Abstract: An article for packaging an item is described. The article comprises packaging material gathered into a neck and a clip fastening the neck, the clip comprising a top section and two legs connected by the top section, the top section comprising an internal face and an external face, the two legs being folded inward to contact each other, the folded legs and the top section defining a space securing the neck, and the clip further comprising at least one of a shoulder extending from the external face and a pin extending from the internal face into the space. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a plurality of these clips connected by extensions. In another embodiment, the invention further comprises a clipper for using the clips, the clipper having at least one of a notch in the rail of the clipper, a notch in the guide rail of the clipper, and a protrusion in the guide rail of a clipper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a netting and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. A novel scissors assembly for severing the netting is disclosed. A conveyor carries the material to a pair of irises. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper closes and severs the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

Abstract: A bagger system for enclosing poultry very tightly in a plastic bag, to reduce material costs, present a pleasing appearance, decrease leaks, and minimize distortion of the printed information on the bag. A grabber assembly is described, to grasp the legs of the poultry and guide the poultry into a bag in proper hocking position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a netting and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. A novel scissors assembly for severing the netting is disclosed. A conveyor carries the material to a pair of irises. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper closes and severs the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

Abstract: A system determines three-dimensional attitude of a moving platform using signals from two closely spaced Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas. The system includes three rate gyroscopes and three accelerometers rigidly mounted in a fixed relationship to the platform to aid in determining the attitude. The system applies signals from one of the two GPS antennas to sufficient channels of a GPS receiver to support navigation. The system applies signals from a second of the two GPS antennas to the additional receive channels to support interferometry. The system resolves the ambiguity normally associated with the interferometric heading solution by having closely spaced GPS antennas, and uses interferometry to refine a coarse heading estimate from a GPS plus Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) transfer alignment solution. The system achieves sub-meter spacing of the two GPS antennas by merging many temporal interferometric measurements and the attitude memory provided by the IMU time-history solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically delivering raw sausages to a smokehouse rack is described. A continuous rotating conveyor holds a plurality of half-tubular trays hung on gimbals. Sausages are extruded into a tray at a loading station, and the tray is carried around by the conveyor to an unloading station, where an arm causes the tray to tilt and to roll the sausage onto a smokehouse rack.

Abstract: A clip for enclosing bags and tubes, including bags and tubes made of mesh netting, is described. The clip has a top section and two legs extending from opposite ends of the top section. There is an indentation in the top section and a pin projecting from the top section into the space formed by the top section and the legs of the clip. Closing the clip causes the pin to project into the annular space formed by the top section and the collapsed legs. A clipper has a guide rail with a protrusion corresponding to the indentation and a rail with a notch corresponding to the pin, to provide better control movement of the clip within the clipper.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically delivering raw sausages to a smokehouse rack is described. A continuous rotating conveyor holds a plurality of half-tubular trays hung on gimbals. Sausages are extruded into a tray at a loading station, and the tray is carried around by the conveyor to an unloading station, where an arm causes the tray to tilt and to roll the sausage onto a smokehouse rack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shirring netting onto a netting tube. A second tube is placed over and coaxially to the netting tube and netting is stretched over the second tube. The two tubes are caused to move in a reciprocating manner through a plurality of spring-loaded fingers, which allow the netting to pass on the downstroke and hold the netting on the upstroke. As the two tubes move, the netting is pulled over the second tube and shirred onto the netting tube. An annular space formed by a tube ring placed between the netting tube and the second tube causes the netting to shir in multiple, neatly aligned layers.

Abstract: A fixed-blade knife includes a unitary blade having an implement, a tang, and a pivot region between the implement and the tang. The unitary blade is disposed between a pair of parallel and spaced-apart side pieces that pivot to cover or expose the implement. In the pivoted position wherein the implement is exposed, the side pieces form part of the handle that is used to grasp the knife. A locking structure locks the side pieces in a selectable position, and a limit structure prevents overrotation of the side pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of severing netting is disclosed. Pressurized air is heated to a temperature sufficient to sever netting. The hot, pressurized air is directed through a nozzle at a neck of gathered netting to sever the netting. A controller controls a motor to move the nozzle through an arc to direct the hot, pressurized air at the neck, and controls a valve to release the hot, pressurized air at the proper time. The nozzle can direct a jet of hot, pressurized air at the netting or can form a chamber having an aperture, wherein the hot, pressurized air contacts the neck of gathered netting in the aperture.

Abstract: A bagger system for enclosing poultry very tightly in a plastic bag, to reduce material costs, present a pleasing appearance, decrease leaks, and minimize distortion of the printed information on the bag. A grabber assembly is described, to grasp the legs of the poultry and guide the poultry into a bag in proper hocking position.

Abstract: A bagger system for enclosing material very tightly in a plastic bag, to reduce packaging costs, present a pleasing appearance, decrease leaks, and minimize distortion of the printed information on the packaging. The system comprises a base guide to hold the material to be encased and stretching fingers to open a plastic bag. The rotational movement of the stretching fingers provides even stretching about the circumference of the bag and permits an approximation of the cross section of the material to be encased, allowing for use of a smaller bag. After the material is placed in the bag, the material and bag are ejected, whereupon the plastic bag retracts tightly around the material, presenting a pleasing appearance to consumers and minimizing distortion of any printed information on the bag.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a net and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. A conveyor carries the material to a pair of irises. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper cuts and closes the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shirring netting onto a netting tube. A second tube is placed over and coaxially to the netting tube and netting is stretched over the second tube. The two tubes are caused to move in a reciprocating manner through a plurality of spring-loaded fingers, which allow the netting to pass on the downstroke and hold the netting on the upstroke. As the two tubes move, the netting is pulled over the second tube and shirred onto the netting tube. An annular space formed by a tube ring placed between the netting tube and the second tube causes the netting to shir in multiple, neatly aligned layers.

Abstract: A system determines three-dimensional attitude of a moving platform using signals from two closely spaced Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas. The system includes three rate gyroscopes and three accelerometers rigidly mounted in a fixed relationship to the platform to aid in determining the attitude. The system applies signals from one of the two GPS antennas to sufficient channels of a GPS receiver to support navigation. The system applies signals from a second of the two GPS antennas to the additional receive channels to support interferometry. The system resolves the ambiguity normally associated with the interferometric heading solution by having closely spaced GPS antennas, and uses interferometry to refine a coarse heading estimate from a GPS plus Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) transfer alignment solution. The system achieves sub-meter spacing of the two GPS antennas by merging many temporal interferometric measurements and the attitude memory provided by the IMU time-history solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a net and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. A conveyor carries the material to a pair of irises. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper cuts and closes the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

Abstract: A system determines three-dimensional attitude of a moving platform using signals from two closely spaced Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas. The system includes three rate gyroscopes and three accelerometers rigidly mounted in a fixed relationship to the platform to aid in determining the attitude. The system applies signals from a first of the two GPS antennas to sufficient channels of a GPS receiver to support navigation. The system applies signals from a second of the two GPS antennas to the remaining receive channels, which are configured to support interferometry. The system optimally selects the navigation and interferometry channels to provide an interferometric heading solution. The system resolves the ambiguity normally associated with the interferometric heading solution by having the closely spaced GPS antennas and using interferometry to refine a coarse heading estimate from a GPS plus Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) transfer alignment solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a net and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper cuts and closes the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

Abstract: A bagger system for enclosing material very tightly in a plastic bag, to reduce packaging costs, present a pleasing appearance, decrease leaks, and minimize distortion of the printed information on the packaging. The system comprises a base guide to hold the material to be encased and stretching fingers to open a plastic bag. The rotational movement of the stretching fingers provides even stretching about the circumference of the bag and permits an approximation of the cross section of the material to be encased, allowing for use of a smaller bag. After the material is placed in the bag, the material and bag are ejected, whereupon the plastic bag retracts tightly around the material, presenting a pleasing appearance to consumers and minimizing distortion of any printed information on the bag.