Discharger for side-secured bag spout

1. A bag spout retainer apparatus for a bulk bag discharger of the type wherein a frame suspends a flexible bulk bag in an inverted condition with a bottom-emptying side-secured discharge spout, and further wherein the spout is held in a closed position against the bag by a releasable tie, comprising:

(a) a bag-engaging member mounted on the frame in a position laterally-displaced from a lower end of the bag above the discharge spout;

(b) a single bracket carried by the frame;

(c) a single paddle mounted on the bracket; and

(d) a reciprocating driver attached to the bag-engaging member adapted for and moving the bag-engaging member between an extended, stationary bag engaging position for engaging and temporarily holding the bag spout in a closed position asymmetrically against the side of the bag after release of the tie and prior to release of the spout from the side of the bag, and upon release of the tie, moving to a retracted position out of engagement with the lower end of the inverted bag to permit contents to flow from the bag.

2. A bag spout retainer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the single paddle is pivotally mounted on the single bracket, and further wherein the driver comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

3. A bag spout retainer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a cylinder rod having connecting pin on a distal end thereof mounted in an elongate slot in the single bracket and oriented to move the single paddle upwardly and inwardly into contact with the bag and outwardly and downwardly away from the bag.

4. A bag retainer apparatus for a bulk bag discharger of the type wherein a frame suspends a flexible bulk bag with a side-secured, bottom-emptying discharge spout in an inverted condition, and further wherein a releasable tie attached to one or the other of the spout or the side of the bag holds the spout in its closed position against the bag, comprising:

(a) a single bracket on which is carried a single bag-engaging paddle pivotally mounted on the frame in a position laterally-displaced from a lower end of the bag above the discharge spout; and

(b) a reciprocating power cylinder carried by the frame, attached to the bag-engaging paddle and adapted for moving the bag-engaging paddle between an extended bag engaging position for engaging and holding the bag spout asymmetrically in a closed position against the side of the bag before and during release of the tie from its position holding the spout the spout against the bag, the power cylinder including a connecting pin mounted in an elongate slot in the bracket oriented to move the paddle upwardly and inwardly into contact with the bag and outwardly and downwardly away from the bag, and upon release of the tie, moving to a retracted position out of engagement with the lower end of the inverted bag to permit contents to flow from the bag.

5. A bag spout retainer apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the single bracket includes a connecting pin carried by and extending transverse to the axis of the cylinder rod for movement in the elongate slot as the cylinder rod retracts and extends.

6. A method of temporarily retaining a flexible side-secured bottom opening discharge spout bulk bag in a closed position asymmetrically against a side of the bag during release of a bag spout from a closed position against the bag by releasing a tie from around the discharge spout, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a bag retainer apparatus for a bulk bag discharger of the type wherein a frame suspends a bulk bag with a side-secured discharge;

(b) mounting a single bag-engaging member on the frame in a position laterally-displaced from a lower end of the bag above the bottom opening discharge spout; and

(c) moving the single bag-engaging member between a retracted position out of engagement with the lower end of the bag and an extended, stationary, bag engaging position for engaging and temporarily holding the bottom opening bag spout in a closed position against the side of the bag after release of the tie and prior to release of the spout from its closed position against the bag.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of moving the single bag-engaging member comprises the step of moving a single paddle.