Apparatus and method for automatic bag loading

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatic opening of bags uses bags in a folded configuration that include a small aperture near the top thereof. The aperture allows a number of bags to be hung in a substantially vertical orientation on an angled protruding member. A vacuum-operated device engages one side of one of the bags and extracts it from the protruding member. The bag, still in the folded configuration, is moved into position opposite a second vacuum-operated device. The second vacuum-operated device engages the extracted bag on the opposite side of the bag from the first vacuum-operated device. The second vacuum-operated device is activated and one or both of the vacuum-operated devices are moved away from each other to open the bag into an unfolded configuration. The unfolded bag may be positioned in a loading area by synchronized movement of both vacuum-operated devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bag loading apparatus for use with bags having an aperture therein, comprising: 
 a protruding member sized to fit through the aperture in the bags and thereby retain the bags in a substantially vertical orientation;    a first vacuum-operated device having an operating surface to engage a first one of the bags on a first side of the bag and thereby extract the first bag from the protruding member; and    a second vacuum-operated device having an operating surface opposed to the operating surface of the first vacuum-operated device to engage the first bag on a second side of the bag and thereby open the first bag.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first vacuum-operated device operating surface comprises first and second suction cups to engage the first side of the first bag.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second vacuum-operated device operating surface comprises first and second suction cups to engage the second side of the first bag.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the protruding member is cylindrical.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the protruding member projects at an upward orientation.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting edge associated with the protruding member to cut the first bag from the protruding member.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first vacuum-operated device is moveably mounted to permit movement toward the first side of the first bag and thereby permit engagement of the first side of the first bag by the first vacuum-operated device operating surface.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first vacuum-operated device is moveably mounted to permit movement toward the second vacuum-operated device and thereby permit engagement of the second side of the first bag by the second vacuum-operated device operating surface.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first support member to which the first vacuum-operated device is moveably mounted wherein the first vacuum-operated device extracts the first bag from the protruding member and is laterally displaced along the first support member into alignment with the second vacuum-operated device.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a second support member to which the second vacuum-operated device is slidably mounted wherein the second vacuum-operated device opens the first bag and the first and second vacuum-operated devices are laterally displaced along the first and second support members, respectively, into alignment with a loading position to permit loading of the first bag.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bags each have first and second ends with the second end being sealed and the first end being unsealed to permit loading of the bag when open, the aperture being located proximate the first end of the bag.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bags each have first and second ends with the second end being sealed and the first end being unsealed to permit loading of the bag when open, the aperture being located proximate the first end of the bag.  
     
     
         13 . A method for automatically loading a bag for use with bags having an aperture therein, comprising: 
 hanging the bags on a protruding member sized to fit through the aperture in the bags;    engaging a first one of the bags on a first side of the bag and thereby extracting the first bag from the protruding member;    engaging the first bag on a second side of the bag and thereby opening the first bag; and    loading the open first bag.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein engaging the first bag comprises activating a first vacuum-operated device to engage the first side of the first bag and thereby extract the first bag from the protruding member.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein activating the first vacuum-operated device comprises activating first and second suction cups to engage the first side of the first bag.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein engaging the second side of the first bag comprises activating a second vacuum-operated device to engage the second side of the first bag.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein activating the second vacuum-operated device comprises activating first and second suction cups to engage the second side of the first bag.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein extracting the first bag comprises using a cutting edge to cut through a portion of the first bag and thereby extract the first bag from the protruding member.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  engaging the first side of the first bag comprises moving a first vacuum-operated device toward the first side of the first bag and thereby permit engagement of the first side of the first bag by the first vacuum-operated device.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  extracting first bag comprises moving a first vacuum-operated device away from the first side of the first bag following engagement of the first side of the first bag by the first vacuum-operated device to thereby extract the first bag from the protruding member.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein engaging the second side of the first bag comprises moving a first vacuum-operated device, in engagement with the first side of the extracted first bag, toward a second vacuum-operated device to thereby permit engagement of the second side of the first bag by the second vacuum-operated device.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein engaging the second side of the first bag comprises moving the extracted first bag, in engagement with a first vacuum-operated device, into alignment with a second vacuum-operated device to permit engagement of the second side of the first bag by the second vacuum-operated device.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13  wherein opening the first bag comprises moving a first vacuum-operated device, in engagement with the first side of the extracted first bag, away from a second vacuum-operated device, in engagement with the second side of the extracted first bag, to thereby open the first bag.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein loading the open first bag comprises moving the extracted first bag, in engagement with a first vacuum-operated device on the first side and in engagement with a second vacuum-operated device on the second side into a loading position.