Particle stopper apparatus for form and fill machine

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SEAL AREA ON A FORM AND FILL PACKAGING MACHINE OF THE SORT WHEREIN A CONTINUOUS SHEET OF MATERIAL IS FORMED INTO A TUBE THROUGH WHICH THE GOODS SUCH AS POTATO CHIPS ARE FED IN INTERMITTENT CHARGES AS BAGS ARE CREATED FROM SAID TUBE BY HEAT SEALING JAWS SEALING THE BOTTOM OF A TOP BAG AND THE TOP OF A BOTTOM, FILLED BAG, AND WHEREIN SAID HEAT SEALING JAWS MOVE FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TUBE TO CLOSE AND FORM AN ELONGATED AND FLAT SEAL, AND WHEREIN RELATIVE MOVEMENT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN SAID TUBE AND SAID JAWS TO BRING SAID JAWS TO A NEW POSITION ON SAID TUBE EACH TIME A BAG IS FORMED THEREFROM, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF PARTICLE STOPPING FINGERS MOUNTED ON SAID JAWS ON THE TOP THEREOF AND NORMALLY BEING INCLINED INWARDLY BEYOND THE INNER FACE OF SAID JAWS WHEREBY SAID FINGERS WILL ENGAGE THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TUBE PRIOR TO THE ENGAGEMENT BY THE JAWS, (B) AND SPRING MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAID FINGERS INWARDLY AND AGAINST WHICH SAID FINGERS WILL MOVE AS SAID JAWS CLOSE TO FORCE SAID FINGERS AGAINST OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TUBE.