Philip Rahm International

Bag Closing Equipment Is Essential In Feed Packaging

Bag closing equipment is essential in factories that handle products that are grainy, powdery or pellet-like, and package them for the market. This type of machine is frequently applied in grain processing plants and flour mills, but is also used to package medium to extra-large sacks of animal feed, fertilizer, chemicals or grilling charcoal, among a multitude of other uses.

Industrial bag closing equipment can be purchased from various manufacturers across the U.S. and is available in a variety of specifications. The machinery is frequently sold in conjunction with a conveyer belt, but also as a stand-alone pedestal. Some models are portable while others are stationary, designed to remain on the factory floor as part of a larger production system.

Bag closing equipment performs just as the name implies
. Most machines are capable of handling sacks made from a range of materials such as burlap, jute, paper, cotton or polyester and polyethylene. The number of sacks a machine can process in any given period of time depends largely on the machine’s capacity as well as the operator’s speed. The average range, depending on model, is 500 to 1,000 bags per hour or more.

Some of the main components of the machine are a thread cutter, timing belt, and a safety handle, as well as cams made of plastic, nylon or steel. But the most important elements of bag closing equipment are the stitching and bag closing heads. Filled sacks are fed onto the machine either manually or with the assistance of a conveyor belt. The machinery then uses heavy-duty needles and durable threads to sew the sacks shut. Where extra secure sealing is desired, double-thread systems may be preferable to single-thread machines.

Bag closing thread is frequently made of high tenacity polyester, polypropylene, cotton or poly cotton, or nylon
. Common stitching types include chain and cross stitch. Chain stitch is very popular because it allows the end user to open the sack with one sharp tug at the end of the thread, causing the looped stitching to unravel without a hitch.

Some machines are activated with a foot pedal, reminiscent of traditional sewing machines, while others employ a limit switch
. In some cases, the system also implements tape in addition to thread in an effort to ensure neat and proper closure. A cutter, whether the mechanical or air cylinder kind, finally cuts the end of the thread to a specified length.

The machinery can accommodate sacks of various sizes
. The specifications of some machines limit the size range of sacks; others are fully adjustable to handle sacks of any size. Oil lubrication methods for moving elements vary. Some models require manual lubrication, but many machines are equipped with semi- or fully automatic lubrication systems.

To ease operation, equipment manufacturers often provide accessories at an additional cost. Supplemental items may include conveyor stands, shoulder belts, presser foot lifters, hangers and/or spring balancers. These accessories may or may not be included with certain machines. Some models can also be upgraded with extra heavy duty motors in facilities where continuous running use is expected.

Notable manufacturers of bag closing equipment include American Newlong, Union Special and Fischbein
.