Patent ID: 8156721

Claim:
In a food packaging machine comprising a main frame, at least one work station for forming at least one package-receptacle in a bottom film located thereat, and at least one transport indexing chain for advancing the bottom lower film to and from said at least one work station, said transport indexing chain comprising a series of interconnected links, lubricated pivot pins for pivotally mounting together adjacent said links, a series of lubricated bushings mounted by said series of links, a series of lubricated rollers rotatable about said pivot pins and mounted in said series of bushings, and a series of gripper attachments securely connected to said series of links, each said gripper attachment comprising a bracket element secured to at least one said link, the improvement comprising: each said link of said series of links and each said bracket element of said series of gripper attachments being made of 300 series stainless steel; said pivot pins, each said bushing of said series of bushing, and each said roller of said series of rollers being made of nickel-plated carbon steel, whereby non-lubricated parts of the transport indexing chain are made of rust-resistant and corrosion-resistant material in order to prevent bacterial growth.