and  39 ) is rotatably mounted on column  65  which is telescopically received in base  67  secured to frame member  69  which extends outwardly from frame  15 . Wheel  64  is adjacent the entry portion of cam track  47 . A circular shield  70  (FIGS. 38 and 39) may be mounted on the outer end of the shaft of wheel  64 . A set screw arrangement  71  is utilized to lock column  65  at any desired height. As can be visualized from FIG. 38, the roller  35  rides over wheel  64  as the trough  13  moves to the right. The trough  13  is at or near a lowermost position when it receives the produce from the hopper  12 . As the roller  53  traverses wheel  64 , the bottom wall  35  will move up to effect a quick initial dumping of produce. Also, depending on the height of wheel  64 , the roller  53  may experience a bump as it passes from wheel  64  onto cam track  47 , thereby jarring the produce on bottom wall  35 . Thereafter, the bottom wall  35  will rise gradually as roller  53  traverses the cam track to effect a more gradual dumping of the remaining produce from the trough. In FIG. 26 another arrangement is shown for providing a bump as the roller  53  traverses cam track  47 . This bump-providing device is in the form of a triangular frame  72  which may be secured to cam track  47  by clamps or the like so as to provide a bump at any desired portion of the cam track, and a bump of this type would tend to jar loose produce which might otherwise tend to become jammed on bottom plate  35 . It will be appreciated that the bump provider can take other configurations than triangular.  
         [0079]    A bag clamping and releasing structure is associated with each trough  13 . This mechanism includes two adjustable stationary clamping pads  75  (FIGS. 4, 6,  7 ,  11 ,  13  and  16 ) which are mounted on rods  77  having apertures  81  and which are slidably mounted in tubular members  79  and retained in an adjusted position by set screws  80  which enter apertures  81 . Tubular members  79  are pivotally mounted on frame members  82  by brackets  83  (FIGS. 7 and 11) which are secured to member  82  by bolts  84 . As can be visualized from FIGS. 6 and 7, the distance between pads  75  and the orientation of each pad  75  can be adjusted by moving tubular members  77  in and out of tubular members  79  and by pivoting brackets  83  about the axes of bolts  84  and thereafter tightening bolts  84 . Frame members  82  are welded to the bottom of members  85  (FIG. 3). The opposite ends of tubular member  87  (FIG. 11) are welded to the lower ends of tubular members  85  (FIG. 3) at the ends of tubular members  82  (FIGS. 3 and 11). The central portions of members  85  are connected to tubular members  30  (FIG. 5) by horizontal tubular members  89 .  
         [0080]    The bag clamping and releasing structure also includes movable combined chute and bag-clamping members  90  and  91  (FIGS. 3, 4,  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  13  and  15 ). Combined chute and bag-clamping members  90  and  91  (FIG. 13) include vertical sides  92  and  93 , respectively, mounting on their outer sides pads  94  and  95 , respectively. The upper portions of sides  92  and  93  are unevenly inclined as shown at  97  and  99 , respectively. The movable combined chute and bag-clamping members  90  and  91  are mounted on the frame of the bagger  10  in the following manner (FIGS. 4, 8,  9 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  15 ). The outer sides  100  and  101  (FIG. 13) of members  90  and  91 , respectively, have plates  102  and  103  welded thereto (FIGS. 8, 9 and  13 ). Plates  102  and  103  are pivotally mounted on the outer ends of links  104  and  105 , respectively, by bolts  107  and  109 , respectively (FIGS. 8 and 9). Thus, the outer sides of clamping members  90  and  91  can be adjusted to be parallel to fixed clamps  75 , as required. The inner ends of links  104  and  105  are pivotally mounted at  110  and  111  (FIGS. 11 and 15), respectively, on plate  112  which is welded to and extends between plates  32  (FIGS. 3 and 11). A pneumatic cylinder  113  (FIGS. 3, 11 and  15 ) has its end pivotally mounted at  114  on arm  115  which is welded to link  104 . The piston rod  117  of cylinder  113  has its outer end pivotally mounted at  119  on the outer end of member  120  which is welded to and extends outwardly from link  105 . As will become apparent hereafter, cylinder  113  is pneumatically actuated between two positions, namely, the position of FIG. 11 wherein the combined chute and clamping members  90 ,  91  are together (FIGS. 11 and 13) and the position wherein they are apart and in engagement with stationary clamping members  75  (FIG. 15). During the movement of links  104  and  105  between the positions of FIGS. 11 and 15, they are guided between plastic strips  120  and  121  (FIG. 12) which are mounted on tubular members  87  and  123 , respectively. Tubular member  87  has its opposite ends welded to the lowermost portions of tubular members  85  (FIGS. 3 and 12) and tubular member  123  is bolted at  124  to members  85 .  
         [0081]    The movement of the combined chute and clamping members  90 ,  91  from the closed position of FIG. 11 to the open position of FIG. 15 is controlled by a pneumatic switch  122  (FIGS. 3, 4,  14  and  40 ) which is mounted on perforated metal strip  124  which is pivotally mounted at  125  on cross member  127  (FIG. 4) which has its opposite ends welded to tubular members  129  which are telescopically received in tubular members  130  which are welded to the upper ends of tubular members  85  (FIGS. 3 and 4). One tubular member  129  has apertures  131  therein and members  129  can be moved to different positions relative to tubular members  130  and retained therein by set screw  132  which exists only on one of the tubular members  130  and is received in a selected aperture. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the position of strip  124  and pneumatic switch  122  thereon can be adjusted toward and away from the trough  13 , and the angle of strip  124  can be adjusted to any desired position so as to place the lever  133  (FIG. 14) associated with switch  122  at any convenient location for access by the person loading the bags.  
         [0082]    The above-described clamping structure exclusive of the combined chute and clamping members  90 ,  91  is not novel.  
         [0083]    The bags are loaded onto each trough  13  in the following manner. A person is located at a position where the bag-loading mechanism, namely, the combined chute and clamp members  90  and  91  are in the orientations of FIGS. 4 and 11, that is, together. This position can be anywhere after a preceding filled bag has been unloaded, namely, anywhere between the three o&#39;clock and twelve o&#39;clock positions of FIG. 1. The operator takes an open bag and slips it up around the closed combined chute and clamp members  90  and  91  (FIG. 13) such that the upper edges of the bag  135  lie between the stationary pads  75  and the movable pads  94  and  95  on combined clamp and chute members  90  and  91 , respectively. The operator then pulls the bag forwardly toward him, that is, to the right in FIG. 3. He then trips lever  133  on valve  122  from the solid to the dotted line position in FIG. 14 which will then admit air to cylinder  113  (FIG. 11) so that the cylinder will push piston rod  117  outwardly to cause the links  104  and  105  to pivot from the position of FIG. 11 to the position of FIG. 15, thereby moving combined chute and clamp members  90  and  91  outwardly to the position of FIG. 15 and into engagement with stationary clamps  75  to thereby clamp the other upper edges of bag  135  therebetween. This is all done while the carousel is rotating.  
         [0084]    At this point it is to be noted that compressed air is supplied to valve  122  in the following manner. There is a compressed air source  136  (FIG. 40) external of the carousel bagger  10 . A conduit  137  (FIG. 2) has one end immovably secured to the weigher  11 , and it is in communication with the external source of compressed air. The compressed air passes through conduit  137  into conduit  139  (FIGS. 2 and 2A) and through a fluid tight rotary coupling  140  which is mounted between stationary conduit  139  and conduit  141  mounted on column  143  for rotation with table  14 . Conduit  141  is in communication with a conduit  142  (FIGS. 3 and 41) leading to pressure regulator  144  (FIG. 41) mounted on the side of table  14 . Conduits  146  extend between pressure regulator  144  and manifolds  147  (FIG. 41) mounted on plates  112  (FIGS. 11 and 15) on each trough  13  adjacent to pressure regulator  144 . Conduits  145  extend between other of the manifolds  147  themselves (FIG. 41). A conduit  149  (FIG. 40) leads from each manifold  147  to an associated valve  122  on each trough, and when valve  122  is actuated by movement of lever  133 , communication is established to conduit  150  which actuates four-way valve  151  to effect communication between conduit  150  and conduit  152  to extend piston rod  117  from cylinder  113  to thereby move links  104  and  105  to the position of FIG. 15. As noted above, this will cause the upper edges of the bag  135  to be clamped between the movable clamp pad portions  94  and  95  of combined chute and clamp members  90  and  91 , respectively, and fixed clamps  75 . If for any reason it is desired to move the combined chute and clamping members  90  and  91  back to their position of FIGS. 4 and 11, that is, away from fixed clamps  75 , there is an emergency release valve  153  mounted on transparent shield  154  which is secured by a bolt (not shown) to tubular member  127  (FIG. 3). The actuation of emergency release valve  153  will permit compressed air to flow from manifold  147  and conduit  155  into conduits  157  and  159  to thereby actuate four-way valve  151  to permit communication to conduit  160 , thereby actuating clamp cylinder  113  to move its piston rod  117  inwardly, thereby causing the links  104  and  105  to return to the position of FIG. 11 wherein the bag  135  is unclamped.  
         [0085]    The bag  135  which has been clamped in the above-described manner travels counterclockwise (FIG. 1) with its associated trough  13  until it reaches a point underneath full hopper  12  (FIGS. 2 and 17) wherein an electric eye  162  on the frame portion  166  (FIG. 17) of the weigher is actuated by reflector  163  (FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 ) mounted on transparent plate  164  which extends rearwardly from transparent plate  154  and lies between transparent side plates  165 . This will cause the hopper doors  167  to move to their open position (FIG. 20) from their closed position (FIG. 19). In this respect, a pneumatic cylinder  169  is suitably mounted on the front wall  170  of hopper  12 . When cylinder  169  is actuated, it will pull its piston rod  171  inwardly from the position of FIG. 19 to the position of FIG. 20. This will cause plates  172  and  173  to pivot about their pivots  174  and  175 , respectively, on wall  170 . The doors  167  are secured to plates  172  and  173 , and the plates  172  and  173  are connected by a link  177 . When the doors  167  are moved to the position of FIG. 20, the produce will be dumped into trough  13 . At this point it is to be noted that mirror image counterparts of plates  172  and  173  are mounted on the rear wall  179  of the hopper. After the produce has been dumped, cylinder  169  will be actuated to move back to its position of FIG. 19 to thereby return the doors  167  to their closed position.  
         [0086]    After each trough  13  has been loaded, the carousel will continue its travel and a point will be reached where the roller  53  reaches cam track  47  as described above and the produce which has entered the trough  13  in its lowermost position of FIG. 21 will be progressively raised and possibly jarred, as described above until it reaches its maximum inclined position of FIG. 27 whereby the produce is completely dumped into bag  135 . After the roller  53  leaves cam track  47 , the bottom wall  35  of the trough will pivot back to its lowermost position of FIG. 21 by gravity.  
         [0087]    Structure is provided for automatically releasing bag  135  after it leaves cam track  47 . In this respect, a rail  180  (FIGS. 31 and 31A) is suitably attached to frame  15  and it mounts an eccentric wheel  181  on a plate  186  which is slidable on rail  180  because it has bent over edges  181 ′ which wrap around the edges of rail  180 . A set screw  183 ′ having a handle  182 ′ attached thereto is used to hold plate  186  in any desired adjusted position on rail  180 . Wheel  181  can be pivoted about pivot  182  so that it will extend different distances above rail  180 . A set screw is associated with handle  183 ′ to lock wheel  181  into an adjusted position on plate  186 . A valve  183  is mounted on a plate  184  which extends downwardly from plate  112  (FIGS. 3, 11 and  15 ). When the arm  185  (FIGS. 31A and 40) of valve  183  is actuated by passing over wheel  181 , valve  183  will open to thereby conduct compressed air from manifold  147  (FIG. 40) through duct  187  and duct  159  to shift four-way valve  151  to thereby permit compressed air to flow through duct  160  to clamp cylinder  113  to thereby draw piston rod  117  into clamp cylinder  131  to thereby move links  104  and  105  from their outward position of FIG. 15 to their inward position of FIG. 11 to unclamp bag  135 .  
         [0088]    An arrangement is shown for preventing hopper  162  from dumping its produce into the trough  13  passing underneath if there is no bag clamped in position on the trough  13 . In this respect, an electric eye  188  (FIGS. 1 and 17) is mounted on a leg  189  of weigher  11 . If electric eye  187  does not detect a bag on the trough  13  passing by, the cylinder  169  will not be actuated in the above-described manner to open hopper doors  167 .  
         [0089]    For product to be dumped from hopper  12  into a trough  13  a plurality of conditions have to be met. As noted above, the electric eye  187  must detect that a bag  135  has been hung on the trough  13 . Also, electric eye  162  must detect that the trough  13  is underneath hopper  12 . Also, there is an electrical input (FIG. 42) from weigher  11  to the PLC to indicate that product has been dumped into hopper  12 . After all of the foregoing conditions have been met, the hopper doors  167  can open to dump product into trough  13 . The foregoing is schematically represented in FIG. 42. The output of electric eye  187  is in series with the output of electric eye  162 , and their combined output is conducted to PLC  204 . Also, there is an output from weigher  11  conducted to PLC  204  after the weigher has dumped product into hopper  12 . When the three outputs are received by the PLC, a relay  205  will be actuated to shift a four-way pneumatic valve  207  to a position wherein it supplies compressed air cylinder  169  to open hopper doors  167  in the above described manner to dump product into trough  13 . After the dumping has been effected, the PLC will deenergize relay  205  so that the four-way valve will be actuated to supply compressed air to cylinder  169  to cause doors  167  to close so that the hopper  12  is in condition to receive another load of product. The cylinder  169  is actuated through conduits  209  and  210  which lead from four-way valve  207 . The four-way valve  207  is in addition to four-way valve  151  (FIG. 40), and it is mounted on the frame of weigher  11 , as is the PLC  204  and associated circuitry. Also, the source of compressed air for four-way valve  207  is  136  (FIG. 40). All of the foregoing in this paragraph is known in the art.  
         [0090]    As can be seen from FIG. 33, the produce falls on both the inclined section  41  and the relatively horizontal section  42  (FIGS. 22 and 22A) of bottom wall  35 . Thus, the produce, such as potatoes  191 , on section  42  will tend to move directly downwardly as the bottom wall  35  tilts. The produce, such as potatoes  190 , falling on inclined section  41  not only will move downwardly but it will also move relatively sidewise. Therefore, the produce will tend to move down bottom wall  35  in more of a single file than if the bottom wall  35  were flat.  
         [0091]    In addition to the foregoing, it is to be noted from FIG. 23 that portion  97  of combined chute and clamp  90  is inclined a different angle than portion  99  of combined chute and clamp  91 . Thus, an item of produce, such as potato  190 , which hits portion  97  will move differently than potato  191  which hits portion  99 . This also tends to prevent the potatoes from jamming up before they pass between sides  92  and  93  which constitute the chute portions of combined chute and clamp pad members  90  and  91 . In addition to the foregoing, the transparent shield  154  (FIGS. 3 and 4) confines the produce to a path between the chute sides  92  and  93 . Also the transparent sides  165  secured to shield  154  prevent the items coming off of bottom wall  135  from missing chute sides  92 - 93  when shield  154  is extended away from trough walls  24 .  
         [0092]    In addition to the foregoing, the bottom wall  35  of trough  13  can be modified by clipping a modifier plate  193  (FIGS. 32 and 33A) onto bottom wall  35 . In this respect, modifier plate  193  includes a bottom section  194  which fits onto relatively horizontal flat section  42 . It also includes an inclined modifying section  195  which thus changes the angle of the bottom wall relative to section  41  relative to the original section  42 . The changed angle is also an obtuse angle but it is less than the original angles. However, in certain instances, the changed angle can be a right angle or even an acute angle. The modifying bottom wall portion  193  has a rear wall  197  which fits along said rear wall  43  and clips onto it by the overhanging clip portion  199 ′. The modifier plate  193  creates a vertex  199  between inclined bottom wall section  41  and section  195  to thereby tend to cause the product such as nuts  200  to move downwardly in single file. This is achieved because each item falling on sections  41  and  195  moves downwardly at an angle, and since sections  41  and  195  are inclined at different angles, they move downwardly toward vertex  200  at different rates, thereby tending to move into a single file.  
         [0093]    In FIG. 34 an adjustment is shown for varying the length of legs  17  of the carousel frame  15 . This structure includes a tubular portion  200  which telescopes into each leg  17  and is retained in position by set screws  201 .  
         [0094]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.