Push/pull clip feed configuration for selectively delivering or withdrawing a clip to allow output of one clip alone or two clips concurrently and associated computer program products

Abstract

Apparatus and computer program products that direct the apparatus to supply a clip to a clip window associated with a closure attachment mechanism having a closure punch path for attaching a single clip or two clips to a target tubular work piece in a closure zone. The apparatus and computer program products are configured to force a plurality of clips to travel in a first predetermined clip travel path having a forward direction toward a first punch path in a closure zone at a first point in time; selectively retract the plurality of clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction along the first predetermined clip travel path; and then (c) force the plurality of clips to again travel in the forward direction along the first predetermined clip travel path at a second point in time.

1 . A computer program product for operating a shirred casing voiding/clipping apparatus having two proximate clip attachment mechanisms with first and second clip travel paths to selectively deliver one clip or two clips concurrently to a chain of chub product, 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 controllably actuates a first actuation cylinder to push clips in a clip feed direction; and   computer readable program code that controllably actuates a second actuation cylinder to pull clips away from the clip feed direction.   
   
   
       2 . A computer program product according to  claim 1 , further comprising computer readable program code that allows a user to select a desired number of links of chubs and/or a desired chain length of linked chubs. 
   
   
       3 . A computer program product according to  claim 1 , further comprising computer readable program code that directs the first and second actuation cylinders to apply an appropriate number of single and dual clips at appropriate links in the chain based on the user input. 
   
   
       4 . A computer program product for controlling an apparatus for supplying a clip to a clip window associated with a closure attachment mechanism having a closure delivery path for attaching a single clip or two clips to leading and/or trailing edge portions of covering material enclosing a target object in a clip closure zone, 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 for forcing a plurality of clips to travel in a first predetermined clip travel path on a clip rail having a forward direction toward a first closure delivery path in a closure zone at a first point in time;   computer readable program code for selectively retracting the plurality of clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction on the clip rail; and   computer readable program code for forcing the plurality of clips to again travel in the forward direction along the first predetermined clip travel path on the clip rail at a second point in time,   whereby the apparatus is configured to successively clip end portions of packaging material enclosing one or more objects.   
   
   
       5 . A computer program product according to  claim 4 , further comprising computer program code for directing a holding member to hold the plurality of clips above a first clip window associated with the first closure delivery path in the closure zone for a desired interval, the interval associated with a number of target objects that pass through the closure zone without receiving a clip from the first closure delivery path. 
   
   
       6 . A computer program product according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 computer program code for repeatedly forcing a second plurality of clips to travel in a second predetermined clip travel path along a second clip rail having a forward direction toward a second closure delivery path with a second clip window at the first and second points in time;   computer program code for directing the apparatus to concurrently attach one clip from the first closure delivery path and one clip from the second closure delivery path during the first and second points in time; and   computer program code for selectively applying one clip to a greater number of target objects and two clips to fewer numbers of the target objects as the objects in the covering material move through the closure zone.   
   
   
       7 . A computer program product according to  claim 4 , wherein the objects are one or more elongate food products held in a casing material, and wherein the computer program product further comprises computer program code for synchronizing food product advancement in a predetermined substantially horizontal forward travel path and computer program code for stalling the forward movement while the clips are applied. 
   
   
       8 . A computer program product according to  claim 7 , wherein the food products are meat products or cheese products. 
   
   
       9 . A computer program product according to  claim 4 , wherein the computer program code for retracting comprises computer program code for directing a retraction member to pull the clips in a generally upward direction, and wherein the computer program code for forcing comprises computer program code for directing a pusher member to push the clips downward. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program product according to  claim 9 , wherein the retracting member has a jaw and the computer program code is configured to direct the jaw to contact the clips and pull the clips upward to retract the clips along the clip rail. 
   
   
       11 . A computer program product according to  claim 9 , wherein the pusher member has a pivotable pusher pawl, and wherein the computer program code for forcing the clips to travel in the first predetermined clip travel path is configured to direct the pusher pawl to contact an outer perimeter of at least one of the plurality of clips and apply force in the forward direction. 
   
   
       12 . A computer program product according to  claim 9 , wherein the pusher member comprises a clip pusher pivotably mounted to a frame member and in communication with a first actuation cylinder, and wherein the computer program code for directing the pusher member comprises computer program code for actuating the cylinder. 
   
   
       13 . A computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein the computer program code for directing the pusher member and actuating the cylinder: (a) directs the actuation cylinder to travel to an extended state to cause the clip pusher to engage at least one clip to force the clips to travel in a forward feed direction, and (b) directs the actuation cylinder to travel to a retracted state and causes the clip pusher to move away from the clip rail to disengage from the clips. 
   
   
       14 . A clipper apparatus for clipping packaged articles comprising:
 a downwardly extending curvilinear clip rail that supports a plurality of closely spaced clips;   a forcing member configured to force a plurality of the clips to travel along the clip rail in a forward clip feed direction toward a clip closure delivery path in a closure zone;   a retracting member configured to cooperate with the forcing member to selectively retract the plurality of clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction along the clip rail; and   a controller having a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising computer program code that directs an automated clip cycle to successively clip articles enclosed in packaging material, wherein, in operation, the computer program code directs the forcing member to force the clips to travel in a clip feed direction along the clip rail, and the computer program code directs the retracting member to forcibly retract the clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction along the clip rail, and computer program code that directs the forcing member to then again force the clips to travel in the clip feed direction along the clip rail toward the clip closure delivery path to thereby successively clip the packaged articles.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer program code is configured to direct the retracting member to retract the clips to a desired position on the clip rail above and away from the closure zone, then stop and hold the plurality of clips for a desired interval, the interval associated with a number of target objects that pass through the closure zone without receiving a clip from the first closure delivery path.