Automated clipping packaging systems suitable for packaging whole muscle

A packaging system, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading chute attached to the frame, the loading chute having a product chamber with a floor that vertically reciprocates;
• an elongate netting chute in communication with the loading chute attached to the frame, the netting chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough, the netting chute having an axial centerline;
• an elongate product chute attached to the frame, the product chute having opposing receiving and discharge ends, the product chute residing at least partially in the interior cavity of the netting chute, wherein, in operative position, the product chute is axially aligned with and disposed downstream of the loading chute;
• a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the netting chute in cooperating alignment therewith, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a netting material that encloses the product after the product exits the product chute;
• and
• wherein the netting chute has an end portion with a circumferentially extending beveled flange, and the system further comprises a mounting bracket with a window that holds the netting chute in alignment with the product chute, and wherein the mounting bracket includes upper and lower clamps with an arcuate shape that matably receives a portion of the circumferentially extending beveled flange to releasably lock the netting chute in position over the product chute.

A packaging system, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading chute attached to the frame, the loading chute having a product chamber with a floor that vertically reciprocates;
• an elongate netting chute in communication with the loading chute attached to the frame, the netting chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough, the netting chute having an axial centerline;
• an elongate product chute attached to the frame, the product chute having opposing receiving and discharge ends, the product chute residing at least partially in the interior cavity of the netting chute, wherein, in operative position, the product chute is axially aligned with and disposed downstream of the loading chute;
• a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the netting chute in cooperating alignment therewith, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a netting material that encloses the product after the product exits the product chute;
• and
• further comprising a voider assembly with a pair of voiders residing downstream of the product chute in communication with the clipper mechanism, the voider assembly in communication with a voider actuator that moves the voiders together and retracts them apart, wherein the voider actuator is mounted to the frame by an externally accessible bracket that extends outward from a housing that surrounds the clipper mechanism, the bracket configured to allow a user to move the voider actuator to a plurality of different defined lateral positions so that the voiders have different home positions according to a desired target size product so that the voider actuator has a smaller stroke cycle for smaller products and a larger stroke cycle for larger products.