US 12,286,257 B2
Cut and seal method and apparatus
Jarrod W. Chalkley, Mechanicsville, VA (US); James D. Evans, Chesterfield, VA (US); Thien Hoang Nguyen, Glen Allen, VA (US); and Patrick S. McElhinney, Chesterfield, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/437,670.
Application 18/174,016 is a division of application No. 17/550,261, filed on Dec. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,591,128, issued on Feb. 28, 2023.
Application 17/550,261 is a division of application No. 15/473,351, filed on Mar. 29, 2017, granted, now 11,254,460, issued on Feb. 22, 2022.
Application 18/437,670 is a continuation of application No. 18/174,016, filed on Feb. 24, 2023, granted, now 11,897,649.
Prior Publication US 2024/0182198 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65B 65/08 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/18 (2006.01); B29C 65/30 (2006.01); B29C 65/74 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B65B 9/20 (2012.01); B65B 9/207 (2012.01); B65B 51/30 (2006.01); B65B 61/06 (2006.01); B65B 61/28 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B65B 29/00 (2006.01); B65B 57/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 61/06 (2013.01) [B29C 65/18 (2013.01); B29C 65/305 (2013.01); B29C 65/7451 (2013.01); B29C 65/7894 (2013.01); B29C 65/7897 (2013.01); B29C 66/005 (2013.01); B29C 66/1122 (2013.01); B29C 66/133 (2013.01); B29C 66/135 (2013.01); B29C 66/4312 (2013.01); B29C 66/4322 (2013.01); B29C 66/83513 (2013.01); B29C 66/849 (2013.01); B65B 9/2049 (2013.01); B65B 9/207 (2013.01); B65B 51/306 (2013.01); B65B 61/28 (2013.01); B65B 65/08 (2013.01); B29C 66/73921 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7128 (2013.01); B65B 29/00 (2013.01); B65B 57/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for forming a stream of individual packets, comprising:
a folder configured to form a tubular web structure from a continuous ribbon of web;
a feeder configured to feed the tubular web structure along a path to a nip;
a first rotor including a first sealing jaw and a knife adjacent the first sealing jaw;
a second rotor including a second sealing jaw and an anvil adjacent the second sealing jaw, the first and second rotors configured to seal a transverse portion of the tubular web structure, and the knife and the anvil configured to sever the sealed transverse portion so as to form a severed, completed packet beyond the nip; and
an open-ended packet catcher configured to catch the severed, completed packets beyond the nip, the packet catcher including,
a front wall,
a back wall,
side walls, and
a stripper, the stripper including,
upper edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the side walls, the stripper configured to strip severed, completed packets from the anvil, the knife, or the first and second sealing jaws if stuck thereto, the upper edges of the side walls having arcuate edge portions converging at an apex and configured to reduce escape of the completed packets.