Patent ID: 6282866
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A packaging machine comprisinga base frame having an input side and an output side, and a transport path from said input side to said output side, a plurality of tray carriers for holding trays, said tray carriers being arranged in succession along said transport path,pivoting coupling links for pivotally interconnecting successive ones of said tray carriers,engagement elements provided at the forward side and at the rearward side of said tray carriers,drive means for advancing said tray carriers in an advancement plane, said drive means including a drive chain with a first chain strand trained over chain wheels, said engagement elements engaging said first chain strand when in a position adjacent thereto,and feed means for feeding a cover film for covering the trays after being filled, said feed means including a second drive chain with a second chain strand trained over chain wheels and gripping the sides of said cover film, said second chain strand being guided in a plane parallel to said first chain strand along a predetermined length parallel to said first chain strand at a predetermined distance therefrom,said engagement elements engaging said first and second chain strand, respectively, along at least a portion of said predetermined length.