Method for automated produce 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 a first bag on the side of the bag opposite to the aperture and retracts, thus opening the bag using the force generated between the protruding member and the vacuum-operated device. This allows the bag to be opened without extraction from the protruding member. The open bag is clamped in position and loaded using conventional technology. The fully loaded bag is moved out of the loading position onto a conveyor belt. The movement of the fully loaded bag tears the back portion of the bag near the aperture thus freeing the bag from the protruding member. The loaded bag may be subsequently sealed and processed for shipping.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for automatic produce packing in shipping containers comprising: 
 hanging a multi-wall paper bale on a single protruding member in an automatic produce packing machine, the paper bale having sufficient size to receive and sufficient strength to retain during shipping a plurality of consumer sized bags of produce and having an elongated front panel, an elongated flat back panel, elongated left and right side panels adjoining the front and back panels, a closed bottom panel joining the front and back panels with the left and right side panels, an open top portion, an aperture in the back panel proximate the top portion and sized to receive the protruding member with the back panel having a continuous perimeter surrounding the aperture, and a cut-away portion in the front panel proximate the top portion to expose the aperture wherein the aperture is in the back panel only, the paper bale being hung on the protruding member in a substantially vertical orientation and retained on the protruding member;    activating a vacuum-operated engagement member having an operating surface to engage the front panel of the paper bale;    repositioning the engaged engagement member to open the paper bale;    clamping the left and right side portions of the opened paper bale;    positioning the opened and clamped paper bale in proximity with a loading chute; and    loading the plurality of consumer sized bags of produce into the opened and clamped paper bale.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disengaging the engagement member following clamping of the left and right side portions of the opened paper bale.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising unclamping the left and right side portions of the opened paper bale after completion of the loading.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein unclamping the left and right side portions permits the loaded paper bale to tear loose from the protruding member.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein opening the paper bale comprises repositioning the vacuum-operated engagement member to thereby exert a force on the front panel of the paper bale using the engagement member and exerting a force on the back panel of the paper bale using only the protruding member to thereby open the bag using the engagement member and the protruding member.  
     
     
         6 . A method for automatic produce packing in shipping containers comprising: 
 hanging a multi-wall paper bale on a single protruding member in an automatic produce packing machine, the paper bale having sufficient size to receive and sufficient strength to retain during shipping a plurality of consumer sized bags of produce and having an elongated front panel, an elongated flat back panel, elongated left and right side panels adjoining the front and back panels, a closed bottom panel joining the front and back panels with the left and right side panels, an open top portion, an aperture in the back panel proximate the top portion and sized to receive the protruding member with the back panel having a continuous perimeter surrounding the aperture, and a cut-away portion in the front panel proximate the top portion to expose the aperture wherein the aperture is in the back panel only, the paper bale being hung on the protruding member in a substantially vertical orientation and retained on the protruding member;    activating a first vacuum-operated engagement member having an operating surface to engage the back panel of the paper bale;    repositioning the vacuum-operated engagement member to remove the paper bale from the protruding member;    activating a second vacuum-operated engagement member having an operating surface opposed to the operating surface of the first engagement member to engage the front panel of the paper bale;    increasing the distance between the first and second engagement members to open the paper bale;    clamping the left and right side portions of the opened paper bale;    positioning the opened and clamped paper bale in proximity with a loading chute; and    loading the plurality of consumer sized bags of produce into the opened and clamped paper bale.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising deactivating the first and second engagement members.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein deactivating the first and second engagement members occurs prior to loading the plurality of consumer sized bags of produce.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising unclamping the left and right side portions of the opened paper bale after completion of the loading.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the protruding member is equipped with a cutting surface and removing the paper bale comprises drawing the paper bale across the cutting surface in a position adjacent to the aperture.  
     
     
         11 . A method for automated commercial produce shipping comprising: 
 positioning a plurality of multi-layered paper bales on a single wicket in a substantially vertical orientation in a produce packing machine wherein the plurality of paper bales are fully supported by the wicket, each of the plurality of paper bales having sufficient size to receive and sufficient strength to retain during shipping a plurality of consumer sized bags of produce and having first and second opposing panels having an unfolded upper portion, first and second opposing side panels adjoining the first and second opposing panels, a closed bottom panel joining the first and second opposing panels with the first and second opposing side panels, an open top portion, an aperture in the unfolded upper portion of the first opposing panel proximate the top portion with the first opposing panel having a continuous perimeter surrounding the aperture, the aperture sized to slideably fit onto the wicket, and a cut-away portion in the second opposing panel proximate the top portion to expose the aperture wherein the aperture is in the first opposing panel only;    contacting a first one of the paper bales with a first vacuum device;    using the first vacuum device to open the first paper bale;    positioning the opened paper bale in proximity with a loading chute; and    loading the plurality of consumer sized bags of produce into the opened paper bale.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein using the first vacuum device to open the first paper bale comprises: 
 engaging the first opposing panel of the first paper bale with the first vacuum device; and  
 repositioning the engaged first vacuum device to thereby exert a force on the first opposing panel of the first paper bale using the first vacuum device and exerting a force on second opposing panel of the first paper bale using only the wicket to thereby open the bag using the first vacuum device and the wicket.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein positioning the opened paper bale in proximity with a loading chute comprises opening the bag using the first vacuum device and the wicket in proximity with the loading chute whereupon the paper bale is positioned in proximity with the loading chute during the process of opening the first paper bale.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising clamping the first and second opposing side panels of the opened paper bale.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising disengaging the first vacuum device following clamping of the first and second opposing side panels of the opened paper bale.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising unclamping the first and second opposing side panels of the opened paper bale after completion of the loading.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein unclamping the first and second opposing side panels of the opened paper bale permits the loaded paper bale to tear loose from the wicket.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein contacting the first paper bale with the first vacuum device further comprises engaging the second opposing panel of the first paper bale with the first vacuum device and repositioning the engaged first vacuum device to thereby remove the first paper bale from the wicket using the first vacuum device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the wicket is equipped with a cutting surface and removing the paper bale comprises drawing the paper bale across the cutting surface to thereby cut the first paper bale free from the wicket.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein using the vacuum device to open the first paper bale comprises: 
 engaging the second opposing panel of the removed paper bale with a second vacuum device; and  
 increasing the distance between the first and second vacuum devices to open the removed paper bale.