Method and apparatus for inserting bags into retainers

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for inserting empty bags into retainers, guide members are caused to approach both side edges of each supplied bag so that the vertically oriented guide grooves of the guide members contacted the side edges of the bag, thus positioning the bag in a position that is vertically aligned with a retainer. The bag mouth is opened by suction disks, and a plug is brought into the opened bag mouth. Then, the plug is lowered toward the retainer, so that both side edges of the bag is inserted into the insertion grooves of the retainer. After this insertion, a compressed gas is jetted out of a discharge opening at the tip end of the plug into the bag, so that the bag is spread open to the bottom thereof.

1 . A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein: 
 mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members, and    said bag and a retainer positioned beneath said bag are caused to approach each other, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,    wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
 bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said both side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, and  
 guiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.  
   
     
     
         2 . A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein: 
 a mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,    a plug is caused to be brought into said mouth of said bag, and    said plug and a retainer positioned beneath said plug are caused to approach each other, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,    wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
 bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, and  
 guiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.  
   
     
     
         3 . A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein: 
 a mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,    a plug is caused to be brought into said mouth of said bag, and    said plug is caused to be lowered toward a retainer that is positioned beneath said plug, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,    wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
 bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, and  
 guiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.  
   
     
     
         4 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  1  through  3 , wherein said guide members, which face each other while opening to an extent that is greater than a width of said bag, are caused to approach and contact both side edges of said bag in a horizontal direction.  
     
     
         5 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  1  through  3 , wherein 
 said bag is lowered toward said retainer that is positioned below said bag, and  
 upon said bag is thus lowered, said guide members are lowered to a point immediately above said retainer.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  1  through  3 , wherein said mouth of said bag is opened after said bag is positioned by said guide members with respect to said grooves formed in said retainer.  
     
     
         7 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  1  through  3 , wherein said bag that is positioned and said retainer are conveyed at a constant speed with said bag and said retainer being vertically aligned.  
     
     
         8 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said bag is lowered toward said retainer that is positioned below said bag, and    upon said bag is thus lowered, said guide members are lowered to a point immediately above said retainer.    
     
     
         9 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 4 , wherein said mouth of said bag is opened after said bag is positioned by said guide members with respect to said grooves formed in said retainer.  
     
     
         10 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 5 , wherein said mouth of said bag is opened after said bag is positioned by said guide members with respect to said grooves formed in said retainer.  
     
     
         11 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 4 , wherein said bag that is positioned and said retainer are conveyed with said bag and said retainer being vertically aligned.  
     
     
         12 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 5 , wherein said bag that is positioned and said retainer are conveyed with said bag and said retainer being vertically aligned.  
     
     
         13 . The method for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 6 , wherein said bag that is positioned and said retainer are conveyed with said bag and said retainer being vertically aligned.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for inserting bags into retainers, said apparatus comprising: 
 guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,    suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that said suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by said guide members, by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof,    a vertically movable plug which is brought into said mouth that is opened by said suction-chucking members, and    a retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath said guide members, wherein    said bag is caused to be positioned in a specified position by way of closing said guide members so that said guide members come into contact with both side edges of said bag,    a mouth of said bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking both sides of    said mouth of said bag by said suction-chucking members,    said plug is lowered and brought into said mouth of said bag, and    said plug is lowered toward said retainer positioned beneath said plug so that said bag is inserted into said retainer.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each comprising said guide members, suction-chucking members and plug are continuously conveyed over an annular path at a constant speed and uniform intervals,    a plurality of retainers are conveyed over a specified path at a same speed and same intervals as said insertion assemblies, and    said retainers and bags are conveyed, in at least a part of said specified path, with said retainers and bags being aligned vertically.    
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for inserting bags into retainers in which said apparatus is a rotary type bag insertion apparatus that receives a supply of bags and retainers, inserts said bags into said retainers and then discharges said bags together with said retainers, said apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies which are disposed at equal intervals around a circumference of a continuously rotating rotor, each of said insertion assemblies comprising: 
 guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,  
 suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that said suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by said guide members, by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof,  
 a vertically movable plug which is brought into said mouth that is opened by said suction-chucking members, and  
 a retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath said guide members,  
   wherein as said rotor is rotated, 
 said bag is caused to be positioned in a specified position by way of closing said guide members so that said guide members come into contact with both side edges of said bag,  
 a mouth of said bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking both sides of said mouth of said bag by said suction-chucking members,  
 said plug is lowered and brought into said mouth of said bag, and  
 said plug is lowered toward said retainer positioned beneath said plug so that said bag is inserted into said retainer.  
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 16 , further comprising a receiving stand which supports a lower end of said bag and is disposed along a track of revolution of said guide members, said receiving stand extending from at least a bag supply position to a plug insertion position on a circumference of a rotor beneath said guide members.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  14  through  17 , wherein said guide members are raised and lowered; and when said plug is lowered further after said plug is lowered so as to be brought into said bag, said guide members are lowered together with said plug.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of claims  14  through  17 , wherein said plug is provided with a gas discharge opening.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to  claim 18 , wherein said plug is provided with a gas discharge opening.