EP0786416B1 - Two-piece plastic clip - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a for closing sausage casings, bags or the like. certain plastic clip made of two parts, which the ruched into a braid Include sleeve end and can be locked together, a first part with one of side cheeks and adjoining them essentially vertically Transversely formed receiving space partially includes the braid and a second Part bridges the crossbars of the first part, and being the second part with its one transverse end at the corresponding transverse end of the first part a film hinge running essentially perpendicular to the side cheeks is articulated in the closed state with an approach a section of the engages under the first part and in the area of its other transverse end a locking member has that cooperates with a complementary locking element on the first part.

A plastic clip of this type known from US-A-4,275,485 has in Closing state is the shape of a (largely hollow) cylinder and is along one axially parallel plane divided. Against the recording room in the larger first part protrudes a rib in the second (cover) part, but only reach those arranged on it 'Spikes' the passage delimited on the top by the front side panels for the braid material. A shoulder on the rib facing the film hinge of the second part pivots into a recess when the clip is closed on the inside in the receiving space in the manner of a crosspiece between the Sidewall limiting cylindrical outer wall is provided and leads in this way to a hinge-close locking of the parts. Opposite engages a locking hook formed on the second part in a bolt opening in the cylindrical outer wall, which forms an opposite crossbar there.

By the in the closed state - compared to that known from EP-A-356 850 Additional plastic clip - the two parts are locked in the area The film hinge can above all have a higher closing force on the braid Sausage casing or the like can be applied. What is unsatisfactory, however, is that the lock is very rigid and, for example, no elastic yielding of the clip allowed if, for example, due to a heat treatment of the package contents Pressure peaks occur on the clip and must be reduced by ventilation. The same applies to the adaptation to different braid thicknesses.

The invention addresses the above-mentioned problems in that a parallel, but at a distance to the hinge near the crosspiece between this and the side hinge of the first part runs across the film hinge connects and one with a corresponding distance from the film hinge Arm on the second part in the closed state between the crossbar and the crossbar as well as under the crossbar and that locking steps part of a tongue on the other Crossbar, which attaches to the free edge of the crossbar, is outside the Stretched back and is resiliently biased away from the crosspiece. The arm, in cooperation with the crossbar, ensures both safe guidance of the two clip parts during the closing process as well - through the Positive locking when closed - high transmission of locking force in the hinge area. Above all, the closed clip has because of the distance Locking of the receiving space despite a high locking force transferability sufficient elasticity against different and / or changing loads.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the receiving space is on the second essentially a covering part of the new plastic clip Form of a parallel to the side walls and in the recording room protruding rib formed so that in the locked state of the clip Braid is deflected wavy and is under closing pressure.

Such a clip construction is basically known from WO 93/10012. One embodiment consists of two identical parts, which - by 180 ° twisted - to be locked together, another from two different ones Share, with an open space instead of a closed space on the floor Framework is provided. Both embodiments of this known plastic clip perform their task of automatically different volumes of the To adjust the casing braid and, if necessary, one for sausage production Overpressure occurring inside the casing without subsequent Losing tightness loss by elastic yielding, but lets - without the connection of the two parts - the workability in fast working Sealing machines left a lot to be desired.

A safe and above all not with the closing force exerted on the braid in Interacting latching arises when according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side cheeks on the Longer side extended and connected by a second crossbar and the Latch arm between the second crossmember and the other crossbar adjacent to it is led. Expediently, there are several locking stages on the locking arm and on the tongue trained to adjust the different narrow braid openings.

Finally, one will machine the new clip in general thereby facilitate that integrally molded, separable webs the free end of the second part with the free end of the first part of a similar clip connect magazine chains. These bars can be closed during the closing process easily cut, as is the case with the processing of conventional Metal clips ago is known.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform des Clips in teilweisem Längsschnitt gemäß der Linie I-I in Fig. 2 (in geöffnetem Zustand);

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf den Clip in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 1 vergleichbare Darstellung (Schnittlinie III-III in Fig. 4) einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf den Clip in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine der Fig. 3 entsprechende Darstellung des Clip im geschlossenen Zustand (Schnittlinie V-V in Fig. 6);

Fig. 6

einen Mittenquerschnitt gemäß der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 und 8

der Fig. 5 entsprechende Darstellungen des verschlossenen Clips in unterschiedlichen Raststellungen;

Fig. 9

eine der Fig. 3 entsprechende Darstellung mehrerer zu einer Kette verbundener Clips im Ausschnitt;

Fig. 10

eine der Fig. 4 entsprechende Draufsicht auf diesen Kettenausschnitt.

The drawing illustrates embodiments of the invention. It shows:

Fig. 1

a side view of a first embodiment of the clip in partial longitudinal section along the line II in Figure 2 (in the open state).

Fig. 2

a plan view of the clip in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a representation comparable to Figure 1 (section line III-III in Fig. 4) of a second embodiment.

Fig. 4

a plan view of the clip in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

one of the 3 corresponding representation of the clip in the closed state (section line VV in Fig. 6);

Fig. 6

a central cross section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5;

7 and 8

5 corresponding representations of the closed clip in different locking positions;

Fig. 9

a representation corresponding to FIG 3 of several clips connected to a chain in the cutout.

Fig. 10

a plan view of this chain cutout corresponding to FIG. 4.

The first part 1 and the second part 2 of the one shown in FIG sufficiently hard, but still elastic plastic existing clip are through a film hinge 3 hinged together. The first part 1 consists of essentially from a U-shaped wall made of parallel crossbars 6 and a bottom 7 is formed and as a receiving space 4 of the sleeve braid serves. On both sides, 6 side walls 5 attach to the crosspieces and are close the film hinge 3 by a cross member 8 and at the opposite end connected to each other by a traverse 9; the crossbeams 8, 9 extend parallel to the crossbars 6.

The second part 2 has a curved cover section 11, which on its one end merges into the film hinge 3, which on the other hand on the crossbar 8 of the first part. The width of the lid section 11 is somewhat smaller than the clear width between the side cheeks 5 of the first part 1 (Fig. 2).

Near the hinge end of the lid portion 11 is on the second clip part 2, an arcuate arm 13 is formed, which in the closed state of the clip its concave inside 14 to the correspondingly curved surface 15 of the Traverse 8 creates.

At the opposite free end of the cover section 11 is a locking arm 16 molded on the inside with locking projections in the form of locking steps 17, 18th and 19 is provided. In the closed state, at least one of the latching steps 17 - 19 via corresponding latching steps 20, 21 on a tongue 22 on the upper edge of the crossbar 6 adjacent to the crossbar 9 and is in the passage 23 extends between this crosspiece 6 and the crossmember 9. The (film hinge-like) Connection 24 between the tongue 22 and the crossbar 6 of the The receiving space 4 elastically biases the tongue 22 into the passage 23 and gives it the function of a pawl, which during the closing process from Locking arm 16 on the second part 2 is pivoted elastically to the adjacent crosspiece 6 until the locking steps suitable for the respective braid thickness 17 - 19 on the locking arm 16 reach behind the locking steps 20, 21 on the tongue 22. The cross member 9 supports the locking arm 16 to the other side.

In the second embodiment of FIGS. 3 ff., The first part 1 has one trough-shaped receiving space 4 with parallel side cheeks 5 and transversely running but also parallel crossbars 6 and a bottom 7. The side cheeks 5 are at both ends over the Crossbars 6 extended and near the film hinge 3 by a crossbar 8 and connected to each other at the opposite end by a cross member 9; the crossbeams 8, 9 extend parallel to the transverse webs 6. In Area of the receiving space 4 are in the side walls 5 aligned, not formed to the bottom 7 depressions 10 into which at Closing process of the sleeve braid (not shown) is inserted.

The second part 2 is along the longitudinal center line of the lid portion 11 and Over a central part of its length, a rib 12 is formed, which is in the Closing state of the clip in the middle between the side walls 5 and parallel to this extends into the receiving space 4 and into the recesses 10 inserted sleeve braid is deflected into the receiving space 4 undulating as well as firmly clamped. The arch-shaped arm 13 is, as it were, an extension the rib 12 is formed.

5 the locking of the locking steps 18, 19 on the locking arm 16 behind the Locking steps 20, 21 on the tongue 22 shows, according to FIG. 8, the locking steps 17th and 18 locked with the locking steps 20, 21. 7 there is - with a very thick braid - the latching only between rest stages 17 and 20.

The concatenation of similar plastic clips shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 A magazine - for example rollable - is separated by Webs 25 were formed, which are formed during the production process of the clips can and the free transverse edge of a second part 2 (near the Locking arm 16) with the free edge of the first part 1 in the area of the crossmember 9 connect with each other.

Claims (5)

1. A plastic clip designed for sealing sausage casings, bags or the like, which comprises two parts (1, 2) that enclose the casing end gathered to form a neck and are adapted to lockingly engage in each other, where a first part (1) including a receiving space (4) formed by lateral cheeks (5) and transverse webs (6) substantially vertically adjoining thereto partly encloses the neck, and where the one transverse end of the second part (2) is pivotally mounted at the corresponding transverse end of the first part (1) by means of a film hinge (3) extending substantially vertically to the lateral cheeks, where in the closed condition a projection thereof engages below a portion of the first part, and which in the vicinity of its other transverse end has a locking arm (16) cooperating with a complementary locking member (20, 21) at the first part (1),
   characterized in that a tie-bar (8) extending between the same and the film hinge (3) in parallel, but with a distance from the transverse web (6) close to the hinge connects the lateral cheeks (5) of the first part, and in the closed condition an arm (13) at the second part (2), which is disposed at a corresponding distance from the film hinge (3), engages between the transverse web (6) and the tie-bar (8) as well as below the tie-bar (8), and that locking steps (20, 21) are part of a tongue (22) at the other transverse web (6), which tongue protrudes from the free edge of the transverse web (6), extends back outside the receiving space (4) and is resiliently biased away from the transverse web.
2. The plastic clip as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a second tie-bar (9) connects the lateral cheeks (5) of the first part (1) also on the locking side, and the locking arm (16) is guided in the passage (23) between the second tie-bar (9) and the adjacent other transverse web (6).
3. The plastic clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at the second part (2) there is molded a projection in the form of a rib (12) extending parallel to the lateral cheeks (5) and protruding into the receiving space (4), so that in the locked closed condition of the clip the neck is deflected in an undulating manner.
4. The plastic clip as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at the locking arm (16) and at the tongue (22) a plurality of locking steps (17-21) are formed, which provide for adjusting neck passages of different widths.
5. The plastic clip as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that separable webs (25) connect the free end of the second part (2) with the free end of the first part (1) of a similar clip to form magazinable chains.

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