Patent ID: 8893458

Claim:
An automated method for packaging wire fence clips in compact, safe, easy to handle bundles, comprising: (a) providing an alignment track having upper and lower parallel spaced planar rail segments defining a path for receiving and orienting fence clips to be packaged in a bundle, said fence clips having central body portions that are slidably insertable between said upper and lower segments of said track with their free ends projecting laterally away from the track on opposite sides of the track; (b) providing a movable stop pin in said path to engage and collect a batch of a selected quantity of said fence clips; (c) providing a taping station at a terminal end of said alignment track said taping station including pressure rollers defining a nip aligned with said alignment track path; (d) providing upper and lower upper and lower supply rolls respectively located above and below said alignment track; (e) providing upper and lower strips of a flexible adhesive-bearing substrate supplied along corresponding supply paths form respective upper and lower supply rolls to engage said upper and lower pressure rollers, respectively, at said nip; (f) providing a stop pin release for feeding said fence clips into said nip between said upper and lower substrate strips form a bundle of fence clips in said taping station; (g) collecting and aligning fence clips on said alignment track into a series of batches that each incorporate said selected quantity of said fence clips; (h) feeding each batch of clips through said taping station; (i) supplying said first and second flexible adhesive substrate strips to said taping station; (j) affixing said first and second substrate strips to top and bottom sides of the batch as it passes through the taping station to secure the clips of a batch together to form a bundle; and (k) separating successive bundles, whereby compact and easy to carry bundles each having a selected quantity of fence clips is formed.