Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080236103 | SYSTEMS WITH COOPERATING RERUCKERS FOR PRODUCING ENCASED PRODUCTS AND RELATED DEVICES, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Reruckers and associated methods and systems configured to automatically reruck netting in an upstream direction on a netting chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the netting snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn. | 10-02-2008 |
20080250755 | AUTOMATED PUSHER MECHANISMS THAT COOPERATE WITH CLIPPERS - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute using an automated pushing mechanism with a pushing head. | 10-16-2008 |
20080256898 | BREECH LOADER PACKAGING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute. | 10-23-2008 |
20080313999 | EMBOSSED NETTING CHUTES FOR MANUAL AND/OR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - Netting chutes suitable for use with manual, automatic and semi-automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include chutes with embossed floors. | 12-25-2008 |
20090100798 | AUTOMATED CLIPPERS - Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in netting include a pivotable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to netting and a first cutting cartridge mounted to the pivotable clipper mechanism. The first cutting cartridge includes: (a) a knife; (b) an actuation cylinder with a rod in communication with the knife that advances and retracts the knife; and (c) an anti-rotation block attached to a rear of the knife intermediate the knife and rod to inhibit the knife and rod from rotating, wherein, in operation, the first cutting cartridge pivots with the clipper mechanism. | 04-23-2009 |
20090100800 | METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKAGING OBJECTS - Methods of automatically packaging an object in netting include: (a) automatically extending a product pusher having a pusher head through a product chute; (b) pushing at least one object from a location upstream of the product chute, through a product chute to a location downstream of the product chute in response to the extending step; (c) pulling netting material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the netting material as the object exits the product chute; (d) automatically retracting the pusher head after the pushing step extends the pusher head outside the product chute; then (e) automatically directing a clipper to pivot into position when the pusher head is partially retracted a distance sufficient to position the pusher head inside the product chute; and (f) applying at least one clip to the netting material using the clipper to secure the object in the netting material. | 04-23-2009 |
20090145085 | BREECH-LOADER PACKAGING APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - A system for enclosing a target product in a covering material includes an elongate product chute, an elongate breech-loader chute and a receiving station. The elongate product chute has opposing ingress and egress end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough. The breech-loader chute has a primary chute body with opposing ingress and egress end portions residing above and upstream of the product chute in cooperating alignment therewith. The primary chute body slopes downwardly in a direction of product travel. The receiving station is disposed below the breech-loader chute and includes a receiver floor that receives the target product from the breech-loader chute. The receiver floor is selectively movable between an extended receiving position and a retracted staging position to thereby support and move the target product for delivery to the product chute. | 06-11-2009 |
20090158688 | ROTATING MULTI-CLIPPER PLATFORM SYSTEMS WITH COOPERATING ADHESIVE SEAL MODULES, ADHESIVE SEAL SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. | 06-25-2009 |
20090277137 | METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING WHOLE MUSCLE - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting, by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through first and second axially aligned product chutes; (b) pulling covering material from an exterior surface of a covering material chute residing about the second product chute to automatically enclose the object in the material as the object exits the second product chute; (c) applying at least one clip to the material to secure the object in the material; and (d) pivoting the covering material chute and second product chute together to load a sleeve of material onto the covering material chute. | 11-12-2009 |
20100064632 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR OPERATING CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS AND RELATED SYSTEMS - Systems, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material. | 03-18-2010 |
20100083478 | METHODS OF FORMING EMBOSSED NETTING CHUTES FOR MANUAL AND/OR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Netting chutes suitable for use with manual, automatic and semi-automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include chutes with embossed floors. | 04-08-2010 |
20100107566 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting. | 05-06-2010 |
20100167898 | RUCKERS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Methods, apparatus and associated devices for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a translating member disposed in a housing having an axis of movement configured to reciprocally translate a chute body about the axis of movement; and at least one gripping member disposed in the housing in cooperating alignment with the translating member. Each at least one gripping member has a gripping edge portion that defines a gripping surface. The at least one gripping member configured to reciprocally translate substantially orthogonal to the axis of movement. In operation, the at least one gripping member has an automated stroke cycle whereby the at least one gripping member is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of the chute body while the chute body travels in a first direction about the axis of movement and to travel outwardly a sufficient distance to prevent contact with the chute body while the chute body travels in a second opposing direction about the axis of movement. | 07-01-2010 |
20100223884 | AUTOMATED CLIPPERS - Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in netting include a pivotable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to netting and a first cutting cartridge mounted to the pivotable clipper mechanism. The first cutting cartridge includes: (a) a knife; (b) an actuation cylinder with a rod in communication with the knife that advances and retracts the knife; and (c) an anti-rotation block attached to a rear of the knife intermediate the knife and rod to inhibit the knife and rod from rotating, wherein, in operation, the first cutting cartridge pivots with the clipper mechanism. | 09-09-2010 |
20100279843 | METHODS OF RUCKING USING LOW PROFILE RUCKERS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS - Methods for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a plurality of spaced apart rotatable wheels having a primary axis of movement, wherein, in operation, the plurality of wheels have an automated stroke cycle whereby each is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of a chute body and remain in contact with the chute body while the wheels travel in a first direction about the primary axis of movement and in an opposing second direction about the primary axis of movement. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287883 | AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING WHOLE MUSCLE - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed. | 11-18-2010 |
20100300042 | BREECH LOADER PACKAGING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute. | 12-02-2010 |
20110056171 | AUTOMATED CLIPPERS - Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in netting include a pivotable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to netting and a first cutting cartridge mounted to the pivotable clipper mechanism. The first cutting cartridge includes: (a) a knife; (b) an actuation cylinder with a rod in communication with the knife that advances and retracts the knife; and (c) an anti-rotation block attached to a rear of the knife intermediate the knife and rod to inhibit the knife and rod from rotating, wherein, in operation, the first cutting cartridge pivots with the clipper mechanism. | 03-10-2011 |
20110083406 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING WHOLE MUSCLE - Computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting using actuators for operating barrier doors, pushers, and locks. | 04-14-2011 |
20110209331 | METHODS OF BUILDING MODULAR CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Packaging apparatus modules include a frame with a base adapted to reside on a support floor, the frame having opposing right and left hand frame sides and at least one lateral beam that extends therebetween, the right and left hand frame sides comprising respective upwardly extending frame portions which are configured to reside on opposing sides of a longitudinal product travel path having an axially extending centerline; and a clipper mechanism configured to selectively attach to either one of the right and left hand frame sides in a manner that positions the clipper mechanism at a substantially common operative full-clip location in the product travel path when mounted to either the right or left hand frame sides to thereby allow build options with selectable mounting orientations. | 09-01-2011 |
20110212675 | LOADING CAPS SUITABLE FOR RUCKING USING LOW PROFILE RUCKERS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS - Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion. | 09-01-2011 |
20110219727 | LOADING CAPS FOR RUCKERS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS - Methods, apparatus and associated devices for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a translating member disposed in a housing having an axis of movement configured to reciprocally translate a chute body about the axis of movement; and at least one gripping member disposed in the housing in cooperating alignment with the translating member. Each at least one gripping member has a gripping edge portion that defines a gripping surface. The at least one gripping member configured to reciprocally translate substantially orthogonal to the axis of movement. In operation, the at least one gripping member has an automated stroke cycle whereby the at least one gripping member is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of the chute body while the chute body travels in a first direction about the axis of movement and to travel outwardly a sufficient distance to prevent contact with the chute body while the chute body travels in a second opposing direction about the axis of movement. | 09-15-2011 |
20110232238 | MULTIPLE STATION AUTOMATED BAGGER SYSTEMS, ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Automated (poultry) bagging packaging systems include a plurality of spaced apart holding stations that are configured to rotate in concert about a defined endless travel path to automatically serially position a respective holding station to be in communication with each of a plurality of different workstations. | 09-29-2011 |
20110247912 | BREECH LOADER CHUTES FOR PACKAGING SYSTEMS - Breech-load chutes for packaging systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material have elongate chute bodies that angle downwardly in a direction of travel at a non-vertical orientation. The respective breech-load chute body resides above a product chute and drops target products into a location to be pushed through a product chute. | 10-13-2011 |
20110281706 | PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH ADHESIVE SEAL MODULES - Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283658 | ROTATING MULTI-CLIPPER PACKAGING SYSTEMS - Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. | 11-24-2011 |
20110296798 | AUTOMATED PUSHER MECHANISMS FOR PACKAGING SYSTEMS - Automated pusher mechanisms with pusher heads that reciprocally travel in a product chute. The pusher head has a laterally extending planar forward portion and semi-circular side portions. | 12-08-2011 |
20120042608 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR RUCKERS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS - Computer program products for ruckers for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a translating member disposed in a housing having an axis of movement configured to reciprocally translate a chute body about the axis of movement; and at least one gripping member disposed in the housing in cooperating alignment with the translating member. In operation, the at least one gripping member has an automated stroke cycle whereby the at least one gripping member is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of the chute body while the chute body travels in a first direction about the axis of movement and to travel outwardly a sufficient distance to prevent contact with the chute body while the chute body travels in a second opposing direction about the axis of movement. | 02-23-2012 |
20120114816 | AUTOMATED METHODS OF PACKAGING OBJECTS USING A CLIPPER - Methods of automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting include: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material. | 05-10-2012 |
20120311964 | ROTATING MULTI-CLIPPER PACKAGING SYSTEMS - Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. | 12-13-2012 |
20130000249 | FACTORY LAYOUTS OF PACKAGING APPARATUS WITH CLIPPERS - Factory layouts of packaging apparatus modules include a frame with a base adapted to reside on a support floor, the frame having opposing right and left hand frame sides and at least one lateral beam that extends therebetween, the right and left hand frame sides comprising respective upwardly extending frame portions which are configured to reside on opposing sides of a longitudinal product travel path having an axially extending centerline; and a clipper mechanism configured to selectively attach to either one of the right and left hand frame sides in a manner that positions the clipper mechanism at a substantially common operative full-clip location in the product travel path when mounted to either the right or left hand frame sides to thereby allow build options with selectable mounting orientations. | 01-03-2013 |
20130026007 | ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN PUSHERS FOR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly. | 01-31-2013 |
20130118135 | SYSTEMS WITH COOPERATING RERUCKERS FOR PRODUCING ENCASED PRODUCTS AND RELATED RERUCKER ASSEMBLIES - Systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck netting in an upstream direction on a netting chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the netting snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn. | 05-16-2013 |
20130199129 | AUTOMATED PUSHER MECHANISMS FOR PACKAGING SYSTEMS - Automated pusher mechanisms with pusher heads that reciprocally travel in a product chute. The pusher head has a laterally extending planar forward portion and semi-circular side portions. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211580 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting. | 08-15-2013 |
20130227912 | COMPUTER PROGRAMS TO OPERATE LOW PROFILE RUCKERS USING LOADING CAPS CAPABLE OF RUCKING FIXED DIAMETER COVERINGS - Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion. | 09-05-2013 |
20130247521 | AUTOMATED PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN ACTUATORS FOR COMPRESSION CHAMBERS - Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly. | 09-26-2013 |
20140013705 | PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH CLIP SPOOL CRADLES - Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: clip spool cradles, improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. | 01-16-2014 |
20140033646 | CLIPPER MECHANISMS AND RELATED DEVICES - Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching closure clips to a product held in casing and/or netting include a retractable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to the casing and/or netting; and a pair of clipper gathering plates attached to the clipper body so that the clipper gathering plates retract with the clipper mechanism, wherein, in operation, the clipper gathering plates gather casing and/or netting upstream of a product held therein prior to attachment of clips to the gathered casing and/or netting by the clipper mechanism. | 02-06-2014 |
20140047800 | AUTOMATED PACKAGING METHODS AND RELATED COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material. | 02-20-2014 |
20140123596 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR SYSTEMS WITH COOPERATING RERUCKERS FOR PRODUCING ENCASED PRODUCTS - Computer programs for systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck casing material such as netting in an upstream direction on a chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the casing snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn. | 05-08-2014 |
20140230367 | AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING WHOLE MUSCLE - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140256239 | AUTOMATED PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN ACTUATORS FOR COMPRESSION OF TARGET PRODUCT - Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, sheared casing and/or netting. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo-motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly. | 09-11-2014 |
20150035460 | ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN PUSHERS FOR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly. | 02-05-2015 |
20150040519 | SPOOL MOUNT ASSEMBLIES FOR ROTATING MULTI-CLIPPER PLATFORM SYSTEMS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Packaging systems include a rotating table and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spool mount assemblies mounted to the rotating table at respective clipper stations. The spool mount assemblies can include a laterally extending centrifugal force retention shaft that faces an outer perimeter of the table. | 02-12-2015 |
20150073602 | AUTOMATED PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN ACTUATORS FOR COMPRESSION CHAMBERS - Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly. | 03-12-2015 |