Patent Publication Number: US-2023150706-A1

Title: Adjustable forming collar assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of Provisional Ser. No. 63/279,288, filed Nov. 15, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to packaging equipment for forming and filling flexible packaging, and more particularly to an adjustable forming collar assembly for use with an associated vertical form, fill and seal apparatus to facilitate formation and filling of packages of differing sizes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Forming collar assemblies (FCA) are interchangeable tooling that is installed in a Vertical Form, Fill and Seal (VFFS) packaging machine. Typically, forming collar assemblies are only designed and manufactured to form a single specific bag width size. To create a different pillow pack width on a VFFS requires a differently sized forming collar assembly. 
     The present invention is directed to an improved forming collar assembly for use on vertical form, fill and seal apparatus which facilitates efficient adjustment of the apparatus for formation and filling of differently sized packages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable forming collar is a unique forming collar design that allows a traditional forming collar to be adjusted for multiple bag sizes on the same platform base using change-out parts. Versatile use of the associated form, fill and seal apparatus is thus facilitated, including efficient reconfiguration for filling of differently sized packages. 
     In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, an adjustable forming collar assembly is provided for a form, fill and seal apparatus having a forming tube about which packaging film is positioned for formation and filling of a package. The adjustable collar assembly includes a mounting plate positioned to extend laterally on opposite sides of the forming tube. 
     To accommodate filling of packages of differing sizes, first and second forming segments are provided which can be adjustably positioned on the mounting plate. Each of the forming segments is shaped to guide the packaging film from a generally flat configuration to a tubular configuration extending about the forming tube. 
     In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, to provide adjustable positioning of the forming segments, at least one of: (1) each of the first and second forming segments, and (2) the mounting plate, define at least one elongated adjustment slot for receiving a mechanical fastener for securing each of the forming segments to the mounting plate. By this arrangement, the first and second forming segments can be selectively positioned toward and away from to each other on the mounting place, and thus adjustably positioned with respect to the forming tube, to thereby selectively adjust that size of the package being formed and filled. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second forming segments defines the at least one elongated adjustment slot for receiving the mechanical fastener for securing each of the forming segments to the mounting plate. 
     To facilitate efficient and accurate adjustment of the first and second forming segments, the present assembly preferably includes indexing indicia for indicating the position of each of said first and second forming segments with respect to said mounting plate, to thereby position the first and second forming segments in symmetrical relationship to the forming tube. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the indexing indicia comprises first and second pluralities of openings defined by the mounting plate on respective opposite sides of the forming tube, and a plurality of openings defined by each of the first and second forming segments. By this arrangement, one of the openings in each of the forming segments can be aligned with a respective one of the openings defined by the mounting plate to facilitate positioning of the forming segments in symmetrical relationship to the forming tube. In the preferred form, the first and second pluralities of openings defined by the mounting place are arranged on each side of the forming tube in diverging relationship. 
     To further facilitate efficient and accurate adjustable positioning of the first and second forming segments, the assembly includes positioning indicia provided on each of the first and second forming segments adjacent to the plurality of openings therein. This facilitates alignment of the openings in each of the forming segments with the openings in mounting plate to position the forming segments in symmetrical relationship to said forming tube. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the present adjustable forming collar assembly includes first and second rib cages respectively extending along opposite sides of said forming tube, generally beneath the first and second forming segments. These rib cages guide the packaging film as it is drawn along the forming tube. In the preferred form, at least one interchangeable rib cage support member is provided which can be interchanged to vary the spacing between said first and second rib cages. Again, this facilitates forming and filling of differently sized packages. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from following detailed description, the appended drawings, and the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagrammatic, upper perspective view of an adjustable forming collar assembly embodying the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a diagrammatic, lower perspective view of the present adjustable forming collar assembly; and 
         FIG.  3    is a diagrammatic, partially exploded perspective view of the present adjustable forming collar assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While the present invention is susceptible to embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment, with understanding the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     Vertical Form, Fill and Seal (VFFS) packaging machines create packages of a general shape called a pillow pack. The pillow pack shape is created by passing a film web through a forming collar assembly (FCA) to create a round, rectangular, or oval shape. The present adjustable forming collar assembly can create incrementally sized, multiple bag widths with a relatively simple set of changeout parts and basic tools. 
     The forming collar is the feature on the forming collar assembly that causes the packaging film to transition from a flat roll to a circular shape. The product tube is a feature on the forming collar assembly that transports the product being packaged into the formed, circular packaging film. Additionally, the product tube supports the film web until the product is sealed into the package along a longitudinal back seal. 
     The unique design features of the present adjustable forming collar assembly include two key features: the adjustable forming collar, and film support “rib cage”. Both features work in tandem to allow the adjustable forming collar assembly to function as designed. 
     A traditional forming collar is a one-piece subassembly of the forming collar assembly. As will be further described, the present adjustable forming collar assembly has a segmented, split, two-piece forming collar. The split is on the centerline of the collar and bisects the collar into two pieces creating a left-hand and right-hand collar, designated first and second forming segments. These two pieces are mirror images of each other. 
     These two collar halves, or segments, are mounted on a base, or mounting plate, that has an incrementally spaced set of mounting holes that allow the forming collar halves to be spaced farther apart (or closer together) at incremental distances. A gap is created between the two forming collar halves of ever widening distances as the forming collars halves are adjusted for larger sizes. Change-out tooling in the form of an interchangeable spacer of a specific size for each incremental bag size is installed into the gap thereby providing a support surface for the packaging film. 
     The second key piece of this design is the product tube rib cage. Similar to the forming collar, the rib cage is split into left-hand and right-hand sections that can be adjustable left and right using change-out tooling. The product tube is designed with a split circular cross section in the vertical direction. 
     The rib cage change-out parts function like the change-out parts for the forming collar allowing the rib cage to be spaced farther apart or closer together to adjust to a specific cross-section. These product tube change-out parts give the appearance of a rib cage, a feature that is entirely unique to the present adjustable forming collar assembly. 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in accordance with the present invention, an adjustable forming collar  10  is a unique forming collar design that allows a traditional forming collar to be adjusted for multiple bag sizes on the same platform base using change-out parts. Versatile use of the associated vertical form, fill and seal (VFFS) apparatus is thus facilitated, including efficient reconfiguration for filling of differently sized packages. 
     In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, an adjustable forming collar assembly  10  is provided for a form, fill and seal apparatus having a forming tube  12  ( FIG.  3   ) about which packaging film is positioned for formation and filling of a package. The product tube  12  is shown with an associated product tunnel through which product is delivered for package filling, and is typically of a fixed size. 
     The forming collar assembly  10  includes a mounting plate  14  positioned to extend laterally on opposite sides of the forming tube  12 . To accommodate filling of packages of differing sizes, first and second forming segments  20 ,  22  are provided which can be adjustably positioned on the mounting plate  14 . Each of the forming segments  20 ,  22  is shaped to guide the packaging film from a generally flat configuration to a tubular configuration extending about the forming tube  12 . 
     To provide adjustable positioning of the forming segments  20 ,  22 , at least one of: (1) each of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22 , and (2) the mounting plate  14 , define at least one elongated adjustment slot  24  for receiving a mechanical fastener  26  for securing each of the forming segments  20 ,  22  to the mounting plate  14 . By this arrangement, the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22  can be selectively positioned toward and away from to each other on the mounting plate  14 , and thus adjustably positioned with respect to the forming tube  12 , to thereby selectively adjust that size of the package being formed and filled. It will be appreciated that it is within the purview of the present invention to provide an alternative arrangement for selective adjustment of the positioning of the first and second forming segments with respect to the associated forming tube  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22  defines the at least one elongated adjustment slot  24  for receiving the mechanical fastener  26  for securing each of the forming segments to the mounting plate  14 . 
     To facilitate efficient and accurate adjustment of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22 , the present assembly preferably includes indexing indicia for indicating the position of each of said first and second forming segments with respect to said mounting plate  14 , to thereby position the first and second forming segments in symmetrical relationship to the forming tube  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the indexing indicia comprises first and second pluralities of openings  30  defined by the mounting plate  14  on respective opposite sides of the forming tube, and a plurality of openings  32  defined by each of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22 . By this arrangement, one of the openings  32  in each of the forming segments can be aligned with a respective one of the openings  30  defined by the mounting plate  14  to facilitate positioning of the forming segments in symmetrical relationship to the forming tube  12 . In the preferred form, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the first and second pluralities of openings  32  defined by the mounting place  14  are arranged on each side of the forming tube  12  in diverging relationship. Change-out tooling in the form of an interchangeable spacer  34  of a specific size for each incremental bag size is installed into the gap between the first and second forming segments thereby providing a support surface for the packaging film. 
     To further facilitate efficient and accurate adjustable positioning of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22 , the assembly  10  includes positioning indicia  36  provided on each of the first and second forming segments  20 ,  22  adjacent to the plurality of openings  30  therein. This facilitates alignment of the openings  30  in each of the forming segments with the openings  32  in the mounting plate  14  to position the forming segments in symmetrical relationship to the forming tube  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment the present adjustable forming collar assembly  10  includes first and second rib cages  40 ,  42  respectively extending along opposite sides of the forming tube  12 , which typically extends vertically through the adjustable forming collar assembly  10 . These rib cages  40 ,  42  guide the packaging film as it is drawn along the forming tube  12 . In the preferred form, at least one interchangeable rib cage support member  44  is provided, supported by a mounting bracket  46  secured to mounting plate  14 . The rib cage support member  44  can be interchanged to selectively vary the spacing between said first and second rib cages  40 ,  42 . In the illustrated form, a pair of the support members  44  are provided, generally at the front and rear of the forming tube  12 . Again, this facilitates formation and filling of differently sized packages. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.