Web material advancement arrangement with an entry drive system in a packaging machine

A web material advancement arrangement for a packaging machine, wherein the packaging machine defines an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein a storage roll of web material is located toward the upstream end of the packaging machine, comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart web advancement members wherein the web advancement members extend in a downstream direction from the upstream end of the packaging machine;
• a web engagement arrangement associated with each of the spaced apart web advancement member, wherein each web engagement arrangement is configured to engage one of a pair of edges defined by the web material such that the web material is positioned between the pair of spaced apart web advancement members;
• and
• a rotatable drive arrangement at the upstream end of the packaging machine, wherein ratable drive arrangement comprises a pair of ratable drive members that define the upstream end of the packaging machine, wherein each of the rotatable drive member is engaged with one of the pair of spaced apart web advancement members at the upstream end of the packaging machine, and wherein operation of the rotatable drive arrangement and rotation of the rotatable drive members moves the pair of spaced apart web advancement members in an upstream-to-downstream direction and advances the web material therewith in the upstream-to-downstream direction wherein the pair of rotatable drive members are arranged in rotational unison with each other, and wherein the pair of rotatable drive members are defined by a pair of drive sprockets that are mounted to a drive roller and wherein the drive roller locks the pair of drive sprockets into rotational unison with each other.

A web material advancement arrangement for a packaging machine, wherein the packaging machine defines an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein a storage roll of web material is located toward the upstream end of the packaging machine, comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart web members, wherein the web advancement members extend in a downstream direction from the upstream end of the packaging machine;
• a web engagement arrangement associated with each of the spaced apart web advancement members, wherein each web engagement arrangement is configured to engage one of a pair of edges define by the web material such that the web material is positioned between the pair of spaced apart web advancement members;
• and
• a rotatable drive arrangement at the upstream end of the packaging machine wherein the rotatable drive arrangement comprises a pair of rotatable drive members that define the upstream end of the packaging machine, wherein each of the rotatable drive members is engaged with one of the pair of spaced apart web advancement members at the upstream end of the packaging machine, and wherein operation of the rotatable drive arrangement and rotation of the rotatable drive members moves the pair of spaced apart web advancement members in an upstream-to-downstream direction and advances the web material therewith in the upstream-to-downstream direction, wherein the rotatable drive system further comprises:
• a motor configured to deliver power to the rotatable drive members;
• an input shaft arranged to receive power from the motor, wherein the input shaft has an input shaft outer portion that receives power from the motor and an opposite input shaft inner portion;
• wherein a first one of the rotatable drive members is mounted to the input shaft inner portion to lock the first rotatable drive member and the input shaft into rotational unison with each other;
• a drive roller having first and second ends, wherein the first end is mounted to the input shaft inner portion to lock the drive roller and the input shaft into rotational unison with each other;
• a support shaft having a support shaft inner portion and a support shaft outer portion, wherein the support shaft inner portion is mounted to the second end of the drive roller to lock the support shaft and the drive roller in rotational unison with each other;
• wherein a second one of the rotatable drive members is mounted to the support shaft inner portion to lock the second rotatable drive member and the support shaft into rotational unison with each other;
• and
• wherein a power flow path is defined that transfers torque:
• from the input shaft inner portion to the first rotatable drive member and the first end of the drive roller;
• from the second end of the drive roller to the support shaft inner portion;
• and
• from the support shaft inner portion to the second rotatable drive member.

A web material advancement arrangement for a packaging machine, wherein the packaging machine defines an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein a storage roll of web material is spaced in an upstream direction from the upstream end of the packaging machine, comprising:

• a pair of endless spaced-apart web engagement members, each of which is configured to engage the web adjacent one of a pair of opposite edges defined by the web, wherein the endless web engagement members extend in a downstream direction from the upstream end of the packaging machine, wherein the web material is fed from the storage roll and comes into engagement with the web engagement members at the upstream end of the packaging machine;
• a pair of rotatable drive members that are located at and that define the upstream end of the packaging machine, wherein each rotatable drive member is engaged with one of the endless web engagement members at the upstream end of the packaging machine at which the web material comes into engagement with the web engagement members;
• and
• a drive system for imparting rotation to the pair of rotatable drive members, wherein the drive system comprises a motor having an output, a rotatable input member to which each of the pair of rotatable drive members is secured, and a drive arrangement between the motor output and the rotatable input member, wherein operation of the motor causes rotation of the motor output and rotation of the pair of rotatable drive members through the drive arrangement so that the rotatable drive members are driven together in response to operation of the motor and move the pair of spaced apart web engagement members in the downstream direction and advance the web material therewith in the downstream direction.

A web material advancement arrangement with an entry drive system that can receive a web material from a storage roll and advance the web material through a packaging machine, wherein the web material advancement arrangement comprises:

• an entry end that receives the web material from storage on the roll;
• an exit end that delivers the web material from the web material advancement arrangement downstream toward the rest of the packaging machine;
• an entry drive system arranged at the entry end of the web material advancement arrangement, wherein the entry drive system is configured to push the web material in a downstream direction from the entry end toward the exit end of the web material advancement arrangement;
• and
• a pair of rotatable drive sprockets arranged at the entry end of the web advancement arrangement, wherein the drive sprockets are mounted to a drive roller that locks the pair of drive sprockets into rotational unison with each other, wherein the web material advancement arrangement defines a pair of sides, and wherein the pair of rotatable drive sprockets are arranged in rotational unison with each other at the respective sides.