Patent ID: 7234287
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: A22C,B65B,G05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of packaging whole turkey meat products in netting, comprising: placing a single turkey in a product chute having opposing ingress and egress end portions and a generally axially open cavity extending therethrough with a floor, the floor having at least one longitudinally extending rib that has a height that is a minor portion of a height of the chute cavity; pushing the turkey through the product chute so that the turkey contacts the at least one rib and slides through the chute while maintaining contact with and support by the floor; aligning the turkey to discharge from the chute in a desired orientation in response to contact with the at least one longitudinally extending rib; clipping at least one of a leading or trailing edge portion of netting encasing the turkey by a clipping mechanism, the netting being pulled externally over a perimeter of the product chute to encase the turkey as the turkey exits the product chute; and wherein the at least one rib is one rib or two or more spaced apart ribs extending along at least a major portion of the length of the chute and wherein the aligning comprises centering the turkey with said at least one rib as it is discharged from the chute so that the turkey is substantially centered relative to the chute and the clipping mechanism, and wherein the turkey is held in a generally conformal bag during the pushing step.