Automatic hanging hook system

Abstract

A loop for hanging material enclosed in a package closed by a clip is described. The loop has a retaining section, a neck section, and at least one hanging section. The hanging section of one embodiment has a plurality of apertures for engagement by a plurality of hooks. The hanging section of another embodiment has an aperture able to engage a plurality of hooks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of processed food products. This invention relates specifically to a system for hanging food products in smoke rooms for processing.

Many types of food products are wrapped in packaging, which can be a film, such as a collagen film, or netting, or both. These products are often fully cooked before delivery to the consumer. For example, hams are sometimes wrapped in a collagen film (and optionally enclosed in netting) before cooking. A representative apparatus for packaging food products such as hams is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,477 to Winkler, Apparatus for the production of meat products. Similar processes are used for other whole-muscle meats, for sausages, for poultry (including whole birds such as turkeys and poultry parts such as turkey breasts), and cheeses. Sausages are commonly formed by extrusion of a pasty filling into a tubular collagen casing, often followed by wrapping with netting. A representative apparatus for making sausages is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,041, Process for Filling Tubular Casings. Similar processes are used for cheeses and for other food products. Whether the packaging is a film, netting, or both, the packaging is usually closed with a clip.

Whether sausages, hams, turkeys, or other food products, the wrapped and netted package is usually suspended on a rack. A rack full of hanging hams, for example, is conveyed into a smoke room, where smoke is introduced to cook the hams. Other foods products are processed by other methods, such as steam or dry heat. Regardless of the processing system, some device is required to hang the food products on a rack. For hams and other large-muscle or whole-muscle meat products, as noted in the Winkler patent, a loop is clipped in, using the same clip that was used to enclose the collagen film and netting around the ham. A clipper, a common device in the industry, gathers the collagen film and netting and applies a clip to the gathered film and netting. Before the punch of the clipper closes the clip, a neck portion of the loop is placed on the gathered film and netting. When the punch of the clipper closes the clip, the loop is firmly attached to the ham. (A similar system is used for sausages.)

The loop is used to suspend the ham or other food product on a rack during the smoking stage. The loop is usually removed prior to sale to the ultimate consumer.

Automated processes are known in which a series of hooks on a conveyor picks up the hams as they emerge from the wrapping apparatus. The conveyor carries the hams to the rack, at which point the loop must be transferred from the conveyor hook to the rack hook. This process is difficult to accomplish, especially with a loop formed of a nonrigid material, as the loop must be lifted off the conveyor hook and placed on the rack hook.

One method known in the art is to use a rigid loop of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. The loop 20 has a neck section 22, a retaining section 24, and a hanging section 26. Hanging section 26 defines an oval-shaped aperture 28, through which the conveyor hook and rack hook will project to support the food product. Neck section 22 is clipped to the food product. Retaining section 24 prevents the loop from pulling through the clip.

This type of loop is unsatisfactory, as the food product can wobble on the hook projecting through oval-shaped aperture 28. Transfer of the food product from the conveyor hook to the rack hook is also difficult, as the rack hook must be inserted through aperture 28 before the conveyor hook withdraws, or the product will drop to the ground.

Additionally, the loop 20 of the prior art is made of a rigid plastic material and is manufactured in individual pieces. Accordingly, a complicated feeding system is required for use with automated systems.

Accordingly, a need exists for a loop that can be clipped to a food product for hanging from a hook, that will ease the transition from one hook, such as a conveyor hook, to a second hook, such as a rack hook. A need also exists for a loop that can be used in an automated netting system. The present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The loop of the present invention in a first embodiment is a semi-rigid plastic loop having a retaining section, a neck section, and at least one hanging section for engagement by a hook. The loop is attached to material, such as a ham or a sausage, by clipping across the neck section. A first hook carries the food product by engaging a hanging section of the loop, until the second hook engages a hanging section, at which point the first hook can withdraw.

In a first embodiment, loop of the present invention has two hanging sections, each being an aperture for engagement by a hook. A first hook carries the material by engaging a first aperture. A second hook engages a second aperture.

In another embodiment, the loop of the present invention has two hanging sections, each of which is either an aperture or a notch. In a preferred embodiment, one hanging section is an aperture for engagement by a first hook and the other hanging section is a pair of cut-out notches for engagement by a second hook. The first hook carries the material by engaging the aperture. The second hook engages the pair of cut-out notches.

In yet another embodiment, the loop of the present invention has a hanging section comprising an elongated aperture for engagement by two hooks. The loop will hang down from a first hook, allowing a second hook to engage the same aperture below the first hook.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a loop as is known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

The loop 30 of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 2 and in plan view in FIG. 3. Loop 30 is preferably manufactured in a chain 32 of individual pieces 30a, 30b, 30c, etc. Perforations 34 between each loop 30a, 30b, 30c, etc. are created in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 30 breaks off easily from the chain 32. Accordingly, chain 32 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 30a, 30b, 30c, etc., is snapped off the chain 32 when it becomes the leading loop 30.

Loop 30 has a retaining section 36, a neck section 38, and a hanging section 40. Neck section 38, connecting retaining section 36 and hanging section 40, must have a width less than the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 30 will be applied. Retaining section 36 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section 38 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging section 40 will not pull loop 30 through the clip.

Hanging section 40 defines a lower aperture 42 and an upper aperture 44. Accordingly, when loop 30 is clipped to, for example, a ham, a conveyor assembly picks up the ham by insertion of a conveyor hook through upper aperture 44. The conveyor carries the ham to a smokehouse rack, as described above, and hangs the ham on the rack by placing loop 30 in a position so that the rack hook inserts through lower aperture 42. The conveyor hook then withdraws without interference between the two hooks.

Aperture 44, in the preferred embodiment, has the shape of a rectangle. Lower aperture 42, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of a rectangle with a semi-circle on the side adjacent to neck 38. Other shapes are possible.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 4 and in plan view in FIG. 5. Loop 50 is also preferably manufactured in a chain 52 of individual pieces 50a, 50b, 50c, etc. Perforations 54 between each loop 50a, 50b, 50c, etc. are created in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 50 breaks off easily from the chain 52. Accordingly, chain 52 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 50a, 50b, 50c, etc., is snapped off the chain 52 when it becomes the leading loop 50.

Loop 50 has a retaining section 56, a neck section 58, and a hanging section 60. Neck section 58, connecting retaining section 56 and hanging section 60, must have a width less than the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 50 will be applied. Retaining section 56 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section 58 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging section 60 will not pull loop 50 through the clip.

Hanging section 60 defines aperture 62. Aperture 62 is an elongated passage through hanging section 60. Aperture 62 has a major axis 64 and is oriented so that neck section 58 and retaining section 56 are generally collinear to axis 64. In this embodiment, when loop 50 is clipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 62 so that the ham hangs below the hook, leaving most of aperture 62 below the hook and easily engagable by a second hook.

Preferably, aperture 62 is generally is egg-shaped, being wider on its end closer to neck section 58. In this preferred embodiment, aperture 62 is defined by a first semi-circle on its side proximal to neck section 58 and a second semi-circle on its side distal to neck section 56, with second semi-circle having a smaller radius than the radius of the first semi-circle. First semi-circle and second circle are connected by straight line segments.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 6 and in plan view in FIG. 7. Loop 70 is also preferably manufactured in a chain 72 of individual pieces 70a, 70b, 70c, etc. Perforations 74 between each loop 70a, 70b, 70c, etc. are created in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 70 breaks off easily from the chain 72. Accordingly, chain 72 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 70a, 70b, 70c, etc., is snapped off the chain 72 when it becomes the leading loop 70.

Loop 70 has a retaining section 76, a neck section 78, and a hanging section 80. Neck section 78, connecting retaining section 76 and hanging section 80, must have a width less than the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 70 will be applied. Retaining section 76 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section 78 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging section 80 will not pull loop 70 through the clip.

Hanging section 80 defines aperture 82. Aperture 82 is an elongated passage through hanging section 80. Aperture 82 has a major axis 84 and is oriented so that neck section 78 and retaining section 76 are generally collinear to axis 84. In this embodiment, when loop 750 is clipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 82 so that the ham hangs below the hook, leaving most of aperture 82 below the hook and easily engagable by a second hook.

In this embodiment, aperture 82 has the shape of a door. Aperture 82 is defined by a first semi-circle on the side proximal to neck section 78 and a rectangle adjacent to the semi-circle.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 8 and in plan view in FIG. 9. Loop 90 is also preferably manufactured in a chain 92 of individual pieces 90a, 90b, 90c, etc. Perforations 94 between each loop 90a, 90b, 90c, etc. are created in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 90 breaks off easily from the chain 92. Accordingly, chain 92 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 90a, 90b, 90c, etc., is snapped off the chain 92 when it becomes the leading loop 70.

Loop 90 has a retaining section 96, a neck section 98, a first hanging section 100, and a second hanging section 102. Neck section 98, connecting retaining section 96 and first hanging section 100, must have a width less than the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 90 will be applied. Retaining section 96 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section 98 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to loop 90 will not pull loop 70 through the clip.

First hanging section 100 defines aperture 104. Aperture 104 preferably is circular in shape but another shape will suffice.

Second hanging section 102 extends from first hanging section 100. Second hanging section 102, in this embodiment, has two arms 106, 108 that extend laterally in the plane of loop 90, defining two notches 110, 112 between first hanging section 100 and second hanging section 102. In this embodiment, loop 90 is clipped to a product, such as a sausage or ham, by a clip across neck section 98. A first hook engages one of the two hanging sections 100, 102, to carry the product. For example, a hook engages aperture 104 and carries the product to a smoke rack. The product is hung in the smoke rack by engagement of second hanging section 102 onto a hook on the smoke rack. Alternatively, the first hook can engage second hanging section 102, by engagement of a double hook in notches 110, 112, to carry the product so the smoke rack and to hang the product on a hook through aperture 104 in the smoke rack.

Second hanging section 102 could alternatively form a single notch 110, which engages one of the first hook and the second hook.

Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are preferably formed of a material strong enough to hold up the material that has been packaged, whether that material be hams, sausages, or something else. Additionally, the material must be strong enough not to break under the pressure imposed by a clip, especially during the punching process of clipping. Moreover, the material must be able to withstand the atmosphere of processing, such as the heat and environment of a smoke room. A light-weight material is preferred to minimize the weight on the rack. Accordingly, loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are preferably formed of a semi-rigid plastic material, preferably a thermoset plastic such as a urethane resin.

Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90, as described above, is preferably manufactured in a chain and stored on a reel. If manufactured in a chain, loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 can be used in an automated netting apparatus, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,297, Apparatus for Enclosing Material in a Net. That patent describes feeding a label into the apparatus for clipping to the material. A similar feeder can be loaded with a reel of loops which are then fed into the apparatus for clipping to the material, similar to how the labels are clipped to the material. A reel of loops can also be used with other packaging devices, such as sausage makers, either automated or manually operated.

Because the loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are stored on a reel, they are preferably manufactured having a flat shape.

Whether loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are manufactured singly or in a chain for loading into a reel, they are attached to material, such as sausage or a ham, by positioning the loop so that the neck is within the jaws of a standard clipper. When the clipper fires to place a clip around a gathered section of packaging, such as collagen film or netting, to enclose the material in the packaging, the loop 30, 50, 70, and 90 becomes attached to the material. A conveyor system then moves the material in a standard way recognizable to a person of skill in the art.

Other embodiments can be adapted from the present invention. For example, as illustrated, a loop with two hanging sections, such as loop 30 or loop 90, has the hanging sections collinear to the neck section and the retaining section. In alternate embodiments, the hanging sections could be adjacent one another and not collinear. For example, first hanging section 100 and second hanging section 102 could be adjacent one another and both extending from neck section 98 of loop 90.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has been wrapped in packaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising:

a retaining section having a dimension greater than a width of the clip closing the packaging;

a neck section extending from said retaining section and formed to be engaged by the clip; and

a plurality of hanging sections extending from said neck section, each said hanging section comprising at least one of an aperture and at least one notch for engagement by a hook;

whereby said apparatus is clipped to said material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, manufactured from a thermoset plastic.

3. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said hanging sections comprises a cut-out notch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said hanging sections comprises a pair of cut-out notches.

6. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has been wrapped in packaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising:

a retaining section having a dimension greater than a width of the clip closing the packaging;

a neck section extending from said retaining section and formed to be engaged by the clip; and

a plurality of means, extending from said neck section, for engaging a corresponding plurality of hooks;

whereby said apparatus is clipped to said material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, manufactured from a thermoset plastic.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.

9. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has been wrapped in packaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising:

a retaining section having a dimension greater than a width of the clip closing the packaging;

a neck section extending from said retaining section and formed to be engaged by the clip; and

a hanging section extending from said neck section and comprising an aperture for engagement by a plurality of hooks, said aperture being elongated along an axis containing said retaining section and said neck section;

whereby said apparatus is clipped to said material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, manufactured from a thermoset plastic.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.