Abstract: The invention concerns a clip conveyor apparatus for conveying a clip line (2) comprising a plurality of clips in a clipping machine, in particular a sausage clipping machine, comprising a drive unit (10) and an advance element (20) which is coupled with its drive end (22) to the drive unit (10) and is drivable by the drive unit (10) in such a way that its conveyor end (24) describes an elliptical path and for stepwise conveyance of the clip line (2) engages into intermediate spaces between two clips of the clip line (2) and conveys same stepwise in the advance direction (V), wherein there is provided an adjusting device (30) having a pivot axis (36) about which the transport element (20) is pivotable and which is adjustable in its position without a tool in such a way that at least one of the axes of the elliptical path described by the conveyor end (24) is variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing and handling sausage-like product S and a method for controlling for controlling said system with the steps of filling a tubular casing with viscous or granular stuff, dividing the filled tubular casing into sausage-like products S and closing the sausage-like S products by closure clips in a clipping machine, feeding the sausage-like product S out of the clipping machine and storing the sausage-like product S on a rod-like element R in a hanging line 16 and gripping the rod-like element R by a robotic device and storing the rod-like element R in a storage frame 30. The method further comprises the steps of sensing the weight of the sausage-like product S after the sausage-like product S is stored on a rod-like element R, deriving a control signal for the clipping machine on the basis of the weight and controlling the clipping machine by a control unit on the basis of the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a robotic device for inserting or removing rod-like elements into or from a storage frame, the rod-like elements, like smoking bars, serving for storing products, like sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products. The method comprises the steps of moving the storage frame into the operating range of the robotic device, picking up a rod-like element on which a number of sausage like products are hung up by the robotic device, and inserting or removing the rod-like element into or from the storage frame by the robotic device. Moreover, there is provided a storage frame with at least a machine readable label from which information regarding the storage device are read out from the machine readable label, which is attached to the storage device, at least before the storage frame is moved into the operating range of the robotic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a handling system for transporting, removing or inserting rod-like elements from or into a storage frame (18), the rod-like elements, like smoking rods, serving for storing products, each having a sausage-shaped body (44) and a loop (42) for a pendulously storage of the products (W). The handling system comprises a robotic device (22) with at least one robotic arm (24) being movably in three dimensions, at least one gripping device (26) for reversibly gripping the rod-like elements, wherein the gripping device (26) is attached to the robotic arm (24) of the robotic device (22). Moreover, a preventing unit (52) for preventing uncontrolled movement of the products (W) hanging up on the rod-like elements is provided.

Abstract: A System for storing products, in particular sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop (22), which is fixed to the sausage-shaped body and being used for a pendulously storage of the products (20) on rod-shaped storage devices (50). The System comprises at least one rod-shaped storage device (50) for storing several products (20) by their loops (22) one after another. The system also comprises at least one conveyor device (30) with at least one conveyor element (40) for conveying the products (20) by means of their loops (22) to storage places on the rod-shaped storage device (50). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one damping unit (70, 170) for reducing a swinging motion of the products (20) is positioned at least partially along the rod-shaped storage device (50) such that it abuts on the products (20).

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a feeding machine for a production line for the manufacturing of sausage-shaped products receives a flowable filling material in a tubular wrapper material. The feeding machine includes storage rods for suspending the sausage-shaped products which have a flexible suspension element on one of their ends, which can be guided via a storage rod and which can assume a closed and an open embodiment, a device for mounting one end of a storage rod that is free at the other end and a device for feeding the sausage-shaped products, suspended from their suspension elements, one after the other to the storage rod and, under guidance of the suspension elements, depositing the suspension elements over the free end of the storage rod at spaced positions along the storage rod.

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: A transport device having a screw conveyor for transporting products hanging on loops, in particular for transporting sausage products, the transport device includes a first screw conveyor section, a drive for the first screw conveyor section, wherein the drive torque is transferred to the screw conveyor section via an outer circumferential area of the first screw conveyor section, and further includes a first bearing assembly for the first screw conveyor section, wherein a second screw conveyor section that immediately adjoins the first screw conveyor section in the direction of transport is provided.

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: A displacer assembly for a clip machine, in particular a sausage clip machine, including at least a first pair of displacer shears and a second pair of displacer shears arranged parallel thereto. The displacer shears are arranged pivotably about a common axis and are reversibly movable towards each other for constriction of the filled packaging casing for forming a filling material-free plaited portion. In that respect the first pair of displacer shears comprises two displacer shears which are at least approximately identical in minor image relationship and the second pair of displacer shears has a second displacer shear which is at least approximately identical to the displacer shears of the first pair of displacer shears, as well as a first, shorter displacer shear.

Abstract: A clip machine for dividing up and closing tubular packagings filled with filling material by closure clips, including at least a first and a second closure tool unit which for setting and closing at least one closure clip (clip) are reversibly movable relative to each other between an open position and a closure position. There is provided at least one piezoelectric sensor which is connected to one of the closure tool units and which is adapted to measure a closure force applied upon closure of a closure clip and to output a measurement value representing the closure force.

Abstract: A packaging device including a filling unit for transporting a filling material, a filling tube connected to said filling unit, for introducing the filling material supplied by the filling unit into a tubular casing and for ejecting the filling material located in the casing, a clipping unit disposed in the direction of transport of the filling unit, for constricting the casing at a predetermined position and for closing the casing with at least one closure element, a sensor unit disposed between the filling unit and the filling tube, for detecting impurities in the filling material and for emitting a detection signal to a control unit, wherein the control unit has a control connection to the clipping unit. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a packaging device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clip machine comprising at least one closure lever which has a bearing element defining a pivot axis, a receiving element for at least one first closure tool and a force application element for connection to a drive element, wherein the closure lever is mounted pivotably between an open position and a closed position, in which closed position the first closure tool can be brought into engagement with a second closure tool to close a clip. In that respect the closure lever is produced at least partially from a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRPC).

Abstract: A retention device for a tubular casing material for receiving a viscous or granular filling material in a packaging machine, in particular a clipping machine that has a filling tube for filling the tubular casing material with the filling material, where the retention device includes: a first brake ring, which can be mounted coaxially on the filling tube, the inner diameter of first brake ring being larger than the outer diameter of the filling tube and on the inner circumference of which a first brake is provided, along which the casing material can be guided in the filling direction of the filling material against a friction force acting upon the casing material.

Abstract: A closing tool assembly for a clip machine, in particular for a sausage clipping machine, containing: at least one first and at least one second tool holder, which can be moved to positions opposite each other and reversibly towards each other, and each of which supports at least one first and at least one second closing tool, wherein the first and second closing tool are each replaceably held on the first and the second tool holder by means of a fixing device. A linear guide contour is further provided on at least one of the two tool holders, and a linear guide counter-contour complementary thereto is further provided on the associated closing tool.

Abstract: A closure clip for closing tube-type or pouch-type packaging material, comprising two substantial identical limbs which span a clip plane and are connected by a connecting section, wherein the closure clip consists of a plastic and can be closed in a cold forming process. And, material for such closure clips, and to a method for producing them.

Abstract: A device for transferring sausage-shaped products, carried out of a clipping machine and provided with loop-shaped suspension elements, to a product receiving element, said device containing: a guide bar along which the suspension elements can be guided in the direction of transport by means of conveyor elements, and a front and a rear bearing assembly for the guide bar, the bearing assemblies having a right-hand and a left-hand bearing unit that are each disposed in pairs laterally from the guide bar. It is further provided that the front and rear bearing assemblies form drivable positive guidance mechanisms for the suspension elements.

Abstract: A closure clip for products in bag or sausage form, the packaging cover material of which is formed from at least one packaging film, wherein the closure clip has a clip bottom and two straight clip legs which adjoin the clip bottom in the same direction and which diverge away from each other away from the clip bottom and the central longitudinal axes of which and the central longitudinal axis of the clip bottom lie in a common plane. It is further provided that the clip bottom has a rounding in the form of part of a circular arc.

Abstract: A drum for storing and dispensing a coiled material wound on the drum, in particular a line of clips, the drum comprising a drum body which has a hub and side walls respectively disposed at the axial end faces of the hub, the side walls extending beyond the outer circumferential surface of the hub in the radial direction, wherein the storage space defined by the inner facing surfaces of the side walls and the hub and extending circumferentially around the hub is used to accommodate the coiled material. The drum body has at least one dielectric region for accommodating at least one transponder on an area of the hub facing away from the storage space for the coiled material.

Abstract: A clip machine for dividing and sealing tubular-shaped packaging filled with stuffing having at least two axially spaced pairs of radially opposed displacement elements, relating to the axis of the packaging tube, which are linked to and equipped with a linear guide, to be compressed radially towards one another and then separated axially in pairs, for the local constriction of the filled packaging and the formation of a tubular braid radially-linearly, and a pivotably arranged first sealing tool and a second sealing tool, with the first and second sealing tools being equipped to set and close at least one clamp fastener around the formed tubular braid, to be compressed radially between the axially separated displacement element pairs, the radial movement direction of displacement element pairs coincides with the radial movement direction of sealing tools.