Former with insert

Abstract

A former provides an insert at the lip of the former to enable packaging material to travel smoothly over the former. The insert lays smoothly on the top surface of the former. The insert is sized approximately one half the width of the packaging material that travels over the insert. The former provides a raised textured surface that enables the packaging material to travel over the former into the aperture. The insert constructed with a smooth top surface is located adjacent at least a portion of the aperture. The insert provides a smooth surface for the packaging material to travel across when entering the aperture.

Claims

1. A former for use in a packaging machine to guide packaging material to form a bag, the former comprising: a shoulder for guiding the packaging material towards an aperture in a film guiding direction to form the bag, the shoulder curved along the film guiding direction, the shoulder at least partially enclosing the aperture; a lip defining an edge of the former adjacent the aperture; a forming back directing the packaging material upward as the packaging material moves in the film guiding direction; an upper surface of the shoulder wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the shoulder; an insert located at the lip, the insert secured to the former wherein the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder, wherein the insert is constructed from a sheet metal separate from the forming back and the shoulder; an upper surface of the insert wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the insert wherein the upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder forming a smooth transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert.

2. The former of claim 1 wherein the forming back has a raised textured surface.

3. The former of claim 1 wherein the shoulder has a raised textured surface.

4. The former of claim 1 wherein the insert is constructed from sheet metal with a flat top surface.

5. The former of claim 4 wherein the insert is welded to the former.

6. The former of claim 5 wherein the insert is welded at the top of the former and the bottom of the former.

7. The former of claim 4 wherein the former is constructed from a sheet metal with a raised textured surface wherein the insert is constructed from thicker sheet metal than the sheet metal of the former.

8. The former of claim 1 wherein the length of the insert adjacent the lip is at least one half of the width of the packaging material.

9. The former of claim 1 wherein the insert is centrally located on the lip.

10. The former of claim 1 wherein the insert is centrally located on the shoulder.

11. A former for use in a packaging machine to guide flexible packaging material to form a bag, the former comprising: a shoulder for guiding the flexible packaging material towards an aperture in a film guiding direction to form the bag, the shoulder curved along the film guiding direction, the shoulder at least partially enclosing the aperture; an upper surface of the shoulder wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the shoulder; a lip defining an edge of the former adjacent the aperture; a forming back directing the packaging material upward as the packaging material moves in the film guiding direction; an upper surface of the forming back wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the forming back; an insert located at the lip wherein the insert is a piece of sheet metal, the insert secured to the former wherein the insert is flush with the forming back, the insert extending downward adjacent the shoulder, wherein the insert is constructed from a sheet metal separate from the forming back and the shoulder; an upper surface of the insert wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the insert wherein the upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the forming back to form a planar surface for a smooth transition across the upper surface of the forming back to the upper surface of the insert; and wherein the upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder forming a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the shoulder.

12. The former of claim 11 wherein the forming back has a raised textured surface.

13. The former of claim 11 wherein the shoulder has a raised textured surface.

14. The former of claim 11 wherein the insert is constructed from sheet metal with a smooth top surface.

15. The former of claim 14 wherein the insert is welded to the former.

16. The former of claim 11 wherein the length of the insert adjacent the lip is at least one half of the width of the packaging material.

17. The former of claim 11 wherein the insert is centrally located on the shoulder.

18. A former for use in a packaging machine to guide flexible packaging material to form a bag, the former comprising: a shoulder for guiding the flexible packaging material towards an aperture in a film guiding direction to form the bag, the shoulder curved along the film guiding direction, the shoulder at least partially enclosing the aperture; an upper surface of the shoulder wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the shoulder; a lip defining an edge of the former adjacent the aperture; a forming back directing the packaging material upward as the packaging material moves in the film guiding direction, the forming back constructed from a sheet metal; an upper surface of the forming back wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the forming back; an insert located at the lip, the insert secured to the former wherein the insert is flush against the forming back, the insert extending downward adjacent the shoulder wherein the insert is located along the lip, the insert constructed from a sheet metal with a smooth top surface, wherein the insert is constructed from a sheet metal separate from the forming back and the shoulder; an upper surface of the insert wherein the packaging material travels across the upper surface of the insert, wherein the upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the forming back forming a planar surface across the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the forming back for a smooth transition across the upper surface of the forming back to the upper surface of the insert; wherein the upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder to form a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the shoulder for a level transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert; wherein the forming back and shoulder are constructed from a first sheet metal and the insert is constructed from a second sheet metal wherein the insert is constructed from thicker sheet metal than the first sheet metal of the forming back and shoulder.

19. The former of claim 18 wherein the shoulder has a raised textured surface.

20. The former of claim 19 wherein the length of the insert adjacent the lip is one half of the width of the packaging material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of a former of one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of a flat former of one embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a left side view of a former of one embodiment of the present invention, the right side view being a mirror image of the left side;

(5) FIG. 4 is a left side view of a former of one embodiment of the present invention, the right side view being a mirror image of the left side;

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear view of a plate of one embodiment of the present invention; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the former generally shown as 100. The former 100 provides a forming shoulder 102, a forming lip 104, a forming aperture 106, and a forming back 108. A packaging material, such as a web of flexible packaging material, is pulled over and through a former wherein a selected quantity of the product to be packaged is inserted into the packaging material by way of the tube-forming passage, forming aperture 106, in the former. The packaging material is drawn across the forming back 108, the forming shoulder 102, and the forming lip 104 into the forming aperture 106. The shape and dimensions of the former are critical. If the factors of the former are not correct within a close tolerance, the packaging material may be wrinkled or scratched or broken as it is pulled over and through the former. Such wrinkles, scratches, and tears affect the quality and integrity of the packaging which increases costs and the number of damaged products.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the flat former 100 prior to shaping. The former 100 provides a reinforced insert 112 at lip 104. This insert 112 is constructed from a metal including but not limited to stainless steel, chrome, a hard chrome, nickel, electroless nickel, baked nickel, or other metal. In one embodiment, the insert 112 is welded onto the former 100 such that the insert 112 is flush with the former 100 and forming back 108. The upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the forming back to form a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the forming back. The upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder to form a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the shoulder for a level transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert. The upper surface of the insert is level with the upper surface of the shoulder to form a level transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert. The insert 112 may extend a half inch to two inches, preferably one inch, onto the top of the former 100. The insert 112 is welded at the top of the former 100 and the bottom of the former 100 such that the insert provides smooth transition to the top of the former 100 at lip 104.

(10) In one embodiment, the insert 112 extends for approximately 6 to 20 inches, preferably 10 inches or one half (½) the width of the packaging material, such as the web, along the lip 112. The insert 112 provides additional reinforcement while the packaging material of material passes over the former 100 and through the former lip 112 into forming aperture 106. In one embodiment, the insert 112 is constructed from a 16 gauge stainless steel.

(11) The insert 112 of one embodiment may be sized according to the width of the packaging material. The length of the insert 112 running along the lip 104 is sized to be at least half the width of the packaging material. In one embodiment, the length of the insert running along the lip 104 is approximately one half the width of the packaging material. The insert 112 assists with the smooth transfer of the packaging material with zipper through the aperture 106.

(12) Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top of the former 100 provides a raised textured surface. This raised textured surface of former 100 decreases friction between the packaging material and the former 100. The forming shoulder 102 and forming back 108 provide a raised texture surface located along the upper surface of the former 100. Therefore, the packaging material may smoothly transition over the former 100 and into the forming aperture 106.

(13) The former of one embodiment is sized such that the maximum height of the former as shown in FIG. 1 is 12 inches. The width of one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 may range from 17 inches to 26 inches, preferably 21.5 inches. Such a former may be constructed such that the former 100, including forming shoulder 102 and forming back 108, are constructed from 20 gauge chrome plated stainless steel.

(14) The flush body 110 secured to the former 100 assists in the flow of the packaging material through the former. The flush body 110 assists with the zipper of zippered packaging travelling across the former.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 show the angles of one embodiment of the former 100. At junction 114 where insert 112 meets forming shoulder 102, the curve at junction 114 is based upon a radius of approximately 0.03 inches. The radius of the curvature at forming aperture 106 is approximately 0.03 inches. The radius of the curvature of the bottom of forming shoulder 102 is 0.06 inches. The forming back 108 and flush body 110 form a 30 degree angle with the base plate 116.

(16) FIGS. 5 and 6 show the base plate 116 of the former 100. The base plate 116 of one embodiment ranges from 21.5 inches to 34 inches, preferably 26 inches in width. The base plate 116 of one embodiment ranges from ⅛ inch to an inch thick, preferable ⅜ inch thick. The base plate 116 provides an aperture 117 such that the packaging material may pass through the base plate 116. The base plate 116 is located below the former 100 and assists with the bagging process. The base plate 116 is secured to the packaging machine and allows a filling tube 105 to pass through the former 100 at forming aperture 106 and aperture 117 of the base plate 116.

(17) The insert 112 is constructed from a sheet metal with a smooth top surface. The smooth top surface assists with the transfer of the packaging material into the former. The insert 112 is welded to the former such that the insert 112 is secured flush with the former 100 and forming back 108. The upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the forming back to form a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the forming back. The upper surface of the insert is flush with the upper surface of the shoulder to form a planar surface between the upper surface of the insert and the upper surface of the shoulder for a level transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert. The upper surface of the insert is level with the upper surface of the shoulder to form a level transition from the upper surface of the shoulder to the upper surface of the insert. The insert 112 is centrally located at junction 114 where the former 100 begins the downward slope as shown in FIG. 3. The insert 112 of one embodiment is located centrally on curve of lip 104 of former 100. The insert 112 curves with the lip 104 and aperture 106 and runs adjacent at least a portion of the aperture 106 on forming shoulder 102. In one embodiment, the insert 112 is sized at half of the width of the packaging material.

(18) These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention.

(19) From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure.

(20) It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

(21) As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.