Stripper mechanism for a tubular bag packaging machine

A stripper mechanism for a tubular bag packaging machine, comprising means thereon for forming a foil strip into a tube, defining a path of movement for the tube and introducing product to be packaged into a central region of the tube, longitudinal sealing jaw means for sealing a longitudinally extending seam on the tube, cross-sealing jaw means for forming the tube into a bag by sequentially effecting first and second spaced seams extending cross-wise to a longitudinal axis of the path of movement for the tube, the product being entrapped between said first and second seams, a stripper means for urging the product toward said first cross-wise extending seam prior to a closing of said second cross-wise extending seam to free an area at which said second seam will be located of product, said stripper means including at least two stripper rods arranged on opposite sides of said path of movement for the tube said stripper means including drive means for effecting a movement of said at least two stripper rods simultaneously along an outer side of the tube parallel to the longitudinal axis of the path of movement for the tube as well as toward and away from each other, said stripper rods each being mounted adjacent one end of each of a pair of elongated support arms pivotally connected together by a common pivot axle located midlength of each thereof to form a scissors linkage, said stripper rods being each oriented on one side of said pivot axle, said drive means including (1) a common closing means connected to each said support arm adjacent an end thereof located on an opposite side of said pivot axle from said support rods for effecting a relative movement of said support rods toward and away from each other and (2) a longitudinal drive means for effecting a movement of said support rods along the outer side of the tube parallel to the longitudinal axis of the path of movement for the tube.