Abstract: An improved loader is described. The loader includes a frame having an upper surface, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the upper surface, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duet to a controller, the controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and an alignment mechanism mounted, the alignment mechanism including an axle mounted to the frame, a first arm connected to a first panel, the first arm rotatably connected to the axle, a second arm connected to a second panel, the second arm rotatably connected to the axle, a gear mechanism connected to the axle and to the first arm and the second arm, the gear mechanism configured to rotate the second arm in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the first arm, and a dual-action cylinder connected to at least one of the first arm and the second arm.

Abstract: A crimp control apparatus includes a threaded connection between a dipper and a punch to adjust the distance between the die and the bottom of the cylinder. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a connector, and a cylinder mount bracket, the cylinder mount bracket bore having threads engagable to threads of the connector, and a lock in the cylinder mount bracket to restrict movement of the connector through the cylinder mount bracket bore. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and having a piston shaft, a stud extending from the piston shaft and having threads, a punch holder having threads engagable to the threads of the stud, a lock to lock the position of the stud and the punch holder, and an adjustment device in the piston shaft.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for encasing material in one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag. The system comprises a pair of product horns rotatable in a plane from a first position to a second position; a stretchable-bag system comprising a bag carriage unit; a shrinkable-bag system, comprising a pair of pulling rollers mounted under the product horns and a collection roller mounted adjacent the pulling rollers, the collection roller configured to move a predetermined increment, a product ram configured to move material between the product horns and into one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag, and an air jet for opening the bags.

Abstract: A crimp control apparatus includes a threaded connection between a dipper and a punch to adjust the distance between the die and the bottom of the cylinder. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a connector, and a cylinder mount bracket, the cylinder mount bracket bore having threads engagable to threads of the connector, and a lock in the cylinder mount bracket to restrict movement of the connector through the cylinder mount bracket bore. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and having a piston shaft, a stud extending from the piston shaft and having threads, a punch holder having threads engagable to the threads of the stud, a lock to lock the position of the stud and the punch holder, and an adjustment device in the piston shaft.

Abstract: A system for applying plastic clips to tubular products comprises a die comprising a peripheral face, an arcuate wall forming a half-cylindrical bore separating the die peripheral face into a first and a second side, and a groove extending from the first side, through the arcuate wall and the second side, and forming a slot in an outer edge of the die; a punch comprising a peripheral face, an arcuate wall forming a half-cylindrical bore separating the punch peripheral face into a first and a second side, and two grooves extending from the first side to the second side; and a cylinder for moving the die and the punch from a first position in which the die peripheral face and the punch peripheral face are adjacent, to a second position in which the die peripheral face and the punch peripheral face are remote.

Abstract: An improved system for stuffing material is described. The clipping system includes a first clipper comprising a clip reel, a clip rail, a punch, and a die, the punch configured to engage a single clip and the die having a set of two depressions configured to engage and bend a pair of legs of the single clip, and further includes a second clipper mounted adjacent the first clipper, the second clipper comprising a second clip reel, a second clip rail, a second punch, and a second die, the second punch configured to engage a pair of clips and the second die having two sets of two depressions configured to engage and bend the legs of the pair of clips.

Abstract: An improved loader is described. The loader includes a frame having an upper surface, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the upper surface, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duet to a controller, the controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and an alignment mechanism mounted, the alignment mechanism including an axle mounted to the frame, a first arm connected to a first panel, the first arm rotatably connected to the axle, a second arm connected to a second panel, the second arm rotatably connected to the axle, a gear mechanism connected to the axle and to the first arm and the second arm, the gear mechanism configured to rotate the second arm in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the first arm, and a dual-action cylinder connected to at least one of the first arm and the second arm.

Abstract: An improved system for stuffing material is described. The clipping system includes a first clipper comprising a clip reel, a clip rail, a punch, and a die, the punch configured to engage a single clip and the die having a set of two depressions configured to engage and bend a pair of legs of the single clip, and further includes a second clipper mounted adjacent the first clipper, the second clipper comprising a second clip reel, a second clip rail, a second punch, and a second die, the second punch configured to engage a pair of clips and the second die having two sets of two depressions configured to engage and bend the legs of the pair of clips.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing clips is described, The method comprises the steps of extruding a incited thermoplastic resin into thin extrudate and forming the extrudate into a plurality of clips. The forming step comprises one of (a) a step of vacuum thermoforming the extrudate into a plurality of clips by pulling the extrudate over a female mold and pulling a vacuum between the mold and the extrudate; or (b) the steps of providing a forming tool perpendicular to the extrudate, the extruding tool having a shape corresponding to the inside of a single clip; forming the single clip by contacting the extrudate with the forming tool and retracting the forming tool; advancing the extrudate; forming a second single clip by contacting the extrudate with the forming tool and retracting the forming tool; and cooling the formed clips.

Abstract: A horn for an automated loader is described. The horn has an interior surface, at least a portion of which comprises a reduced-friction surface. In one aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface comprises textures or dimples, as from textured metal, preferably textured steel. In another aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface comprises a coating of a slippery substance such as a thermoplastic polymer, for example polytetrafluoroethylene. In yet another aspect of the invention, the reduced-friction surface is textured metal, preferably textured steel, coated with a slippery substance such as a thermoplastic polymer, for example polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: An improved loader is described, The loader includes a frame, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the frame, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply.

Abstract: A horn system for an automated loader has horns with upstanding and bottom walls. The horns move from a first, adjacent position in which the bottom walk of the horns completely or almost completely overlap to a second, remote position in which the bottom walls of the horns just barely overlap or do not overlap.

Abstract: A ramming mechanism to move material from one location to another is described. The ramming mechanism comprises a belt assembly comprising a belt driven over a plurality of pulleys, a ram carriage connected to the belt, and a ram cylinder mounted on the ram carriage.

Abstract: An improved automated loader has a cone horn to prevent or minimize contact between the chicken and the bag. The loader has a loading tube and the tube has a cone horn comprising a plurality of plates configured to form a cone, each one of the plurality of plates attached to the proximal end of the loading tube by a spring-loaded hinge, each hinge biased radially inward.

Abstract: A clip control system is described. The invention in a first embodiment is a clip control system comprising a stuffer/clipper comprising a reader and a processing unit and having an operating parameter, a clip package mountable to the stuffer/clipper and holding a plurality of clips, and information encoded in the clip package and readable by the reader, the processing unit configured to receive the information and to set the operating parameter based thereon. The clip package is a reel or a canister. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a clip package holding a plurality of clips and being mountable to a stuffer/clipper having a reader. The clip package has information encoded therein and readable by the reader. In either embodiment, the information is encoded in an RFID tag, a bar code, or a magnetic strip. The reader is a RFID reader, a bar code reader, or a magnetic strip reader. The information is product-specific information and can also include the identity of the clip manufacturer.

Abstract: An apparatus for encasing product in a tubular material with a handle is described. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a delivery conveyor, a ram located on a first side of the delivery conveyor, a product horn located at a side of the delivery conveyor opposite the ram, the product horn having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent the delivery conveyor and the second end remote from the delivery conveyor, a sealer configured to form tubular seamed casing about the product horn, a printer in data communication with a scale, a clipper located at the second end of the product horn, and a plurality of tag handles feeding through the printer and to the clipper.

Abstract: A bag for encasing material is described. The bag comprises a sheet having a top panel, a bottom panel, an extended panel and a liner. A tear line separates the extended panel from the bottom panel, and a fold line separating the bottom panel from the top panel. The top panel is defined by a top border, a bottom edge, a bottom border, and the fold line. The bottom panel is defined by a top border, the fold line, a bottom border, and the tear line. The extended panel is defined by a top border, the tear line, a bottom border, and a top edge. The liner is welded to a first side of the sheet and intersects the fold line. The first side of the sheet is folded onto itself at the fold line. The top panel top edge is joined to the bottom panel top edge, and the top panel bottom edge is joined to the bottom panel bottom edge. A method of forming the bag is also provided.

Abstract: A clip closure system for closing clips, each clip having a base section and first and second legs extending from opposite ends thereof, is described. The clip closure system has a rail configured to hold the clips; first and second jaws which are rotatably connected to the rail; a connector; first and second arms, the first arm being connected to the first jaw and to the connector, the second arm being connected to the second jaw and to the connector; an actuator configured to move the connector such that the first jaw rotates relative to the rail to contact and bend the first leg of the clip toward the base section of the clip, and such that the second jaw rotates relative to the rail to contact and bend the second leg of the clip toward the base section of the clip.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enclosing material in a bag is described for a bag comprising a stretchable material and having a first dimension and a second dimension. The method comprises stretching the bag in the first dimension, placing material in the bag, releasing the bag in the first dimension, stretching the bag in a second dimension, evacuating the bag, and sealing the bag. The apparatus comprises a bagger configured to stretch the bag in a first dimension, to receive the material, and to release the bag in the first dimension, and a packaging apparatus comprising a nozzle coupled to a vacuum system, a grasping means, and a clipper means, the grasping means configured to hold a neck of the bag to the nozzle and to stretch the bag in the second dimension.

Abstract: An apparatus for encasing product in a tubular material with a handle is described. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a delivery conveyor, a ram located on a first side of the delivery conveyor, a product horn located at a side of the delivery conveyor opposite the ram, the product horn having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent the delivery conveyor and the second end remote from the delivery conveyor, a sealer configured to form tubular seamed casing about the product horn, a printer in data communication with a scale, a clipper located at the second end of the product horn, and a plurality of tag handles feeding through the printer and to the clipper.