Patent ID: 7552574

Claim:
A gusseting mechanism for imparting a longitudinal crease in a film tube on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine, comprising: a) a substantially planar plow mechanism, which includes a pivot point formed perpendicularly through said plow mechanism and a protruding tucker device which projects from an edge of said plow mechanism, wherein said pivot point is offset vertically and laterally from said protruding tucker device; and b) a rod pivotally attached to said pivot point, said rod having one end operable to be fixably attached to a frame support structure of said machine so that the planar surface of said plow mechanism is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said film tube and substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of said film tube, wherein said plow mechanism is rotatable about said rod so that said protruding tucker device engages said outer surface of said film tube exerting a generally constant force on said film tube forming said crease; and wherein said plow mechanism is rotatable by its own weight, and requires no pneumatic or cam-driven actuation to impart said longitudinal crease.