Tipper Tie, Inc.

Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.

Thomas E Whittlesey

William M Poteat

Kim L Poling

Dennis J May

Samuel D Griggs

Matthew D Lowder

Edward P Brinson

David T Wince

Gordon R Winders

Bryan E Wilkins

Alfred J Evans

Grant K Chen

Johnny T Stanley

Brian W Roberts

Fredric M MacKay

Frederic M MacKay

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.

Automated clipping packaging systems suitable for packaging whole muscle

Methods, computer program products and apparatus for producing encased products use a rotary encoder with a measuring wheel, the measuring wheel residing against a depression of a wheel saddle that has a shape that curves inward with a radius of curvature that corresponds to an outer perimeter radius of a cooperating measuring wheel.

Systems with wheel saddles that can cooperate with wheels of encoders and related devices and methods

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: clip spool cradles, improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.

Packaging systems with clip spool cradles

Automated clipping packaging apparatus and associated devices, methods, systems and computer program products suitable for packaging whole muscle

Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion.

Computer programs to operate low profile ruckers using loading caps capable of rucking fixed diameter coverings

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.

Rotating multi-clipper packaging systems

Packaging systems with adhesive seal modules

Loading caps suitable for rucking using low profile ruckers capable of rucking fixed diameter coverings

Methods of mounting a conveyor belt to a telescoping conveyor include: (a) providing a conveyor belt configured to mount to a telescoping conveyor mechanism; (b) pivoting a first idler roller to an operative fixed position; and (c) translating an idler residing below the first idler roller upward and rearward into its respective operative fixed position to thereby mount a telescoping conveyor belt.

Methods for mounting or removing belts from telescoping conveyor mechanisms that cooperate with packaging systems having clippers

Computer program products for an apparatus with an automated derucker operatively associated with a netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn.

Computer program products for systems with casing assemblies and netting chutes

Rotating multi-clipper platform packaging systems

Computer program products are configured to allow dual operational modes of packaging systems to produce encased products using interchangeable first or second horns.

Computer program products for packaging apparatus with interchangeable horns

Apparatus for engaging a filler/product pump that include: (a) a horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal product channel extending therethrough; (b) a forming collar in communication with the horn, wherein, in operation, the forming collar is configured to cooperate with the horn to direct planar casing material to take on a generally tubular shape over an outer surface of the horn while product travels through the internal channel; (c) a netting chute sized and configured to receive a portion of the horn therein, the netting chute configured to hold a sleeve of elastic netting material thereon; and (d) an automated derucker operatively associated with the netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn.

Casing assemblies for systems with netting chutes

Methods for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a plurality of spaced apart rotatable wheels having a primary axis of movement, wherein, in operation, the plurality of wheels have an automated stroke cycle whereby each is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of a chute body and remain in contact with the chute body while the wheels travel in a first direction about the primary axis of movement and in an opposing second direction about the primary axis of movement.

Growing community of inventors

Apex, NC, United States of America

Thomas E Whittlesey