Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PATENT APPLICATION
Automatic Hanging Hook System
Inventor: Eggo Haschke, a resident of the United States
PRIORITY AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This application claims the benefit of priority of United States Patent
Application No.
11/168,846, filed on June 28, 2005, which application is hereby incorporated
by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE ]NVENTION
This invention relates to the field of processed food products. This invention
relates
specifically to a system for hanging food products in smoke rooms for
processing.
Many types of food products are wrapped in packaging, which can be a film,
such as a
collagen fi.lm, or netting, or both. These products are often fully cooked
before delivery to the
consumer. For example, hams are sometimes wrapped in a collagen film (and
optionally
enclosed in netting) before cooking. A representative apparatus for packaging
food products
such as hams is described in United States Patent No. 4,958,477 to Winkler,
Apparatus for the
Production of Meat Products. Similar processes are used for other whole-muscle
meats, for
sausages, for poultry (including whole birds such as turkeys and poultry parts
such as turkey
breasts), and cheeses. Sausages are commonly formed by extrusion of a pasty
filling into a
tubular collagen casing, often followed by wrapping with netting. A
representative apparatus for
making sausages is described in United States Patent No. 5,024,041, Process
forFilling Tubular
Casiiags. Similar processes are used for cheeses and for other food products.
Whether the
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packaging is a film, netting, or both, the packaging is usually closed with a
clip.
Whether sausages, hams, turkeys, or other food products, the wrapped and
netted package
is usually suspended on a rack. A rack full of hanging hams, for example, is
conveyed into a
smoke room, where smoke is introduced to cook the hams. Otlier foods products
are processed
by other methods, such as steam or dry heat. Regardless of the processing
system, some device
is required to hang the food products on a rack. For hams and other large-
muscle or whole-
muscle meat products, as noted in the Winkler patent, a loop is clipped in,
using the same clip
that was used to enclose the collagen film and netting around the ham. A
clipper, a common
device in the industry, gathers the collagen film and netting and applies a
clip to the gatllered film
and netting. Before the punch of the clipper closes the clip, a neck portion
of the loop is placed
on the gathered film and netting. When the punch of the clipper closes the
clip, the loop is fimlly
attached to the ham. (A similar system is used for sausages.)
The loop is used to suspend the ham or other food product on a rack during the
smoking
stage. The loop is usually removed prior to sale to the ultimate consumer.
Automated processes are known in which a series of hooks on a conveyor pick up
the
hams as they emerge from the wrapping apparatus. The conveyor carries the hams
to the rack,
at which point the loop must be transferred from the conveyor hook to the rack
hook. This
process is difficult to accomplish, especially with a loop formed of a
nonrigid material, as the
loop must be lifted off the conveyor hook and placed on the rack hook.
One method known in the art is to use a rigid loop of the type illustrated in
FIG. 1. The
loop 20 has a neck section 22, a retaining section 24, and a hanging section
26. Hanging section
26 defines an oval-shaped aperture 28, through which the conveyor hook and
rack hook will
project to support the food product. Neck section 22 is clipped to the food
product. Retaining
section 24 prevents the loop from pulling through the clip.
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This type of loop is unsatisfactory, as the food product can wobble on the
hook projecting
through oval-shaped aperture 28. Transfer of the food product from the
conveyor hook to the
rack hook is also difficult, as the rack hook must be inserted through
aperture 28 before the
conveyor hook withdraws, or the product will drop to the ground.
Additionally, the loop 20 of the prior art is made of a rigid plastic material
and is
manufactured in individual pieces. Accordingly, a complicated feeding system
is required for
use with automated systems.
Accordingly, a need exists for a loop that can be clipped to a food product
for hanging
from a hook, that will ease the transition from one hook, such as a conveyor
hook, to a second
hook, such as a rack hook. A need also exists for a loop that can be used in
an automated netting
system. The present invention meets this need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in a first enibodiment is a loop for hanging material
that has been
wrapped in packaging. The loop is clipped to the packaging by a clip. The loop
has a neck
section having a width less than the width of the clip, a retaining section
extending from a first
side of the neck section and having a width greater than the width of the
clip, and a hanging
section extending from a second side of the neck section. The hanging section
has at least one
aperture. In another embodiment, a second hanging section extends from the
hanging section and
has at least one arm defining a notch between the arm and the hanging section.
In yet another
embodiment, the loop is manufactured in a chain of loops. In yet another
embodiment, the
invention is a system of a chain of loops and at least one of a clipper and a
netter.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention,
together
with furtlier objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by
reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a loop as is known in the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the hanging hook
system of
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hanging hook system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hanging hook system
of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hanging hook system of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another einbodiment of the hanging hook
system of
the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the hanging hook system of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the hanging hook
system of
the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the hanging hook system of FIG. 8.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBOD]MENTS
While the invention may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms,
there are
shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific
embodiments with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles
of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as
illustrated and described
herein.
The loop 30 of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in
perspective view
in FIG. 2 and in plan view in FIG. 3. Loop 30 is preferably manufactured in a
chain 32 of
individual pieces 30a, 30b, 30c, etc. Perforations 34 between each loop 30a,
30b, 30c, etc. are
created in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 30 breaks
off easily from the
chain 32. Accordingly, chain 32 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted
on an automated
netter and each individual loop 30a, 30b, 30c, etc., is snapped off the chain
32 when it becomes
the leading loop 30.
Loop 30 has a retaining section 36, a neck section 38, and a hanging section
40. Neclc
section 38, connecting retaining section 36 and hanging section 40, must have
a width less than
the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 30
will be applied.
Retaining section 36 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section
38 and greater than
the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging
section 40 will not pull
loop 30 through the clip.
Hanging section 40 defines a lower aperture 42 and an upper aperture 44.
Accordingly,
when loop 30 is clipped to, for example, a ham, a conveyor assembly picks up
the ham by
insertion of a conveyor hook through upper aperture 44. The conveyor carries
the ham to a
smokehouse rack, as described above, and hangs the ham on the rack by placing
loop 30 in a
position so that the rack hook inserts through lower aperture 42. The conveyor
hook then
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withdraws without interference between the two hooks.
Aperture 44, in the preferred embodiment, has the shape of a rectangle. Lower
aperture
42, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of a rectangle with a semi-
circle on the side
adjacent to neck 38. Other shapes are possible.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view in
FIG. 4 and
in plan view in FIG. 5. Loop 50 is also preferably manufactured in a chain 52
of individual
pieces 50a, 50b, 50c, etc. Perforations 54 between each loop 50a, 50b, 50c,
etc. are created in
the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 50 breaks off easily
from the chain 52.
Accordingly, chain 52 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an
automated netter and
each individual loop 50a, 50b, 50c, etc., is snapped off the chain 52 when it
becomes the leading
loop 50.
Loop 50 has a retaining section 56, a neck section 58, and a hanging section
60. Neck
section 58, connecting retaining section 56 and hanging section 60, must have
a width less than
the widtli of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop
50 will be applied.
Retaining section 56 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section
58 and greater than
the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging
section 60 will not pull
loop 50 through the clip.
Hanging section 60 defines aperture 62. Aperture 62 is an elongated passage
through
hanging section 60. Aperture 62 has a major axis 64 and is oriented so that
neck section 58 and
retaining section 56 are generally collinear to axis 64. In this embodiment,
when loop 50 is
clipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 62 so that
the ham hangs below
the hook, leaving most of aperture 62 below the hook and easily engagable by a
second hook.
Preferably, aperture 62 is generally is egg-shaped, being wider on its end
closer to neck
section 58. In this preferred embodiment, aperture 62 is defined by a first
semi-circle on its side
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proximal to neck section 58 and a second semi-circle on its side distal to
neck section 56, with
second semi-circle having a smaller radius than the radius of the first semi-
circle. First semi-
circle and second circle are connected by straight line segments.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view
in FIG.
6 and in plan view in FIG. 7. Loop 70 is also preferably manufactured in a
chain 72 of individual
pieces 70a, 70b, 70c, etc. Perforations 74 between each loop 70a, 70b, 70c,
etc. are created in
the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 70 breaks off easily
from the chain 72.
Accordingly, chain 72 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an
automated netter and
each individual loop 70a, 70b, 70c, etc., is snapped off the chain 72 when it
becomes the leading
loop 70.
Loop 70 has a retaining section 76, a neck section 78, and a hanging section
80. Neck
section 78, connecting retaining section 76 and hanging section 80, must have
a width less than
the width of the clip that will be used to closed the package to which loop 70
will be applied.
Retaining section 76 preferably has a width greater than that of neck section
78 and greater than
the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied to hanging
section 80 will not pull
loop 70 through the clip.
Hanging section 80 defines aperture 82. Aperture 82 is an elongated passage
through
hanging section 80. Aperture 82 has a major axis 84 and is oriented so that
neck section 78 and
retaining section 76 are generally collinear to axis 84. In this embodiment,
when loop 750 is
clipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 82 so that
the ham hangs below
the hook, leaving most of aperture 82 below the hook and easily engagable by a
second hook.
In this embodiment, aperture 82 has the shape of a door. Aperture 82 is
defined by a first
semi-circle on the side proximal to neck section 78 and a rectangle adjacent
to the semi-circle.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view
in FIG.
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8 and in plan view in FIG. 9. Loop 90 is also preferably manufactured in a
chain 92 of individual
pieces 90a, 90b, 90c, etc. Perforations 94 between each loop 90a, 90b, 90c,
etc. are created in
the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 90 breaks off easily
from the chain 92.
Accordingly, chain 92 is preferably on a reel. The reel is mounted on an
automated netter and
each individual loop 90a, 90b, 90c, etc., is snapped off the chain 92 when it
becomes the leading
loop 70.
Loop 90 has a retaining section 96, a neck section 98, a first hanging section
100, and a
second hanging section 102. Neck section 98, connecting retaining section 96
and first hanging
section 100, must have a width less than the width of the clip that will be
used to closed the
package to which loop 90 will be applied. Retaining section 96 preferably has
a width greater
than that of neck section 98 and greater than the width of the clip that will
be used, so that a force
applied to loop 90 will not pull loop 70 through the clip.
First hanging section 100 defines aperture 104. Aperture 104 preferably is
circular in
shape but another shape will suffice.
Second hanging section 102 extends from first hanging section 100. Second
hanging
section 102, in this embodiment, has two arms 106, 108 that extend laterally
in the plane of loop
90, defining two es 110,112 between first hanging section 100 and second
hanging section 102.
In this einbodiment, loop 90 is clipped to a product, such as a sausage or
ham, by a clip across
neck section 98. A first hook engages one of the two hanging sections 100,
102, to carry the
product. For example, a hook engages aperture 104 and carries the product to a
smoke rack. The
product is hung in the smoke rack by engagement of second hanging section 102
onto a hook on
the smoke rack. Alternatively, the first hook can engage second hanging
section 102, by
engagement of a double hook in notches 110, 112, to carry the product so the
smoke raclc and to
hang the product on a hook through aperture 104 in the smoke rack.
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Second hanging section 102 could alternatively form a single notch 110, which
engages
one of the first hook and the second hook.
Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are preferably formed of a material strong enough to
hold up the
material that has been packaged, whether that material be hams, sausages, or
something else.
Additionally, the material must be strong enough not to brealc under the
pressure imposed by a
clip, especially during the punching process of clipping. Moreover, the
material must be able to
withstand the atmosphere of processing, such as the heat and environment of a
smoke room. A
light-weight material is preferred to minimize the weight on the rack.
Accordingly, loops 30, 50,
70, and 90 are preferably formed of a semi-rigid plastic material, preferably
a thermoset plastic
such as a urethane resin.
Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90, as described above, is preferably manufactured in a
chain and
stored on a reel. If manufactured in a chain, loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 can be
used in an automated
netting apparatus, such as the one described in United States Patent No.
6,883,297, Apparatus
for Enclosing Material in a Net. That patent describes feeding a label into
the apparatus for
clipping to the material. A similar feeder can be loaded with a reel of loops
which are then fed
into the apparatus for clipping to the material, similar to how the labels are
clipped to the
material. A reel of loops can also be used with other packaging devices, such
as sausage makers,
either automated or manually operated.
Because the loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are stored on a reel, they are preferably
manufactured having a flat shape.
Whether loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are manufactured singly or in a chain for
loading into
a reel, they are attached to material, such as sausage or a ham, by
positioning the loop so that the
neck is within the jaws of a standard clipper. When the clipper fires to place
a clip around a
gathered section of packaging, such as collagen film or netting, to enclose
the material in the
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packaging, the loop 30, 50, 70, and 90 becomes attached to the material. A
conveyor system then
moves the material in a standard way recognizable to a person of skill in the
art.
Other embodiments can be adapted from the present invention. For example, as
illustrated, a loop with two hanging sections, such as loop 30 or loop 90, has
the hanging sections
collinear to the neck section and the retaining section. In alternate
embodiments, the hanging
sections could be adjacent one another and not collinear. For example, first
hanging section 100
and second hanging section 102 could be adjacent one another and both
extending from neck
section 98 of loop 90.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described,
it is
envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of
the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
