Patents by Inventor David S. Hamblin
David S. Hamblin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7182684Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a follower against an upstream end of the natural casing to slide the natural casing forwardly along a hollow meat stuffing tube. The follower is mounted on the stuffing tube and advances the natural casing towards a discharge end of the stuffing tube, where sausage emulsion is injected into the natural casing. The follower pushes the filled casing through a hollow conical-shaped restricting device adjacent the discharge end which limits the outer diameter of the filled natural casing to ensure the uniform shape of the casing as it enters the twisting mechanism. The follower is connected to a longitudinally movable shaft that is parallel to the stuffing tube. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish this method.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Stork Townsend Inc.Inventors: Steven P Hergott, David S Hamblin, Michael J Hardy
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Patent number: 7179161Abstract: A machine and method for encasing sausages by having a stuffing tube that is vertically disposed in order to allow gravity to help in the sausage making process. A conical shaped restricting device is attached to the stuffing tube to help facilitate the movement of the casing into a twisting mechanism and to ensure bunching in the casing is reduced. The casing is then fed through the twisting mechanism and into a linker.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Stork Townsend Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6846234Abstract: A stuffing tube for a meat encasing machine that has a hollow stuffing tube. The hollow stuffing tube also has an inner chamber that is fluidly linked to the exterior of the hollow tube by a series of openings located in the wall of the stuffing tube. The openings and chamber allow water connected to a water source to be pumped into the stuffing tube. This causes a lubricating water surface to accumulate on the exterior of the stuffing tube providing lubrication for a sausage casing. This lubrication facilitates the sliding movement of the casing longitudinally along the stuffing tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6843713Abstract: A method of advancing a sausage casing mounted on a stuffing tube into a twisting mechanism includes placing a hollow natural sausage casing on the outside surface of a stuffing tube and engaging the casing with a roller. The roller then forces the casing to slide toward the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The roller may be attached to an arm that has its height controlled by the rotation of a cam. By controlling the arm height the cam controls the feed pattern of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6719621Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6676502Abstract: A method and structure of stuffing natural casings with sausage material involves taking a plurality of natural casings of different lengths and diameters; pre-loading each of the casings on elongated hollow open ended sleeves shorter than the casings and having a diameter less than the casings by telescoping the casings on the outer surfaces of the sleeves, slidably mounting the sleeves on the open end of a meat stuffing tube of a sausage encasing machine; extruding meat emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube, removing the sleeve from the stuffing tube, repeating the use of the sleeve by preloading the sleeve with another natural casing.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6669545Abstract: A controlled follower on a stuffing tube engages and causes a natural casing thereon to be longitudinally moved toward the discharge end of a stuffing tube to be filled with emulsion, twisted and formed into links. The follower is controlled by a sensor, in conjunction with a controller, and in instances, influenced by a sensor, to have a controlled movement of the casing along the stuffing tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6659853Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6659854Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Publication number: 20030224715Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Publication number: 20030224714Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Publication number: 20030224712Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Publication number: 20030224713Abstract: A method and structure of stuffing natural casings with sausage material involves taking a plurality of natural casings of different lengths and diameters; pre-loading each of the casings on elongated hollow open ended sleeves shorter than the casings and having a diameter less than the casings by telescoping the casings on the outer surfaces of the sleeves, slidably mounting the sleeves on the open end of a meat stuffing tube of a sausage encasing machine; extruding meat emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube, removing the sleeve from the stuffing tube, repeating the use of the sleeve by preloading the sleeve with another natural casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6641474Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6585580Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6572464Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: 6558241Abstract: A sausage encasing machine has a computer and a casing diameter sensor located on a frame downstream of an exit end of a meat stuffing tube. The sensor is connected to the computer to transmit casing diameter data to the computer as the casing is being sensed. The computer is programmed to sausage diameter parameters, and the computer is programmed to signal a machine power system to cease operation whenever the computer detects that the casing diameter exceeds the predetermined parameters.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Steven P. Hergott, Kenneth B. Arnote, David S. Hamblin, Kenneth L. Lebsack
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Publication number: 20020042247Abstract: A sausage encasing machine has a computer and a casing diameter sensor located on a frame downstream of an exit end of a meat stuffing tube. The sensor is connected to the computer to transmit casing diameter data to the computer as the casing is being sensed. The computer is programmed to sausage diameter parameters, and the computer is programmed to signal a machine power system to cease operation whenever the computer detects that the casing diameter exceeds the predetermined parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, Kenneth B. Arnote, David S. Hamblin, Kenneth L. Lebsack
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Patent number: RE40030Abstract: A method and structure of stuffing natural casings with sausage material involves taking a plurality of natural casings of different lengths and diameters; pre-loading each of the casings on elongated hollow open ended sleeves shorter than the casings and having a diameter less than the casings by telescoping the casings on the outer surfaces of the sleeves, slidably mounting the sleeves on the open end of a meat stuffing tube of a sausage encasing machine; extruding meat emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube, removing the sleeve from the stuffing tube, repeating the use of the sleeve by preloading the sleeve with another natural casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2004Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Stork Townsend Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
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Patent number: RE45675Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING INC.Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy