Abstract:
The present invention provides a former assembly. The former assembly can include a base plate having an aperture that extends from a first surface to a second surface thereof. A bracing post can be attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate the aperture. The bracing post can have a receiving orifice formed therein. A substantially rigid tube can be adapted to extend through the aperture in the base plate. An annular space can be formed between the tube and the base plate. The annular space can be sized for the passage of the flexible sheet material.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit, and priority benefit, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/477,975, filed Apr. 21, 2011, titled “BAG FORMER ASSEMBLY,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to product packaging, and more particularly to a bag former assembly for preparing product packaging. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    It is known in the art to utilize bag former assemblies to fabricate packaging for bulk consumer products, particularly foodstuffs. Certain previous bag former assemblies lack stability and are difficult and time consuming to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning and maintenance purposes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present subject matter generally relates to a former assembly for preparing product packaging. Former assembly can be utilized to fabricate bags from flexible sheet material. The former assembly is preferably stable, durable and easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning purposes. 
         [0007]    In certain illustrative embodiments, the former assembly can include a base plate having an aperture that extends from a first surface to a second surface thereof. A bracing post can be attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate the aperture. The bracing post can have a receiving orifice formed therein. A substantially rigid tube can be adapted to extend through the aperture in the base plate. An annular space can be formed between the tube and the base plate. The annular space can be sized for the passage of the flexible sheet material. 
         [0008]    A bracing arm can be attached to the tube and adapted to fit within the receiving orifice. The bracing arm can be attached to the tube at a single location, or at a plurality of spaced-apart locations. 
         [0009]    The bracing post and receiving orifice can have any desired shape, including but not limited to substantially circular in cross section. The bracing arm can include a handle arm with a stabilizer member extending therefrom. The stabilizer member can be adapted to fit within the receiving orifice of the bracing post. 
         [0010]    The bracing post can have a slot formed therein. A section of the handle arm can be adapted to fit within the slot when the stabilizer member is fitted within the receiving orifice. 
         [0011]    The bracing arm can have a shoulder with a downward facing engagement surface formed thereon. The bracing post can have a shoulder with an upward facing engagement surface formed thereon. The engagement surface of the bracing arm can adapted to contact the engagement surface of the bracing post when the bracing arm is fitted within the receiving orifice and slid a sufficient distance therein. The bracing post can be attached to the base plate with a plurality of fasteners such that rotation of the bracing post about its longitudinal axis is inhibited. 
         [0012]    In another illustrative embodiment, a former assembly for forming bags from flexible sheet material is provided. A base plate can be provided having an aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof. A bracing post can be attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate to the aperture. The bracing post can have a receiving orifice formed therein and extending longitudinally therethrough. A fill tube can be slidingly passable through the aperture in the base plate with an annulus between the fill tube and the base plate sized for the passage of the flexible sheet material. A bracing arm can be attached to the fill tube and slidingly fittable within the receiving orifice. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments, a first shoulder can be disposed on the bracing arm with a downward facing engagement surface and a second shoulder can be disposed on the bracing post with an upward facing engagement surface, such that the downward facing engagement surface is capable of contacting the upward facing engagement surface when the bracing arm is slidingly fitted into the receiving orifice. A support arm can extend from the bracing arm and a slot can be formed in the bracing post adjacent to the receiving orifice, such that the slot is sized to receive the support arm when the bracing arm is slidingly fitted into the receiving orifice. The support arm can be affixed, or not affixed, to the fill tube. 
         [0014]    The assembly can also include a first locking orifice formed in the bracing post, a second locking orifice formed in the bracing arm, and a locking pin slidingly fittable within the first locking orifice. The second locking orifice can be capable of securing the bracing arm to the bracing post. The bracing arm can have a stabilizer member attached thereto and extending therefrom that is slidingly fittable into the receiving orifice and aligned in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the bracing post. The bracing arm can include a plurality of contact arms attached to the fill tube at spaced apart locations, a handle arm disposed between the contact arms, and a stabilizer member that is slidingly fittable into the receiving orifice. 
         [0015]    In another illustrative embodiment, a method of removing a fill tube from a former assembly for fabricating bags from flexible sheet material is provided. A base plate can be provided with an aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof and a bracing post attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate to the aperture, the bracing post having a receiving orifice formed therein. A fill tube can be provided having a bracing arm attached thereto, the fill tube disposed in the aperture in the base plate. The fill tube can be slidingly passed out of the aperture in the base plate. The bracing arm can be slidingly removed from the receiving orifice. A support arm can be provided that extends from the bracing arm. A slot can be formed in the bracing post adjacent to the receiving orifice, and the support arm can be slidingly removed from the slot. A first locking orifice can be provided that is formed in the bracing post. A second locking orifice can be provided that is formed in the bracing arm. A locking pin can be removed from the first locking orifice and the second locking orifice to unsecure the bracing arm from the bracing post. 
         [0016]    In another illustrative embodiment, a method of replacing a fill tube on a former assembly for fabricating bags from flexible sheet material is provided. A base plate can be provided with an aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof and a bracing post attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate to the aperture, the bracing post having a receiving orifice formed therein. A fill tube can be provided having a bracing arm attached thereto. The fill tube can be slidingly passed through the aperture in the base plate. An annulus can be provided between the fill tube and the base plate sized for the passage of the flexible sheet material. The bracing arm can be slidingly fitted into the receiving orifice. A support arm can be provided extending from the bracing arm. A slot can be formed in the bracing post adjacent to the receiving orifice. The support arm can be slidingly fitted into the slot. A first locking orifice can be provided that is formed in the bracing post. A second locking orifice can be provided that is formed in the bracing arm. A locking pin can be inserted within the first locking orifice and the second locking orifice to secure the bracing arm to the bracing post. 
         [0017]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    A better understanding of the presently disclosed subject matter can be obtained when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a former assembly with a single contact arm in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a former assembly with a plurality of contact arms in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a bracing post for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a bracing post for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a bracing post with a slot formed therein for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a bracing post with a slot formed therein for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a bracing arm with a single contact arm for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a bracing arm with a plurality of contact arms for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a bracing arm with a plurality of contact arms and a stabilizer member disposed thereon for a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member and a contact arm, wherein the stabilizer member is fully disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member and a contact arm, wherein the stabilizer member is fully disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member that is fully disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a front view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member that is fully disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member that is partially disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a front view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member that is partially disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member and a contact arm, wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is a front view of a bracing arm having a stabilizer member and a contact arm, wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within a receiving orifice of a bracing post of a former assembly in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is fully removed from the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member has at least one locking orifice formed therein, the bracing post has at least one locking pin disposed therein, and the stabilizer member is not disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 22  is a front view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member has at least one locking orifice formed therein, the bracing post has at least one locking pin disposed therein, and the stabilizer member is disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 23  is a side view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is partially disposed within the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
           [0044]      FIG. 26  is a side view of a former assembly wherein the stabilizer member is fully removed from the receiving orifice of the bracing post in an illustrative embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0045]    While certain preferred illustrative embodiments will be described herein, it will be understood that this description is not intended to limit the subject matter to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-26 , various illustrative embodiments of a former assembly  10  are provided herein. Former assembly  10  can be utilized to form and fabricate bags from flexible sheet material. Former assembly  10  can be reproducibly positioned on automated equipment for filling said bags with a selected product. Methods of removing or replacing a fill tube on former assembly  10  for fabricating bags from flexible sheet material are also provided herein. 
         [0047]    In certain illustrative embodiments, former assembly  10  can comprise a generally cylindrical fill tube  20  whose upper portion may have a progressively expanding diameter so as to form funnel section  30  which facilitates entry of product into fill tube  20 . 
         [0048]    Base plate  40  provides structural support for various components of former assembly  10  and may be equipped with conventional means for bracing or securing assembly  10  on automated packaging equipment. A central aperture [not shown] in base plate  40  is sized to accommodate fill tube  20  such that an annulus is formed in the space between fill tube  20  and base plate  40  when fill tube  20  is positioned inside base plate  40 . The annulus permits the passage of packaging material through base plate  40  around the outer circumference of fill tube  20 . 
         [0049]    Base plate  40  also supports a former wing  50  by means of wing support  60 . Former wing  50  surrounds but does not contact tube  20 , leaving gap  70  between the two members for the passage of flexible sheet material. The sheet material can be advanced through assembly  10  via a pull down mechanism. 
         [0050]    The existence of gap  70  and the annulus in base plate  40  requires that fill tube  20  be suspended from one or more points above base plate  40 . At least one suspension point must also be above gap  70  so as to not interfere with the movement of the sheet material across former wing  50 . 
         [0051]    In certain illustrated embodiment, a bracing post or stanchion  80  can securely attached at its bottom surface [not shown] to base plate  40  with a plurality of bolts (or other fastening means) so as to prevent any rotation of bracing post  80  on base plate  40 . Various illustrative embodiments of bracing post  80  are shown in FIGS:  4 - 7 . In certain illustrative embodiments, bracing post  80  can have a generally circular cross section. A receiving orifice  90  can be formed within bracing post  80 , and extend longitudinally therethrough. The receiving orifice  90  can extend throughout the entire longitudinal extent of bracing post  80 , or alternatively, can extend only partially therethrough. In certain illustrative embodiments, receiving orifice  90  can also have a generally circular cross section, although the cross section of receiving orifice  90  will necessarily be smaller than the cross section of bracing post  80 . 
         [0052]    In certain illustrative embodiments, a bracing arm  100  can be attached to fill tube  20 , preferably at or near funnel section  30 . Bracing arm  100  can extend outward from fill tube  20  and have a shape that would allow at least part of bracing arm  100  to slidingly fit at least partially within receiving orifice  90  of bracing post  80  when fill tube  20  is positioned within the central aperture of base plate  40 . Thus, the section of bracing arm  100  that fits within receiving orifice  90  of bracing post  80  should be aligned in a plane that is parallel to the plane of bracing post  80 . Various illustrative embodiments of bracing arm  100  are shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . In an illustrative embodiment ( FIG. 8 ), bracing arm  100  can comprise a handle arm  110  with a contact arm  120  extending therefrom and connecting to fill tube  20 . In another illustrative embodiment ( FIG. 9 ), bracing arm  100  can comprise a handle arm  110  with a plurality of contact arms  120  extending therefrom. Contact arms  120  can extend outward from fill tube  20  and connect fill tube  20  to handle arm  110 . Handle arm  110  can be grasped by a user to move and position fill tube  20  with respect to base plate  40  and former wing  50 . Handle arm  110  and contact arms  120  can be similarly shaped to form a generally uniform bracing arm  100 , or alternatively, handle arm  110  and contact arms  120  can have different respective shapes and designs. For example, in an illustrative embodiment, handle arm  110  may contain a plurality of knurls for gripping purposes. 
         [0053]    In certain illustrative embodiments, a stabilizer member  130  can be disposed on a bottom region of bracing arm  100 . Stabilizer member  130  can extend in a generally downward direction and be aligned in a plane that is parallel to the plane of bracing post  80 . Stabilizer member  130  can be sized to fit within receiving orifice  90  when fill tube  20  is positioned within the central aperture of base plate  40 . In certain illustrative embodiments, stabilizer member  130  can have a generally circular cross section. Stabilizer member  130  can slide into receiving orifice  90 , and can be undersized by, for example, thousandths of an inch in both length and width to fit securely within receiving orifice  90 . In other illustrative embodiments, the length and width of receiving orifice  90  and stabilizer member  130  can be sized as necessary to achieve the desired fit and/or desired stability for bracing arm  100 . 
         [0054]    In certain illustrative embodiments (e.g.,  FIGS. 15-18 ), bracing arm  100  can have a shoulder  140  disposed on its bottom region with an downward facing engagement surface  150  formed thereon, and bracing post  80  can have a shoulder  160  disposed on its upper region with a upward facing engagement surface  170  formed thereon. Engagement surface  150  of shoulder  140  can be adapted to contact engagement surface  170  of shoulder  160  when bracing arm  100  is fitted within receiving orifice  90  and advanced a sufficient distance, thus providing additional stability for bracing arm  100 . Further, the location of shoulder  140  on bracing arm  100  can determine how far bracing arm  100  extends downward into receiving orifice  90 , thus impacting the relative height of fill tube  20 . 
         [0055]    In certain illustrative embodiments (e.g.,  FIGS. 6-7 ), bracing post  80  can have a slot  180  formed therein adjacent to shoulder  160 . Slot  180  can be sized to receive support arm, for example, contact arm  120 , when bracing arm  100  is fitted within receiving orifice  90 , thus allowing bracing arm  100  to advance an additional distance within receiving orifice  90  and provide additional stability for bracing arm  100 . The length of slot  180  can be sized as needed to achieve the desired amount of stability. The support arm, for example, contact arm  120 , can contact, or not contact, fill tube  20 , as desired. 
         [0056]    In certain illustrative embodiments (e.g.,  FIGS. 21-22 ), one or more locking pins  200  can be disposed within bracing post  80 . For example, locking pin  200  can fit within an orifice formed in the wall of bracing post  80 . One or more locking orifices  210  can be formed in stabilizer member  130 . Locking orifice  210  can be sized such that locking pin  200  can fit within and pass through locking orifice  210  when stabilizer member  130  is fitted within bracing post  80 . In certain illustrative embodiments, locking pin  200  can pass through a first locking orifice  210   a  formed on one side of stabilizer member  130 , and extent out of a second locking orifice  210   b  formed on the other side of stabilizer member  130 . Locking pin  200  can secure stabilizer member  210  within bracing post  80  and prevent accidental removal. 
         [0057]    Fill tube  20  may be removed from assembly  10  (as for cleaning) by, for example, slideably removing stabilizer member  130  from receiving orifice  90  of bracing post  80 . Replacement of fill tube  80  on assembly  10  may be accomplished by, for example, reversing the above-described steps and slideably inserting stabilizer member  130  into receiving orifice  90  of bracing post  80 . In this regard,  FIGS. 19-20  and  23 - 26  show various views of assembly  10  wherein stabilizer member  130  is fully removed from, or fully or partially disposed within, receiving orifice  90  of bracing post  80  in certain illustrative embodiments. 
         [0058]    The various illustrative embodiments of the bag forming assembly described herein are stable and easy to disassemble, reassemble and align for cleaning and maintenance purposes without tools or extensive experience. The various components of the bag forming assembly are formed of stainless steel and designed to lock into one another seamlessly. 
         [0059]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or illustrative embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the size and shape of the receiving orifice and bracing post can also be rectangular, polygonal or any shape desired by the user. Accordingly, the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.