Bag opening apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for opening bags, wherein the method comprises: positioning the bag upon two or more gripping members; gripping a first section and a second section of the bag with the gripping members, wherein a third section of the bag is between the first section and the second section of the bag; heating the bag along the third section of the bag to form a heated section within the third section of the bag; inserting one or more ripping members into the third section of the bag; moving at least one of the ripping members inserted into the third section of the bag along the third section of the bag to form a tear in the bag within the heated section of the bag; and moving at least one of the gripping members apart from at least one other of the gripping members to move the first section of the bag apart from the second section of the bag, thereby enlarging the tear in the bag.

1 . A method for removing material from a bag, the method comprising:
 positioning the bag upon two or more gripping members;   gripping a first section and a second section of the bag with the gripping members, wherein a third section of the bag is between the first section and the second section of the bag;   heating the bag along the third section of the bag to form a heated section within the third section of the bag;   inserting one or more ripping members into the third section of the bag;   moving at least one of the ripping members inserted into the third section of the bag along the third section of the bag to form a tear in the bag within the heated section of the bag; and   moving at least one of the gripping members apart from at least one other of the gripping members to move the first section of the bag apart from the second section of the bag, thereby enlarging the tear in the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ripping members comprise two ripping members, and moving the at least one of the ripping members along the third section of the bag comprises moving a first one of the ripping members apart from a second one of the ripping members. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein inserting the one or more ripping members into the third section of the bag comprises:
 piercing the heated section of the bag with the ripping members to form one or more holes in the bag; and   inserting the ripping members into the heated section of the bag.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein moving the at least one of the ripping members along the third section of the bag and moving the at least one of the gripping members apart from the at least one other of the gripping members comprises moving the at least one of the ripping members substantially perpendicular to the movement of the at least one of the gripping members. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two or more gripping members comprise a first set and a second set of gripping members;   positioning the bag upon the gripping members comprises positioning the first section and the second section of the bag respectively upon the first set and the second set of gripping members; and   gripping the first section and the second section of the bag with the gripping members comprises closing the first set and the second set of gripping members respectively upon the first section and the second section of the bag.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein positioning the bag upon the gripping members comprises aligning the bag with the gripping members with a funnel and a chute and directing the bag upon the gripping members with the funnel and the chute. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein gripping the first section and the second section of the bag with the gripping members comprises gripping the first section and the second section of the bag less than 10 centimeters apart. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein moving the at least one of the gripping members apart from the at least one other of the gripping members comprises moving the gripping members apart by a distance greater than ½ of a width of the bag. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retracting the ripping members after moving the at least one of the ripping members and before moving the at least one of the gripping members. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping members comprise rotary grippers. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising separating the bag from the material. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein separating the bag from the material comprises suctioning the bag from the material with a vacuum. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag comprises a plastic bag, and heating the bag comprises melting the plastic bag. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heating the bag comprises heating the bag to between 150 degrees Celsius and 220 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag comprises a plastic laundry bag and the material comprises laundry. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for removing material from a bag, the apparatus comprising:
 a first set of one or more gripping members configured to grip a first section of the bag when the bag is paced upon the gripping members;   a second set of one or more gripping members configured to grip a second section of the bag and move apart from the first set of gripping members;   one or more ripping members insertable into a third section of the bag and moveable along the third section of the bag, wherein the third section of the bag is between the first section and the second section of the bag; and   a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the third section of the bag.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a vacuum configured to suction an area between the first set of gripping members and the second set of gripping members. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a funnel and a chute configured to align the bag with the gripping members and direct the bag upon the gripping members. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the first set of gripping members and the second set of gripping members comprises six rotary grippers. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the heater is configured to heat the portion of the third section of the bag to between 150 degrees Celsius and 220 degrees Celsius.