Apparatus for folding and ejecting microwave popcorn bags from a fixture

US5463848A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Mills, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Rodney K. Gwiazdon · St. Louis Park, US
• John E. Korte · Cedar Rapids, US
• Richard S. Deadmond · West Bend, US
• Frank Starr · Menomonee Falls, US
• Robb W. Roloff · Pewaukee, US
• Robert D. Devlin

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 1993
• Grant date: Nov 7, 1995
• Expiry date: Dec 10, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B43/54
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (10) is disclosed including a first pushing plate (172) removably secured to a second pushing plate (174) and movable to eject bags (12) from fixtures (32) into pockets (186). The second pushing plate (174) ejects any defective bags (12) remaining when the first pushing plate (172) is not secured or movable with the second pushing plate (174) in the prior intermittent position. The pockets (186) are rotatable to an inverted position where the bags (12) are removed by lugs (230) upstanding from movable lands (228). The lands (228) are pivotable to be in a non-interfering position with the rotation of the pockets (186). A finger (294) is pivotally mounted to a vertically reciprocated carriage (288) to place the bags (12) on conveyors (200) from the lands (228). In the preferred form, a bending bar (184) is positioned to prevent the bags (12) from flying out of the fixtures (32) as they move in the operation direction from a horizontal portion to a vertical portion and to fold back the portions of the bags (12) extending out of the fixtures (32) before they are ejected from the fixtures (32) by the first pushing plate (172).