Bag closing apparatus
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A pinch valve, for regulating a material flow, comprising:
- a housing;
at least three pivot arms, each of the pivot arms having first and second ends and an arcuate portion therebetween, pivotably connected to the housing adjacent one of the ends thereof and located relative to each other such that each of the pivot arms crosses at least two other ones of the pivot arms to define a confined closure area;
an actuator for moving the pivot arms along an arcuate path between a spread position wherein the closure area has a predetermined area and closed positions wherein the closure area has a smaller area; and
a tubular bladder having a first end for receiving material and a second end for discharging material extending through the confined closure area, the bladder being displaceable by the pivot arms to a substantially closed position upon the actuator being activated.
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Abstract
A bag closing apparatus including a frame structure, a cinching assembly and an actuator assembly. The cinching assembly includes at least three pivot arms, each pivot arm including an arcuate portion and pivotably connected to the frame structure. The pivot arms are located relative to each to define a confined closure area. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of actuators for moving the pivot arms between spread positions and closed positions wherein the closure area has a smaller area.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pinch valve, for regulating a material flow, comprising:
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a housing; at least three pivot arms, each of the pivot arms having first and second ends and an arcuate portion therebetween, pivotably connected to the housing adjacent one of the ends thereof and located relative to each other such that each of the pivot arms crosses at least two other ones of the pivot arms to define a confined closure area; an actuator for moving the pivot arms along an arcuate path between a spread position wherein the closure area has a predetermined area and closed positions wherein the closure area has a smaller area; and a tubular bladder having a first end for receiving material and a second end for discharging material extending through the confined closure area, the bladder being displaceable by the pivot arms to a substantially closed position upon the actuator being activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A pinch valve, for regulating a material flow, comprising:
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a housing; four pivot arms, each of the pivot arms having first and second ends and an arcuate portion therebetween, pivotably connected to the housing adjacent one of the ends thereof and located relative to each other such that each of the pivot arms crosses at least two other ones of the pivot arms to define a confined closure area; an actuator for moving the pivot arms along an arcuate path between spread positions wherein the closure area has a predetermined generally circular area through an intermediate position, in which the pivot arms define a generally elliptical area, to a closed position wherein the closure area has a smaller area; and a tubular bladder having a first end for receiving material and a second end for discharging material extending through the confined closure area, the bladder being displaceable by the pivot arms to a substantially closed position upon the actuator being activated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A pinch valve, for regulating a material flow, comprising:
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a housing having first and second ends with a generally tubular bladder extending therethrough and forming a material flow path between the first and second ends; and a cinching assembly connected to the housing, the cinching assembly including pivot arms that are engageable with the bladder, the pivot arms overlap one another to define a confined closure area through which the bladder extends and being moveable between a spread position, in which the closure area has a predetermined generally circular area, to a closed position, in which the closure area has a smaller area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification