Bagging System for Packaging a Foodstuff

Abstract

A system includes a carriage configured to transport a foodstuff along a path of movement. A bag dispenser positions a bag into the path of movement. A paddle includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an actuator. The paddle rotates about a pivot point proximate to the trailing edge. The actuator adjusts the paddle from retracted to extended, which increases the distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The leading edge of the paddle is configured to move into a mouth of the bag as the actuator is adjusted from retracted to extended. While the leading edge is in the extended position, the paddle rotates about the pivot point in response to movement of the carriage and the foodstuff. The rotation opens the mouth of the bag such that continued movement of the carriage and the foodstuff moves the foodstuff into the bag.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for packaging a foodstuff, the system comprising:
 a carriage configured to transport the foodstuff along a path of movement;   a bag dispenser configured to (i) hold a plurality of bags and (ii) position a first bag of the plurality of bags into the path of movement; and   a paddle including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an actuator, wherein:   the paddle is configured to rotate about a pivot point proximate to the trailing edge,   the actuator is configured to adjust the paddle between (i) a retracted position in which the leading edge is disposed at a first distance from the trailing edge and (ii) an extended position in which the leading edge is disposed at a second distance from the trailing edge,   the second distance is greater than the first distance,   the leading edge of the paddle is configured to move into a mouth of the first bag as the actuator is adjusted from the retracted position to the extended position,   the paddle is configured to, while the leading edge is in the extended position, rotate about the pivot point in response to movement of the carriage and the foodstuff along the path of movement underneath the paddle, and   the rotation opens the mouth of the first bag such that continued movement of the carriage and the foodstuff along the path of movement moves the foodstuff through the mouth of the first bag and into the first bag.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the path of movement is linear. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the paddle includes a hinge that forms the pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the hinge is located at the trailing edge. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the bag dispenser includes a hook configured to pass through the plurality of bags; and 
 the hook is configured such that, once the foodstuff is fully inserted into the first bag, continued movement of the carriage and the foodstuff along the path of movement operates to tear the first bag off of the hook. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a ramp disposed along the path of movement, 
 wherein the carriage moves the foodstuff along the ramp before the foodstuff is inserted into the first bag. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein:
 the bag dispenser includes a lip extending from the ramp toward the first bag; 
 the lip is configured to retain a lower layer of the first bag along the mouth of the first bag; and 
 the leading edge of the paddle is configured to move along the ramp, over the lip, and into the mouth of the first bag as the leading edge moves from the retracted position to the extended position. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the bag dispenser includes a gear rack, a pinion, and a platen; 
 the gear rack is arranged below the path of movement; 
 the pinion is configured to run in the gear rack; 
 the platen extends from the pinion; 
 the platen is configured to support the plurality of bags in a stack; and 
 the pinion is configured to advance the plurality of bags toward the path of movement by translating along the gear rack and moving the platen toward the path of movement. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the bag dispenser includes a spring coupled to the platen; and 
 the spring is configured to advance the pinion linearly along the gear rack. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the carriage includes a set of fingers configured to encircle a portion of a perimeter of the foodstuff; 
 the carriage is configured to at least partially insert the set of fingers into the mouth of the first bag along with the foodstuff; and 
 the set of fingers is configured to release the foodstuff in response to extraction of the first bag from the bag dispenser. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein:
 the set of fingers is configured to, in a first configuration, encircle the portion of the perimeter of the foodstuff to support the foodstuff laterally during insertion of the foodstuff into the first bag; and 
 the set of fingers is configured to, in response to advancing past the bag dispenser, expand outwardly into a second configuration to release the foodstuff and the first bag. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a chute with a first end disposed along the path of movement, 
 wherein the carriage is configured to move the foodstuff and the first bag into the first end of the chute after the foodstuff is fully inserted into the first bag. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plunger arranged vertically above the chute, 
 wherein the plunger is movable downward toward the chute to force the foodstuff and the first bag onto the chute after removal of the first bag from the bag dispenser. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the actuator is configured to, in response to detection of misalignment of a second bag from the bag dispenser with the path of movement, move the paddle into a discard setting. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a conveyor including a pair of loops moveable in parallel, 
 wherein the carriage extends between the pair of loops and removably engages the pair of loops, and 
 wherein the path of movement of the foodstuff is disposed between the pair of loops. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the bag dispenser is disposed between the pair of loops. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a portion of the carriage extends underneath the foodstuff to vertically support the foodstuff between the pair of loops. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein each loop of the pair of loops includes at least one of a chain and a belt. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a bag opener configured to move a first layer of the first bag relative to a second layer of the first bag to open the mouth of the first bag. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the bag opener includes a plunger through which a vacuum is drawn to grip a surface of the first layer of the first bag.