Packaging systems include a rotating table and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spool mount assemblies mounted to the rotating table at respective clipper stations. The spool mount assemblies can include a laterally extending centrifugal force retention shaft that faces an outer perimeter of the table.

The present invention relates to a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, on a clipping machine, and a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The method comprises the steps of feeding the filling material in a feeding direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on a filling tube and being closed at the front end by a closure means, like a closing clip, limiting the movement of the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being pulled-off from the filling tube by a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube, gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by gathering means arranged downstream the filling tube, for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and placing and closing at least one closure means on the plait-like portion for closing the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. Moreover, the casing brake assembly is moved along the filling tube during the feeding filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing.

The invention relates to a clip that is suitable for the constriction of sausage casings, the clip having a general U-shaped configuration comprising two facing legs that are bent with respect to a base of the clip, wherein said base of the clip is divided so as to determine in the same two or more joining bridges between the legs, these joining bridges spaced apart and the ends thereof converging at the aforementioned legs, between said bridges one or several creases or folds of the casing can be at least partially housed when the clip tightly clasps said casing.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine and a method for operating 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 packaging casing by at least one closure clip. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material in a feeding direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its front end, a gathering device for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a gathered portion thereto, wherein the gathering device includes a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, and wherein the second displacer unit is reversibly movable in the feeding direction for forming a filling material free plait-like portion at the gathered portion of the filled packaging casing, a clipping device having at least a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure clip to the plait-like portion and closing said closure clip when the closing tools are in their closed position, and a discharge device for discharging a sausage-shaped product just produced from the clipping machine in a transportation direction, wherein the position of the discharge device along the transportation direction and relative to components located upstream the discharge device can be adjusted. The clipping machine further comprises a sensor device for detecting the position of the discharge device relative to components of the clipping machine located upstream the discharge device.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the machine comprising a filling tube configured to feed filling material into the casing, and further comprises closing tools arranged downstream the filling tube, for closing the casing in a closing region. A housing is provided, enclosing at least the closing region, comprising at least a front wall and a first side wall, wherein the front wall is arranged at least substantially parallel to a longitudinally extending axis of the filling tube, and further comprises an opening which can be closed by a movable door element, movable between an open position, allowing access to the closing region and a closed position, covering and blocking access to the closing region. The side wall faces the filling tube and further comprises a movable housing element, movable between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein the movable housing element comprises an opening for passing through the sausage-shaped products, and wherein the movable housing element enables access from a side of the first side wall to the closing region when in the open position; and wherein the movable housing element covers and blocks access to the closing region when in the closed position.

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.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine as well as a method for controlling a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products by filling a filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, having at least one first drivable component, at least one drive device for driving said at least one first drivable component, a control unit for controlling the operation of said at least one drive device of said at least one first drivable component, and at least a first sensor unit associated with the at least one first drivable component and coupled to the control unit. The clipping machine further comprises a lubricating device including a supply of lubricant and a pump unit, the lubricating device being connected to at least one first lubricating point of the at least one first drivable component of the clipping machine, by a lubricating pipe through which lubricant is delivered to the at least one first lubricating point by the pump unit. The lubricating device being controlled by the control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to operate the lubricating device according to a predefined lubricating schedule for executing lubricating events to the at least one first drivable component. The control unit is adapted to vary the lubricating schedule upon a signal of the first sensor unit indicating specific operating conditions of the at least one first drivable component.

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 means, 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 means 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 means to the plait-like portion and closing said closure means 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.

The invention relates to a discharge section for a discharge of products with at least one suspension element, in particular, for sausage-shaped products, along the discharge section. The discharge section comprises a catcher unit and a guide unit. The catcher unit comprises a catching end and is configured for threading at least one suspension element of the product with the catching end. The guide unit is configured for receiving the at least one suspension element of the product from the catcher unit and for transporting the product at its at least one suspension element along the discharge section. The discharge section is characterized in that the catcher unit and the guide unit are releasably attached to each other by means of an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism is configured to enable an adjustment of a position of the catcher unit's catching end relative to the guide unit.

The invention relates to a production system for producing sausage-shaped products, in particular sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the production system comprising: a filling unit for providing and conveying the filling material in filling direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the filling unit comprising an outlet; a clipping unit for closing the packaging casing filled with the filling material; and a coupling unit extending along a filling axis for coupling the filling unit and the clipping unit, the coupling unit comprising: an adapter piece configured to be arranged at the outlet of the filling unit; a connector piece configured to connect the clipping unit and the adapter piece; and a filling tube configured to be connected to the connector piece for feeding filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube,wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one first tool for assembling the adapter piece to and disassembling the adapter piece from the outlet of the filling unit and/or for assembling the adapter piece to and disassembling the adapter piece from the connector piece, wherein the at least one first tool is captively held on the adapter piece and wherein the at least one first tool is arranged rotationally and/or translationally movable relative to the filling axis along the adapter piece.