Bag manipulating method and assembly for a bag filling station

Abstract

A bag manipulating method and assembly including a pair of bag grippers that receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station. The bag grippers are movable in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station. The bag manipulating assembly also includes upper and lower bag spreader assemblies, each having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag. Preferably, the bag grippers move toward each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis while the bag is being spread apart to facilitate opening the bag. To facilitate closing and sealing the bag, the bag grippers move away from each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis after the bag has been filled.

1 . A method of packaging an item in a bag using an automated packaging device, the method comprising: 
 loading an open end of a bag into a loading station;    gripping opposing sides of the bag with respective bag grippers as the bag is loaded into the loading station;    opening the open end of the bag with a bag spreader assembly;    loading the item into the bag with a package loading assembly; and    sealing the open end of the bag with a welding assembly after the item has been loaded into the bag;    wherein each of the bag grippers maintains the grip on the bag while the bag is opened, the item is loaded, and the open end is sealed so that control of the bag is maintained throughout the packaging process.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the bag grippers in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station while opening the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bag grippers are moved toward one another while the open end of the bag is being opened.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the bag grippers are moved via cam action.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the bag grippers are moved via respective linear actuators.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the bag grippers in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station after loading the item into the bag and before sealing the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bag grippers are moved away from one another after loading the item into the bag and before sealing the open end of the bag to facilitate sealing the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bag grippers are moved via cam action.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bag grippers are moved via respective linear actuators.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including closing the open end of the bag with the bag spreader assembly prior to sealing the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein opening the open end of the bag with the bag spreader assembly includes applying suction to the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein opening the open end of the bag with the bag spreader assembly includes inserting a spreader plate into the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further including trimming the open end of the bag during sealing.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including evacuating the trimmed portion of the bag using suction.