Abstract: A former assembly (10) for a packaging machine. The former assembly (10) includes a frame (11) that supports a former shoulder (17). The former shoulder (17) has a former opening (20) that is aligned with a tubular delivery chute (21). Product is delivered to the chute (21), from where product is delivered to the opening (20) and therefore the former shoulder (17). The delivery chute (21) has an interior (22) having a plurality of projections (44) in the form of ridges (45). The ridges are located at angular positions spaced about the generally central axis (19) and have their major direction of extension downward.

Abstract: A former assembly (10) for a packaging machine. The former assembly (10) includes a frame (11) that supports a former shoulder (17). The former shoulder (17) has a former opening (20) that is aligned with a tubular delivery chute (21). Product is delivered to the chute (21), from where product is delivered to the opening (20) and therefore the former shoulder (17). The delivery chute (21) has an interior (22) having a plurality of projections (44) in the form of ridges (45). The ridges are located at angular positions spaced about the generally central axis (19) and have their major direction of extension downward.

Abstract: A chute assembly (10) to deliver product to a former (11) of a packaging assembly. The chute assembly (10) includes a chute (14) that converges downwardly. Located adjacent the chute (14) is a metal detector (21) having a transmitting and receiving coils (22) of different diameters. The receiving coils (22) being adapted to provide a signal when metal is detected.

Abstract: A metal detector (420) has a metallic enclosure (421) with entrance and exit apertures (430, 431) whose cross-sectional areas differ from each other. Inside the enclosure is a coil system with a transmitter coil (423) and first and second receiver coils (424, 425). The apertures and the coil system enclose a detection zone (428) around a travel path on which objects under inspection move. The asymmetric detection zone has a variable cross-section along the travel path and the coils differ in size from each other. The receiver coils are connected in series, but their windings are wired with the opposite sense of rotation relative to each other. Energizing the transmitter coil generates a primary electromagnetic field that induces a first voltage and a second voltage in the corresponding receiver coils. Despite the asymmetry, the respective voltages cancel each other when no metal is present in the object investigated.

Abstract: A weighing machine (10) that may be scales employed in the packaging industry to deliver batches of product to a packaging machine below the weighing machine (10). The weighing machine (10) has a plurality of troughs (19) along which the product passes and that extend downwardly away from a generally central upright longitudinal axis (11). Each trough (19) extends downwardly from an inlet portion (21) to an outlet portion (22), with the outlet portion (22) spaced radially and angularly from the inlet portion (21) relative to the axis (11).

Abstract: A metal detector (420) has a metallic enclosure (421) with entrance and exit apertures (430, 431) whose cross-sectional areas differ from each other. Inside the enclosure is a coil system with a transmitter coil (423) and first and second receiver coils (424, 425). The apertures and the coil system enclose a detection zone (428) around a travel path on which objects under inspection move. The asymmetric detection zone has a variable cross-section along the travel path and the coils differ in size from each other. The receiver coils are connected in series, but their windings are wired with the opposite sense of rotation relative to each other. Energizing the transmitter coil generates a primary electromagnetic field that induces a first voltage and a second voltage in the corresponding receiver coils. Despite the asymmetry, the respective voltages cancel each other when no metal is present in the object investigated.

Abstract: A chute assembly (10) to deliver product to a former (11) of a packaging assembly. The chute assembly (10) includes a chute (14) that converges downwardly. Located adjacent the chute (14) is a metal detector (21) having a transmitting and receiving coils (22) of different diameters. The receiving coils (22) being adapted to provide a signal when metal is detected.

Abstract: A weighing machine (10) that may be scales employed in the packaging industry to deliver batches of product to a packaging machine below the weighing machine (10). The weighing machine (10) has a plurality of troughs (19) along which the product passes and that extend downwardly away from a generally central upright longitudinal axis (11). Each trough (19) extends downwardly from an inlet portion (21) to an outlet portion (22), with the outlet portion (22) spaced radially and angularly from the inlet portion (21) relative to the axis (11).

Abstract: A scale assembly (10) including a plurality of buckets (11). The buckets (11) are arranged in two sets (12, 13), each set of buckets (11) of each set (12, 13) being located on a respective path (31, 32). The paths (31, 32) are spaced radially from a respective longitudinal axis (25, 26) with the buckets (11) being equally spaced from their respective longitudinal axis (25, 26).