Apparatus and method for feeding spout-equipped bags to a bag filling machine

摘要

A spout-equipped bag feed apparatus (1) allows an increased number of spout-equipped bags (11) to be stored. A plurality of conveyor rails (61) are attached to a conveying device (31) at a predetermined space and carried along an endless track. Each conveyor rail (61) is capable of being loaded with and unloaded of a plurality of spout-equipped bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. Loading of bags into the conveyor rail is effected with a bag loading tool (101) capable of being loaded with and unloaded of bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. The one end of the bag loading tool is butted against the one end of the conveyor rail (61), and the bags are pushed into the conveyor rail. From conveyor rails conveyed to a bag unloading position along the endless track of the conveying device, the bags (11) are unloaded and sent to a receiving device (79) by an unloading device (71). The bags received by the receiving device (79) are successively supplied to bag holding members (8) of a packaging machine (3) by a bag delivery device (81). <IMAGE>