APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC BALE BAG LOADING

摘要

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 o n an angled protruding member. A vacuum-operated device engages one side of one of a fir st bag on the side of the bag opposite to the aperture and retracts, thus opening t he 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. Th e 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 seale d and processed for shipping.