Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Automated pusher mechanisms with pusher heads that reciprocally travel in a product chute. The pusher head has an inverted “V” shape and semi-circular side portions.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Automated pusher mechanisms with pusher heads that reciprocally travel in a product chute. The pusher head has an inverted “V” shape and semi-circular side portions.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Packaging systems and apparatus include a product chutes a clipper mechanism residing downstream of the product chute, and a vertically extendable and retractable product holding member disposed downstream of the clipper mechanism. In operation, the product holding member is configured to: (a) automatically vertically move to a first operative position whereby the holding member contacts and traps a target product to inhibit the target product from traveling downstream thereof, then (b) automatically vertically move to a second different position to allow a product to travel downstream thereof.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and devices for automatically pressing a covering material against a product chute during a packaging operation to apply a braking force.