Heavy duty clipper

Claim 1

An improved, heavy duty clipper comprising in combination: a support stand for the clipper; a carriage mounted on the stand with a punch drive cylinder supported by the carriage, said punch drive cylinder having a piston and an extendible drive rod; said carriage defining a channel for receipt of a U-shaped metal clip, said carriage supporting a die at the end of the channel for deforming the legs of the U-shaped metal clip as a closure, and also defining an open throat for receipt of material for application of a clip as a closure, a pivotal gate attached to the carriage and pivotal between a throat open position and a throat closed position, said gate pivotally attached to the carriage on the side of the open throat opposite the die and including a manual handle for manipulation of the gate extending radially from the pivot connection the carriage, said gate including a portion of the channel when in the closed position, a gate locking hook mechanism supported on the carriage adjacent the die cooperative to engage and retain the gate in the closed position; means for feeding a clip into the channel; a punch attached to the drive rod, and slidable in the channel to engage a clip against die; and an elongated gathering bar slidably mounted on the carriage in a channel parallel to the punch, said gathering bar cooperative with the drive rod for movement simultaneous with the punch toward the die for engaging a filled package intermediate the package contents and a clip to be attached thereto and defining means for prevention of tearing of the package as a clip is attached.