Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080248735 | NET RUCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and a method for rucking netting onto a tube are described. The apparatus, in a first embodiment, comprises a frame having an axis, a passage along the axis, means for reciprocating movement along the axis, a netting tube releasably attachable to the means for reciprocating movement, a second tube comprising a frustum having a bore, the second tube being slidable co-axially to the netting tube, an annular space defined by the second tube and the netting tube, and spring-loaded fingers attached to the frame and extending into the passage. In another embodiment, a method for rucking netting onto a tube comprises attaching a netting tube to a moveable platform, mounting a second tube axially over the netting tube, the second tube comprising a frustum having a bore therethrough, placing an end of a netting over the second tube, forming an annular space between the netting tube and the second tube, and moving the second tube reciprocatingly through spring-loaded fingers. The second tube is a frusto-conical shape, a frusto-pyramidal shape, or another frustum shape | 10-09-2008 |
20090025338 | METHOD FOR FORMING TUBES IN NETS - A net derucking rectifier system is described. The system has a stuffer, a product horn having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end mounted to the stuffer, a netting tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, the netting tube removably mounted coaxially over the product horn and having a tubular netting shirred thereon, a bracket mounted coaxially to the netting tube and having a plurality of fingers pointing radially inward to grip the netting, the bracket movable between a first position near the upstream end and a second position near the downstream end, the fingers biased to grip the netting when the bracket is moved from the first position to the second position and not to grip the netting when the bracket is moved from the second position to the first position, and a clipper located adjacent the distal end of the netting tube. In another embodiment, a method of derucking a predetermined length of netting rucked on a tube, comprises gripping the netting in a first position on the tube, moving the gripped netting from the first position to a second position a predetermined distance axially along the tube, releasing the netting at the second position, and regripping the netting at the first position. | 01-29-2009 |
20090044488 | DUAL MODE BAGGER - An apparatus for sealing a bag of encased material is described. A plurality of nozzles radiate from a central vacuum system, each nozzle associated with a clamping means. A framework rotates about the central vacuum system. A holding tray and an elevating device are removably attachable to the framework. The holding tray is attachable below a one of the plurality of nozzles and comprises an upright section and a projecting section. The upright section is supported by the framework at an acute angle from vertical, a top end of the upright section being adjacent to the framework and a bottom end of the upright section being remote from the framework. The projecting section is removably attachable to the bottom end of the upright section and projects approximately normal to the upright section. The elevating device is removably attachable to the framework below a one of the plurality of nozzles. The elevating device comprises an upright section, a lower strut, and an upper strut, the upright section supported by the framework at an acute angle from vertical, a top end of the upright section being adjacent to the framework and a bottom end of the upright section being remote from the framework. The lower strut has a first end and a second end, the first end of the lower strut being attached to a first end of the upper strut and the second end of the lower strut being releasably attached to the bottom end of the upright section. A second end of the upper strut is releasably attachable to the top end of the upright section. | 02-19-2009 |
20090081934 | PLASTIC WIRE CLIPPER/STUFFER - A system for applying plastic clips to tubular products is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a die and a punch. The die has a peripheral face, an arcuate wall in the die peripheral face forming a half-cylindrical bore, the bore separating the die peripheral face into a first side and a second side, and a groove formed in the arcuate wall and the second side, the groove extending from the first side, through the arcuate wall and the second side, and forming a slot in an outer edge of the die. The punch has a peripheral face, an arcuate wall in the punch peripheral face forming a half-cylindrical bore, the bore separating the punch peripheral face into a first side and a second side, and a pair of grooves, the grooves extending from the first side to the second side of the punch peripheral face. The system also has a means for moving at least one of the die and the punch from a first position in which the die peripheral face and the punch peripheral face are adjacent, to a second position in which the die peripheral face and the punch peripheral face are remote. | 03-26-2009 |
20090202182 | CLIP AND CLIPPER - An article for packaging an item is described. The article comprises packaging material gathered into a neck and a clip fastening the neck, the clip comprising a top section and two legs connected by the top section, the top section comprising an internal face and an external face, the two legs being folded inward to contact each other, the folded legs and the top section defining a space securing the neck, and the clip further comprising a shoulder extending from said external face and a pin extending from said internal face into said space. | 08-13-2009 |
20110064335 | BAG WITH LINER - A bag for encasing material is described. The bag comprises a sheet comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, an extended panel, a tear line separating the extended panel from the bottom panel, and a fold line separating the bottom panel from the top panel, the top panel being defined by a top border, a bottom edge, a bottom border, and the fold line, the bottom panel being defined by a top border, the fold line, a bottom border, and the tear line, and the extended panel being defined by a top border, the tear line, a bottom border, and a top edge; and a liner attached to a first side of the sheet and intersecting the fold line, the first side of the sheet being folded onto itself at the fold line, the top panel top edge being joined to the bottom panel top edge, and the top panel bottom edge being joined to the bottom panel bottom edge. | 03-17-2011 |
20110094185 | APPARATUS FOR ENCLOSING PRODUCTS IN A PACKAGE HAVING A HANDLE - An apparatus for encasing product in a tubular material with a handle is described. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a delivery conveyor, a ram located on a first side of the delivery conveyor, a product horn located at a side of the delivery conveyor opposite the ram, the product horn having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent the delivery conveyor and the second end remote from the delivery conveyor, a sealer configured to form tubular seamed casing about the product horn, a printer in data communication with a scale, a clipper located at the second end of the product horn, and a plurality of tag handles feeding through the printer and to the clipper. | 04-28-2011 |
20110107726 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BAGGING MATERIAL - A method and an apparatus for enclosing material in a bag is described for a bag comprising a stretchable material and having a first dimension and a second dimension. The method comprises stretching the bag in the first dimension, placing material in the bag, releasing the bag in the first dimension, stretching the bag in a second dimension, evacuating the bag, and sealing the bag. The apparatus comprises a bagger configured to stretch the bag in a first dimension, to receive the material, and to release the bag in the first dimension, and a packaging apparatus comprising a nozzle coupled to a vacuum system, a grasping means, and a clipper means, the grasping means configured to hold a neck of the bag to the nozzle and to stretch the bag in the second dimension. | 05-12-2011 |
20110249918 | BAG WITH LINER AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME - A bag for encasing material is described. The bag comprises a sheet having a top panel, a bottom panel, an extended panel and a liner. A tear line separates the extended panel from the bottom panel, and a fold line separating the bottom panel from the top panel. The top panel is defined by a top border, a bottom edge, a bottom border, and the fold line. The bottom panel is defined by a top border, the fold line, a bottom border, and the tear line. The extended panel is defined by a top border, the tear line, a bottom border, and a top edge. The liner is welded to a first side of the sheet and intersects the fold line. The first side of the sheet is folded onto itself at the fold line. The top panel top edge is joined to the bottom panel top edge, and the top panel bottom edge is joined to the bottom panel bottom edge. A method of forming the bag is also provided. | 10-13-2011 |
20130247511 | AUTOMATED LOADER - A ramming mechanism to move material from one location to another is described. The ramming mechanism comprises a belt assembly comprising a belt driven over a plurality of pulleys, a ram carriage connected to the belt, and a ram cylinder mounted on the ram carriage. | 09-26-2013 |
20130247512 | AUTOMATED LOADER WITH CONE HORN - An improved automated loader has a cone horn to prevent or minimize contact between the chicken and the bag. The loader has a loading tube and the tube has a cone horn comprising a plurality of plates configured to form a cone, each one of the plurality of plates attached to the proximal end of the loading tube by a spring-loaded hinge, each hinge biased radially inward. | 09-26-2013 |
20130255199 | LOADER - A horn system for an automated loader has horns with upstanding and bottom walls. The horns move from a first, adjacent position in which the bottom walk of the horns completely or almost completely overlap to a second, remote position in which the bottom walls of the horns just barely overlap or do not overlap. | 10-03-2013 |
20130269292 | VACUUM-ASSISTED POULTRY LOADER - An improved loader is described, The loader includes a frame, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the frame, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply. | 10-17-2013 |
20130269834 | LOADER WITH IMPROVED FUNNEL - A horn for an automated loader is described. The horn has an interior surface, at least a portion of which comprises a reduced-friction surface. In one aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface comprises textures or dimples, as from textured metal, preferably textured steel. In another aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface comprises a coating of a slippery substance such as a thermoplastic polymer, for example polytetrafluoroethylene. In yet another aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface is textured metal, preferably textured steel, coated with a slippery substance such as a thermoplastic polymer, for example polytetrafluoroethylene. | 10-17-2013 |
20140042660 | Method of Manufacturing Plastic Clips - A method of manufacturing clips is described, The method comprises the steps of extruding a incited thermoplastic resin into thin extrudate and forming the extrudate into a plurality of clips. The forming step comprises one of (a) a step of vacuum thermoforming the extrudate into a plurality of clips by pulling the extrudate over a female mold and pulling a vacuum between the mold and the extrudate; or (b) the steps of providing a forming tool perpendicular to the extrudate, the extruding tool having a shape corresponding to the inside of a single clip; forming the single clip by contacting the extrudate with the forming tool and retracting the forming tool; advancing the extrudate; forming a second single clip by contacting the extrudate with the forming tool and retracting the forming tool; and cooling the formed clips. | 02-13-2014 |
20140051342 | DOUBLE CLIPPER - An improved system for stuffing material is described. The clipping system includes a first clipper comprising a clip reel, a clip rail, a punch, and a die, the punch configured to engage a single clip and the die having a set of two depressions configured to engage and bend a pair of legs of the single clip, and further includes a second clipper mounted adjacent the first clipper, the second clipper comprising a second clip reel, a second clip rail, a second punch, and a second die, the second punch configured to engage a pair of clips and the second die having two sets of two depressions configured to engage and bend the legs of the pair of clips. | 02-20-2014 |
20140182249 | POULTRY LOADER WITH ALIGNMENT MECHANISM - An improved loader is described. The loader includes a frame having an upper surface, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the upper surface, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duet to a controller, the controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and an alignment mechanism mounted, the alignment mechanism including an axle mounted to the frame, a first arm connected to a first panel, the first arm rotatably connected to the axle, a second arm connected to a second panel, the second arm rotatably connected to the axle, a gear mechanism connected to the axle and to the first arm and the second arm, the gear mechanism configured to rotate the second arm in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the first arm, and a dual-action cylinder connected to at least one of the first arm and the second arm. | 07-03-2014 |
20140250830 | CRIMP CONTROL APPARATUS - A crimp control apparatus includes a threaded connection between a dipper and a punch to adjust the distance between the die and the bottom of the cylinder. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a connector, and a cylinder mount bracket, the cylinder mount bracket bore having threads engagable to threads of the connector, and a lock in the cylinder mount bracket to restrict movement of the connector through the cylinder mount bracket bore. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and having a piston shaft, a stud extending from the piston shaft and having threads, a punch holder having threads engagable to the threads of the stud, a lock to lock the position of the stud and the punch holder, and an adjustment device in the piston shaft. | 09-11-2014 |