Patent ID: 7832182

Claim:
An automated pusher mechanism that cooperates with a clipper in combination with a product chute, the pusher mechanism having a pusher head with a forward portion adapted to contact a product, wherein the pusher head reciprocally travels in the product chute, and wherein, when viewed from the top, the forward portion comprises side portions that angularly converge to a peak, the product chute having an open cavity extending therethrough with open ingress and egress portions and with the clipper residing downstream of the product chute, wherein the pusher mechanism comprises a single actuation rod that is attached to an actuation cylinder at one end portion and to a medial portion of the pusher head at the other end portion, and first and second guide rods attached to opposing sides of the pusher head and extending axially rearwardly on opposing sides of the actuation rod, the guide rods reciprocate and travel in concert with the actuation rod into and out of at least an ingress end of the product chute.