Bag packaging method and assembly for a bag filling station

Abstract

A packaging method and assembly includes a bag loading assembly operable to load single sized bags into a loading station at a plurality of distances and a cutter assembly operable to cut the single sized bag to a desired size. A bag manipulating assembly operable to open the bag to allow a package to be inserted into the bag and to seal the bag after the package has been inserted into the bag. The packaging method and assembly also preferably includes a tail remover that removes the cut tail of the bag from the packaging assembly.

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 one of a plurality of second positions, where the conveyor assembly loads an open end of the bag into the loading station at one of a plurality of distances.  
   
     
     
         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 one of the plurality of 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 and selectively operable to selectively determine the distance the bag is fed into the loading station.  
     
     
         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 one of a plurality of second positions, where the conveyor assembly loads an open end of the bag into the loading station at one of a plurality of distances; and  
   a bag manipulating assembly coupled to the frame to facilitate gripping the bag and opening the bag, the bag manipulating assembly including 
 a plurality of gripper plates for gripping the bag and opening the bag, the gripper plates extending longitudinally into the bag.  
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a welding assembly coupled to the frame for sealing the open end after the package has been loaded into the bag.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a cutter assembly for cutting a tail from the bag, the cutter assembly including a knife extendable through the bag to separate the tail from the bag.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a tail removing conveyor for removing the tail from the device.  
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging an item in a bag using an automated packaging device, the method comprising: 
 providing a loading assembly feeding a selective amount of an open end of a bag into a loading station;    cutting a tail of the bag from the bag;    removing the tail from the automated packaging device; and    providing a bag manipulating assembly having a plurality of gripper plates for gripping the bag and opening the bag, the gripper plates extending longitudinally into the bag.    loading the item into the bag;    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the loading assembly feeds the bag into the loading station at one of a plurality of distances.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further includes loading the item into the bag after the bag has been opened.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further includes providing a welding assembly having an upper welding jaw and a lower welding jaw, at least one of the upper and the lower welding jaws being movably coupled to the frame via at least one support member.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further includes sealing the open end of the bag between the welding jaws after the item has been loaded into the bag.  
     
     
         22 . A device for opening and sealing a bag, the device comprising: 
 a frame;    a loading station within the frame;    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 one of a plurality of second positions, where the conveyor assembly loads an open end of the bag into the loading station at one of a plurality of distances;  
   an upper jaw movable in a substantially vertical plane;    a lower jaw movable in the same substantially vertical plane as the upper jaw and supported on the frame by at least one support member;    an upper gripper plate pivotally mounted to the upper jaw, the upper gripper plate being operable to extend longitudinally into the bag and open the bag; and    a lower gripper plate pivotally mounted to the lower jaw, the lower gripper plate being operable to extend longitudinally into the bag and open the bag.    
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the upper and lower gripper plates extend longitudinally into the bag at substantially the same time.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , firther comprising an upper welding jaw coupled to the upper jaw and a lower welding jaw coupled to the lower jaw, wherein the upper welding jaw and the lower welding jaw operate in unison to seal an open end of the bag.