Patent ID: 8869687

Claim:
A food product packaging machine comprising: a frame; a plurality of food product packaging components movably mounted to the frame, wherein the food product packaging components are configured and arranged to package food products during movement of the food products by the food product packaging components from an upstream end of the food product packaging machine toward a downstream end defined by the food product packaging machine; wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected support members including a first support member and a second support member: wherein at least the first and second support members are comprised of a metallic material and wherein the first support member extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second support member extends along a second longitudinal axis different than the first longitudinal axis; wherein at least the first support member includes an outer wall having a recess that defines an outwardly facing recessed surface that faces in a direction non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis, wherein the outwardly facing recessed surface is peripherally surrounded by the outer wall of the first support member; wherein at least the second support member defines an end portion that terminates in an end surface that lies in a plane non-parallel to the second longitudinal axis, wherein the end portion of the second support member is positioned within the recess defined by the outer wall of the first support member, and wherein the end surface of the second support member faces the outwardly facing recessed surface of the first support member within the recess, wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured such that the second support member extends outwardly from the first support member; and a bonding agent that secures the first support member and the second support member together, wherein the bonding agent is disposed within the recess and is located between and interfaces with the outwardly facing recessed surface of the first support member and the entirety of the end surface defined by the end portion of the second support member.