Netting chutes with ribbed flooring for manual and/or automated clipping packaging apparatus

Abstract

Netting chutes suitable for use with manual and automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include at least one axially extending rib.

1 . A netting/product chute comprising an outer wall and a floor that define an interior cavity with a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface of the outer wall adapted to hold netting thereon, the floor having at least one axially extending rib.  
   
   
       2 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , the chute comprising an entry portion that has a flared portion with a first cross-sectional area that tapers into a adjacent downstream portion with a smaller second cross-sectional area thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one axially extending rib is two spaced apart axially extending ribs securely affixed to the floor and defining sidewalls of a channel therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 3 , wherein the channel has a substantially planar floor.  
   
   
       5 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one axially extending rib is a single axially extending rib.  
   
   
       6 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the floor is substantially planar, and wherein the at least one rib is transversely offset from an axially extending centerline of the floor.  
   
   
       7 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the netting/product chute has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       8 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 7 , wherein the netting/product chute has a cavity shape with a generally curvilinear upper portion that terminates into a generally planar lower portion that serves as the floor.  
   
   
       9 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the product chute has a generally semicircular upper portion and the floor is substantially planar, with the at least one rib rising a distance above the floor.  
   
   
       10 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 3 , wherein the ribs veer toward each other along a length of the chute.  
   
   
       11 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 3 , wherein the ribs remain substantially parallel to each other along substantially the entire length of the chute.  
   
   
       12 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , wherein the rib has an inclined forward edge portion that rises to terminate into a peak downstream of an ingress portion of the chute.  
   
   
       13 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 12 , wherein the inclined forward edge portion terminates into the peak downstream but proximate the ingress portion of the chute.  
   
   
       14 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 12 , wherein the inclined forward edge portion comprises a planar segment with a width proximate the floor that is greater than a width proximate the peak.  
   
   
       15 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 14 , wherein the planar segment is a generally triangulated shape.  
   
   
       16 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 15 , wherein a discharge end of the product chute has an angular cross section when viewed from the side so that a length of an upper portion of the product chute is less than a length of a lower portion of the product chute.  
   
   
       17 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve of netting material held against the exterior surface of the outer wall.  
   
   
       18 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve of netting material is configured to be in tension and extends a distance beyond a discharge end of the chute during operative use.  
   
   
       19 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a planar, substantially horizontal mounting platform.  
   
   
       20 . A netting/product chute according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to the product chute proximate an ingress portion thereof.  
   
   
       21 . A system for enclosing a semi-solid or solid product in a covering material, comprising: 
 an elongate product chute having a floor with at least one axially extending rib, an outer wall and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity defined by the floor and outer wall extending therethrough; and    a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the discharge end portion of the product chute, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a covering material that encloses a product discharged from the product chute.    
   
   
       22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one rib is transversely offset from an axial centerline of the floor.  
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the outer wall comprises an entry portion that is flared with a first cross-sectional area that tapers into an adjacent downstream portion with a smaller second cross-sectional area thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one axially extending rib is two spaced apart axially extending ribs securely affixed to the floor and defining sidewalls of a channel therebetween.  
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the channel has a substantially planar floor.  
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one axially extending rib is a single axially extending rib.  
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein the floor is generally planar.  
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the product chute has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 28 , wherein the product chute has a cavity shape with a generally curvilinear upper portion that terminates into a generally planar lower portion.  
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein a primary body of the product chute has a generally semicircular upper portion and the floor is substantially planar, with the at least one rib rising a distance above the floor.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the two spaced apart ribs veer toward each other along a length of the chute and then extend generally parallel to each other.  
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the two spaced apart ribs remain substantially parallel to each other along the length of the chute.  
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one rib has an inclined forward edge portion that rises to terminate into a peak downstream of an ingress portion of the chute.  
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 33 , wherein the inclined forward edge portion terminates into the peak proximate the ingress portion of the chute.  
   
   
       35 . A system according to  claim 33 , wherein the inclined forward edge portion comprises a planar segment with a width proximate the floor that is greater than a width proximate the peak.  
   
   
       36 . A system according to  claim 35 , wherein the planar segment is a generally triangulated shape.  
   
   
       37 . A system according to  claim 36 , wherein a discharge end of the product chute has an angular cross section when viewed from the side so that a length of an upper portion of the product chute is less that a length of a lower portion of the product chute.  
   
   
       38 . A system according to  claim 37 , further comprising a sleeve of netting material held against the exterior surface of the netting/product chute.  
   
   
       39 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein the sleeve of netting material is configured to be in tension and extends a distance beyond a discharge end of the chute during operative use.  
   
   
       40 . A system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a mounting bracket attached to the product chute, and wherein the product chute mounting bracket is releasably mounted to a frame that holds the product chute in alignment with the clipper mechanism during operation.  
   
   
       41 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the product chute interior cavity has a cross-sectional profile that is sized and configured to snugly receive and/or compress a product as the product moves along the length thereof.  
   
   
       42 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the product chute is held substantially horizontally during operation.  
   
   
       43 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the product chute is held tilted relative to horizontal during operation.  
   
   
       44 . A method of packaging an object or objects in netting, comprising: 
 pushing at least one object through a product chute having a floor with at least one rib thereon;    pulling netting material downstream of the product chute from an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the netting material as the object exits the product chute; and then    applying at least one clip to the netting material to secure the object in the netting material.    
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the netting material comprises a sleeve of elastic netting material.  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein the netting material comprises netting material that is elastically isotropic.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one axially extending rib is two spaced apart axially extending ribs securely affixed to the floor and defining sidewalls of a channel therebetween.  
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein the channel as a substantially planar floor.  
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one rib is a single axially extending rib.  
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the floor is generally planar, and wherein the at least one rib is transversely offset from an axially extending centerline of the product chute.  
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one rib urges a target object entering the product chute away from an outer wall of the product chute.  
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the object is a meat object.  
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the meat object is ham.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the meat object comprises turkey held in a mold.  
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the meat object comprises poultry.