Blowing wool machine with ram to push wool

1. A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool, the machine comprising:

a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, said chute configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool;

a gripping assembly positioned in said chute, said gripping assembly configured to securely hold the bag in said chute;

a ram assembly having a ram member configured to drive the compressed blowing wool through the bag toward said outlet end of said chute while said gripping assembly maintaining the bag in a relatively fixed position with respect to said chute;

a shredder mounted at said outlet end of said chute and configured to pick apart the compressed blowing wool; and

a rotary valve for distributing said blowing wool into an airstream, wherein said gripping assembly prevents the bag from being driven into said shredder by said ram member.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which said gripping assembly comprises a series of pins on opposite sides of said chute.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which said ram assembly is configured to pull said ram member toward said outlet end of said chute.

4. The machine of claim 1 in which said ram assembly is an inflatable bladder system including an inflatable bladder and an air system, said inflatable bladder configured to drive the compressed blowing wool from the bag toward said outlet end of said chute while maintaining the bag in a relatively fixed position with respect to said chute.

5. The machine of claim 1 in which the machine comprises an upper unit and a lower unit, said upper unit and said lower unit are configured to be readily assembled and disassembled to each other for ease of transport and use.

6. A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool, the machine comprising:

an upper unit;

a chute including an inlet end and an outlet end, said chute pivotally mounted in said upper unit and configured to pivot to an open position to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool and subsequently to pivot to a closed position;

a gripping assembly positioned in said chute, said gipping assembly configured to securely hold the bag in said chute;

a ram assembly including a ram member configured to drive the compressed blowing wool through the bag toward said outlet end of said chute while said gripping assembly maintaining the bag in a relatively fixed position with respect to said chute;

a shredder mounted at said outlet end of said chute and configured to pick apart the compressed blowing wool; and

a rotary valve for distributing the blowing wool into an airstream;

wherein said chute is configured such that in its closed position said chute is aligned with said ram assembly, and wherein said gripping assembly prevents the bag from being driven into said shredder by said ram member .

7. The machine of claim 6 in which said ram assembly is configured to pull said ram member toward said outlet end of said chute.

8. A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool, said machine comprising:

a chute including an inlet end and an outlet end, said chute being configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool;

a gripping assembly positioned in said chute, said gripping assembly configured to securely hold the bag in said chute;

a ram assembly including a carriage and ram member positioned to drive the compressed blowing wool through the bag toward said outlet end of said chute while said gripping assembly maintaining the bag in a relatively fixed position with respect to said chute;

a slot in said chute extending from said inlet end of said chute and being configured to guide said carriage and said ram member to drive the compressed blowing wool from the bag toward said outlet;

a shredder mounted at said outlet end of said chute and configured to pick apart the compressed blowing wool; and

a rotary valve for distributing said blowing wool into an airstream, and wherein said gripping assembly prevents the bag from being driven into said shredder by said ram member.

9. The machine of claim 8 in which said ram assembly is configured to pull said ram member toward said outlet end of said chute.