US3583131A

US3583131A - Apparatus for tying sausage casings or the like

Info

Publication number: US3583131A
Application number: US812561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Gaudlitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-03-27
Filing date: 1969-03-27
Publication date: 1971-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-08

Abstract

Gathered portions of sausage casings, satchels, bags or like containers are tied by deformable elongated endless ties having two looped ends by placing the median portion of a tie between the gathered portion of a container and the crotch of a V-shaped deforming surface, by thereupon reducing the distance between the gathered portion and the crotch of the deforming surface to effect deformation and conversion of the tie into a substantially V-shaped blank, and by finally drawing one looped end of the blank through and beyond the other looped end so that the blank develops a noose which surrounds the gathered portion and an elongated looped handle which facilitates suspension of the container on a hook or the like.

Description

Unite 1 [72] Inventor Paul Gaudlitz Fuhlsbuttlerweg 30, 2 Hamburg 61. Germany [21] AppLNo. 812,561 [22] Filed Mar. 27, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [32] Priority Mar. 28, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P 17 61 058.1

Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 528,273, Feb. 17, 1966, now Patent No. 3,473,292.

[54] APPARATUS FOR TYING SAUSAGE CASINGS OR THE LIKE 18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 53/135, 289/18 [51] Int.C1 B65f61/l4 [50] Field of Search 53/134, 135,14,198 A, 3;289/l8; 229/62, 63

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,589 4/1918 Mogan etal. 53/134X 2,841,935 7/1958 Krueger 53/135 3,318,623 5/1967 Barroso 289/18X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,209,938 1/1966 Germany 229/63 302,771 1/1955 Sweden H 53/198A Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: Gathered portions of sausage casings, Satchels, bags or like containers are tied by deformable elongated endless ties having two looped ends by placing the median portion of a tie between the gathered portion of a container and the crotch ofa V-shaped deforming surface, by thereupon reducing the distance between the gathered portion and the crotch of the deforming surface to effect deformation and conversion of the tie into a substantially V-shaped blank, and by finally drawing one looped end of the blank through and beyond the other looped end so that the blank develops a noose which surrounds the gathered portion and an elongated looped handle which facilitates suspension of the container on a hook or the like.

PATENIEU JHH e um SHEET 1 [If 4 INVENTOR- PAUL GAUDUTZ l/w f [#41 his ATTORNEY PATENIEU JUN 8 I97! SHEET 2 BF 4 I NVENTO R'- PAUL eAuou z by 1/1/47 m ATTORNEY PATENIED JUN 8 1911 SHEET 3 [IF 4 lNVENTOR PAUL GAUDLITZ BY 1/4 f/A a.

his ATTO RN EY PATENIED JUN 8 I97! SHEET W []F 4 INVENTD'R PAUL GAUIDLITZ Zw/'a'f his ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR TYING SAUSAGE CASINGS OR THE LIKE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 528,273 filed Feb. 17, 1966 and entitled Tying apparatus for sausage casing, "and now US. Pat. No. 3,473,292.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a method and apparatus for tying deformable containers, particularly for tying gathered portions of bags, envelopes, satchels, sausage casings or the like. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for tying gathered portions of deformable containers by means of endless elongated deformable ties having looped ends and preferably provided with serrated surfaces which prevent loosening of nooses which are formed around gathered portions.

It is already known to employ flexible metallic strips, paper strips which are reinforced by metallic wirelike inserts or cords and yarns as a means for tying the gathered portions of sausage casings or the like. The apparatus which are presently employed to apply ties to gathered portions are either too complicated or incapable of completing the conversion ofties into clips which are formed with tightly applied nooses and which also serve as a means for facilitating suspension of con tainers on hooks or the like. In many instances, tying of sausage casings is still performed by hand and the loop which serves to facilitate suspension of a sausage must be formed separately, i.e., subsequent to tying of gathered portions. This consumes much time and the quality and reliability of loops depends almost entirely on the skill and conscientiousness of workers.

My copending application Ser. No. 528,273 discloses an apparatus which can be utilized to convert elongated deformable ties with looped ends into nooses with looped handles so that the container whose end is tied by such a tie can be immediately suspended on a hook or the like. The apparatus of said copending application employs plastic ties and is provided with means for deforming such ties prior to application to the gathered portion of a sausage casing or the like. The magazine for ties is located at a level above the deforming statron SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved method of tying deformable containers, particularly for tying gathered portions of satchels, bags, sausage casings or the like, in a fully automatic way and with simultaneous formation ofa relatively large looped suspending portion or han dle which allows for suspension of containers on hooks or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method which can be resorted to in shaping of deformable ties to form nooses surrounding gathered portions of casings or like containers and according to which each of a succession of ties can be provided with a noose having the same dimensions and configuration as the preceding noose or nooses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the practice of my method and to construct and assemble the apparatus in such a way that it can be manipulated and supervised by semiskilled or unskilled persons, that it can be used for intermittent or continuous operation, and that each of a succession of containers is tied in the same way as the preceding container or containers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein deformable ties are formed with nooses in a novel and improved way and wherein the containers to be tied can be fed by hand or automatically.

An ancillary object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel deforming, gathering, tie feeding, noose forming and other devices which occupy little room and whose operation can be programmed to insure fully automatic delivery and shaping of ties.

One feature of my invention resides in the provision of a method of tying deformable containers, particularly of tying gathered portions of sausage casing, envelopes, satchels, bags or the like by means ofendless elongated deformable ties having looped ends. The method comprises the steps of placing a median portion ofa tie between the gathered portion ofa container and the crotch of a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped deforming surface, reducing the distance between the gathered portion of the container and the crotch of the deforming surface to thereby effect deformation and conversion of the tie into a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped blank, and drawing one of the looped ends of the blank through and beyond the other looped end so that the blank forms a noose around the gathered portion of the container.

The surfaces of ties are preferably serrated, at least in the region of the other looped end, to prevent loosening of the noose. Also, the length of ties is preferably selected in such a way that the portion between the noose and the one looped end forms an elongated handle which can be suspended on a hook or the like.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved tying apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a hand-operated tying apparatus which embodies one form of the invention and wherein a first movable support is shown in a starting position, the section being taken in the direction of arrows as seen from the line E F of FIG. 4;

FIG. 2 is a similar fragmentary longitudinal sectional view but showing the support in an intermediate position;

FIG. 3 is a similar fragmentary longitudinal sectional view but showing the support in a second position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus as seen in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 2, with certain parts shown in vertical section;

FIG. 5 illustrates a series of interconnected ties for use in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a second apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view but showing the parts of the second apparatus in different positions;

FIG. 8 is a similar sectional view but showing the parts of the second apparatus in third positions;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a third apparatus; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the parts of the third apparatus in different positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1 to 4, there is shown an apparatus which is utilized for tying gathered portions I of sausage casings or the like. The apparatus comprises a substantially boxshaped housing or frame 27 the top part of which carries a horizontal pivot 10 for a first support 2 which is a one-armed lever and is movable about the axis of the pivot 10 between a first position A (FIG. I), an intermediate position B (FIG. 2), and a second position C (FIG. 3). The support 2 is provided with two upwardly extending sidewalls or checks 3 (see particularly FIG. 4) which are formed with aligned substantially V-shapcd recesses or sockets 3a. The gathered portion 1 of a container is placed into the crotches or deepmost portions of the sockets 3a so that it extends across the space between the checks 3 while the support 2 dwells in the first position A shown in FIG. 1. The portion 1 can be gathered or pleated in automatic response to introduction into the crotches of the recesses 30.

The pivot further carries a second pivotable support or lever 7 which is disposed between the checks 3 and is located below an elongated cutout or window in the support 2. The top face of the support 7 is formed with a concave recess or socket 6 which is bounded by a substantially U-shaped or V- shaped deforming surface and registers with the crotches of the sockets 3a when the support 2 is moved to the position B or C. The second support 7 shares pivotal movements of the support 2 between the positions B and C but does not move to the position A so as to insure that there is ample room for introduction ofa tie 4 into the space between the top face of the support 7 and the underside of the support 2 when the latter dwell in the'position A of FIG. 1. When the support 2 is moved from the position A to the position B, a tie 4 whose median portion overlies the recess 6 is deformed between the deforming surface of the support 7 and the gathered portion I so that the tie is converted into a V-shaped blank (see FIG. 2) with its

looped ends

8 and 9 facing each other at a level above the sockets 3a. When the support 2 thereupon moves to the position C of FIG. 3, it entrains the support 7 so that the blank in the recess 6 cannot change its position with reference to the gathered portion 1.

The apparatus further comprises a needle 14 which is guided in an elongated slot 16 of the support 7 and is operatively connected to the support 7 by a link 13. The link is articulately connected to a median part of the support 7 and to the shorter arm of the needle 14; this needle is a two-armed lever the longer arm of which is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a helical spring 12 one end convolution of which is secured to the housing 27. The needle 14 is pivotable on a stationary horizontal pivot pin 26 which is mounted in the housing 27. When the support 7 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3, the link 13 causes the needle 14 to pivot in a clockwise direction so as to stress the spring 12 and to propel its bifurcated upper end through the looped end 9 and into engagement with the looped end 8 of the V-shaped blank which is received in the recess 6 and straddles the gathered portion 1 in the space between the sockets 3a of the cheeks 3. The upper arm of the needle 14 is movable in the space between the cheeks 3 of the support 2 and one of its prongs automatically engages and draws the looped end 8 through and beyond the looped end 9 so that the blank develops a noose 4B (FIG. 10) which surrounds the gathered portion 1 in the space between the checks 3. Such drawing of the looped end 8 through and beyond the looped end 9 takes place whenthe supports 2, 7 are released so that they are free to return to the positions shown in FIG. 1 whereby the spring 12 dissipates energy and effects the formation of the aforementioned nose which surrounds and seals the gathered portion 1 of the casing. That part of the blank which extends between the noose and the looped end 8 forms a handle 4D (FIG. 10) which can be suspended on a hook in a butcher shop or in a larger meat processing plant.

When the pressure on the support 2 is relaxed, leaf spring 11 on the housing 27 returns the

supports

2 and 7 to the starting positions shown in FIG. 1. The means for moving the support 2 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 and for thereupon moving the

supports

2 and 7 from the positions shown in FIG. 2 to the positions shown in FIG. 3 comprises a suitable pedal or handle which can be manipulated by the foot or hand of an operator, preferably by the foot so that the hands are free to hold the gathered portion 1 in the sockets 3a of the cheeks 3. When the

supports

2 and 7 reassume the positions shown in FIG. I, the gathered portion l (with a noose applied therearound) is withdrawn from the sockets 3a and the looped end 8 is detached from the needle 14. The apparatus is then ready for the next operation. As

stated before, the spring 12 automatically draws the prongs of the needle 14 through the looped end 9 and back to the position shown in FIG. 1 when the leaf spring 11 is free to dissipate energy. A stop 15 on the needle 14 then strikes against the upper side of the support 7 at a level above the slot 16 to locate the needle in a starting position and to determine the length of the aforementioned handle on the tie as well as the force with which the noose of the tie surrounds the gathered portion 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a source of ties 4 in the interior of the housing 27. This source includes an elongated strip 17 which consists of a series of elongated parallel ties 4 shown on a larger scale in FIG. 5. Each tie 4 has two looped ends 8, 9 and serrated surfaces in the region of the looped end 9; the teeth 4b on such serrated surfaces prevent loosening of the noose when the needle 14 completes the formation of the noose around the gathered portion 1. The leading portion of the strip 17 is located in a supply channel 4aso that the foremost tie 4 can be transferred into the space between the crotches of the sockets 3a and the top face of the support 7 when the

supports

2 and 7 assume the positions shown in FIG. I. A knife 5 with a concave cutting edge is adjacent to one of the cheeks 3 (FIG. 4) and serves to sever the foremost tie 4 from the next-following tie of the strip 17. The distance between the plane of the knife 5 and the left-hand check 3 of FIG. 4 equals or approximates the width of a tie 4. The knife 5 is connected with the support 7 and severs the strip 17 to separate the foremost tie 4 when the support 2 is caused to move from the position A of FIG. 1 to the position B of FIG. 2. The feeding device of the tying apparatus comprises two transporting levers 19 which are turnable on a horizontal shaft 18 and carry pawls 20 whose pallets or teeth can extend into the looped ends in the foremost tie 4 of the strip 17. An actuating lever 21 which is turnable with the shaft 18 and levers l9 rests on an abutment 22 of the housing 27. The shaft 18 is mounted in one or more brackets which are carried by the support 2. When the latter is moved from the position A to the position B, the abutment 22 of the housing 27 pivots the actuating lever 21 in a counterclockwise direction to the phantom-line position of FIG. 4 whereby the lever 21 causes the transporting levers 19 and their pallets 20 to assume the phantom-line positions. Blocking pawls 23 which are pivotably mounted on the brackets 25 serve to prevent return movement of the strip 17 while the pawls 20 move from the solid-line to the phantomline positions of FIG. 4. A spring (not shown) serves to maintain the actuating lever 21 in engagement with the abutment 22 on the housing 27 so that, when the support 2 returns to the position A of FIG. I, the pawls 20 move from the phantomline to the solid-line positions of FIG. 4 and advance the strip 17 by the width ofa tie. A fresh supply of ties 4 can be inserted into the housing 27 in response to lifting of the support 2 beyond the position A of FIG. 1. When the pawls 20 advance the foremost tie 4 of the strip 17 beyond the knife 5, the foremost tie pushes the previously separated tie into the space between the sockets 3a and the recess 6 so that such separated tie overlies the recess 6 and can be deformed in response to next movement of the support 2 from the position A to the position B. The numeral 28 denotes leaf springs which are mounted on transporting levers 19 and bias the pawls 20 against the strip 17.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the strip 17. This strip includes a succession of plastic ties 4 which are connected to each other along their narrower sides and are provided with teeth or serrations 4b in the regions adjacent to the looped ends 9. As shown, the looped ends 8 are preferably rounded and the looped ends 9 are U-shaped. The teeth 4b can be provided at both sides of each tie 4 on the surfaces which are adjacent to the respective looped ends 9. It is sufficient if the ties 4 of each of adjoining ties are connected to each other only at the looped ends 8 and 9. Such ties can be made by stamping from a sheet of deformable (preferably ductile) synthetic plastic material. The flexibility or deformability and the dimensions ofties 4 depend on their intended use.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate portions of a second tying apparatus wherein the movable parts can be driven by a prime mover through the intermediary of two

rotary cams

30, 31 which are mounted on a horizontal shaft 32 installed in a housing 27' All such parts of this apparatus which are clearly identical with or analogous to corresponding parts of the first apparatus are denoted by similar numerals each followed by a prime. Thus, the support 7 is rockable on a horizontal pivot 10'. The needle 14 is a one-armed lever and has a roller follower 37 which tracks the face of the cam 31. The face of the cam 30 is tracked by a roller follower 35 on the support 7'. The support 2 forms an integral part of or is rigidly connected with the housing 27' and its checks or walls 3 are provided with sockets 3a for the gathered portion 1 of a sausage casing. A spring 38 connects the support 7' with the needle 14 and serves as a means for maintaining the

followers

35, 37 in permanent engagement with the faces of the respective cams. A retaining or locating lever 33 is pivotally mounted on the housing 27 and is movable between the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the position of FIG. 7, the crotch of the socket 33a in the retaining lever 33 overlies the gathered portion 1 in the sockets 3a to thereby hold the portion 1 against upward movement with reference to the cheeks 3'. The lever 33 then actuates a starter device 34 for an electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or other suitable prime mover which rotates the shaft 32 for the

cams

30, 31. The faces of these cams then cause the corresponding

followers

35, 37 to effect predetermined movements of the support 7' and needle 14'. It is clear that the spring 38 can be replaced by two discrete springs.

The aforementioned retaining or locating lever 33 can be modified or replaced by a lever 33A of the type shown in FIG. 8 which serves as a hood to protect the operators hands from the prongs of the needle I4. The spring 38 is preferably strong so that the needle 14' is rapidly propelled from retracted to extended position when the support 7' moves from the position of FIG. 7 to the position of FIG. 8. In this embodiment of my invention, the support 7 moves upwardly from the first position of FIG. 6 to the raised position of FIG. 7 whereby the median portion of a tie 4 which overlies the recess 6' is deformed by the surface surrounding the recess 6. The support 7' is thereupon caused to move downwardly to the position of FIG. 8, after movement of the needle 14 through the looped end 9, into engagement with looped end 8 during back-movement of the needle to the position of FIG. 6 to thereby convert the deformed blank into a clip which has a noose at one end and an elongated handle to permit suspension of the container on a hook or the like. The source of ties 4 can be designed in the same way as described in connection with FIG. 4. The same holds true for the feeding device which supplies ties 4 to the support 7.

The forked front or working end of the needle 14 or 14' is preferably provided with a pivotable upper prong which normally assumes the position shown in FIG. 8 but is pivoted by the looped end 8 during passage therethrough. The pivotable prong then returns to operative position, either by gravity or under the action ofa suitable spring (not shown) so as to draw the looped end 8 through and beyond the looped end 9 when the needle 14 or 14' performs a return stroke. The inoperative position of the pivotable prong is indicated in FIG. 3 by phantom lines.

Referring finally to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a third tying apparatus which is somewhat similar to the apparatus of FIGS. 6 to 8 but is provided with a modified needle 14 and further includes automatic gathering means for the portion 1 of a container. The needle 14" comprises a fixed first prong 55 of substantially U-shaped cross section and a drawing pawl or second prong 42 which is turnable on a pivot 43 and extends into the portion 55. The latter constitutes a channeled guide for the prong 42. The rear end portion of the prong 42 is engaged by a braking or clamping spring 44 and the front end portion 54 ofthe prong 42 forms a pointed hook 54. The bias of the spring 44 is selected in such a way that it permits movements of the prong 42 with reference to the guide 55 but normally holds this prong against uncontrolled movement, for example, under the action of gravity or by centrifugal force. The support is turnable on a pivot 10" and has a roller 40 which transmits motion to the prong 42 during certain stages of movement of the needle 14". The means for effecting movements of the prong 42 with reference to the guide 55 further comprises a leaf spring 45 which is mounted in the housing 27". The roller 40 engages the rear end portion of the prong 42 when the needle 14 moves to the position shown in FIG. 10 and the spring 45 engages the hook 54 when the needle 14" moves to the position shown in FIG. 9. The prong 42 corresponds to the aforementioned pivotable prong of the

needle

14 or 14 and is adapted to automatically release the looped end 8 of a tie when the needle 14" returns to the retracted position of FIG. 10 so that the finished clamp 4A is automatically separated from the needle. The spring 45 insures that the hook 54 engages the looped end 8 in the foremost position of the needle 14". The shaft of the roller 40 is adjustable in an arcuate elongated slot 41 of the support. 7" and the spring 45 is adjustable upon rotation of a tightening screw 46 which connects the spring 45 to the housing 27". The stem of the screw 46 extends through an elongated slot in the top wall of the housing 27". Such adjustability of the

parts

40, 45 enables the operator to properly select those positions of the needle 14" in which the hook 54 of the prong 42 respectively engages and releases the looped end 8 of a tie which overlies the recess 6" of the support 7". Further adjustments in operation of the needle 14" can be effected by moving its roller follower 37 with reference to an elongated slot 57 toward or away from the pivot 26". The manner in which the earns 30'', 31 on the shaft 32" respectively drive the followers 35", 37" is the same as described in connection with FIGS. 6 to 8. The housing 27" constitutes or carries a support having checks or walls 3" with sockets 3a".

The aforementioned automatic gathering means of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 comprises a horizontal shaft 50 for an arm 48 having a roller follower 51 which tracks a third cam 53 on the shaft 32". The arm 48 supports a bifurcated gathering element 47 of spring steel or similar elastic material which is biased by a helical spring 52 so that it normally tends to assume the position shown in FIG. 10. During the initial stage of a noose forming operation, the cam 53 pivots the arm 48 to move the gathering element 47 to the position shown in FIG. 9 whereby the tines of the element 47 press the adjacent portion of the container into the sockets 3a and thereby form the gathered portion 1. The tines of the element 47 are closely adjacent to the outer sides of the checks 3''. A suitable clamping device 49 is employed to separably and adjustably secure the gathering element 47 to the arm 48. The means for biasing the needle 14" to the position shown in FIG. 9 comprises a spring 58 which insures that the adjustable roller follower 37" continuously tracks the face 0 the corresponding cam 31".

In order to prevent undesirable shifting of a freshly separated tie with reference to the support 7", the latter is preferably provided with holding projections 56 which overlie the looped ends 8 and 9 of a freshly separayed tie. When the tie is thereupon converted into a V-shaped blank in response to movement of the support 7" from the position of FIG. 10 to that of FIG. 9, the looped ends 8, 9 are automatically withdrawn from the notches below the projections 56. FIG. 10 shows a finished clamp 4A with a noose 4B and handle 4D.

When the gathering element 47 holds the portion l in the sockets 4a" of the cheeks 3" and the support 7" is moved to the position shown in FIG. 9, the median portion of the tie on the support 7" is deformed so that the tie forms a V-shaped blank (FIG. 9) and the needle 14" moves its guide 55 and prong 42 through the looped end 9 and toward the looped end 8. The end 8 is engaged by the book 54 when the latter is engaged by the spring 45 whereby the needle 14" properly holds the looped end 8 and draws it through the looped end 9 during return movement to the position shown in FIG. 10. The roller 40 engages the rear end of the prong 42 to disengage its hook 54 from the looped end 8 when the blank is converted into a clip 4A with a noose 48 at one end (applied around the gathered portion 1) and with a handle 4D extending to the left of the noose 48, as viewed in FIG. 10. The recess 6" in the top face of the support 7" between the projections 56 is shown in FIG. 10.

The prime mover which drives the cams of FIGS. 68 and 9-10 is preferably a so-called braked electric motor which comes to a halt when the cams complete a full revolution.

It is clear that the improved apparatus is susceptible of many additional modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the apparatus of FIGS. 6-8 and/or 9-10 can employ two pivotable supports in the same way as described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4. Also, the apparatus of FIGS. 6-8 and/or 910 can employ a stationary support 7' or 7 and a movable support corresponding to the support 2 of FIGS. 1 to 4. The apparatus of FIGS. 14 and/or 68 can be provided with gathering means, and the apparatus of FIGS. l-4 may be provided with a poweroperated drive for moving the

supports

2 and 7. It is further clear that the supports can be inverted or mounted at right angles to the positions shown in the drawing. Suitable devices can be provided to control the speed and the extent of displacement of supports and/or needle. The containers can be fed by hand or by automatic machinery, depending on the desired output and the size of the establishment wherein the apparatus is put to use. The starter device 34 of FIGS. 68 can be replaced by a starter device which initiates rotation of the cams as soon asthe gathered portion 1 is fully accommodated in the

sockets

3a or 3a", i.e., the portion 1 can trigger an operation which results in the formation of a clamp 4A, for example, in response to closing of a suitable microswitch.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What I claim as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Apparatus for tying deformable containers, particularly for tying gathered portions of sausage casings or bags by means of endless elongated deformable ties having looped ends, comprising; a first support defining substantially V- shaped socket means for the gathered portion ofa container; a second support having a substantially V-shaped deforming surface; means for moving at least one of said supports between first and second positions in which the crotches of said socket means and said surface are respectively spaced from and aligned with each other; feeding means for transferring ties from a source of ties into the space between said supports in the first position of said one support so that amcdian portion of the transferred tie is located between said crotches and is caused by the gathered portion in said socket means to enter. the crotch of said surface in response to movement of said one support to second position whereby the tie, is converted into a substantially V-shaped blank; and a drawing member movable through one looped end of the blank to engage and to draw the other looped end through and beyond such one looped end whereby the blank develops a noose surrounding the gathered portion of the container.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first support comprises a pair of spaced parallel walls flanking said second support, said socket means comprising a pair of aligned sockets each provided in one of said walls and the distance between said walls at least approximately the width of a tie.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said drawing member comprises a needle and further comprising means for moving said needle in synchronism with movements of said one support.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising drive means for moving said drawing member in synchronism with said one support, said moving means comprising rotary cam means and follower means provided on said one support and said drawing member and arranged to track said cam means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stationary frame, the other of said supports being rigid with said frame.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said one support is pivotable in said frame about a fixed axis and wherein said drawing member is movable in a plane which is normal to said axis.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said one support and said drawing member are pivotable in said frame about parallel axes, and further comprising first drive means for moving said drawing member toward engagement with said other looped end and second drive means for moving the drawing member with the thus engaged other looped end, one of said drive means comprising resilient means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said source comprises a strip of coherent ties and wherein said feeding means comprises means for severing successive ties from said strip.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising a frame supporting said one support and said source and defining a channel through which the ties are fed from said source into the space between said supports in the first position of said one support.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the other of said supports comprises a pair of spaced parallel walls and said socket means comprises a pair of aligned sockets each provided in one of said walls, said means for severing comprising a knife connected with said one support and movable in a plane which is parallel to and spaced from one of said walls by a distance approximating the width of a tie.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said feeding means further comprises at least one movable transporting member arranged to advance the strip by the width ofa tie in response to each movement of said one support from one of said positions to the other position.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said drawing member comprises a needle having a bifurcated drawing end including a fixed first prong and a second prong movable with reference to said first prong.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said second prong is pivoted with reference to said first prong when said drawing end engages the other looped end ofa blank.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said fixed prong is of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional outline and said second prong is pivotally connected to and extends into said first prong, and further comprising means for moving said second prong with reference to said first prong in response to movement of said needle with reference to said one support.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for moving said second prong comprises a first member provided on said one support and a stationary second member.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising gathering means for moving portions of successive containers into said socket means.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a frame for said supports, said gathering means comprising a manually operated member mounted on said frame.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising drive means for moving said gathering means in synchronism with said one support.

Claims

1. Apparatus for tying deformable containers, particularly for tying gathered portions of sausage casings or bags by means of endless elongated deformable ties having looped ends, comprising; a first support defining substantially V-shaped socket means for the gathered portion of a container; a second support having a substantially V-shaped deforming surface; means for moving at least one of said supports between first and second positions in which the crotches of said socket means and said surface are respectively spaced from and aligned with each other; feeding means for transferring ties from a source of ties into the space between said supports in the first position of said one support so that a median portion of the transferred tie is located between said crotches and is caused by the gathered portion in said socket means to enter the crotch of said surface in response to movement of said one support to second position whereby the tie is converted into a substantially V-shaped blank; and a drawing member movable through one looped end of the blank to engage and to draw the other looped end through and beyond such one looped end whereby the blank develops a noose surrounding the gathered portion of the container.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said one support and said drawing member are pivotable in said frame about parallel axes, and further comprising first drive means for moving said drawing member toward engagement with said other looped end and second drive means for moving the drawing member with the thus engaged other looped end, one of said drive means comprising resilient means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said feeding means further comprises at least one movable transporting member arranged to advance the strip by the width of a tie in response to each movement of said one support from one of said positions to the other position.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said second prong is pivoted with reference to said first prong when said drawing end engages the other looped end of a blank.