Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for the sequential handling and delivery of individual flexible products, such as plastic bags or containers, is provided which enables the use of extended length orbital packer fingers for removing closely spaced flexible products from a transfer drum and delivering them to a stacking table. The apparatus includes a product drum for delivering a series of closely spaced individual flexible products to a transfer point, and a transfer drum positioned at the transfer point for transferring the flexible products to a delivery point while maintaining substantially the same spacing between the products. Adjacent the transfer drum is an orbital packing mechanism including a shaft mounted adjacent the transfer drum for orbital movement and a plurality of packer fingers secured to the shaft and extending into the annular grooves for removing the flexible products sequentially from the transfer drum and delivering them to the delivery point. The fingers are preferably designed to extend and contact across substantially the full width of the flexible products as the products are removed from the transfer drum to prevent bag fold over problems and misalignment in the stacking of the products.

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First Claim