Patent ID: 7021026

Claim:
A system for enclosing at least one semi-solid or solid product in a covering material, comprising: a plurality of interchangeable elongate product chutes, each chute having a floor and an outer wall with opposing receiving and discharge end portions and an interior cavity extending therethrough, wherein the plurality of product chutes have a different configuration than others, and wherein at least some of the cavities have a non-circular cross-sectional shape with a flared entry segment with a first cross-sectional area that tapers into an adjacent downstream portion to have a smaller second cross-sectional area thereat, and wherein the elongate product chutes comprise a handle extending above a generally medial location of an upper portion of the outer wall; a mounting frame configured to releaseably hold one of the interchangeable chutes such that each chute has substantially the same axially extending centerline when mounted on the mounting frame, wherein the product chutes have a respective mounting bracket that releasably attaches to the mounting frame, and wherein at least one of the mounting brackets for the interchangeable product chutes has a different configuration from the others; a clipper mechanism disposed downstream of the mounted product chute, the clipper mechanism configured to apply at least one clip to a covering material that resides over and encloses a product discharged from the product chute; and a sleeve of netting held over the outer wall of the mounted product chute downstream of the handle.