Tipper Tie, Inc.

Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.

William M Poteat

Samuel D Griggs

Dennis J May

Derek L Brown

David R Gupton

David T Wince

Thomas E Whittlesey

Kim L Poling

Matthew D Lowder

Edward P Brinson

Bryan E Wilkins

Sean Michael Kieffer

Packaging systems with a rotatable table top held by a rotatable column, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart clipper assemblies held at respective clipper stations provided by the rotatable table top, plurality of spaced apart pneumatic valves under the table top in fluid communication with the clipper assemblies, and at least one of: (a) a clipper reset cam assembly held under the rotatable table top with first and second reset cams cam that selectively automatically engage the pneumatic valves as the table rotates; and (b) a clipper trigger cam assembly held under the rotatable table top circumferentially spaced apart from the clipper reset cam assembly with first and second trigger cams that selectively automatically engage the pneumatic valves as the table rotates.

Packaging systems with clipper trigger and reset cam assemblies each comprising a plurality of cams and related cam assemblies

Packaging apparatus for producing encased products from flat-roll stock using an external user interface (i.e., a handle that is external to a housing holding the heat seal assembly that is attached to a horizontally oriented shaft that rotates a first gear in the housing to rotate an aligned second gear in the housing or an electronic control) that is attached to and/or in communication with (directly or indirectly) a heat-seal assembly with a heat-seal contact member, such as a heat-seal band, in the housing to allow a user to adjust a vertical height of the heat-seal assembly while the apparatus is operational and/or without requiring physical access to the interior of the housing.

Systems with external heat-seal assembly height adjustment control and related seal assemblies

A casing extender apparatus () includes a first actuator assembly () to raise and lower a pair of spaced-apart spanners (and) from a position above the bunched casing rope () to a position adjacent the rope. A second actuator assembly () lowers a drawing member () to a position beneath the slack casing rope and then draws the slack casing rope upwardly between the spanners to form a loop () of slack casing rope upwardly between the spanners (and).

Additional casing for slack filling

Methods, systems, apparatus, 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, sheared casing and/or netting. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo-motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.

Automated packaging systems with electric motor driven actuators for compression of target product

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 pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly.

Electric motor driven pushers for automated clipping packaging apparatus

Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.

Automated packaging systems with electric motor driven actuators for compression chambers

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

Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching closure clips to a product held in casing and/or netting include a retractable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to the casing and/or netting; and a pair of clipper gathering plates attached to the clipper body so that the clipper gathering plates retract with the clipper mechanism, wherein, in operation, the clipper gathering plates gather casing and/or netting upstream of a product held therein prior to attachment of clips to the gathered casing and/or netting by the clipper mechanism.

Clipper mechanisms and related devices

Computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting using actuators for operating barrier doors, pushers, and locks.

Computer program products for packaging machines suitable for packaging whole muscle

Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting.

Computer program products for automated clipping packaging apparatus

Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material.

Growing community of inventors

Fuquay-Varina, NC, United States of America

William M Poteat