Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by a closure means, like a closure clip, and a method for controlling the clipping machine.

Abstract: A system for wireless monitoring of operating and production parameters of a clipping machine for food production having a sealed housing protected at least against moisture. The system comprises at least one measuring and control device for controlling the production process and measuring the operating and/or production parameters of the machine, sensors for determining operating parameters of the machine, devices for determining production parameters of the machine, at least one wireless communication device, a user interface and display device, and at least one smart device having at least an optical reading unit, wherein the at least one wireless communication device is configured to generate login details for wireless communication and encrypt the login details into a binary code which can be read by the optical reading unit of the smart device via the user interface and display device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for wireless monitoring of operating and production parameters of a machine for food production, particularly a clipping machine, having a sealed housing protected at least against moisture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reel for storing and dispensing a winding material wound on the reel. The reel comprises a hub and side walls each disposed at the axial end faces of the hub and protruding past the outer circumferential surface of the hub in an approximately radial direction, the storage space defined by the surfaces of the side walls facing toward each other and the outer circumferential surface of the hub and surrounding the hub serving for receiving the winding material. The hub is at least double-walled in design, having a first hub wall and having a second hub wall spaced radially apart from the first hub wall. Moreover, the reel is formed of two reel halves identical in design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reel for storing and dispensing a winding material wound on the reel. The reel comprises a hub and side walls each disposed at the axial end faces of the hub and protruding past the outer circumferential surface of the hub in an approximately radial direction, the storage space defined by the surfaces of the side walls facing toward each other and the outer circumferential surface of the hub and surrounding the hub serving for receiving the winding material. The hub is at least double-walled in design, having a first hub wall and having a second hub wall spaced radially apart from the first hub wall. Moreover, the reel is formed of two reel halves identical in design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method for measuring a storage frame having at least one tray defining an at least one approximately horizontal storing plane and being used for storing rod-like elements, the rod-like elements serving for storing products, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products on a rod-like element. The method comprising the steps of moving the storage frame into the operating range of a measuring apparatus, scanning the storage frame by the measuring apparatus for detecting and recording data regarding geometrical dimensions of the storage frame including at least the height of the tray. The method further comprises the steps of referring the height of the tray to a reference height, creating a dataset including at least said height, storing the dataset in a data memory device, and creating a link between the dataset and the respective storage frame.

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 system for producing and handling sausage-like product 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 and closing the sausage-like products by closure clips in a clipping machine, feeding the sausage-like product out of the clipping machine and storing the sausage-like product on a rod-like element in a hanging line and gripping the rod-like element by a robotic device and storing the rod-like element in a storage frame. The method further comprises the steps of sensing the weight of the sausage-like product after the sausage-like product is stored on a rod-like element, 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 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, e.g. sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products. The method comprises the steps of providing at least a first storage frame for temporarily storing rod-like elements, moving the storage frame into the operating range of the robotic device, picking up by the robotic device a rod-like element on which at least one sausage-like product is hung up, and inserting or removing the rod-like element into or from the storage frame by the robotic device.

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: The present invention relates to method for measuring a storage frame having at least one tray defining an at least one approximately horizontal storing plane and being used for storing rod-like elements, the rod-like elements serving for storing products, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products on a rod-like element. The method comprising the steps of moving the storage frame into the operating range of a measuring apparatus, scanning the storage frame by the measuring apparatus for detecting and recording data regarding geometrical dimensions of the storage frame including at least the height of the tray. The method further comprises the steps of referring the height of the tray to a reference height, creating a dataset including at least said height, storing the dataset in a data memory device, and creating a link between the dataset and the respective storage frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method 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, e.g. sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products. The method comprises the steps of providing at least a first storage frame for temporarily storing rod-like elements, moving the storage frame into the operating range of the robotic device, picking up by the robotic device a rod-like element on which at least one sausage-like product is hung up, and inserting or removing the rod-like element into or from the storage frame by the robotic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clip machine comprising two closing tools that are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in order to close clips, and further comprising adjusting means designed to set the neutral position of a closing tool and hence the gap between the closing tools, in particular in their closed position (closure gap). The clip machine includes a measuring device configured to measure a closing force applied when closing a clip, or a parameter proportional to said closing force, and to output a measured value representing the closing force or the parameter proportional thereto. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting such a clip machine.

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: 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 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 system for producing food products is described. The system comprises a mixer, a stationary horn connected to the mixer and mounted in a heat-sealer, a plow connected to the stationary horn, a first product horn having a first end and a second end, the first product horn being rotatably attached to the heat-sealer and movable from a first position whereby the first end is attachable to the stationary horn and the second end is proximate a clipper, to a second position remote from the stationary horn and the clipper, and a second product horn having a first end and a second end, the second product horn being rotatably attached to the heat sealer and movable from a first position remote from the stationary horn and the clipper, to a second position whereby the first end is attachable to the stationary horn and the second end is proximate the clipper.

Abstract: A system for producing food products is described. The system comprises a mixer, a stationary horn connected to the mixer and mounted in a heat-sealer, a plow connected to the stationary horn, a first product horn having a first end and a second end, the first product horn being rotatably attached to the heat-sealer and movable from a first position whereby the first end is attachable to the stationary horn and the second end is proximate a clipper, to a second position remote from the stationary horn and the clipper, and a second product horn having a first end and a second end, the second product horn being rotatably attached to the heat sealer and movable from a first position remote from the stationary horn and the clipper, to a second position whereby the first end is attachable to the stationary horn and the second end is proximate the clipper.

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.