Patent ID: 6357211
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
In an apparatus for packaging articles in a tube of flexible material, wherein the articles are longitudinally spaced in the tube, wherein the apparatus includes a wheel and a series of transverse sealing dies carried by the wheel and adapted to transversely seal the tube between successive articles within the tube as the sealing dies are carried around the wheel while holding the tube, the sealing dies each including a cutting member movable between a retracted position and a cutting position for tube severing, the improvement comprising:a striker assembly including a base and a striker element movable relative to said base between first and second locations; an actuator connected to said base to move said striker assembly between first and second positions; wherein movement of said striker assembly from said first position to said second position moves said striker element into operative engagement with a moving sealing die being carried by the wheel to cause the cutting member of the engaged sealing die to shift from the retracted position to the cutting position to sever the tube; and wherein while in operative engagement with the moving sealing die said striker element moves with the sealing die and relative to said base from said first location to said second location.