Method and system for bagging material

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for enclosing material in a bag is described for a bag comprising a stretchable material and having a first dimension and a second dimension. The method comprises stretching the bag in the first dimension, placing material in the bag, releasing the bag in the first dimension, stretching the bag in a second dimension, evacuating the bag, and sealing the bag. The apparatus comprises a bagger configured to stretch the bag in a first dimension, to receive the material, and to release the bag in the first dimension, and a packaging apparatus comprising a nozzle coupled to a vacuum system, a grasping means, and a clipper means, the grasping means configured to hold a neck of the bag to the nozzle and to stretch the bag in the second dimension.

1 . An apparatus for sealing a bag of encased material, comprising:
 a nozzles connected to a central vacuum system, each said nozzle having a tip, each said tip extending through a grasping means, the grasping means being movable along the nozzle from a first position adjacent to the tip to a second position remote from the tip;   a clipping means adjacent to the tip.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grasping means comprises jaws. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clipping means comprises a clipper. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the clipper comprises gathering jaws, a clip rail, a punch, and a die. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bagger. 
     
     
         6 . A method of sealing a bag of enclosed material, the method comprising the steps of:
 stretching a bag radially;   placing the material in the bag;   releasing the radial stretch;   grasping the neck of the bag;   evacuating air from inside the bag;   pulling the neck of the bag away from the material; and   applying a clip to the neck;   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of
 severing the neck above the clip;   trimming the tail of the bag;   weighing the bag; and   applying a tag to the bag.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising netting the bag.