Abstract: An apparatus to make sausage links is disclosed. The apparatus employs a series of spaced apart forming arms to make the link end of the sausage. The length of the link is generally determined by the straight line distance between adjacent forming arms. The length of the sausage line to be made can be adjusted by moving the mid-portion of the link with a link length adjuster to increase the length of the stuffed casing between adjacent forming arms.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating sausage links is disclosed. The apparatus has a series of pairs of cutting arms mounted on a circular plate. The arms are moved into contact with the sausage links. As a pair of cutting arms contact the sausage links from opposite sides, they force the links away from the point of contact. There is a cutting element at the end of each arm which cuts the casing between the links when the arms overlap.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming or separating sausage links is disclosed. The apparatus has a series of pairs of forming arms mounted on a circular plate. The arms are moved into contact with the sausage casing at sequentially spaced points along the length of the casing. As a pair of forming arms contact the casing from opposite sides of the casing, they force the food emulsion within the casing away from the point of contact forming a link end. A stabilizer affixed to the forming arms guides the casing into the forming arms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming or separating sausage links is disclosed. The apparatus has a series of pairs of forming and cutting arms mounted on a circular plate. The arms are moved into contact with the sausage casing at sequentially spaced points along the length of the casing. As a pair of forming arms contact the casing from opposite sides of the casing, they force the food emulsion within the casing away from the point of contact forming a link end. There is a cutting element at the end of a slot in each arm which cuts the casing between the links when the arms overlap.

Abstract: A method of parting a segment from an advancing length of shirred, thin-walled tubing. The method comprises unfolding a portion of the shirred tubing intermediate the ends while the same is advancing by applying a separator to the shirred tubing. After the portion is unfolded, the separator is removed, and the tubing is then parted in its unfolded portion to produce a segment of shirred, thin-walled tubing. This invention also involves an apparatus for parting a segment from a length of shirred, thin-walled tubing. The apparatus includes a support for the tubing and a device for advancing the shirred tubing along the support. A separator is engageable with the shirred tubing to unfold a portion. Parting jaws positioned in advance of the separator are engageable with the tubing for severing the same in its unfolded portion to produce a segment of shirred, thin-walled tubing.

Abstract: A method of making a tubular collagen casing includes extruding collagen gel into two sets of gel ropes, each of the sets comprising a plurality of ropes. The ropes in one of the sets are directed radially outwardly and helically in one direction to form a first tubular layer. In the other set, the ropes are directed radially inwardly and helically in the opposite direction to form a second tubular layer concentric with the first layer. Following this, the layers are hardened in united relationship with one another.