Patent ID: 8511048

Claim:
A packaging forming and loading apparatus for use with a packaging machine, the apparatus comprising: a package portion including a tubular body forming an interior passage extending between, and open at, opposing leading and trailing ends, the tubular body having a rectangular shape defining a front face, a rear face, and opposing first and second side faces; and a loading portion including: a front wall defining opposing, front wall first and second ends, a rear wall opposite the front wall and defining opposing, rear wall first and second ends, the rear wall first end being longitudinally proximate the front wall first end, opposing first and second side walls connected to and extending between the front and rear walls, wherein the walls combine to form a funnel segment defining a closed perimeter funneling pathway terminating at the front wall second end, a transverse cross-sectional area of the funneling pathway at the front wall second end being greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the funneling pathway at the front wall first end, an end wall interconnecting the rear wall and the opposing side wall opposite the front wall, wherein a plane of the end wall is perpendicular to a central axis of the loading portion, and further wherein the rear wall second end is longitudinally beyond the front wall second end in a direction opposite the rear wall first end to define a portion of a loading region fluidly open to the funneling pathway; wherein upon final assembly of the loading portion to the package portion, the funneling pathway is fluidly connected to the interior passage to facilitate delivery of product from the loading region to the interior passage via the funneling pathway.