Apparatus and method for bagging particulate matter

Abstract

A portable, automated bagging apparatus that includes a hopper and a transportable frame supporting the hopper, and a bag formation assembly disposed on the frame. The bag formation assembly is adapted to prepare bag material held by the bag formation assembly and fill the bag with a predetermined amount of particulate matter from the hopper.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a hopper having an open upper face and bounded by a plurality of walls and an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the hopper;   a rotating volumetric dispensing device disposed in the aperture of the hopper, operable to separate an amount of particulate from particulate disposed in the hopper and comprising an output aperture for dispensing the particulate separated from the particulate in the interior of the hopper into an environment external to the hopper;   a bag formation mechanism disposed on the frame, the bag formation mechanism comprising:   a bag material holder operable to hold a roll of material;   a material transport mechanism that pulls the roll of material;   a material sealing mechanism operable to seal an end of the material;   a material separation mechanism operable to separate an amount of the material from the roll of material;   wherein the material sealing mechanism and the material separation mechanism operate to form an open first bag;   a bag placement mechanism, operable to place the first bag into proximity to the output aperture;   a bag opening mechanism operable to open the bag to accept particulate from the volumetric dispensing device;   a bag closure mechanism operable to seal the bag subsequent to the introduction of particulate into the bag;   an egress mechanism operable to transport the sealed bag off the apparatus;   a frame disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, the hopper being disposed upon the frame;   a plurality of wheels attached to the frame to allow the frame, the hopper, and the bag formation apparatus to be transported; an the apparatus weighing less than 6500 pounds.   
   
   
       2 . A portable, automated bagging apparatus, comprising:
 a hopper;   a transportable frame supporting the hopper; and   a bag formation assembly disposed on the frame, wherein the bag formation assembly is adapted to prepare a bag from bag material held by the bag formation assembly and fill the bag with a predetermined amount of particulate matter from the hopper.   
   
   
       3 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a volumetric measuring apparatus located proximate and below the hopper, the volumetric measuring apparatus being supported by the frame, wherein the volumetric measuring apparatus receives particulate matter from the hopper and separates the particulate matter into a predetermined amount of particulate matter and deposits the amount into the bag from the bag formation assembly.   
   
   
       4 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an exit assembly disposed proximate the bag formation assembly, wherein the exit assembly has a structure and arrangement to guide the filled bags away from the portable automated bagging apparatus. 
   
   
       5 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bag formation assembly comprises:
 a spool of bag material held by the frame;   a sealing mechanism attached to the frame;   a shearing mechanism attached to the frame; and   a guide mechanism attached to the frame to guide the bag material from the spool to the shearing mechanism;   wherein the sealing mechanism seals the bag material and the shearing mechanism cuts the bag material to form the bag.   
   
   
       6 . The volumetric measuring apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the volumetric measuring apparatus is a rotating cylindrical mechanism comprising:
 a cylindrical container with an open slot and a predetermined volume; and   a rotating mechanism,   wherein the particulate matter enters the open slot when the open slot is disposed upwards towards the hopper and the rotating mechanism circularly rotates the cylinder such that the particulate matter will exit into the bag.   
   
   
       7 . The volumetric measuring apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the volumetric measuring apparatus is a gate mechanism comprising:
 a top gate located under the hopper;   a particulate matter container mounted under the top gate;   a bottom gate positioned under the particulate matter container,   wherein the volumetric measuring apparatus is constructed so that particulate matter enters the particulate matter container when the top gate is open and the bottom gate is closed and the particulate matter exits the container into a bag when the top gate is closed and the bottom gate is open.   
   
   
       8 . The guide mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising pincers to grasp an edge of the bag material and to move the bag material along a lengthwise axis of the frame toward a bottom face of the hopper. 
   
   
       9 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus with the particulate matter is less than 7500 pounds. 
   
   
       10 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the exit assembly is operable to deposit filled bags of particulate matter while the apparatus is being towed. 
   
   
       11 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bag formation assembly seals the bag such that the filled bag exits the bagging apparatus with the predetermined amount of particulate matter. 
   
   
       12 . The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bag formation assembly further comprises a heat seal device. 
   
   
       13 . The portable automated bagging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is less than 6500 pounds. 
   
   
       14 . A method of bagging particulate matter, comprising:
 providing a portable bagging apparatus that is of a size and weight and having a suitable structure to be towed by a one-half ton truck;   loading particulate matter into said portable bagging apparatus; and   filling a plurality of bags with a predetermined volume of said particulate matter.   
   
   
       15 . A method of bagging particulate matter according to  claim 14 , further comprising forming said plurality of bags with said portable bagging apparatus in conjunction with said filling said plurality of bags. 
   
   
       16 . A method of bagging particulate matter according to  claim 14 , where said filling a plurality of bags is performed while said portable bagging apparatus is being towed by said one-half ton truck. 
   
   
       17 . A method of bagging particulate matter according to  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of bags filled are dispensed while said portable bagging apparatus is being towed by said one-half ton truck.