PUSH/PULL CLIP FEED CONFIGURATION FOR SELECTIVELY DELIVERING OR WITHDRAWING A CLIP TO ALLOW OUTPUT OF ONE CLIP ALONE OR TWO CLIPS CONCURRENTLY AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for supplying a clip to a clip (14) window associated with a closure attachment mechanism (20z) having a closure punch path for attaching a single clip or two clips to a target tubular work piece in a closure zone include: (a) forcing a plurality of clips to travel in a first predetermined clip travel path having a forward direction toward a first punch path (Fig. 7) in a closure zone at a first point in time; (b) selectively retracting the plurality of clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction along the first predetermined clip travel path (Figs. 9A and 9B); and then (c) forcing the plurality of clips to again travel in the forward direction along the first predetermined clip travel path at a second point in time.