Abstract: A method for producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing which accommodates a filling material, wherein the plait-like portion is at least approximately free of filling material and comprises a longitudinal plait-axis, including the steps: constricting a filled tubular packaging casing by moving a first pair of displacer elements of a first displacer unit and a second pair of displacer elements of a second displacer unit from an opened into a closed position by means of a first drive unit, creating a displacer clearance between the first and second pair of displacer elements, producing a plait-like portion by moving the second displacer unit parallel to the longitudinal plait-axis away from a narrow position in which the second displacer unit is adjacent to the first displacer unit, into a spread position in which the second displacer unit is away from the first displacer unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for picking up and guiding loops or the like which can be applied to articles, in particular sausage-shaped packs, comprising a loop feed means, an angled pick-up means having a front end, a pin which has a contact surface and which is movable between a first position in which it passes through the fed loop and in which the contact surface is in contact with the front end of the pick-up means, and a second position away from the front end of the pick-up means, and a drive for actuation of the contact pin. A torque support means is provided in the front region of the front end of the pick-up means and the contact surface of the pin has means for centering the pick-up means in such a way that the pick-up means does not bear against the torque support means when the pin is in the first position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for assembling a packaging combination including a tubular casing having a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular casing is partially filled with filling material and closed at its first as well as its second end by a closure means, like a closure clip, and wherein the partially filled tubular casing comprises a plait-like portion at its first end being at least approximately free of filling material, and further including a dispensing device having a passageway extending through the dispensing device with an inlet opening at its one end and a dispensing opening at its other end for guiding and dispensing the filling material in a dispensing direction. The present invention further relates to a packaging combination comprises a tubular casing, a dispensing device and a sealing device removably attached to the dispensing device.

Abstract: A filling assembly for being mounted to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products comprising a filling tube for filling flowable material into a packaging casing that is arrangeable onto filling tube; a casing brake unit with a brake body for being detachably and relatively fixable arranged on filling tube in a braking position for providing a resistance to the packaging casing against uncontrolled sliding-off of the filling tube; and a mounting unit for mounting filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine. Mounting unit comprises a bearing device for allowing a relative movement of filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, when mounting unit is mounted with filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, between at least a production position and an interchanging position.

Abstract: A filling assembly for being mounted to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products comprising a filling tube for filling flowable material into a packaging casing that is arrangeable onto filling tube; a casing brake unit with a brake body for being detachably and relatively fixable arranged on filling tube in a braking position for providing a resistance to the packaging casing against uncontrolled sliding-off of the filling tube; and a mounting unit for mounting filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine. Mounting unit comprises a bearing device for allowing a relative movement of filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, when mounting unit is mounted with filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, between at least a production position and an interchanging position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by at least one closure means. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube having a first end, a second end and a central axis, the first end of the filing tube is directed in the feeding direction and the second end can pivotally be coupled to a filler device. The clipping machine further comprises a coverage device for covering a gap between the first end of the filling tube and a casing brake assembly including brake means for applying tension to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing when being filled, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device having a clipping tool assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure strap for closing packages having a bag-shaped or tubular form, in particular for closing sausage-shaped packages, like sausages. The closure strap comprises a strap body including an elongated stripe portion having a first end and a second end, and an insertion portion having a first end, a second end and an insertion channel. The second end of the insertion portion is connected with the first end of the stripe portion. The second end of the stripe portion forms an insertion end for being inserted into the insertion channel of the insertion portion in an insertion direction. The second or insertion end of the stripe portion and the insertion channel have a substantially round cross section corresponding to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a handling system for transporting, removing or inserting rod-like elements. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transporting, removing or inserting rod-like elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to packaging combination for accommodating and dispensing a viscous or granular filling material. The packaging combination comprises a tubular casing having a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular casing is closed at its first as well as its second end by a closure means. The packaging combination further comprises a dispensing device having a passageway extending through the dispensing device with an inlet opening at its one end and a dispensing opening at its other end for guiding and dispensing the filling material in a dispensing direction, and being attached to the first end closed tubular casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a casing brake assembly for applying a frictional force to a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing being arranged on a filling tube of an apparatus for filling and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, like a clipping machine, for limiting the movement of said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing at least while being filled, the filling tube has a longitudinal axis. The casing brake assembly comprises at least one braking body which is reversibly movable between a release position, in which the braking body is at least partially moved away from the filling tube and a brake position in which the braking body at least approximately completely surrounds the filling tube, and which comprises at least two free ends. The casing brake assembly further comprises at least two support elements for supporting and reversibly moving the at least one braking body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing, which accommodates a filling material includes a plait-like portion at least approximately free of filling material, extending along a longitudinal plait-axis. The apparatus comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of displacer elements reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the first pair of displacer elements, which surrounds the longitudinal plait-axis, in which the tubular packaging casing is being gathered, when the first pair of displacer elements is in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of displacer elements also being reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the second pair of displacer elements, similar to first pair of displacer elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clip machine for a production line for the manufacturing of sausage-shaped products receives a flowable filling material in a tubular wrapper material. The clip machine includes at least two sealing tools, movable relative to one another between a opening position and a closing position for the placing and closing of clips on a sausage-shaped product, at least one clip storage device from which clips can be fed to a sealing tool, a storage device for storing a supply of wrapper material, a separation device for separating an individual sausage product from the supply of wrapper material, a filling pipe for the feeding of filling material, a delivery device for delivering sausage-shaped products from the clip machine along a transport path for the sausage-shaped products and a feeding device for flexible suspension elements from which suspension elements can be fed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into a packaging casing, gathering elements for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure clip to the plait-like portion and closing said closure clip. Furthermore, the clipping device includes a drive for driving the first closing tool. Said drive comprises a crank shaft having a crank pin, and a plunger having a central axis, for holding and linearly moving the first closing tool between its opened and closed position along its central axis. A guide track is mounted to said plunger, and a slide block pivotally attached to the crank pin is in slidable engagement with said guide track for moving said plunger along its central axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by at least one closure means. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube having a first end, a second end and a central axis, the first end of the filing tube is directed in the feeding direction and the second end can pivotally be coupled to a filler device. The clipping machine further comprises a coverage device for covering a gap between the first end of the filling tube and a casing brake assembly including brake means for applying tension to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing when being filled, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device having a clipping tool assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products by filling a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by at least one closure means, the clipping machine comprises a filling tube, having a central axis and a filling outlet, for feeding said filling material in a feeding direction via said filling outlet into said packaging casing, a displacement device for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, at least substantially free from filling material and a clipping device for applying at least one closure means to said plait-like portion. The displacement device of the inventive clipping machine is arranged in a replacement assembly group, wherein the group is removably arrangeable at the clipping machine in an engagement position, in which the replacement assembly group is coupled to the clipping machine for production process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive device and a method for reversibly linearly moving a clipping module of a clipping machine. The drive device comprises a piston/cylinder assembly including a first piston and a housing including a first cylinder portion in which the first piston is arranged, the housing is reversibly movable relative to the first piston, a second piston coaxially aligned to the first piston, and a third piston coaxially aligned to the first piston. The drive device further comprises four variable cylinder volumes, a first cylinder volume between the first piston and the first cylinder portion, a second cylinder volume, a third cylinder volume, and a fourth cylinder volume, wherein each cylinder volume is coupled to a pressure source for being varied in order to reversibly move the clipping module, between a release position and a discharge position of the clipping machine.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a manually operable clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The machine comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of upper and lower displacer elements, at least the upper displacer element is reversibly movable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extending plait-axis between an opened and a closed position. The machine also comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of upper and lower displacer elements, at least the upper displacer element is reversibly movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extending plait-axis between an opened and a closed position. The second displacer unit is reversibly movable parallel to the longitudinal extending plait-axis between a narrow position where the second displacer unit is adjacent to the first displacer unit, and a spread position in which the second displacer unit is moved away from the first displacer unit.

Abstract: A feeding device for suspension elements, for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine, in particular into a clipping machine, wherein the suspension elements are detachably disposed in the form of loops by an adhesive on a carrier strip transversely to the feeding direction and may be conveyed of said carrier strip to a delivery point at which a suspension element may be removed from the carrier strip. In the region of the delivery point for the suspension elements, a holding-down device is provided above the carrier strip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping device for closing at least one closure means, like a closure clip, in a packaging machine, for closing tubular or bag-shaped packaging casings as well as a method for controlling a clipping device. The clipping device comprises a first closing tool and a second closing tool, wherein at least the first closing tool is reversibly movable towards the second closing tool, between an opened position and a closed position, for closing the at least one closure means and a drive means for reversibly moving at least the first closing tool towards the second closing tool in a closing direction. In the inventive clipping device, a monitoring device is provided in the region of the second closing tool for monitoring the second closing tool being prepared for the next clipping cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping tool assembly for closing at least one closure means, like a closure clip, in a packaging machine, like a clipping machine, for closing tubular or bag-shaped packaging casings. The clipping tool assembly comprises a first closing tool and a second closing tool, wherein at least the first closing tool is reversibly movable towards the second closing tool, between an opened position and a closed position, for closing the at least one closure means, and a drive means for reversibly moving at least the first closing tool towards the second closing tool in a closing direction. The clipping tool further comprises a pusher means provided in the region of the second closing tool for pushing the closure means just closed out of the second closing tool.