Clippers configured to operate with elastomeric clips, associated methods, systems and computer program products

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products for applying a non-metallic clip to a target package in an automated or semi-automated manner include: (a) directing a plurality of non-metallic clips, each respective clip having a unitary body with a crown and spaced apart first and second legs, to travel in a clip travel path having a forward direction that merges into a punch path; (b) punching a non-metallic clip in the punch path so that the first and second legs thereof span opposing sides of a trailing and/or leading edge portion of a target package; then (c) deforming the clip so that the leading edge portions of the legs reside proximate each other about the trailing and/or leading edge portion of the target package to thereby close the clip about the target package. The non-metallic clips can be provided as integral elastomeric clip magazines and devices with clip rails configured to hold the elastomeric clips are described.

1 . A method for applying a non-metallic clip to a target package in an automated or semi-automated manner using a clipper, comprising: 
 directing a plurality of non-metallic clips, each respective clip having a unitary body with a crown and spaced apart first and second legs, to travel in a clip travel path having a forward direction that merges into a punch path;    punching a non-metallic clip in the punch path so that the first and second legs thereof span opposing sides of a trailing and/or leading edge portion of a target package; then deforming the clip so that the leading edge portions of the legs reside proximate each other about the trailing and/or leading edge portion of the target package to thereby close the clip about the target package.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clips comprise a polymer and have a general U-shaped body with a tapered inner perimeter profile with an upper portion having a smaller width than a medial portion thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the directing step comprises sliding the clips along the clip travel path on a rail with the first and second legs extending from opposing side portions of the rail, and wherein the rail has a tapered sectional profile with a top portion having a smaller width than a medial portion.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , further comprising holding the clips on the rail so that the crown is proximate the top portion of the rail and upper portions of the legs travel closely spaced to the top portion of the rail.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 feeding a spooled or reeled cartridge of a plurality attached elastomeric clips to the clip travel path, wherein the directing step comprises moving the attached clips forward in concert with one another;    then separating a selected forwardly positioned clip from the plurality of attached clips and introducing the separated clip into the punch path before the punching step.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the punch path is configured to punch the clip against a die cooperating therewith so that the crown is above or below a neck or tail portion of a target package and the legs span opposing sides thereof and wrap about the neck or tail portion on a side of the target package opposing the crown.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the deforming step comprises forcing the clip into a generally closed perimeter shape with the outermost portion of the legs extending past each other in opposing directions spaced across from the crown without puncturing the target packaging material.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the clip comprises a thermoplastic material, and wherein the deforming step shapes the clip into a curvilinear configuration with one leg extending transversely proximate and past the other.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the separating step comprises shearing the forwardly positioned clip from the other clips in the punch path.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the automatically deforming step is carried out to enclose gathered casing material associated with the target package without puncturing the casing material.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the automatically deforming step is carried out to enclose gathered netting material associated with the target package without puncturing the netting material.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric clips are single-use disposable thermoplastic polymer clips.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising feeding a spool and/or reel of attached elastomeric clips along a static rail with a generally downwardly extending portion that merges into a laterally extending portion that merges into the punch path, the rail having a tapered sectional shape with a top portion widening to a lower portion, wherein the directing step comprises forcing the clips to travel along the laterally extending portion to deliver a forwardmost clip from the spool and/or reel into a clip window to engage a punch attachment mechanism held thereabove in the punch path.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising feeding a spool and/or reel of attached metallic clips along the tapered rail, each respective clip having a unitary body with a crown and spaced apart first and second legs to travel in a clip travel path having a forward direction that merges into a punch path; 
 punching a metallic clip in the punch path so that the first and second legs span opposing sides of a trailing and/or leading edge portion of a target package; and    deforming the clip so that the leading edge portions of the legs reside proximate each other about the trailing and/or leading edge portion of the target package to thereby close the clip about the target package.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising automatically severing gathered synthetic or natural casing and/or netting material proximate the deformed clip after the deforming step to provide a discrete packaged product.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the severing step comprises actuating a knife to cut the gathered casing and/or netting material, the method further comprising delaying the actuation of the knife for about 0.25-1 second after the deforming step to thereby hold the deformed clip in the punch path against the die for a holding period.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the deforming and/or severing step is carried out at ambient conditions without active heating and/or cooling of the clip in the punch path.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the target package encloses a meat product.  
     
     
         19 . A method of selectively attaching metallic or non-metallic clips using a common clipper, comprising: 
 selectively feeding a spool and/or reel of attached elastomeric clips or a spool and/or reel of metallic clips along a static rail with a generally downwardly extending portion that merges into a laterally extending portion that merges into the punch path;    forcing the clips to travel along the rail so that the laterally extending portion thereof delivers a forwardmost clip from the selected spool and/or reel through a window to a punch path; and    punching a clip in the punch path onto a gathered portion of a target package so that the legs of the clip travel toward each other.    
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . An automated or semi-automated clipper, comprising: 
 a clip rail configured and sized to hold a plurality of unitary body non-metallic clips, each clip having a crown and opposing spaced apart first and second legs, the clip rail configured to define a portion of a clip travel path that merges into a punch path;    a punch configured to controllably travel in the punch path to direct a clip in the punch path to span opposing sides of a trailing and/or leading edge portion of a target package;    a die cooperatively aligned with the punch to deformably shape the clip in the punch path about the target package to thereby attach the clip thereto; and    a knife member having an actuator associated therewith operatively associated with the punch, wherein the actuator is configured to advance and retract the knife member to sever the trailing and/or leading edge of the target package downstream of the attached clip, and wherein the actuator is configured to advance the knife member on a delay after the clip is attached to the target product thereby allowing the punch to forcibly hold the attached clip in the punch path against the die for a holding period so that the attached clip retains its deformed shape after the punch is retracted and the knife member severs the target package.    
     
     
         30 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . An automated or semi-automated clipper, comprising: 
 a reel and/or spool of attached elastomeric unitary body clips, each clip having a crown and opposing spaced apart first and second legs;    a clip rail in communication with the reel and/or spool of clips configured and sized to hold a plurality of the unitary body non-metallic clips, the clip rail configured to define a portion of a clip travel path that merges into a punch path;    a punch configured to controllably reciprocally travel in the punch path to direct a clip delivered from the clip rail into the punch path to span opposing sides of a trailing and/or leading edge portion of a target package; and    a die cooperatively aligned with the punch to deformably shape the elastomeric clip in the punch path about the target package to thereby attach the clip thereto.    
     
     
         38 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A clip rail comprising a metallic curvilinear body with a first generally vertical segment merging into a laterally extending generally horizontal second segment, the body having a tapered sectional profile increasing in width from a top to medial portion.  
     
     
         44 - 45 . (canceled)  
     
     
         46 . A clipper apparatus for selectively supplying a polymer clip or a metallic clip for attaching at least one clip to a target casing or flexible package, comprising: 
 a clip rail having a shaped body with a top portion having a smaller cross-sectional width than a medial and lower portion, the clip rail configured and sized to selectively deliver generally U-shaped unitary body polymer and metallic clips having about the same width, the clip rail configured to define a portion of a clip travel path that merges into a punch path; and    a punch and corresponding die anvil configured to communicate with a clip in the clip path to serially attach the clips to a target package during operation.    
     
     
         47 - 49 . (canceled)  
     
     
         50 . A computer program product for operating an automated and/or semi-automated clipping apparatus having a punch and die configured to attach generally U-shaped unitary body non-metallic clips to target packaging material, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising:    computer readable program code that delays actuation of a cutting actuator after an elastomeric clip is clipped about a target product, the delay being sufficient to allow the punch to forcibly hold the attached clip against the die for a holding period so that the attached clip retains a clipped deformed shape after the punch is retracted and the knife member severs the target package.    
     
     
         51 . A computer program product for operating an automated and/or semi-automated clipping apparatus having an automated cooperating punch and die and knife member configured to selectively apply generally U-shaped unitary body elastomeric clips or metallic clips, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising:    a control module that directs the actuation of the punch and/or knife member in a respective different deployment mode responsive to whether elastomeric clips or metallic clips are being applied from the clipping apparatus.