AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING WHOLE MUSCLE

摘要

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. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed.

主权项

1. A packaging system, comprising:
a frame; a loading chute attached to the frame, the loading chute having a product chamber with a floor that vertically reciprocates; an elongate netting chute in communication with the loading chute attached to the frame, the netting chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough, the netting chute having an axial centerline; an elongate product chute attached to the frame, the product chute having opposing receiving and discharge ends, the product chute residing at least partially in the interior cavity of the netting chute, wherein, in operative position, the product chute is axially aligned with and disposed downstream of the loading chute; and a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the netting chute in cooperating alignment therewith, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a netting material that encloses the product after the product exits the product chute.