Patents by Inventor Derek L. Brown

Derek L. Brown has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7640713
    Abstract: Methods, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090277137
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7581369
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090178373
    Abstract: Methods, 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7526905
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Publication number: 20090100798
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. .Gupton
  • Publication number: 20090100800
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 7520107
    Abstract: Methods, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7478515
    Abstract: Systems and devices for automatically pressing a covering material against a product chute during a packaging operation to apply a braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 7472525
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by: (a) 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; (b) pivoting a clipper from a home to a full-clip position to apply a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material; (c) pivoting a cutting assembly in concert with the clipper; and (d) severing a gathered leading and/or trailing edge of the covering using a bottom-up cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20080250755
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 7386966
    Abstract: Methods, 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 then (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 7356977
    Abstract: Methods, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7322163
    Abstract: An apparatus for enclosing a product in a covering material includes a product feed and covering system, a clipper mechanism and a tensioning system. The product feed and covering system is configured to apply the covering material over the product. The clipper mechanism is disposed downstream of the product feed and covering system along a flow path of the covering material. The clipper mechanism is adapted to receive the covering material and to secure a clip to the covering material received therein. The tensioning system is adapted to introduce a tensioning load to the covering material after and while the covering material is received in the clipper mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, W. Mark Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20080000196
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7313896
    Abstract: Methods, 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 then (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 7237369
    Abstract: Methods, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown