Continuous roll stock netting machine

An apparatus for encasing material in netting, comprising:

• a tube of netting having an open end;
• a first gate adjustable from an open position defining an aperture larger than the material, to a closed position gathering said netting extended through said aperture;
• a second gate adjustable from an open position defining an aperture larger than the material, to a closed position gathering said netting extended through said aperture;
• said first gate being spaced from said second gate to define a passage therebetween;
• a set of claws mounted on a collar and positioned proximal to said first gate;
• a mandrel mounted on a plurality of clamps, in axial alignment with a product horn, and being adapted to receive said tube of netting and to maintain said open end in an open position in axial alignment with and opposed to a distal end of said product horn, each of said clamps having an open setting so that said mandrel and said netting can move relative to said clamp, an intermediate setting so that said mandrel can move relative to said clamp and said netting cannot move relative to said clamp, and a closed setting so that said mandrel and said netting cannot move relative to said clamp;
• means to move said mandrel from a first position distal to said collar, through said gates to a second position wherein said claws engage said netting and hold said open end in an open position;
• means to move said product horn, from a first position proximal to said collar, to a second position in said passage;
• a ram to move the material into said product horn and to leave the material in said passage when said product horn moves from its said second position to its said first position;
• a first clipper associated with said first gate and positioned to clip said netting gathered by said first gate to close said open end;
• a second clipper associated with said second gate and positioned to clip and sever said netting gathered by said second gate.