Netting chutes for manual and/or automated clipping packaging apparatus

A method of packaging an object or objects in netting, comprising:

• pushing at least one object through a first product chute releasably mounted to a mounting frame, the first product chute having a floor and a non-circular cross-sectional shape and an axially extending centerline, wherein the chute comprises a primary body and a flared entry portion with a first cross-sectional area that tapers into an adjacent downstream portion proximate the primary body to have a smaller second cross-sectional area thereat;
• pulling netting material downstream of the product chute off of an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the netting material as the object exits the product chute;
• then
• applying at least one clip to the netting material to secure the object in the netting material using an automated or semi-automated clipper;
• and
• replacing the first product chute and an attached mounting bracket with a second product chute having, a different cross sectional shape and/or size and a differently configured second mounting bracket, the second mounting bracket being releaseably mounted to the same mounting frame as the first product chute mounting bracket such that the second product chute is placed in cooperating alignment with the clipper about an axially extending centerline that substantially coincides with that of the first product chute.

A system for enclosing at least one semi-solid or solid product in a covering material, comprising:

• a plurality of interchangeable elongate product chutes, each respective chute having a different size and/or shape, an outer wall, opposing receiving and discharge end portions and an interior generally straight cavity extending therethrough, with the chute cavities having a non-circular cross-sectional shape;
• a mounting bracket attached to each respective product chute, wherein each respective product chute mounting bracket is individually releasably mountable to a frame that holds the mounted product chute in alignment with a clipper mechanism during operation such that each mounted product chute has a substantially common axially extending centerline, and wherein some of the chutes have a first mounting bracket configuration and the others have a second mounting bracket configuration that is different from the first mounting bracket configuration;
• and
• a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the product chute, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a covering material that resides over and encloses a product discharged from the mounted product chute.

A method of packaging products in netting using a packaging system, comprising:

• releasably mounting a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable product chutes having a respective underlying mounting bracket to a common system mounting frame, the plurality of interchangeable product chutes having different configurations from the others;
• aligning the selected product chute with a clipper mechanism located downstream of the mounted product chute such that, when mounted in operative position, each product chute has a substantially common axial centerline in cooperating alignment with the clipper mechanism;
• and
• releasably mounting a second selected one of the plurality of interchangeable chutes, the second product chute mounting bracket having a different configuration from that of the mounting bracket of the first mounted product chute.

A packaging system, comprising:

• a plurality of interchangeable elongate product chutes, each chute having a respective mounting bracket attached to a lower portion thereof, each chute having an outer wall, opposing receiving and discharge end portions, and an interior generally straight cavity extending therethrough, with at least one of the chute cavities has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, wherein the chutes have a different size and/or shape from that of the others, and wherein some of the chutes have a first mounting bracket configuration and others have a second different mounting bracket configuration;
• a frame configured to serially releasably mount the interchangeable product chutes, wherein each of the plurality of interchangeable chutes have substantially the same axially extending centerline when mounted to the frame;
• and
• a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the product chute, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a covering material that resides over and encloses a product discharged from the mounted product chute.