Four clip clipping machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11523617-B2
Application number	US-202117187630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Feb 28, 2020
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A closing assembly for use with a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products the closing assembly comprising:
coupling means such as a connection portion for removably attaching the closing assembly to a clipping machine;
at least one fixed closing tool comprising an engagement surface configured for engaging at least a portion of at least one closure means; and
at least one moveable closing tool being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the at least one moveable closing tool comprising an engagement surface configured for engaging at least a portion of at least one closure means;
wherein:
in the engaged position, the at least one moveable closing tool is in alignment with the at least one fixed closing tool, such that the engagement surface of the at least one moveable closing tool and the engagement surface of the at least one fixed closing tool face substantially in the same direction; and
in the disengaged position, the at least one moveable closing tool is out of alignment with the at least one fixed closing tool, such that the engagement surface of the at least one moveable closing tool and the engagement surface of the at least one fixed closing tool face in different directions.

2. The closing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed closing tool and/or the at least one moveable closing tool is configured to close at least one respective closure means such as a closure clip placed on a plait-like portion of a sausage-shaped product to be produced.

3. The closing assembly of claim 1 , comprising two moveable closing tools which are independently moveable between their respective engaged and disengaged positions.

4. The closing assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the two moveable closing tools is configured to close one respective closure means such as a closure clip placed on a plait-like portion of a sausage-shaped product to be produced.

5. The closing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one fixed closing tool is configured to close two closure means.

6. A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products containing a filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the clipping machine comprising:
gathering means for forming a plait-like portion of the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing; and
a closing unit for applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion of the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the closing unit comprising a closing assembly as defined in claim 1 .

7. A method for producing sausage-shaped products containing a filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the method comprising the steps of:
filling at least a portion of a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material;
forming a plait-like portion substantially free of filling material from the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing filled with filling material; and
applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion of the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, by placing the at least four closure means on the plait-like portion substantially simultaneously in a single placement step and by closing the at least four closure means placed on the plait-like portion in at least one closing step.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one closing step comprises:
bending respective free end portions of at least one closure means around at least a portion of a periphery of the plait-like portion so that, when the at least one closure means is applied to the plait-like portion, the free end portions of the at least one closure means are substantially aligned with respect to each other.

9. The method of claim 7 , comprising closing at least a first closure means of the at least four closure means placed on the plait-like portion in a first closing step and closing at least a second closure means of the at least four closure means placed on the plait-like portion in a subsequent second closing step.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein a first pair of closure means of the at least four closure means is closed in a first closing step and a second pair of closure means of the at least four closure means is closed in a subsequent second closing step.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first pair of closure means is one of an outer pair of closure means applied to an outer section of the plait-like portion and an inner pair of closure means applied to an inner section of the plait-like portion.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first pair of closure means is closed by a first closing tool and the second pair of closure means is closed by a second closing tool.

Assignees

• Poly Clip System Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Zurwieden Martin
• Ebert Detlef

Classifications

• A22C11/105

  The sheer or blade elements being displaceable parallel to the sausage string in order to create a narrow point free of meat · CPC title

• A22C11/10 Primary

  Apparatus for twisting {or linking} sausages {(subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages, involving displacement of contents B65B9/12, by applying pressure and heat successively B65B51/26)} · CPC title

• A22C11/125 Primary

  by clipping; Removal of clips · CPC title