Bag loading method and assembly for a bag filling station

Abstract

A bag loading method and assembly including a bag tray for holding a stack of bags and a conveyor assembly positioned above the bag tray. The conveyor assembly is movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly is inclined with respect to the bag tray. Preferably, the conveyor assembly includes first and second rollers, a body portion between the first and second rollers, at least one vacuum generator communicating with the body portion for providing vacuum to the conveyor assembly, and an endless belt encircling portions of the rollers and the body portion. The endless belt engages the bag from the bag tray when the conveyor assembly is in the first position, and moves the bag to a position where the bag can be opened and filled when the conveyor assembly is in the second position.

1 . A device for filling and sealing bags, the device comprising: 
 a frame;    a loading station within the frame; and    a bag loading assembly coupled to the frame and adjacent the loading station, the bag loading assembly including 
 a bag holder for holding a stack of bags; and  
 a conveyor assembly adjacent the bag holder and movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag from the stack of bags, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly loads an open end of the bag into the loading station.  
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor assembly is substantially horizontal when in the first position and is inclined when in the second position.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the conveyor assembly is pivotable between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a lifting device coupled to the bag holder for moving the stack of bags with respect to the conveyor assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes first and second rollers, a body portion between the first and second rollers, an endless belt encircling portions of the rollers and the body portion, and at least one vacuum generator communicating with the body portion for providing vacuum to the conveyor assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the rollers is driven by a drive device.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the drive device is a motor.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion includes an upper cavity communicating with an upper surface of the conveyor assembly and a lower cavity communicating with a lower surface of the conveyor assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein a first vacuum supply communicates with the upper cavity and a second vacuum supply communicates with the lower cavity to independently apply vacuum to the upper surface of the conveyor assembly and to the lower surface of the conveyor assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the rollers communicates with a vacuum generator to supply a vacuum to an outer surface of the roller.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the endless belt includes apertures for communicating vacuum through the endless belt to a bag.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion has an overall width and a working width over which a vacuum communicates with the endless belt, the working width being adjustable to handle bags of varying sizes.  
     
     
         13 . A device for filling and sealing bags, the device comprising: 
 a frame;    a loading station within the frame;    a package loading assembly coupled to the frame and adjacent the loading station;    a bag loading assembly coupled to the frame and adjacent the loading station, the bag loading assembly including 
 a bag holder for holding a stack of bags;  
 a conveyor assembly adjacent the bag holder and movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag from the stack of bags, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly loads an open end of the bag into the loading station;  
   a bag manipulating assembly coupled to the frame to facilitate opening the bag; and    a welding assembly coupled to the frame for sealing the open end after the package has been loaded into the bag.    
     
     
         14 . A method of loading a bag into a loading station of an automated packaging device, the method comprising: 
 providing a stack of bags;    providing a conveyor assembly adjacent the stack of bags, the conveyor assembly being movable between a first, bag engaging position and a second, bag loading position, and having an endless conveyor capable of moving a bag to different locations on the conveyor assembly;    engaging a bag from the stack of bags when the conveyor assembly is in the first position;    moving the conveyor assembly to the second position;    actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag away from the stack of bags and into a loading position; and    actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag into the loading station.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including providing a bag lifting device and moving the stack of bags with respect to the conveyor assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bag lifting device moves the stack of bags towards the conveyor assembly when the conveyor assembly is in the first position so that one bag from the stack of bags can be engaged by the endless conveyor, and wherein the bag lifting device moves the stack of bags away from the conveyor assembly after the one bag is engaged by the endless conveyor.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein engaging the bag is accomplished using a vacuum.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag away from the stack of bags and into a loading position includes actuating a drive device to move the endless conveyor through a first distance in a first direction.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein actuating the endless conveyor to load the bag into the loading station includes actuating a drive device to move the endless conveyor through a second distance in a second direction.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes a bottom surface, and wherein engaging the bag from the stack of bags includes applying vacuum to the bottom surface so that the endless conveyor engages the bag adjacent the bottom surface.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag away from the stack of bags and into a loading position includes applying vacuum to the bottom surface and the top surface to maintain engagement between the bag and the endless conveyor as the bag moves from the bottom surface to the top surface on the endless conveyor.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes a roller, and wherein actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag away from the stack of bags and into a loading position further includes applying vacuum to the roller to maintain engagement between the bag and the endless conveyor as the bag moves between the bottom surface and the top surface.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes a top surface, and wherein actuating the endless conveyor to load the bag into the loading station includes applying vacuum to the top surface so that the endless conveyor maintains engagement with the bag adjacent the top surface.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein moving the conveyor assembly to the second position and actuating the endless conveyor to move the bag away from the stack of bags and into a loading position occur substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         25 . A bag feeder for a bag filling device, the bag feeder comprising: 
 a bag cartridge tray for holding at least one bag;    a conveyor assembly positioned above the bag cartridge tray and movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly is inclined with respect to the bag cartridge tray, the conveyor assembly including: 
 first and second rollers;  
 a body portion between the first and second rollers;  
 at least one vacuum generator communicating with the body portion for providing vacuum to the conveyor assembly; and  
 an endless belt encircling portions of the rollers and the body portion, the endless belt being capable of engaging the bag from the bag cartridge tray when the conveyor assembly is in the first position and moving the bag to a position where the bag is opened and filled when the conveyor assembly is in the second position.  
   
     
     
         26 . The bag feeder of  claim 25 , wherein the body portion includes an upper cavity communicating with an upper surface and a lower cavity communicating with a lower surface, each of the upper and lower surfaces including apertures communicating with the respective upper and lower cavities such that vacuum in the upper cavity communicates with the apertures in the upper surface and vacuum in the lower cavity communicates with the apertures in the lower surface.  
     
     
         27 . The bag feeder of  claim 26 , wherein the body portion has an overall width and a working width over which a vacuum communicates with the endless belt, the working width being adjustable to handle bags of varying sizes.  
     
     
         28 . The bag feeder of  claim 27 , wherein the working width is adjusted by selectively covering and uncovering apertures in the upper and lower surfaces.  
     
     
         29 . A method of feeding bags into a bag filling device, the method comprising: 
 assembling a stack of bags;    positioning a conveyor above and adjacent the stack of bags; and    engaging a bag from the stack of bags; and    moving the conveyor to move the bag to a position where the bag is opened and filled.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein engaging the bag includes applying vacuum to the conveyor such that the bag is held to an endless conveyor belt.  
     
     
         31 . The method of claim  30 , wherein moving the conveyor to move the bag includes moving the endless conveyor belt while applying vacuum to the conveyor.