Poly-clip System Gmbh & Co. Kg

Poly-clip System Corp.

Detlef Ebert

Michael Hummel

Wolfgang Nikoley

Olaf Bienert

Manfred Gerheim

Thorsten Würth

Joachim Meyrahn

Martin Zurwieden

Gerd Freiberger

Meik Schmidt

Eugen Klassen

Klaus Wissel

A method for reconfiguring a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products from a first clipping mode to a second clipping mode, the method comprising the steps of: providing an input to a control unit of the clipping machine indicative of the reconfiguration of the clipping machine from the first clipping mode to the second clipping mode; and changing a number of closure clips, supplied to a closing unit of the clipping machine from a first number of closure clips associated with the first clipping mode, to a second number of closure clips associated with the second clipping mode.

Four clip clipping machine

The present invention relates to a clipping machine and a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, and a guide unit for use in a clipping machine. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at the front end by a closure means, like a closure clip, a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube, for applying a braking force to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being pulled-off from the filling tube, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto and a clipping device for placing and closing at least one closure means on the plait-like portion and a guide unit for guiding the closure means towards the clipping device. The guide unit comprises at least one sensing device having a first sensor element determining the presence or absence of a closure means in the guide unit.

Clip detection

A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products is provided, comprising gathering means for forming a plait-like portion from tubular packaging casing filled with filling material and a closing unit for applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion. Moreover, a guide unit is provided for guiding closure means to a closing unit of a clipping machine, being configured to supply at least two closure means to a first closing device of the closing unit and at least two further closure means to a second closing device of the closing unit. There is also provided a method for producing sausage-shaped products, comprising filling a portion of tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material, forming a plait-like portion therefrom and applying at least two closure means to a first section of the plait-like portion while substantially simultaneously applying two closure means to a second section of the plait-like portion.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine and a method for operating 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 packaging casing by at least one closure clip. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material in a feeding direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its front end, a gathering device for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a gathered portion thereto, wherein the gathering device includes a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, and wherein the second displacer unit is reversibly movable in the feeding direction for forming a filling material free plait-like portion at the gathered portion of the filled packaging casing, a clipping device having at least a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure clip to the plait-like portion and closing said closure clip when the closing tools are in their closed position, and a discharge device for discharging a sausage-shaped product just produced from the clipping machine in a transportation direction, wherein the position of the discharge device along the transportation direction and relative to components located upstream the discharge device can be adjusted. The clipping machine further comprises a sensor device for detecting the position of the discharge device relative to components of the clipping machine located upstream the discharge device.

Clipping machine with improved discharge device

The present invention relates to a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, on a clipping machine having a control unit for controlling the clipping machine, the method comprises the steps of feeding the filling material in a feeding direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on a filling tube and being closed at the front end by a closure means, like a closure clip, gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by gathering means arranged downstream the filling tube, for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and placing and closing at least one closure means on the plait-like portion for closing the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. The method includes the steps of starting the production process, automatically capturing at least one value of at least one parameter of the clipping machine and setting the captured value as the target value for said parameter in the further production process. The present invention further relates to a clipping machine on which the inventive method may be executed.

Method for controlling a clipping machine as well as a clipping machine therefor

The present invention relates to a transportation system for transporting products in a transportation direction. The transportation system comprises a conveyor unit for transporting the products in the transportation direction from a first end of the conveyor unit towards a second end of the conveyor unit, and a drive unit for driving the conveyor unit. The drive unit comprises a drive means and a first magnetic clutch component for transmitting torque to the conveyor unit. The conveyor unit comprises a second magnetic clutch component for receiving torque from the drive unit. The transportation system further comprises supporting means which includes first and second supporting elements with the first supporting elements arranged at the drive unit and the second support elements arranged at the conveyor unit, for supporting the conveyor unit such that at least the first magnetic clutch component and the second magnetic clutch component are aligned to each other, and for supporting torque transmitted from the drive unit to the conveyor unit. The present invention further relates to a drive unit as well as a conveyor unit, both adapted for use in a transportation system.

Transportation system with magnetic clutch

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material and closing said filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. The clipping machine includes a filling tube through which the filling material is fed into said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing which is stored on said filling tube, a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube for limiting the movement of the tubular packaging casing at least while being filled, gathering means for gathering said filled tubular packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure means, like a closure clip, to the plait-like portion formed on the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing in a closing region. The clipping machine further comprises a housing defining at least a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls of the clipping machine, for enclosing at least the clipping device and the gathering means. The housing includes at least one housing element arranged in the front wall of the housing for covering at least the closing region, wherein the at least one housing element is coupled to the clipping machine by a linking device including a shifting mechanism for reversibly shifting the housing element relative to the clipping machine, in a shifting direction, for granting access to the closing region of the clipping machine.

Clipping machine with easy access

A casing brake assembly is provided for applying a frictional force to a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing being arranged on a filling tube of a production apparatus, like a clipping machine, which is used in the production of sausage-shaped products, like sausages, and for limiting the movement of said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing at least while being filled. The casing brake assembly comprises a tubular support device for supporting at least one brake element having an at least approximately ring-shaped design. The casing brake assembly further comprises a tubular bushing for accommodating the tubular support device and the at least one brake element, and an attachment device including an at least approximately tubular accommodation portion for accommodating the tubular bushing, and at least one attachment portion configured for attaching the casing brake assembly to the production apparatus. Furthermore, an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, includes a mounting device for reversibly mounting a casing brake assembly thereto and a casing brake assembly for applying a frictional force to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being filled.

Casing brake assembly

The present invention relates to a clipping machine and a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by a closure means, like a closure clip. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its first end, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, the gathering means includes a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, and a clipping device having a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure means to the plait-like portion and closing said closure means when the closing tools are in their closed position. The clipping machine includes common drive means for commonly reversibly radially moving the gathering means from an opened position into a closed position for performing the gathering movement, and the clipping tools for applying said closure means on the plait-like portion and closing said closure means. The clipping machine further comprises single drive means for separately reversibly driving the second displacer unit for executing a movement in axial direction for forming the plait-like portion, at least partially independently from the common drive means. The clipping machine further comprises a control unit for controlling the single drive means at least partially independently from the common drive means and at least a first sensor associated with the common drive means and at least a second sensor associated with the single drive means, which are coupled to the control unit.

Decoupled drive units for gathering and over-spreading

A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products (S), like sausages, by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing (M) and closing said packaging casing (M) by a closure means, like a closure clip (C). The clipping machine () comprises a feeding device () for suspension elements configured to feed suspension elements (E) attached to a carrier strip (B) to a delivery position and to place a first section of a suspension element (E) within the closure means (C) positioned on the die () of the second closing tool (). The feeding device () further comprises a guiding device () configured to hold down the suspension element (E) close to the carrier strip (B) while the suspension element (E) is pulled off and detached from the carrier strip (B) by a relative movement between the second clipping tool () and the feeding device (). A holding device () attached to the second clipping tool () is configured to releasably receive and hold a second section of the suspension element (E) when detached from the carrier strip (B).

Clipping machine with improved handling of suspension elements

A method for producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing which accommodates a filling material, wherein the plait-like portion is at least approximately free of filling material and comprises a longitudinal plait-axis, including the steps: constricting a filled tubular packaging casing by moving a first pair of displacer elements of a first displacer unit and a second pair of displacer elements of a second displacer unit from an opened into a closed position by use of a first drive unit, creating a displacer clearance between the first and second pair of displacer elements, producing a plait-like portion by moving the second displacer unit parallel to the longitudinal plait-axis away from a narrow position in which the second displacer unit is adjacent to the first displacer unit, into a spread position in which the second displacer unit is away from the first displacer unit.

Automatic displacer clearance adjustment

A supply of suspension elements, like suspension loops, are configured for being fed in a feeding direction to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, and configured for being attached to said sausage-shaped products. The supply comprises a carrier strip having at least an upper and a lower surface as well as and two longitudinally extending edges arranged parallel to each other. The supply further comprises and a number of suspension elements attached to the upper or lower surface of the carrier strip in at least substantially regular intervals, wherein the carrier strip including the suspension elements is wound up, thereby forming a roll. At least one mark which is attached to the carrier strip at a predefined distance from its end.

Clip supply

A filling assembly for being mounted to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products comprising a filling tube for filling flowable material into a packaging casing that is arrangeable onto filling tube; a casing brake unit with a brake body for being detachably and relatively fixable arranged on filling tube in a braking position for providing a resistance to the packaging casing against uncontrolled sliding-off of the filling tube; and a mounting unit for mounting filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine. Mounting unit comprises a bearing device for allowing a relative movement of filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, when mounting unit is mounted with filling tube and casing brake unit to the clipping machine, between at least a production position and an interchanging position.

Filling assembly for a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products

An apparatus and method producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing, which accommodates a filling material includes a plait-like portion at least approximately free of filling material, extending along a longitudinal plait-axis. The apparatus comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of displacer elements reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the first pair of displacer elements, which surrounds the longitudinal plait-axis, in which the tubular packaging casing is being gathered, when the first pair of displacer elements is in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of displacer elements also being reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the second pair of displacer elements, similar to first pair of displacer elements.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into a packaging casing, gathering elements for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure clip to the plait-like portion and closing said closure clip. Furthermore, the clipping device includes a drive for driving the first closing tool. Said drive comprises a crank shaft having a crank pin, and a plunger having a central axis, for holding and linearly moving the first closing tool between its opened and closed position along its central axis. A guide track is mounted to said plunger, and a slide block pivotally attached to the crank pin is in slidable engagement with said guide track for moving said plunger along its central axis.

Growing community of inventors

Bad Nauheim, Germany

Detlef Ebert