Clipping machine with energy recovering

Abstract

The present invention relates to 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 tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by a closure device, like a closure clip, and a method for controlling the clipping machine. 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, a casing brake assembly 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, the gathering device including a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, 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 device to the plait-like portion and closing said closure device when the closing tools are in their closed position, and at least one drive device for driving at least one component of the clipping machine, including at least one electric motor. The clipping machine further comprises a motor driver unit adapted to operate the electric motor in an accelerating mode for increasing the speed of the electric motor, in a driving mode for maintaining the speed of the electric motor, and in an electric braking mode for decreasing the speed of the electric motor, and a control unit adapted to control the at least one motor driver unit such that during the braking mode electric braking energy is recovered.