Abstract: Stretch bagging, particularly a method for stuffing a chicken carcass into a stretch plastic bag. The method is characterized by its alternate application of a central pushing force and a chicken leg pushing force, so as to hock or compress the chicken within the stretch bag. The hocking of the chicken within the bag eliminates the time-consuming and expensive necessity for clipping the chicken legs together prior to packaging and, also, presents a more uniform and pleasing appearance of the packaged carcass.

Abstract: A stretch bagging apparatus of the type having a reciprocable table top, including a pair of transversely extensible horns which are advanced axially into an open ended bag supported upon a bag elevator. After the horns advance into the bag, they are transversely extended so as to stretch the bag sides during filling of the bag. After the bag is filled with a chicken or the like, a carriage supporting the table top is axially retracted. The present apparatus is characterized principally by its provision for a longitudinally reciprocable table top which supports and axially advances both the article being bagged and the transversely extensible horns. The bag elevator includes a pivoted hocking plate valving mechanism which enables the operator to override the packaging system by pushing the filled bag against the hocking plate.