Automated netter

Abstract

An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a net and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper cuts and closes the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for enclosing material in a net, comprising 
 a product tube,    a clipper situated adjacent to said product tube, and    a handle-maker,    whereby material placed in said product tube is encased in netting, said clipper closes and severs said netting, and said handle-maker creates a handle from said netting.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for printing information on a label and means for attaching said label to said netting.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a scale to measure a weight of said material and transmit said weight to said means for printing.  
     
     
         4 . A method for enclosing material in a net, comprising 
 closing an end of a roll of netting,    placing material in said roll of netting,    closing said roll of netting to enclose said material in said netting,    creating a loop from said roll of netting and severing said loop from said roll, and    closing said loop to create a handle on said netting enclosing said material.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein closing said loop comprises attaching said loop to said netting.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said attaching step comprises clipping.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising inserting a label in said loop when closing said loop.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising weighing said material and printing a weight of said material on said label.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising printing other information on said label.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for enclosing material in a net, comprising 
 a roll of netting, said roll having an open end and a closed end,    means to place material in said netting through said open end of said roll,    a first clipper to close and sever said netting surrounding said material from said roll,    a handle maker to form a loop from said severed netting, and    a second clipper to close said loop.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising means for printing information on a label and means for attaching said label to said netting.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a scale to measure a weight of said material and transmit said weight to said means for printing.  
     
     
         13 . A method for enclosing material in a net, comprising, 
 placing material in a roll of netting, said roll having a closed end and an open end,    closing said open end to enclose said material in said netting,    pulling said material to tighten said netting around said material,    severing said tightened netting from said roll of netting and sealing said roll to form a new closed end,    creating a loop from said netting severed from said roll, and    attaching said loop to said netting to create a handle.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said attaching step comprises clipping.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting a label in said loop when closing said loop.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising weighing said material and printing a weight of said material on said label.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising printing other information on said label.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for enclosing material in a net, comprising 
 a roll of netting, said roll having an open end and a closed end,    means to place material in said netting through said open end of said roll,    first means to gather said netting around said material,    second means to gather said netting around said material,    means for moving said second means to gather relative to said first means to gather, whereby    said netting is stretched between said first means to gather and said second means to gather,    a first clipper to close and sever said netting at said first means, to create a new closed end on said severed roll,    a handle maker to form a loop from said stretched netting, and    a second clipper to close said loop at said second gathering means.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising means for printing information on a label and means for attaching said label to said netting.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a scale to measure a weight of said material and transmit said weight to said means for printing.  
     
     
         21 . A method for enclosing material in a net, comprising 
 placing material in a roll of netting, said roll having an open end and a closed end,    gathering said netting around said material,    moving said material to tighten said netting around said material and creating a length of stretched netting,    severing said tightened netting from said roll of netting and sealing said roll to form a new closed end,    forming a loop from said length of stretched material, and    attaching said loop to said netting to close said loop to form a handle.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said attaching step comprises clipping.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising inserting a label in said loop when closing said loop.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising weighing said material and printing a weight of said material on said label.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising printing other information on said label.