# US 8,540,555 B2 · Supply device for hanging elements

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- Number: US 8,540,555 B2
- Document ID: US8540555B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/716,856
- Filed: 2010-03-03
- Published: 2010-09-23
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-03-04
- Assignees: Poly-clip System GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Jürgen Reitz; Manfred Waldstädt
- Inventors: Jürgen Reitz; Manfred Waldstädt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540555B2

## CPC

- A22C 11/125: {by clipping; Removal of clips}
- A22C 11/127: {Forming a suspension loop}
- A22C 15/002: {Loops, hooks, cords for suspending single sausages; apparatus for making or conveying loops for sausages}
- A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00)

## Abstract

A feeding device for suspension elements, for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine, in particular into a clipping machine, wherein the suspension elements are detachably disposed in the form of loops by an adhesive on a carrier strip transversely to the feeding direction and may be conveyed of said carrier strip to a delivery point at which a suspension element may be removed from the carrier strip. In the region of the delivery point for the suspension elements, a holding-down device is provided above the carrier strip.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feeding device for suspension elements, for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine including a clipping machine, comprising:
the suspension elements being detachably disposed in the form of loops on a carrier strip transversely to a feeding direction of the packaging machine by an adhesive and may be conveyed by said carrier strip to a delivery point at which a suspension element is removed from the carrier strip; and
a holding-down device is provided above the carrier strip in the region of the delivery point for the suspension elements;
wherein in the region of a catching device the holding-down element has a recess for transferring the suspension element onto the catching device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The feeding device of claim 1, wherein the holding-down device includes a holding-down element which is laid reversibly upon at least the suspension element located at the delivery point, wherein the holding-down element covers at least a portion of the suspension element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The feeding device of claim 2, wherein the holding-down device includes a clamping device to lay the holding-down element with a predetermined force onto the suspension element located at the delivery point.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The feeding device of claim 2, wherein the holding-down device includes a lifting device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The feeding device of claim 4, wherein the lifting device is a raising device for reversibly raising the holding-down element parallel to the carrier strip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The feeding device of claim 5, wherein the lifting device has a drive.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The feeding device of claim 4, wherein the lifting device is a pivoting device for reversibly pivoting the holding-down element about at least one axis of the carrier strip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The feeding device of claim 1, further comprising:
a guide element for guiding the attached flexible suspension element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A feeding device for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine, and into a clipping machine according to claim 8, wherein the clipping machine has a displacement module comprising a first pair of displacement arms and a second pair of displacement arms disposed parallel thereto and a catching device for the suspension elements disposed downstream from the displacement module, and wherein the guide element is positioned between the catching device and the lower displacement arm of the forward pair of displacement arms in the direction of discharge from the filling unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The feeding device of claim 9, wherein the guide element is spatially curved and replicates at least approximately the contour of the lower displacement arm of the forward pair of displacement arms in the direction of discharge from the filling unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The feeding device of claim 9, wherein the guide element is disposed on the feeding device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The feeding device of claim 9, wherein the guide element is disposed on the machine frame.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The feeding device of claim 9, wherein the guide element has an at least approximately circular cross-section.