Patent ID: 7356977

Claim:
A clipper system for enclosing at least one product in a covering material, comprising: a clipper mechanism pivotably attached to a mounting frame and disposed downstream of a product chute, the clipper mechanism comprising first and second spaced apart gathering plates attached to a lower portion of a clipper body proximate a clip delivery window, wherein the clipper mechanism pivots from a home to a full-clip position in cooperating alignment with the product chute, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a covering material that encloses the product; and a cutting member mounted to the clipper mechanism, the cutting member in communication with an actuation cylinder and rod to automatically direct the cutting member to travel substantially vertically upward; and a cutting guide attached to a lower portion of the clipper body residing below the clip window, the cutting guide having a cutting guide channel and a cutting guide window, the cutting guide channel configured to receive the cutting member therein and allow the cutting member to travel substantially vertically upward across the cutting guide window when the clipper mechanism is in the full-clip position to thereby provide positive retention for stability in a cutting operation; wherein the cutting member is configured to automatically pivot with the clipper mechanism as the clipper travels from the home to the full-clip position, and wherein the cutting member actuation cylinder then automatically forces the cutting member to travel generally upwardly through the cutting guide channel to the cutting guide window to sever adjacent portions of covering material from an underside to top side thereof.