Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of food products such as sausages is provided which eliminates the need for intermediate stuffing of the food product into casings which are discarded prior to final packaging. The preferred apparatus of the invention includes first and second heated rollers (16, 17) each presenting a plurality of elongated, axially aligned channels or recesses (18,20) which are circumferentially and axially spaced on the corresponding rollers (16, 17); in addition, the second roller (17) includes a series of elongated, continuous, tube-receiving openings (22) extending between each series of aligned recesses (20). Mechanisms (28, 29) are associated with the rollers (16, 17) in order to continuously feed elongated synthetic resin sheets (34, 35) into the nip between the rollers (16, 17).

Abstract: For molding and packaging a product having paste, semiliquid or liquid form, e.g., frankfurter-type sausage paste, two films such as thermoplastic films are fed longitudinally, respectively above and below tubes feeding the product. For each of the feeding tubes, a longitudinal tubular cavity is formed between the films, e.g., by localized longitudinal welding, and the tubular cavities are filled with the product being fed. In feeding the films and the product, transverse seals are formed at intervals to terminate the filled cavities, e.g., by localized transverse welding of the films.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of food products such as sausages is provided which eliminates the need for intermediate stuffing of the food product into casings which are discarded prior to final packaging. The preferred apparatus of the invention includes first and second heated rollers (16, 17) each presenting a plurality of elongated, axially aligned channels or recesses (18,20) which are circumferentially and axially spaced on the corresponding rollers (16, 17); in addition, the second roller (17) includes a series of elongated, continuous, tube-receiving openings (22) extending between each series of aligned openings (20). Mechanisms (28, 29) are associated with the rollers (16, 17) in order to continuously feed elongated synthetic resin sheets (34, 35) into the nip between the rollers (16, 17).