Apparatus for forming elongate strips

• Main Author: STANLEY GEORGE BONNEY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.07.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STORING; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

An apparatus is provided for forming elongate strips each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced product containing compartments using a continuous length of base material and a continuous length of lidding material. The apparatus performs the steps of forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced pockets in the base material, introducing product into the pockets and sealing the lidding material to the base material, and optionally severing means for trimming excess edges material from the assembly. At least one of the forming means, sealing means and severing means comprises a pair of rotatable rollers adapted to engage the base material or base and lidding materials as the case may be, in a nip defined between the rollers. A drive transmission means is also provided for the pair of rollers comprising a first drive member L rotatable with one of the rollers, a second drive member M rotatable with the other of the rollers, a third drive member N in driving engagement with the second drive member M, and a fourth drive member P in driving engagement with both the first and third drive members L, N. The rollers may be taken out of engagement with one another whilst maintaining engagement between the drive members. While out of engagement, the rollers may be replaced by rollers of a different size for use in producing strips of different length. As shown, gears L, M, N, P drive the forming rollers and similar "square" arrangements of four gears F, G, H, R and A, B, C, D drive the severing rollers and the sealing rollers.