US3673759A

US3673759A - Bag hanger apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3673759A
Application number: US30681A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Ayres; Gaylerd M Lieder
Original assignee: Bemis Co Inc
Current assignee: Amcor Flexibles North America Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-22
Filing date: 1970-04-22
Publication date: 1972-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-04
Also published as: DE2055217A1; GB1286947A; FR2092260A5; CA943926A; JPS4922190B1

Abstract

For filling bags, a V-trough conveyor to receive a filled bag from a hopper assembly, a longitudinally elongated bag magazine to hold spaced stacks of bags in an inclined condition, a first piston cylinder combination to reciprocate vacuum cups and a break rod to abut against one bag side wall and to partially open the bag mouth as said cups and rod are retracted, a second piston cylinder combination to rotate the first combination between a bag pick up position and a hopper assembly transfer position and a third piston cylinder combination to relatively move a bag clamp and a hopper jaw from a hopper jaw closed position to receive a partially opened bag from the cups when the second combination is in the transfer position and a bag release position.

Description

United States Patent Ayres et a1. July 4, 1972 54 BAG HANGER APPARATUS 3,430,409 3/1969 Manfredonia et a1 ..53/190 x [72] Inventors: Richard H. Ayres; Gaylerd M. Lieder,

both of Minneapolis, Minn.

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Bemis Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. April 22, 1970 References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3/1970 Peterson ..53/190 6/1962 Staines ..271/26 Hudson... .....53/190 X Wallis .2l4/8.5

Primary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant ExaminerNeil Abrams Att0rney-Dugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman [5 7] ABSTRACT For filling bags, a V-trough conveyor to receive a filled bag from a hopper assembly, a longitudinally elongated bag magazine to hold spaced stacks of bags in an inclined condition, a first piston cylinder combination to reciprocate vacuum cups and a break rod to abut against one bag side wall from the cups when the second combination is in the transfer position and a bag release position.

49 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures P'ATGNTEBJUM m2 3. 673 759 am 2 or s W llllllw 1 INVENTOR S RICHARD H. AYRES BY GAYLERD M.LIEDER AT TORN EYS PATENTEBJHL' 4 I972 SHEET 3 BF 6 l NVEVTU RS RiCHARD H". AYRES GAYLERD M. LIEDER BY MWE MMs MK ATTORN EYS PATENTEDJUL 41972 3.673.759

I am u c? e IQWENTORS RICHA'RD +4 AYRES BY GAYLERD M. LIEDER ATTORNEYS INVENTORS RICHARD H. AYRES GAYLERD M. LIEDER ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJULM m2 sum so; a

FIE: S

PATE'NIEnJuM m2 3, 573 759 SHEET 6 0F 6 I I :l

INVENTORS RICHARD H. AYRES Y D M. LIEDER BY GA LER FIE; .24 v M ATTORNEYS BAG HANGER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A bag hanger assembly having vacuum cups to grip a flat folded bag and transfer the bag from a bag magazine to a hopper assembly.

In the prior art it is old to use vacuum cups to first grip one side wall of a bag to remove it from a bag magazine and then grip the opposite bag side wall to at least partially open the bag and transfer the partially opened bag, for example see U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,918; and it is old to use a combination of vacuum cups and blowing air under pressure to partially open a bag. However such prior an apparatus is quite complex and expensive; and in the case of larger size bags, for example 50 to 100 pound size bags, the use of a jet of air to open a bag relatively frequently does not result in the bag being at least partially opened. In order to overcome problems such as the above, as well as others, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Bag hanger apparatus having a plurality of vacuum cups and a break member to abut one side wall of a bag and at least partially open the bag mouth as the bag is retracted from the bag magazine, vacuum cup and break member mounting mechanism to move the cups and break member relative one another to partially open the bag mouth as the bag is moved away from the magazine, and a power assembly for moving the mounting mechanism between a retracted first position, an extended second position and a third position remote from the magazine where the bag is transferred onto a hopper spout assembly to be supported thereby for dumping a charge into the bag.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel bag pick up mechanism for grippingly engaging a bag and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the bag is moved away from the bag magazine. In furtherance of the above mentioned object, it is a further object to provide new and novel mechanism that at least partially opens a bag mouth while grippingly engaging only one bag side wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for grippingly engaging the side wall of a bag on a bag magazine adjacent the bag mouth and moving one gripped side wall portion relative the other gripped side wall portion to partially open the bag while removing the bag from the magazine. A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel bag magazine to convey a plurality of stacks of bags in inclined conditions successively to a given location to be picked up by bag pick up mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention showing the hopper assembly in a position for receiving a bag and the bag pick up assembly in a position that the bag pick up mechanism is in a retracted condition adjacent the bag magazine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the structure of FIG. I, said view showing the hopper assembly in solid lines, in a bag clamped, bag filling position, and the bag pick up mechanism in solid lines in a rotated, retracted position after it has moved a bag onto the hopper assembly; said view also showing in dotted lines portions of the hopper and pick up assemblies in positions that the bag has just been moved onto the hopper spout in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary view of the bag pick up mechanism in a position that the lower vacuum cup thereof has just been moved into engagement with a bag on the bag magazine and showing the vacuum cups and break member in their datum positions relative the block that mounts said cups and break member;

FIG. 4 is a view of the bag pick up mechanism generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 5 other than no bag is shown;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bag pick up mechanism in a position that all the vacuum cups are engaging a bag on the magazine, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3 to more clearly illustrate the mounting of the bottom vacuum cup, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the bag magazine, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrow 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the bag pick up mechanism in a position just after it is initially started retracting a bag from the bag magazine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of the structure of FIG. 8 to demonstrate the general positions of the vacuum cups after the bag gripped thereby had been moved completely out of engagement with the bags of the bag magazine;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the mouth end of a bag that is being held by the vacuum cups in the position of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing of the air control circuitry and components of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side view of the bag pick up assembly cylinder and guide rod in a retracted position and the mounting of the limit vacuum switch that is operated thereby;

FIG. I3 is a diagrammatic showing of the mounting of a plurality of limit vacuum switches and the cams for operating said switched; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary showing of the bag jaw operating piston cylinder combination and the limit vacuum switch operated thereby.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a bag hanger assembly, generally designated at 10, for removing a bag from the bag magazine, generally designated at 11, opening the bag, and after the bag has been filled, depositing the filled bag on the V-trough conveyor, generally designated 12. As the conveyor 12 is of a conventional construction, it will not be described.

The bag hanger assembly includes a frame, generally designated 15, having a pair of transversely spaced, vertical, front uprights 17; a pair of rear uprights 16; a pair of longitudinal, tranversely spaced longitudinal channels 18, each channel 18 being connected to the top ends of uprights l6 and 17 to extend forwardly of the uprights 16 in over-hanging relationship to the V-trough conveyor; vertically spaced, longitudinally elongated lower channels 19 that extend between and have opposite ends joined to adjacent uprights l6 and 17; and transverse channels 20 extending between and joined to uprights 18.

A bag pick up assembly, generally designated 22, includes a transverse shaft 23 that extends between and has its opposite ends pivotally mounted by the intermediate portions of channels 19 to be in overhanging relationship to one end portion of the magazine 11. To pivot the shaft 23 about its axis, one end of an arm 24 is clamped to the shaft while the opposite end is pivotally connected at 25 to the piston rod 26 of a piston cylinder combination that includes a cylinder 27. The end of the cylinder remote from pivot 26 is pivotally connected at 28 to a bracket that in turn is mounted on the rear transverse channel 20.

An elongated bracket 32 has one end portion secured to intermediate portion of shaft 23 to rotate therewith. The

cylinder 33 of a

piston cylinder combination

33, 34 is fixedly attached to bracket 32 to extend parallel to said bracket; the aforementioned combination also including a piston rod 34 that mounts a block 35 to move therewith. One end of a guide rod 36 is fixedly attached to block 35 so that the guide rod extends away from the block in the same direction as the piston rod, the guide rod being slidably extended through spaced guides 37 that in turn are mounted on a bracket 38 that is attached to bracket 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The bag pick up mechanism generally designated 42, includes a transverse pivot shaft 43 that has its intermediate portion mounted by block 35 in a fixed angular position relative the block (see FIGS. 4 and 5). On each transverse side of the block there is pivotally mounted a top vacuum cup pick up assembly, generally designated 44. Since each assembly 44 is the same construction other than they are asymmetrically mounted on the shaft, primarily only one assembly 44 will be described. Each assembly 44 includes a bag 46 that has one end fixedly clamped to the shaft 43, an elongated bracket 47 having one end portion transversely spaced from the bar 46 and clamped to the shaft in a fixed axial position and a control arm 48 having a boss portion that is pivotally mounted on the shaft intermediate the bar and bracket. A transverse pin 49 is mounted by bar 46 to extend into the path of movement of the control arm to limit the pivotal movement of the arm in one direction (opposite arrow 256). Further, a coil spring 50 has one end mounted by the other end of a bar 46 and has an opposite end mounted by the intermediate portion of a bar 51 to resiliently urge bar 48 to move in a direction opposite arrow 256 to a position to abut against pin 49; bar 51 being welded to the control arm adjacent shaft 43 to extend at right angles to the control arm. The outer end of the control arm 48 mounts a transverse shaft 52 which in turn mounts a roller 53 to rotate about an axis parallel to shaft 43.

Fixedly attached to the arm 51 is an elongated leaf spring 56 that extends generally parallel to the control arm in a direction opposite that which the major portion of the control arm extends away from arm 51. The opposite end of the leaf spring mount a member 57 which in turn mounts the shaft 58a of a top vacuum cup 58 in a fixed position relative said opposite end portion. Mounted on shaft portion 58a is the resilient cup portion 58b having a circular rim to form a fluid seal with a bag; portions 58a, 58b having an internal vacuum channel 59 in fluid communication with a line 173. I The thickness direction of the springs 56 are transverse whereby thetop vacuum cups may be relatively easily moved in a transverse direction; however are relatively rigidly mounted in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation of arm 51 and the transverse direction. A transverse bag 61 has one end mounted on the radial outer end of bracket 47 and an opposite end that mounts a bearing 62 in a position to force the adjacent leaf spring to move the vacuum cup 58 mounted on said leaf spring a short distance transversely toward the other vacuum cup 58. That is, as arm 51 is moved in the direction of arrow 256 from the limit position abutting against pin 49, the intermediate portion leaf spring 56 moves into abutting engagement with the adjacent bearing 62 to force the leaf spring to move its vacuum cup in the aforementioned manner.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the bottom vacuum cup pick up assembly, generally designated 64, includes a pair of bars 65 that have one ends pivotally connected at 66 to the guide rod 36 to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of elongation of shaft 43; pivot member 66 being located adjacent to block 35. The opposite ends of the bars 65 mount a pivot member 67 which in turn mounts a first tab that is fixedly secured to the shaft portion 68a of the rear (bottom) vacuum cup 68; shaft 680 being located closely adjacent pivot 67 and

intermediate pivot

66 and 67. Secured to the shaft 68a diametrically opposite the first tab is a second tab 70, a coil spring 71 having one end attached to tab 70 and an opposite end attached to a bracket 72 that is secured to block 35. A bar 73 is mounted by bars 65, the bar 73 mounting an adjustment screw 74 in a position to abut against block 35 to limit the pivotal movement of bar 65 about pivot 66 in a direction of arrow 76. The coil spring 71 through

members

67 and 70 resiliently urge bars 65 to pivot about pivot member 66 in the direction of the arrow 76; and additionally resiliently urge the bottom vacuum cup to a position that the coil spring 70 lies in a straight line between pivot 67 and the connection of the spring to bracket 72.

The bottom vacuum cup also includes a resilient cup portion 68!) that is mounted on the shaft portion 68a, the vacuum cup having an internal channel (not shown) for applying vacuum to the cup portion.

A break bar assembly, generally designated 79 includes a collar 80 on each end of the shaft 43 that is retained in place on the shaft by a set screw, a bracket 82 having one end por tion pivotally mounted on the respective end portion of the shaft and a torsion spring 81 that is coiled about the shaft. Each torsion spring has one end secured in an appropriate aperture in the adjacent collar 80 and an opposite end extending into an aperture in the bracket 82. Thus the torsion springs resiliently urge the brackets 82 to extend outwardly from the shaft 43 at a given angle. The end portions of the brackets mounted on shaft 43 are generally at right angles to the opposite end portions of said brackets, the opposite end portions of the brackets being attached to the break rod 83 to mount the break rod to extend parallel to the shaft 43. The shaft 43 through the above described structure is resiliently retained in a position on the opposite side of the block 35 from the cylinder 33 and generally intermediate the top vacuum cups and shaft 43 such as shown in FIG. 2.

Refer-ring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hopper assembly, generally designated is mounted by a pair of transverse frame members 91, 92 longitudinally forward of uprights l6 and in a position to receive a bag from the bag pick up assembly. The hopper assembly includes a hopper body 93 that has a fixed jaw 94 joined to the body to depend therefrom. The fixed jaw has side wall portions 94b that are of a generally triangular shape and a web portion 94a.

Dependently secured to frame members91, 92 on either side of the hopper and spaced therefrom are longitudinal plates 95. The plates 95 pivotally mount

transverse shafts

97, 98, one on either longitudinal sideof the hopper. The legs of a generally U-shaped bracket 99 have their upper ends fixedly attached to the shaft 97 and their lower ends joined to a web portion 9% that mounts to a bag clamp 100 in position to clamp one side wall of a bag against the lower end portion of the web 94a. v

In order to move the bag clamp 100 between the solid line bag clamping position of FIG. 2 and dotted line open position, a bracket 101 is fixedly attached to web portion 99b and pivotally connected at 102 to the piston rod 103 of a

piston cylinder combination

103, 104. The cylinder 104 of the aforementioned combination is pivotally connected at 105 to a bracket 106 that is mounted by a channel 20.

Pivotally connected at 110 to tabs joined to the legs of bracket 99 are the one ends of the links 11 1, the opposite ends of the links being pivotally connected at 1 12 to the lower ends of bars 113. The upper ends of the bars are fixedly attached to shaft 98 to pivot said shaft at the same time the bracket 99 is pivoted. The bars 113 are secured to the side walls 115a of the movable hopper jaw 115; the upper end of the spout jaw 115 being adjacent shaft 98. As indicated in FIG. 2, the web portion 11512 of jaw 115 extends to a lower elevation than side walls 115a ofjaw 115.

The upper ends of the legs of the generally U-shaped bracket 1 16 are dependingly welded to plates 95; the web portion of the bracket mounting a bag clamp 117 in a position to be abuttable against the web portion 1151) of jaw 115. At the time bag clamp 100 is moved to clamp a bag side wall against jaw 94, the web portion of jaw 115 is moved to clamp the opposite bag side wall against bag clamp 117. Preferably the bag clamps have resilient pads abuttable against the jaw web portions.

The bag magazine 11 includes a frame having a pair of transversely elongated, longitudinally spaced channels 119, 120 with the channel 120 being mounted at a substantially higher elevation than channel 119 (see FIGS. 1 and 7). The one end of the channels mount in drive roller 121 to be at a substantial angle relative the horizontal such as indicated in FIG. 1, the drive roller being driven through a chain 123 extended over a sprocket keyed to roller 121 and a sprocket keyed to the reducer shaft of the motor-reducer combination 124. The opposite ends of channels 119, 120 mount a driven roller 125 that is parallel to roller 121 and inclines at the same angle.

A pair of spaced

conveyor belts

126, 127 are extended around

rollers

121, 125 with the upper runs of the belts slidably extending over the top surface of the platform 128 that is mounted by the channels 119, 120

intermediate rollers

121, 125. The lower runs of

belts

126, 127 are extended over tensioning idler rollers 129 that are mounted by the aforementioned channels.

A plurality of frame members 130 are secured to channel 19 to extend perpendicular to the top surfaces of the upper runs of

belts

126, 127; a bottom wall 131 being mounted by frame members 130 to have a smooth surface adjacent the lower edge of the upper run of the lower belt 127.

An end wall 133 is in part mounted by platform 128 and in part by the bottom wall 131 to have a vertical surface portion 133a between

rollers

121, 125 and more closely adjacent roller 121 than roller 125. Surface portion 133a is located such that when a stack of flat folded tubular bags 134 abuts thereagainst, stack 134 is aligned with the bag pick up assembly to have the uppermost bag removed by said assembly. The end wall also includes a top surface portion 13312 on which there is mounted a motor stop limit switch and a no bag

control limit switch

136, 137, respectively.

Switches

136, 137 respectively have

operating spring arms

138, 139 that extend downwardly into platform slots 128a to be forced closely adjacent surface portion 133a by bag stack 134 being moved against wall portion 1330.

The upper runs of the

conveyor belts

126, 127 that move over platform 128 are of a sufficient length to have a number of spaced stacks of bags positioned thereon. Further the

belts

126, 127 are inclined at an angle that bottoms (closed ends) the bags in each stack slidingly bear against the adjacent surface of bottom wall 131.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the control circuitry, generally designated 150, includes a main air line 151 having a plurality of junctions 152-158 thereon. Junction 152 is connected to a source of pressurized air 160 by an on-off switch 159; and to a first port 161 of an air operated valve 163. Valve 163 also includes a port 162 that is fluidly connected to the control port of the vacuum control valve 164. Further valve 163 includes a port 165, a port 166 and a valve member 167. When air under pressure is applied to port 165, valve member 167 either remains in, or moves to a position to permit air flow between

ports

161, 162; while, when air under pressure is applied to port 166, the valve member 167 moves to a position blocking air flow through

ports

161, 162. The valve member 167 remains in one position until air under pressure has been applied to the respective one of

ports

165, 166 to move the valve member to its other position.

Vacuum control valve 164 is provided in line 171 intermediate the vacuum source 170 and junction 172. When air under pressure is applied to control port of valve 164, the vacuum source is in fluid communication with junction 172 while when no pressure is applied to the control port, junction 172 is no longer fluidly connected to the vacuum source. Lines 173 fluidly connect the junction 172 to the fluid passageways in the vacuum cups. Connected in series between

junctions

172 and 176 are a check valve 174 and a switch 177. The check valve is of a construction that when the vacuum has dropped to a preselected negative pressure, then the vacuum is applied at switch 177. When switch 177 is in a closed position, the check valve is in fluid communication with junction 176, and when in an open position, the application of vacuum through switch 177 is blocked.

A limit vacuum switch 180 is fluidly connected across junction 153 and a first inlet port 181 of a valve 184, a restrictor 185 being fluidly connected across junction 186 and a second inlet port 183 of said valve 184. The valve 184 has an outlet port 182 connected by an air line to junction 176. Valve 184 is of a construction that has a ball to block port 183 when air under pressure is applied at port 181, block port 181 when air under pressure is applied at port 183, and to permit free flow of air from the unblocked inlet port to the outlet port.

A limit valve switch 189 is connected across

junctions

154, 190, junction 190 being fluidly connected to port 166 of valve 163 and to the inlet port 191 of valve 192. A manually operated on-ofi' switch 195 is fluidly connected across junction 155 and a second inlet port 194 of valve 192, valve 192 having an an outlet port 193. Valve 192 is of the same construction as valve 184.

A valve 197 has a valve member 198 that is movable between two positions and remains in one of said positions until air under pressure is applied to the appropriate end to move the valve member to its second position. Valve 197 includes a port 196 fluidly connected to junction 176 such that when air under pressure is applied at port 196, the valve member is moved for applying air under pressure to port 33b of cylinder 33 and exhaust air under pressure from port 330; while when air under pressure is applied to port 199 of valve 197, the valve member 198 is moved to apply air under pressure to port 33a and exhaust air from port 3312. Port 199 is fluidly connected to port 193 of valve 192.

A valve 205 that is of the same construction as valve 197 has a valve member 208, a port 207 at one end that is connected to junction 190, and a port 206 at the opposite end that is connected to the output port 272 of a valve 209 that is of the same construction as valve 184. When air under pressure is applied at port 207, valve member 208 moves to apply air under pressure to port 270 of cylinder 27 and exhaust air from port 27b; while when air under pressure has been applied to port 206, the valve member 208 moves to position that air under pressure is applied at port 27b. A switch 211 that is resiliently retained in an open position is fluidly connected across junction 156 and a first inlet port 271 of valve 209 to upon the switch 211 being manually depressed, fluidly connect said junction to said port. Connected in series across junction 212 and the second inlet port 270 of valve 209 are a pair of limit valve switches 213, 214; junction 212 being fluidly connected to junction 186. A limit valve switch 137 is connected across

junctions

212, 216 while a limit valve switch 217 is connected across

junctions

157, 216.

A limit valve switch 215 is connected across junction 158 and a port 219 that is at one end of valve 220, valve 220 being of the same construction as valve 197. Valve 220 has a second port at the opposite end connected to junction 216 and a valve member 221 that when air under pressure has been applied to port 222, the valve member is moved to a position that air under pressure is applied to port 104b of cylinder 104 and exhausted from port 104a whereby the piston rod 103 is moved to a retracted position. When air under pressure is applied at port 219, valve member 221 moves to its opposite position for exhausting air from port 104b and applying air under pressure at port 104a to extend the piston rod.

A limit valve switch 225 is connected between junction 158 and the control port of a valve 226, the valve 226 having a valve member (not shown) that is spring urged to a closed position, but that when air under pressure is applied to the control port, applies air under pressure to the lines 173 of the vacuum cups for purposes to be set forth hereinafter.

To be mentioned is that each of

valves

197, 205 and 220 are connected across air lines (under pressure) that are utilized to supply air under pressure to the respective end of

cylinders

33, 27 and 104, arrows pointing toward the respective valves indicating the pressurized air line and the arrow pointing away from the respective valve indicating the exhaust line. Further each of

switches

180, 189, 195, 211, 217, 215 and 225 is of a type that when in an open condition, air from the line 151 cannot escape through the switch, but air can escape from the lines connected to the switches on the side opposite that to which line 151 is connected. When a vacuum is applied at port 182 from valve 174, the ball of valve 184 moves to block port 182. When no air under pressure is applied to the inlet ports of valve 209, both

switches

211 and 214 exhaust air from port 272 to the atmosphere, provided

switches

211, 214 are not in a closed position.

Referring to FIG. 13, a transverse channel 230 has its opposite ends mounted by frame members 19 at a location adjacent shaft 23. The

limit switch valve

215, 217, 225, 180 and 177 are mounted on the channel in transverse spaced relationship to have their actuator members in a position to be operated by the cam members 234 to 238 respectively that are retained on shaft 23 in selected angular position by set screws (not shown). The shape of the cam members are such to accomplish the actuation of the valves in the manner to be described hereinafter. Valve member 214 is mounted on channel 230 in a position to have its actuator operated by the guide rod 36 to close said valve when both the guide rod is in a retracted position and the

piston cylinder combination

26, 27 is in an extended position. A limit vacuum switch 189 is mounted by a block 240 that in turn is mounted by the cylinder 104 to move therewith. Block 240 mounts switch 189 in a position that its actuator will be operated by the operator 241 on the piston rod 103 as the piston rod moves to its extended position.

Limit switch 213 is mounted on a V-trough conveyor in a position transversely spaced from a bag that is being moved from the magazine to the hopper, and a filled bag dropping onto the conveyor; however, in a position to have its spring actuator arm 213a operate the switch to a closed position after the V-trough conveyor has moved the bag a short distance from the location that the bag is deposited on the conveyor by being dropped from the hopper.

For purposes of describing the operation of the apparatus of this invention, it will be assumed that a stack of bags 132 are on the magazine abutting against wall portion 133a and accordingly the actuator 139 retains switch 137 in a closed position. Further, it is assumed that the

piston rods

26 and 34 are in extended positions and that piston rod 103 is in a retracted position. As a result the vacuum cups abut against the top bag on stack 134. At this

time limit switches

217 and 177 are in closed positions (due to the angular position of shaft 23) and limit switch 214 is in an open condition due to the guide rod being remote from said switch. Further, switch 189 is in an open condition.

Now, as soon as switch 159 is moved to closed position, air under pressure is applied through port 222 of valve 220 whereby valve member 221 is retained in a position that

piston cylinder combination

103, 104 remains in (or moves to) its retracted position. Since

limit switches

217, 137 are in a closed position, air under pressure is applied at junction 186 to pass through restrictor 185 and subsequently to port 196 of valve 197 whereby valve member 198 remains in (or moves to) a position that cylinder 33 is extended. Also the application of air under pressure at junction 186 is applied through port 165 whereby the valve member 167 remains in (or moves to) a position that air under pressure is applied to the control port of the vacuum control valve 164. This results in a vacuum being applied from the vacuum source to junction 172 and thereby to the vacuum cups. Further, the vacuum applied at junction 172 is applied at check valve 174. Since the cups abut against the uppermost bag, insufficient air is drawn into the cups to prevent a rapid decrease of pressure at junction 172. The increasing negative pressure builds up until it is below the selected point for check valve 174 and thereupon the check valve permits the vacuum to be applied from junction 172 to and through limit switch 177 and thence to junction 176. The pull of the vacuum at junction 176 is sufficiently greater than that of the application of air under pressure from port 182 to junction 176 that valve member 198 is drawn by the vacuum toward port 196 whereby air under pressure is applied at port 330 to retract the bag pick up mechanism. Upon the bag pick up mechanism being moved to its retracted position, the guide rod operates limit valve switch 214 to a closed position.

Assuming that in the initial retraction of the vacuum cups one of the cups did not form a vacuum grip with the bag, then air would flow through the cup and the respective line 173 to junction 172 whereby the negative pressure at junction 172 would decrease, and as a result check valve 174 is resiliently urged to a closed position. The closing of check valve 174 results in the application of air under pressure through restrictor 185 gradually building up at port 196 sufficiently to move the valve member 198 to adjacent port 199. Accordingly, air under pressure is applied to cylinder 33 at port 33b to move its piston rod 34 to an extended position. Thus, the vacuum cups are again moved to the lower position to abut against the bag to permit air being drawn in through the vacuum cup, and thereafter the vacuum cups are retracted in a manner described in the preceding paragraph. Ifthe cups again fail to properly vacuum grip the bag, the cycle of extension and retraction of piston-

cylinder combination

33, 34 is repeated until an operator stops the reciprocating action of the cups, or

until all cups form a sealing engagement with the bag.

Assuming that the bag was properly gripped by allcups, nothing further will happen during the first cycle of operation of the day until either switch 213 is manually operated to a closed position; or switch 211 is manually depressed. Normally switch 211 would be manually depressed, this resulting in air under pressure being applied to port 206 of valve member 205 to move it away from port 206 whereby air under pressure is applied to port 27b to retract piston rod 26. This rotates cylinder 33 and shaft 23 about the axis of shaft 23 in the direction of arrow 450. The first few degrees of rotation of shaft 23 results in vacuum limit switch 217 moving to an open position and shortly thereafter limit valve switch 177 to an open condition.

After the bag gripped on the bag pick up mechanism has been angularly moved suificiently about the axis of shaft 23 so that the bag will clear the bags on the bag magazine, limit switch 180 is operated to a closed position to apply air under pressure at inlet 181 and thereby through junction 176 to port 196 to operate the valve member 198 to its position adjacent port 199. As a result, air under pressure is applied to

piston cylinder combination

33, 34 to move the bag pick up mechanism to an extended position. It is to be noted that limit switch 180 is only operated to a closed position during the short increment of angular movement of the shaft in the direction of the arrow 450, but is not operated to a closed position when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

Piston cylinder combination

33, 34 is in its fully expanded condition prior to the time shaft 23 has been rotated sufiiciently to move said combination to a horizontal condition.

Just prior to the time

piston cylinder combination

33, 34 is moved to horizontal condition, limit vacuum switch 214 is operated to a closed condition to apply air under pressure to port 219 to valve 220. As a result, valve member 221 is moved to a position that air under pressure is applied to

piston cylinder combination

103, 104 to operate it to its extended condition. As

combination

103, 104 is being operated to its extended condition, one bag side wall is moved between bag clamp and jaw 94a while the opposite side wall is moved between bag clamp 117 and jaw 115. The bag clamp 99b in moving toward a position to abut against jaw 94 results in jaw moving the other bag side wall to a more fully opened condition and thence clamp it against bag clamp l 17.

Just prior to the piston rod being moved to the fully extended stroke of

combination

103, 104, switch 189 is actuated to a closed position and at the end of said extending stroke, switch 189 opens. Switch 189 is of the type that is actuated to a closed position only during the extension stroke of

combination

103, 104, not during the retraction stroke.

The duration of closure of switch 189 is suflicient that air under pressure is applied to junction 190 and thence to port 166 to operate valve member 167 to an open condition whereby the vacuum control switch 164 disconnects the application of vacuum from the vacuum source to junction 172. As a result, the vacuum cups release their gripping engagement with the bag which is then fully supported by the hopper assembly 90. Also, the application of air under pressure at junction 190 results in valve member 208-being operated to its position adjacent port 206 whereby air under pressure is applied to

piston cylinder combination

26, 27 to initiate the extending movement thereof, port 27a having a restrictor therein to act as a time delay whereby a second bag is not moved to the hopper assembly until the bag thereon has been filled, deposited on conveyor 12 and moved thereby out of the path of movement of the second bag. Further, the application of air under pressure at junction 190 results in air under pressure being applied at port 199 of valve 197 to operate the valve for applying air under pressure to

piston cylinder combination

33, 34 to move the piston rod 34 toward its retracted position.

The hopper assembly is provided with conventional switches (not shown) that actuate the scale dump mechanism thereof to dump a charge, provided both bag side walls are properly clamped on the hopper assembly.

The initial movement of

combination

26, 27 toward its extended condition in rotating shaft 23 a few degrees in the direction opposite arrow 450 results in switch 215 resiliently returning to an open condition. Also, the initial movement of shaft 23 in the direction opposite arrow 450 momentarily actuates limit valve switch 225 to a closed position (switch 225 not being operated to a closed position when shaft 23 rotates in the direction of arrow 450) which in turn operates valve 226 to apply air under pressure to lines 173 for purposes of blowing dust and other debris out of the vacuum cups, switch 225 opening prior to the time that

piston cylinder combination

26, 27 is operated to its fully extended condition. After switch 225 opens, and prior to piston rod 26 being moved to its fully extended position, limit valve switch 177 is moved to a closed position; and upon piston rod 26 being moved to the fully extended condition, limit switch 217 is operated to a closed condition. The closing of switch 217 results in air under pressure being applied at

junctions

186, 216 whereby valve 220 is operated to apply air under pressure to the port 1040 of cylinder 104, air under pressure is applied to vacuum control valve 164 to open said valve whereby vacuum is applied to junction 172; and air under pressure is applied at junction 176. As a result of applying air under pressure at junction 176 (there being no substantial decrease of pressure at check valve 174 due to the cups being spaced from the bags), valve member 198 moves so that air under pressure is applied to port 33b whereby the vacuum cups are moved to abut against the second bag in the stack on the magazine; and thereafter the operation continues in the manner previously described with the exception that switch 211 does not have to be operated to a closed position. The aforementioned exception results from the fact that at the time air under pressure is applied at port 222 of valve 220, the

piston cylinder combination

103, 104 is operated to a retracted condition whereby the bag is dropped from the hopper. The filled bag in dropping on the V-trough conveyor is moved by the conveyor to abut against arm 213a and thereby actuate switch 213 to form a closed circuit through

switches

217, 137, 213, 214 to junction 209 to apply air under pressure to port 206. In this connection there is a restrictor provided in cylinder 27 (port 270) to delay the movement of the cylinder to its fully extended position sufiiciently that the bag pick up devices are moved to pick up a bag and retracted (guide rod 36) to close switch 214 just prior to the closing of switch 213. Thus, the operation of automatic.

It is to be noted that once the last bag of stack 134 has been removed from the magazine, switch 137 moves to an open position to prevent the application of air under pressure to junction 212 until the magazine has advanced a stack of bags (stack 135) to close the switch. At the same time switch 137 opens, the removal of the last bag also results in the sensor finger 138 of switch 136 actuating motor 124 to drive the

conveyor belts

126, 127 until the second stack of bags 135 abut against wall portion 133a. The second stack of bags 135, in being moved to abut against wall 133a operate

switches

136, 137 to respectively de-energize motor 124 and close switch 137.

With the aforementioned controls, after switch 211 has been closed upon the initial raising of the first bag from the magazine at the start of the days operation, the apparatus of this invention will continue functioning automatically as long as bags are placed on the magazine to be moved thereby to abut against wall 133a.

It might be mentioned that in the event that the bags on the magazine are not properly aligned, or that the vacuum cups are not functioning properly to pick up a bag, switch 195 is operated to an on position to complete an air circuitry between junctions and junction 194. This operates valve 197 to a condition that

piston cylinder combination

34, 33 is moved to and retained in a retracted condition (even if air under pressure is applied at junction 176; i.e. due to the provision of restrictor until switch is again moved to an open position.

The general operation of the apparatus of this invention having been described, the operation of' the bag pick up assembly will now be described in greater detail. For purposes of describing the operation of the bag pick up mechanism, it will be assumed that it is in the position shown in FIG. 1. As the piston rod 34 is moved in the direction of arrow 255, vacuum cup 68 initially makes contact with the top bag 134a in the stack 134. At the time cup 68 initially makes contact, the various member of the bag pick up assembly are in the relative positions such as illustrated in FIG. 3. As piston rod 34 and block 35 further advances in the direction of arrow 255, vacuum cup 68 is prevented from being moved further in the same direction and this results in arm 65 pivoting about pivot member 66 in the direction opposite arrow 76. Thereafter, rollers 53 abut up against bag 134a, and the further movement of block 35 in the direction of arrow 255 results in vacuum cups 58 being pivoted about shaft 43 in the direction of the arrow 256, this being against the resistance of springs 50. At the time the cup portions 58a are brought into engagement with bag 134a, the break rod 83 is also brought into engagement with said bag. Due to the resiliency of the cups the block 35 is permitted to move further in the direction of arrow 255, this resulting in the break rod being pivoted about shaft 43 in the direction of arrow 257 to tension torsion springs 81. The cups in contacting the bag blocks the in flow of air into the cups and this, through the controls previously described, results in piston rod 34 being retracted. Just prior to the initial retraction, the rims of the vacuum cups lie in approximately the same plane as the break rod, such as shown in FIG. 5.

Once the cups form a vacuum gripping engagement with the bag, the spacing of vacuum cups 68b from the vacuum cups 58a is substantially fixed, i.e. other than for the resiliency of the cups and for slight relative movement permitted by springs 56. During the initial retraction of the cups, the spring 71 urges the bar 70 to pivot about pivot 67 in the direction of arrow 260 and thereby arm 65 to pivot about pivot member 66 in the direction of arrow 76; the torsion springs urge the break rod to pivot about shaft 43 in the direction opposite arrow 257, and spring 50 urges the vacuum cups 58 to pivot about shaft 43 in the direction opposite arrow 256. As a result the bag is moved slightly in the direction of arrow 265 relative to block 35 (FIG. 8) and the portion of the gripper bag side wall between vacuum cup 68 and the break rod is retained in one plane while the portion between the break rod and vacuum cups 58 are moved to extend at an angle to the first mentioned bag side wall portion such as shown in FIG. 8 for the initial retracting movement of piston rod 34. Since the opposite side wall is not grippingly engaged, the second mentioned bag side wall portion of the bag is pulled away from the second bag side wall and is in a position such as shown in FIG. 9 after the bag has been moved away from the magazine. As a result, the bag is initially broken open in the area of its bag mouth (see FIG. 10). In this connection it is to be noted that the vacuum cups grippingly engage, for example, a 50 pound bag, about'2 inches from the marginal edges that in part define the bag mouth. Thus, the bag pick up mechanism moves the two portions of one side wall relative the other, non-gripped, side wall to partially open the bag mouth sufficiently to have the hopper jaws extend thereinto as the bag is swung up to the hopper as previously described, the bag mouth being partially opened during the retraction of the piston rod 34 in the direction opposite arrow 255 at the time piston rod 26 is in an extended condition.

To be mentioned is that as block 35 is initially moved from the bag pick up position of FIG. 1 (direction opposite arrow 255), the leaf spring is pivoting relative to shaft 43 in the direction opposite arrow 256, the leaf springs move out of abutting engagement of bearings 62 and thus the vacuum cups 58 are resiliently urged to more transversely spaced positions. As a result, any wrinkles in the gripped side wall portion of the bag between cups 58 are removed. As an example, the vacuum cups 58 may move about one-fourth inch further apart as the leaf springs are moved relative the bearings from the bag pick up position of FIG. to their limit position wherein bar 51 abuts against pin 49 (assuming no bag is being gripped by the cups).

At the time the vacuum is released, the cups and the break rod return to their datum positions relative block 35, the datum positions relative the block 35 being shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. That is, spring 50 pivots cups 58 in the direction opposite arrow 256 until rod 49 abuts against arm 51; spring 71 pivots bars 65 about pivot member 66 in the direction of arrow 76 until stop 74 abuts against block 35 and vacuum cup 68 pivots about pivot 67 in the direction opposite arrow 260 until the spring 71 extends in a straight line between pivot 67 and the connection of the spring to bracket 72; and the break rod 83 is pivoted about the shaft 43 in the direction opposite arrow 257 to relieve the tension in the torsion springs.

Through the utilization of the break rod and the mounting of the vacuum cups, the bag mouth is broken open by only grippingly engaging one side wall 134a of the bag, and without the use of Separate mechanism, for example, air injection or vacuum cups to grippingly engage the other side wall. Further, with the apparatus of this invention the bags are not stacked on end, but are inclined at an angle that helps in retaining them on the line with theother, for example at an angle of 3O relative the horizontal.

To be mentioned is that the top vacuum cups are the ones that grip the bag closely adjacent the bagmouthwhile the bottom cup is the one that grips the bag more remote from he bag mouth than the top cups. Thus with reference to the cups top and "bottom is not necessarily meant to refer to the relative elevations of the cups.

Also, it is believed apparent that paper bags are stacked on the magazine in a flat folded condition with the bag mouths at a higher elevation than the opposite ends of the bags; the stacks are spaced a few inches apart to permit proper operation of switches 136, I37 and the bags on one stack interferring with the removal of bags by the bag pick up mechanism from the adjacent stack; and the magazine supports the bags with the bag mouths more closely adjacent the hopper assembly than the opposite ends of the bags. The apparatus of this invention can be used for removing gussetcd, pinch bottom and relatively wide mouth non-gusseted paper bags from the magazine, and partially opening such bags as they are removed by the bag pick up mechanism from the magazine. In being used with nongusseted paper bags, the vacuum cups have to be spaced a substantial distance from the adjacent side edge of the bags in flat folded conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups including a first vacuum cup and a second vacuum cups, first means for applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, said third means including fifth means for mounting the second means and first and second cups for limited movement relative one another, resiliently retaining said cups and second means in a datum condition relative one another and mounting the first cup relative the second means in a position engageable with said side wall intermediate the second means and the bag mouth and the second cup in a posi' tion relative the second means in a position engageable with said side wall intermediate the second means and the bag opposite end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the fourth means comprising a first piston cylinder combination having an elongated cylinder and a piston rod mounting the third means for reciprocating the third means between a retracted position and an extended position relative the cylinder, and sixth means mounting the cylinder on the frame and moving the cylinder between a position that the cylinder extends toward the magazine and a second position that the cylinder extends generally in a direction toward the hopper as sembly.

3. For grippingly engaging a side wall, of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups, first means for applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, the third means including a transverse first pivot member, sixth means for mounting the pivot member on the fourth means to extend generally parallel to the marginal edges that define the bag mouths of the bags on the bag magazine, elongated seventh means having one end portion pivotally mounted on the pivot member and an opposite end portion mounting a first vacuum cup a greater distance from the pivot member than the second means, eighth means connected to the seventh means for resiliently urging the seventh means to pivot about the pivot member in one angular direction and limit the pivotal movement of the seventh means in said one angular direction to a preselected position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the third means includes an elongated member having one end portion mounted on the sixth means and an opposite end portion on the opposite side of the pivot member from the first vacuum cup and ninth means for mounting a second vacuum cup on said elongated member opposite end portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the second means includes an elongated break member parallel to the pivot member and tenth means for mounting the break member on the pivot member and resiliently urging the break member toward and in engagement with the bags on the bag magazine when the fourth means has moved the third means to its second position and when the fourth means is in the first position and no bag is being gripped by the cups to a given position relative the pivot member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the sixth means includes a second pivot member parallel to the fist pivot member, said elongated member first end portion being pivotally mounted on said second pivot member and that the third means includes means for limiting the angular movement of the elongated member in one direction to a given position and eleventh means connected to at least one of the second vacuum cup and elongated member for resiliently retaining the elongated member in the last mentioned given position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the ninth means includes a third pivot member mounted on the elongated member opposite end portion, that said second vacuum cup has a tubular portion that has one side thereof pivotally mounted on said third pivot member and a diametric opposite side having the eleventh means connected thereto, said eleventh means comprising an elongated spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the tenth means mounts the break member generally between the first and second vacuum cups and that the third means includes an elongated control arm member having one end portion fixedly joined to the seventh means and an opposite end portion abuttable against a bag on the opposite side of the first pivot member from the first vacuum cup in the fourth means second position to hold the seventh means away from the preselected position, said seventh means including an elongated first vacuum cup mounting member having a first end portion fixedly attached to said control arm member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the fourth means includes elongated twelfth means for reciprocating the sixth means along the elongated axis thereof between an extended position and a retracted position, said axis extending generally perpendicular to the bags on the bag magazine in the third means second position, that the sixth means has an advanced surface portion extending more remote from the twelfth means in the direction of extension thereof that the remainder of the sixth means, and that the said given positions for the break member and second vacuum cup are on the opposite side of a plane perpendicular to said axis and through the advance surface portion from the twelfth means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the preselected position of said first vacuum cup is on the same side of said plane as the twelfth means.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the bag magazine includes a magazine frame, a pair of transversely spaced rolls mounted by the frame in parallel relationship at a substantially inclined angle to the horizontal, a conveyor belt mounted by said rolls and driven by at least one of said rolls, said belt having an upper run of a length to have several spaced stacks of bags placed thereon with the bag side walls extending generally parallel to the upper run, said upper run having a lower edge, a transversely elongated bottom wall fixedly mounted on the magazine frame adjacent the lower edge to extend generally parallel to the upper run and twelfth means for driving one of said rolls in an angular direction to move the stack of bags into underlying relationship to the vacuum cups in the third means first position, the magazine frame having one portion underlying the vacuum cups in the third means first position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that the bag magazine includes an end wall member mounted on the magazine frame, said end wall member having a generally vertical portion in overhanging relationship to the upper run, extending generally perpendicular to the upper run and the bottom wall, and located in a position to limit the movement of a stack of bags on the upper run to position to be picked up by the vacuum cups, and that the control means includes means for sensing the absence of bags adjacent the end wall vertical portion and then automatically actuating the drive means for a period of time that the upper runs move a stack of bags adjacent said end wall vertical portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that the angle of inclination of the rolls is about 20 to 30.

14. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a paper bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper spout assembly jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, operable bag pick up mechanism for grippingly engaging one side wall of a bag on the bag magazine and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the gripped side wall is moved, said bag pick up mechanism including means for bending said side wall about axes generally parallel to the bag mouth to at least partially open the bag mouth as the gripped side wall is being moved away from the magazine, operable first means mounted on the frame to rotate the shaft between a bag pick up position and a bag transfer position, operable elongated second means mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith for mounting the bag pick up mechanism and moving the bag pick up mechanism relative the shaft between a first position to pick up a bag when the shaft is in its bag pick up position and a second position more closely adjacent the shaft than said first position, and control means for operating the first means to move the shaft from the bag transfer position to the bag pick up position, the second means to move said pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position while the shaft is in the bag pick up position, and then the first means to move the shaft from its bag pick up position toward its bag transfer position and to operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall of the bag on the magazine when both the shaft is in its bag pick up position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its second position and to release the gripping engagement with the picked up bag when the first means has been operated to move the shaft from its bag pick up position to its bag transfer position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that the hopper assembly has bag clamps and means for mounting the bag clamps and bag jaws for relative movement between a bag clamped, jaw open third position and a bag clamp open, jaw closed fourth position, and that there is provided operable third means on the frame for relatively moving the bag clamps and jaws between the third and fourth positions and that the control means includes means for operating the third means to the fourth position while the shaft is out of the bag transfer position and the second means to move the pick up mechanism to its first position while the shaft is being operated from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position.

16. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a paper bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portion sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper spout assembly jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, the hopper assembly having bag clamps and means for mounting the bag clamps and bag jaws for relative movement between a bag clamped, jaw open third position and a bag clamp open, jaw closed fourth position, and operable third means on the frame for relatively moving the bag clamps and jaws between the third and fourth positions, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, operable bag pick up mechanism for grippingly engaging one side wall of a bag on the bag magazine and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the gripped side wall is moved, operable first means mounted on the frame to rotate the shaft between a bag pick up position and a bag transfer position, operable elongated second means mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith for mounting the bag pick up mechanism and moving the bag pick up mechanism relative the shaft between a first position to pick up a bag when the shaft is in its bag pick up position and a second position more closely adjacent the shaft than said first position, and control means for operating the first means to move the shaft from the bag transfer position to the bag pick up position, the second means to move said pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position while the shaft is in the bag pick up position, and then the first means to move the shaft from its bag pick up position toward its bag transfer position and to operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall of the bag on the magazine when both the shaft is in its bag pick up position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its second position and to release the gripping engagement with the picked up bag when the first means has been operated to move the shaft from its bag pick up position to its bag transfer position, the control means including means for operating the third means to the fourth position while the shaft is out of the bag transfer position and the second means to move the pick up mechanism to its first position while the shaft is being operated from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position, and the bag pick up mechanism including a pair of transversely spaced vacuum cups for gripping the bag side wall adjacent the bag mouth and a third vacuum cup for gripping the bag side wall further remote from the bag mouth than the pair of cups, said cups having rim portions for forming a fluid seal with a bag, a transverse break member between the pair of cups and third cup, fourth means for mounting the cups and break member on the second means for movement relative one another, and fifth means connected to the fourth means and the cups and the break member for resiliently urging the break member and one of the pair of cups and the third cup to positions more closely adjacent the bags on the bag magan'ne than the other of said pair of cups and third cup when the shaft is in the bag pick up position and the bag pick up mechanism is in the second position while permitting the vacuum cups and the break member moving to positions that the vacuum cup rim portions and break member are closely adjacent a plane that is generally parallel to the bags on the bag magazine.

17 r The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that the bag magazine includes a magazine frame, an endless conveyor belt having a horizontally, transversely elongated upper run of a length many times greater than the width of a bag, sixth means for mounting the belt on the frame and drivable moving the belt about axes substantially inclined to the horizontal, said upper run having an upper edge and a lower edge, and a bottom wall mounted on the magazine frame adjacent the belt lower edge to extend generally perpendicular to the upper run and being elongated in the direction of elongation of the upper run.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further characterized in that there is provided seventh means for driving the sixth means for driving the belt to move the upper run in a given direction, that the bag magazine includes an end wall mounted on the magazine frame in overhanging relationship to one end portion of the upper end to limit the movement of stacks of bags on the upper run in the last mentioned direction.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that control means includes means for actuating the seventh means to drive the sixth means to move the upper run when no bags are adjacent the end wall and discontinue the actuation of the seventh means when bags are adjacent the end wall and preventing the first means being operated to move the shaft from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position while the seventh means is actuated.

20. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a paper bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper spout assembly jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at lease partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame, operable bag pick up mechanism for grippingly engaging one side wall of a bag on the bag magazine and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the gripped side wall is moved, openable first means mounted on the frame to rotate the shaft between a bag pick up position and a bag transfer position, operable elongated second means mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith for mounting the bag pick up mechanism and moving the bag pick up mechanism relative the shaft between a first position to pick up a bag when the shaft is in its bag pick up position and a second position more closely adjacent the shaft than said first position, and control means for operating the first means to move the shaft from the bag transfer position to the bag pick up position, the second means to move said pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position while the shaft is in the bag pick up position, and then the first means to move the shaft from its bag pick up position toward its bag transfer position and to operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall of the bag on the magazine when both the shaft is in its bag pick up position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its second position and to release the gripping engagement with the picked up bag when the first means has been operated to move the shaft from its bag pick up position to its bag transfer position, the bag pick up mechanism including first and second vacuum cups transversely spaced from one another, a transverse break member, a third vacuum cup, each of said cups having a rim portion for abutting against a bag, third means mounting the first and second cups and break member for angular movement about a first transverse axis, resiliently urging the break member and the first and second cups in opposite angular directions and limiting the angular movement of the break member and first and second cups to datum positions, and elongated fourth means for mounting the third vacuum cup generally on the opposite side of the break member from the first and second cups, said third and fourth means mounting the cups and break member to have the rim portions and the break member to abut the bag side wall when the shaft is in the bag pick up position and the second means has been operated to move said pick up mechanism to the first position, and said control means including means for applying and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further characterized in that the third means includes a transverse pivot member, mounting means pivotally mounted on the pivot member and having one end portion for mounting the first and second vacuum cups on the opposite side of the pivot member from the break member, fifth means connected to the mounting means and extending on the opposite side of the pivot member from the first and second cups for abutting against the bag side wall as the second means is operated to move the pick up mechanism from its second position to its first position when the shaft is in the bag pick up position to move the mounting means to move the first and second cups about the pivot member in one angular direction and resiliently urge the mounting means to move the first and second cups to move in an angular direction opposite said one angular direction.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that fourth means includes sixth means for mounting the third vacuum cup for limited movement relative the pivot member between a third position and a fourth position more closely adjacent the pivot member than the third position and resiliently urging the third vacuum cup to the third position.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further characterized in that the sixth means includes a mounting member, an elongated arm member having one end portion mounted on the mounting member for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis parallel to the pivot member and an opposite end portion mounting the third vacuum cup for pivotal movement about a third transverse axis, a stop member connected to the arm member to limit the pivotal movement of the arm member about the second transverse axis in one direction to a limit position, and resilient means connected to third vacuum cup and the mounting member to pivot the arm member about the second transverse axis in the one direction and the third vacuum cup about the third transverse axis to its third position when the arm member is in its limit position.

24. The apparatus of claim further characterized in that the control means includes means for automatically applying a vacuum to said cups as the first means has moved the shaft from the bag transfer position toward and closely adjacent the bag pick up position and fifth means to automatically initiate the operation of the second means to move the bag pick up mechanism from its first position to its second position upon the rim portions abutting against the side wall of a bag on the bag magazine.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further characterized in that the fifth means includes means to automatically recycle the operation of the second means to move the bag pick up mechanism between the first and second positions upon the bag pick up mechanism moving from its first position to its second position when one of the cups in returning the bag pick up mechanism to its second position is out of fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall and block operation of the first means to move the shaft from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position until all the cups are in fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall,

26. The apparatus of claim 24 further characterized in that the control means includes means for applying air under pressure to the vacuum cups as the first means moves the shaft from the bag transfer position to the bag pick up position and discontinue the application of air under pressure through the cups prior to the shaft moving to the bag pick up position.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further characterized in that the second means includes a two way piston cylinder combination having a cylinder keyed to said shaft and a piston rod to move the pick up mechanism between the first and second positions, and that the control means includes valve means operable between a first position to apply air to one end of the cylinder to operate the piston rod to its first position and a second position to apply air to the opposite end of the cylinder to operate the piston rod to its second position, and that the vacuum applying means includes a source of vacuum, first vacuum lines for connecting the source of vacuum to said cups, a control valve in said first vacuum lines to block the application of vacuum from the source to the cups and altemately fluidly connect the source of vacuum to said cups, a second vacuum line in fluid communication with the first vacuum lines between the control valve and the cups and fluidly connected to the valve means for applying a vacuum thereto to operate the valve means to its second position and a check valve in the second line to block the application of vacuum through the second line to the valve means until a substantial negative pressure has built up in the first lines.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further characterized in that the control means includes fifth means to operate the control valve to fluidly connect the source to the cups when the shaft is in the bag pick up position and to block the application of vacuum to the cups after the shaft has been moved from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position, and that there is provided means in the second line between the check valve and the valve means to block the application of vacuum to the valve means when the shaft is moved from its first position.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further characterized in that the first means includes a second two way piston cylinder combination having a cylinder pivotally connected to the frame and a piston rod connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft as the piston rod is moved between an extended position and a retracted position, that the hopper assembly includes bag clamps and means mounting the bag clamps and jaws for relative movement between a jaw closed, bag clamp open fifth position and a jaw open, clamp closed sixth position and that there is provided a third two way piston cylinder combination for relatively moving clamps and jaws between the fifth and sixth position and that the control means includes means to operate the third combination to relatively move the clamps and jaws to their sixth position as the shaft is moved closely adjacent its bag transfer position.

30. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a frame, bag pick up mechanism having a plurality of vacuum cups for abutting-against a bag on the bag magazine to grip a bag on the magazine and at least partially open the bag mouth as the bag is removed from the magazine, operable reciprocal first means for moving the bag pick up mechanism between an extended first position and a retracted second position, operable second means mounted on the frame for mounting the first means and moving the first means between a third position that the bag pick up mechanism in its first position abuts against a bag on the magazine and a fourth position that the first means is adjacent the hopper assembly, and control means for operating the second means to move the first means from the fourth position to the third position, the first means to move the pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position when the first means is in its third position, then operate the second means to move the first means from its third position to its fourth position, and operate the bag pickup mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall when both the first means is in its third position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its first position and to release the gripped bag after the first means has been operated from the third position to its fourth position, the control means including a source of vacuum, and third means for automatically applying a vacuum to said cups after the second means moves the first means from its fourth position toward the third position and fourth means to automatically initiate the operation of the first means to move the bag pick up mechanism from the first position to the second position, said fourth means including means to automatically recycle the operation of the bag pick up mechanism between the first and second positions upon the bag pick up mechanism moving from its first position to its second position when one of the cups in the return of the bag pick up mechanism to its second position is out of fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall and block the operation of the second means from the third position to the fourth position until all cups are in fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further characterized in that the first means includes a two way piston cylinder combination having a piston rod mounting the bag pick up mechanism and in an extended position relative the cylinder positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the first position and in a retracted position relative the cylinder, positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the second position.

32. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portions sufiiciently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a frame, bag pick up mechanism having a plurality of vacuum cups for abutting against a bag on the bag magazine to grip a bag on the magazine and at least partially open the bag mouth as the bag is removed from the magazine, operable reciprocal first means for moving the bag pick up mechanism between an extended first position and a retracted second position, the first means includes a two way piston cylinder combination having a piston rod mounting the bag pick up mechanism and in an extended position relative the cylinder positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the first position and in a retracted position relative the cylinder, positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the second position, operable second means mounted on the frame for mounting the first means and moving the first means between a third position that the bag pick up mechanism in its first position abuts against a bag on the magazine and a fourth position that the first means is adjacent the hopper assembly, and control means for operating the second means to move the first means from the fourth position to the third position, the first means to move the pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position when the first means is in its third position, then operate the second means to move the first means from its third position to its fourth position, and operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall when both the first means is in its third position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its first position and to release the gripped bag after the first means has been operated from the third position to its fourth position, the control means including a source of vacuum, first vacuum lines for connecting the source of vacuum to said cups, a control valve in said first lines for permitting the application of vacuum from said source to said cups when the first means is operated from its fourth position to its third position and also when the first means is in its third position, and to discontinue the application of vacuum to said cups after the first means has moved to its fourth position, the control means including valve means operable between a first position for applying air under pressure to one end of the cylinder to move the piston rod to its extended position and a second position for applying air under pressure to the other end of the cylinder to move the piston rod to its retracted position, a second vacuum line fluidly connected to the first vacuum lines between the control valve and the vacuum cups and to the valve means for applying a vacuum thereto to operate the valve means to the valve means second position, and third means in the second line to block the application of vacuum therethrough to the valving means until the negative pressure therein has reached a preselected measurement, and permit the application of vacuum to the valving means after the negative pressure has reached said preselected measurement.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 further characterized in that the control means includes a vacuum limit switch in the second line between the third means and the valving means for blocking the application of vacuum to the valving means after the first means has been operated from the third position toward the fourth position, and means for operating the valving means to its first position after the first means has been operated from the fourth position to the third position.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further characterized in that hopper assembly includes bag clamps, means for mounting the bag clamps and jaws fro relative movement between a jaw closed, clamp open fifth position and a jaw open, clamp closed sixth position and operable fourth means mounted on the frame for relatively moving the jaws and clamps between the fifth and sixth positions, and that the control means includes fifth means for operating the fourth means to relatively move the jaws and clamps to the sixth position to receive the partially open bag from the bag pick up mechanism when the bag pick up mechanism is in its first position and the first means is in the fourth position, and as the first means is operated to its fourth position, open the received bag to receive a charge from the hopper assembly and support the opened bag, and to operate the control valve to block the application of vacuum through the first lines after the jaws and clamps are in the sixth position.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further characterized in that there is provided a conveyor beneath the hopper assembly for receiving a charged bag therefrom and moving the charged bag away from beneath the hopper assembly, and that the control means includes means mounted on the conveyor for blocking actuation of the second means to move the first means from the third position to the fourth position until the conveyor has moved the charged bag a preselected distance away from beneath the hopper assembly, and as the charged bag moves said preselected distance, permit actuation of the second means, and that the fifth means includes means operated by the second means moving the first means from the fourth position to the third position to operate the fourth means to move the jaws and clamps to the fifth position to release the charged bag.

36. In a method of transferring a flat folded tubular paper bag having side walls and a bag mouth from a bag magazine to a hopper assembly comprising the steps of pneumatically grippingly engaging one bag side wall at a pair of spaced locations adjacent the bag mouth and at a third location more remote from the bag mouth than said pair of locations and removing the bag that is gripped at the three locations from the magazine including bending the gripped side wall about axes generally parallel to the bag mouth and intermediate the pair of gripped locations and the third location for separating the side wall portion that is gripped at said two locations from the adjacent side wall portion of the other bag side wall to at least partially open the bag mouth as the bag is removed from the magazine and contacting the gripped side wall at said axes as it is being bent.

37. The method of claim 36 further characterized in that the removing step including initially moving the bag portion at the pair of gripped locations away from the magazine prior to the side wall portions at the third location.

38. In a method of transferring a flat folded tubular paper bag having side walls and a bag mouth from a bag magazine to a hopper assembly comprising the steps of pneumatically grippingly engaging one bag side wall at a pair of spaced locations adjacent the bag mouth and at a third location more remote from the bag mouth that said pair of locations, bending the gripped side wall about axes generally parallel to the bag mouth and intermediate the pair of gripped locations and the third location for separating the side wall portion that is gripped at said two locations from the adjacent side wall portion of the other bag side wall to at lease partially open the bag mouth, and removing the gripped bag from the magazine, the removing step including initially moving the bag portion at the pair of gripped locations away from the magazine prior to the side wall portion at the third location and the bending step including exerting a mechanical force intermediate the pair of gripped locations and the third location that opposes the removal of the bag from the bag magazine during the initial removal of the bag from the bag magazine.

39. The method of claim 38 further characterized in shifting the gripped side wall in a direction that the location of the ap-' plication of the mechanical force to the gripped side wall is applied more remote to the bag mouth as the bag is initially removed from the bag magazine.

40. In the method of transferring a flat folded tubular bag having a first side wall, a second side wall and a bag mouth from a bag magazine to a hopper assembly, comprising grippingly engaging the first side wall at a first portion remote from the bag mouth, then grippingly engaging the first side wall at a second portion adjacent the bag mouth and applying a bag removal force at the gripped portions to remove the gripped bag from the bag magazine initially oppositing the removal force to the first bag side wall intermediate the first and second portions to partially open the bag mouth as the bag is being removed from the magazine.

41. The method of claim 40 further characterized in that the steps of applying the removal force and opposing the withdrawing force includes bending the first portion relative to the second portion to move the part of the first portion most closely adjacent the bag mouth away from the corresponding adjacent portion of the second bag side wall.

42. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufiiciently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups including a first vacuum cup and a second vacuum cup, first means applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, the fourth means including a piston cylinder combination having a two way piston cylinder combination, said combination having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between an extended position to move the third means to said second position and a retracted position to move the third means to a fourth position that when the cups grip a bag the bag is spaced from both the hopper jaws and the bag magazine, the third means including a support member fixedly mounted on the piston rod, a transverse shaft fixedly mounted by the support member, a first elongated resilient mounting member having one end portion mounting the first cup, a second elongated resilient mounting member having one end portion mounting the second cup, said mounting members having opposite end portions, sixth means for pivotally mounting the opposite end portions on the shaft in transverse spaced relationship and pivoting said mounting members in one angular direction to move the first and second cups relative the support member toward the bag magazine as the piston rod moves toward and closely adjacent the third means second position, means for resiliently urging the sixth means in the opposite angular direction to a limit position, and seventh means for moving the mounting members to position the first and second cups generally transversely more closely adjacent one another as the third means is moved toward and adjacent its second position and permitting the mounting members moving the first and second cups transversely away from one another as the third means is moved away from its second position.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 further characterized in that the mounting members comprise leaf springs having width dimensions in planes generally perpendicular to the axis of pivotal movement of the members relative the shaft and that the seventh means includes bearing members having one end portions fixedly mounted on the shaft.

44. In bag pick up mechanism, a support member, a transverse shaft fixedly moved by the support member, a first, a second and a third vacuum cup having a rim portion, first means for pivotally mounting the first and second cups on the shaft in transverse spaced relationship generally on one side of the shaft, a transversely elongated break member having an axis of elongation, second means for mounting the break member parallel to the shaft, resiliently retaining the break member in a datum position, and permitting the break member being pivoted in one angular direction relative the shaft, third means for pivotally mounting the third cup on the support member on generally the opposite side of the shaft from the first and second cups, fourth means for resiliently retaining the first and third means in limit positions that the first and second cup rim portions are on one side of a plane of the axis of the break member and passing through the third cup rim portions and permitting movement of the first and third means to a bag pick up position that the rim portions and break member are in a common plane.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further characterized in that the first means includes a pair of elongated, transversely spaced leaf springs each having one end portion mounting the first vacuum cup and second vacuum cup respectively, resiliently retaining the first and second cups in a preselected transverse spaced relationship and permitting the first and second cups being moved transversely more closely adjacent one another, and that there is provided means mounted on the shaft to move the leaf springs to position said cups transversely more closely adjacent one another as first and third means are moved from their limit positions to their bag pick up positions.

46. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said plurality of vacuum cups includes a third vacuum cup and that said fifth means includes means for mounting the third cup for engagement with said side wall between the bag mouth and second means and in spaced relationship to the first cup.

47. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said second means includes a transversely elongated break member having an axis of elongation, that the first and second cups each have a rim portion and that the fifth means includes means for resiliently retaining the first and second cups and break member in a datum limit position that the first cup rim portion is on one side of a plane of the axis of the break member and passing through the second cup rim portion and permitting movement of the first and second cups and break member to a bag pick up position that the rim portions and break member are in a common plane.

48. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups, said plurality of vacuum cups including a first and second cup, first means for applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, said third means including a pair of elongated, transversely spaced leaf springs each having one end portion mounting the first and second cups respectively, resiliently retaining the first and second cups in a preselected transverse spaced relationship and permitting the first and second cups being moved transversely more closely adjacent one another, said leaf springs mounting the first and second cups for engagement with said side wall intermediate the second means and the bag mouth, and means to move the leaf springs to position said cups transversely more closely adjacent one another as the cups are moved from said first position to said second position.

49. For conveying a plurality of spaced stacks of flat folded bags to a position to be transferred to a hopper assembly and transferring bags to the hopper assembly, a bag magazine comprising a transversely elongated frame having first and second end portions, a drive roll mounted on the frame one portion and a driven roll mounted at the frame other end portion, said rolls being mounted by the frame generally parallel to one another and at a substantial inclined angle to the horizontal, an endless conveyor belt mounted by said rolls that has an upper run, a platform mounted by the frame to support said upper run intermediate the rolls, said upper run having a lower edge, a transversely elongated bottom wall mounted along the lower edge in a fixed position by at least one of the platform and frame, an end wall member mounted at least in part by at least one of the frame, bottom wall and the platform, said end wall member having a vertical wall portion in overhanging relationship to the upper run to extend generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and the upper run to limit movement of the stacks of bags in one direction, means to drive said drive roll to move the upper run in said one direction and first means to selectively actuate the drive means and deactuate the drive means and bag transfer apparatus having a second frame mounting the hopper assembly at a higher elevation than the bag magazine, operable bag pickup mechanism for grippingly engaging only one side wall of a bag on the magazine and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the bag is removed from the magazine, a two way acting piston cylinder combination having an elongated cylinder and a piston rod mounting said bag pick up mechanism and moving the bag pick up mechanism between an extended first position relative the cylinder and a retracted second position relative the cylinder and operable second means mounting cylinder and moving the cylinder between a third position that the cylinder extends generally perpendicular to the upper run and at a location that the bag pick up mechanism in the first position abuts against a bag on the stack of bags adjacent the end wall vertical portion and a fourth position that the bag pick up mechanism in the first position transfers the picked up bag to the hopper assembly, and control means for operating the bag pick up mechanism to its first position with the cylinder in its third position to grippingly engage the bag side wall.

Claims

1. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups including a first vacuum cup and a second vacuum cups, first means for applying a vacuum to said cups and alteRnately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, said third means including fifth means for mounting the second means and first and second cups for limited movement relative one another, resiliently retaining said cups and second means in a datum condition relative one another and mounting the first cup relative the second means in a position engageable with said side wall intermediate the second means and the bag mouth and the second cup in a position relative the second means in a position engageable with said side wall intermediate the second means and the bag opposite end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the fourth means comprising a first piston cylinder combination having an elongated cylinder and a piston rod mounting the third means for reciprocating the third means between a retracted position and an extended position relative the cylinder, and sixth means mounting the cylinder on the frame and moving the cylinder between a position that the cylinder extends toward the magazine and a second position that the cylinder extends generally in a direction toward the hopper assembly.

3. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups, first means for applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act in cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, the third means including a transverse first pivot member, sixth means for mounting tHe pivot member on the fourth means to extend generally parallel to the marginal edges that define the bag mouths of the bags on the bag magazine, elongated seventh means having one end portion pivotally mounted on the pivot member and an opposite end portion mounting a first vacuum cup a greater distance from the pivot member than the second means, eighth means connected to the seventh means for resiliently urging the seventh means to pivot about the pivot member in one angular direction and limit the pivotal movement of the seventh means in said one angular direction to a preselected position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that the angle of inclination of the rolls is about 20* to 30*.

16. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a paper bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portion sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper spout assembly jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, the hopper assembly having bag clamps and means for mounting the bag clamps and bag jaws for relative movement between a bag clamped, jaw open third position and a bag clamp open, jaw closed fourth position, and operable third means on the frame for relatively moving the bag clamps and jaws between the third and fourth positions, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, operable bag pick up mechanism for grippingly engaging one side wall of a bag on the bag magazine and at least partially opening the bag mouth as the gripped side wall is moved, operable first means mounted on the frame to rotate the shaft between a bag pick up position and a bag transfer position, operable elongated second means mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith for mounting the bag pick up mechanism and moving the bag pick up mechanism relative the shaft between a first position to pick up a bag when the shaft is in its bag pick up position and a second position more closely adjacent the shaft than said first position, and control means for operating the first means to move the shaft from the bag transfer position to the bag pick up position, the second means to move said pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position while the shaft is in the bag pick up position, and then the first means to move the shaft from its bag pick up position toward its bag transfer position and to operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall of the bag on the magazine when both the shaft is in its bag pick up position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its second position and to release the gripping engagement with the picked up bag when the first means has been operated to move the shaft from its bag pick up position to its bag transfer position, the control means including means for operating the third means to the fourth position while the shaft is out of the bag transfer position and the second means to move the pick up mechanism to its first position while the shaft is being operated from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position, and the bag pick up mechanism including a pair of transversely spaced vacuum cups for gripping the bag side wall adjacent the bag mouth and a third vacuum cup for gripping the bag side wall further remote from the bag mouth than the pair of cups, said cups having rim portions for forming a fluid seal with a bag, a transverse break member between the pair of cups and third cup, fourth means for mounting the cups and break member on the second means for movement relative one another, and fifth means connected to the fourth means and the cups and the break member for resiliently urging the break member and one of the pair of cups and the third cup to positions more closely adjacent the bags on the bag magazine than the other of said pair of cups and third cup when the shaft is in the bag pick up position and the bag pick up mEchanism is in the second position while permitting the vacuum cups and the break member moving to positions that the vacuum cup rim portions and break member are closely adjacent a plane that is generally parallel to the bags on the bag magazine.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that the bag magazine includes a magazine frame, an endless conveyor belt having a horizontally, transversely elongated upper run of a length many times greater than the width of a bag, sixth means for mounting the belt on the frame and drivable moving the belt about axes substantially inclined to the horizontal, said upper run having an upper edge and a lower edge, and a bottom wall mounted on the magazine frame adjacent the belt lower edge to extend generally perpendicular to the upper run and being elongated in the direction of elongation of the upper run.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 further characterized in that the control means includes means for automatically applying a vacuum to said cups as the first means has moved the shaft from the bag transfer position toward and closely adjacent the bag pick up position and fifth means to automatically initiate the operation of the second means to move the bag pick up mechanism from its first position to its second position upon the rim portions abutting against the side wall of a bag on the bag magazine.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further characterized in that the fifth means includes means to automatically recycle the operation of the second means to move the bag pick up mechanism between the first and second positions upon the bag pick up mechanism moving from its first position to its second position when one of the cups in returning the bag pick up mechanism to its second position is out of fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall and block operation of the first means to move the shaft from the bag pick up position to the bag transfer position until all the cups are in fluid sealing engagement with the bag side wall.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further characterized in that the second means includes a two way piston cylinder combination having a cylinder keyed to said shaft and a piston rod to move the pick up mechanism between the first and second positions, and that the control means includes valve means operable between a first position to apply air to one end of the cylinder to operate the piston rod to its first position and a second position to apply air to the opposite end of the cylinder to operate the piston rod to its second position, and that the vacuum applying means includes a source of vacuum, first vacuum lines for connecting the source of vacuum to said cups, a control valve in said first vacuum lines to block the application of vacuum from the source to the cups and alternately fluidly connect the source of vacuum to said cups, a second vacuum line in fluid communication with the first vacuum lines between the control valve and the cups and fluidly connected to the valve means for applying a vacuum thereto to operate the valve means to its second position and a check valve in the second line to block the application of vacuum through the second line to the valve means until a substantial negative pressure has built up in the first lines.

32. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening the bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a frame, bag pick up mechanism having a plurality of vacuum cups for abutting against a bag on the bag magazine to grip a bag on the magazine and at least partially open the bag mouth as the bag is removed from the magazine, operable reciprocal first means for moving the bag pick up mechanism between an extended first position and a retracted second position, the first means includes a two way piston cylinder combination having a piston rod mounting the bag pick up mechanism and in an extended position relative the cylinder positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the first position and in a retracted position relative the cylinder, positioning the bag pick up mechanism at the second position, operable second means mounted on the frame for mounting the first means and moving the first means between a third position that the bag pick up mechanism in its first position abuts against a bag on the magazine and a fourth position that the first means is adjacent the hopper assembly, and control means for operating the second means to move the first means from the fourth position to the third position, the first means to move the pick up mechanism from adjacent its second position to its first position and then back toward its second position when the first means is in its third position, then operate the second means to move the first means from its third position to its fourth position, and operate the bag pick up mechanism to grippingly engage the bag side wall when both the first means is in its third position and the bag pick up mechanism is in its first position and to release the gripped bag after the first means has been operated from the third position to its fourth position, the control means including a source of vacuum, first vacuum lines for connecting the source of vacuum to said cups, a control valve in said first lines for permitting the application of vacuum from said source to said cups when the first means is operated from its fourth position to its third position and also when the first means is in its third position, and to discontinue the application of vacuum to said cups after the first means has moved to its fourth position, the control means including valve means operable between a first position for applying air under pressure to one end of the cylinder to move the piston rod to its extended position and a second position for applying air under pressure to the other end of the cylinder to move the piston rod to its retracted position, a second vacuum line fluidly connected to the first vacuum lines between the control valve and the vacuum cups and to the valve means for applying a vacuum thereto to operate the valve means to the valve means second position, and third means in the second line to block the application of vacuum therethrough to the valving means until the negative pressure therein has reached a preselected measurement, and permit the application of vacuum to the valving means after the negative pressure has reached said preselected measurement.

39. The method of claim 38 further characterized in shifting the gripped side wall in a direction that the location of the application of the mechanical force to the gripped side wall is applied more remote to the bag mouth as the bag is initially removed from the bag magazine.

42. For grippingly engaging a side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on a bag magazine, transferring the gripped bag to a hopper spout assembly having openable jaws and at least partially opening bag mouth portions sufficiently during the transfer operation to have the hopper jaws in a closed condition extendable into the at least partially opened bag mouth, bag transferring apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame, a plurality of vacuum cups including a first vacuum cup and a second vacuum cup, first means applying a vacuum to said cups and alternately discontinuing the application of vacuum to the cups, second means for abutting against the bag side wall intermediate the bag mouth and the opposite end thereof, third means for mounting the vacuum cups and second means to be engageable with said side wall and moving the vacuum cups to act iN cooperation with the second means to at least partially open the bag mouth as the cups and second means are moved away from the magazine, fourth means for mounting the third means and moving the third means between a first position that the vacuum cups and second means are substantially spaced from the bags on the bag magazine, a second position that the vacuum cups engage the side wall of a bag in a flat folded condition on the magazine, and a third position that the bag gripped by the vacuum cups in at least a partially opened condition has the hopper jaws extended into the bag mouth, and fifth means for controlling the application of vacuum by the first means to apply the vacuum to the cups prior to the cups being moved to the second position and discontinue the application of vacuum after the cups have been moved from the second position to the third position, the fourth means including a piston cylinder combination having a two way piston cylinder combination, said combination having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between an extended position to move the third means to said second position and a retracted position to move the third means to a fourth position that when the cups grip a bag the bag is spaced from both the hopper jaws and the bag magazine, the third means including a support member fixedly mounted on the piston rod, a transverse shaft fixedly mounted by the support member, a first elongated resilient mounting member having one end portion mounting the first cup, a second elongated resilient mounting member having one end portion mounting the second cup, said mounting members having opposite end portions, sixth means for pivotally mounting the opposite end portions on the shaft in transverse spaced relationship and pivoting said mounting members in one angular direction to move the first and second cups relative the support member toward the bag magazine as the piston rod moves toward and closely adjacent the third means second position, means for resiliently urging the sixth means in the opposite angular direction to a limit position, and seventh means for moving the mounting members to position the first and second cups generally transversely more closely adjacent one another as the third means is moved toward and adjacent its second position and permitting the mounting members moving the first and second cups transversely away from one another as the third means is moved away from its second position.