Abstract: A stuffing apparatus and method which avoids the smearing of fat just under the casing surface by using a stuffing horn which discharges food product in an axial stream and a plurality of radial streams so the food product swirls as it enters the casing. The horn extends into the casing during stuffing so that the casing is in an expanded and substantially fully stuffed condition as it traverses the radial streams being discharged into the casing.

Abstract: A stuffing method and apparatus utilizing a trio of stuffing horns mounted on a turret. Two of the horns are in stuffing positions and the production of stuffed products alternates between these two horns wherein stuffed casing from one horn is closed while casing is being stuffed at the other. The third horn is available for receiving a supply of casing and is moved into a stuffing position by indexing the turret.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for loading a shirred casing article into a stuffing horn tilted upwardly at a load position with respect to horizontal. The article is moved along a horizontal rail supported above the stuffing horn. The article spills over an end of a rail and onto a chute. The chute is in alignment with the upwardly tilted horn so that a driven member can engage the article and drive it down the chute onto the horn. The driven member is reversible so a spent casing article on the upwardly tilted horn can be unloaded by driving it up the chute to a positions here it spills over the upper end of the chute and discards.

Abstract: A deshirring control method for shirred casing carried on a tube has comprising restraining the trailing end of shirred casing against longitudinal forward movement during stuffing, releasing the tail end only when a rear portion of casing is at least partly deshirred and then using the movement of the tail end to initiate termination of stuffing.

Abstract: A shirred casing stick article, and method of manufacture thereof, having an implanted end closure positioned in the stick bore, or in a support tube within the casing stick, such that the closure is axially displaced away from the first-to-be-stuffed end of the casing stick.

Abstract: A casing article for use in automatic production of frankfurters and the like includes a tubular core and a shirred casing stick carried by the core. The core can function as a disposable stuffing horn and, for this purpose, it has one end receivable in the discharge of the stuffing machine including a flange which is engaged and rotated by a rotating chuck of the stuffing apparatus. Also disclosed are modifications to the stuffing machine to make the machine compatible with the casing article, an end-of-casing monitor, a carrier for moving the casing article to a stuff position and a method for operating the stuffing machine to stuff out the casing and produce linked frankfurters.

Abstract: A casing article which includes a tubular core member and a length of shirred casing disposed on the core with its inner periphery in gripping engagement about the core. A deshirring control is carried by the core and engages a rear portion of the shirred casing. The deshirring control prevents forward movement of the rear portion of shirred casing until all the shirred casing forward of the control has deshirred so that any forward movement of the trailing end of the shirred casing can be taken as a true indication of the depletion of casing from the shirred strand.

Abstract: A stuffing apparatus including a loading/unloading device for casing articles of the type which includes a replaceable, and preferably disposable, stuffing tube having a shirred casing supply predisposed on the tube. The device moves the casing article into a stuff position and thereafter, when the casing supply has been stuffed, reverses direction to remove the stuffing tube from the stuff position.

Abstract: A shirred casing stick article, and method of manufacture thereof, having an implanted end closure positioned in the stick bore, or in a support tube within the casing stick, such that the closure is axially displaced away from the first-to-be-stuffed end of the casing stick.

Abstract: A stuffing machine having a displaceable connector engagable with a cored casing article held in a stuff position for communicating the cored casing article to a discharge outlet of the stuffing machine. The machine further has a centrifugally operated drive clutch which is displaced onto the casing article and which thereafter upon activation closes about the casing article for rotating the article about its longitudinal axis during stuffing.

Abstract: A casing article for use in automatic production of frankfurters and the like includes a tubular core and a shirred casing strand mounted to the core. The core can function as a disposable stuffing horn or it can be placed over a stuffing horn. When used as a stuffing horn, the core has one end receivable in the discharge of the stuffing machine and a second end including a flange which is engaged and rotated by a rotation chuck of the stuffing apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleaning residual foodstuff from a disposable stuffing tube while the stuffing tube is in a stuffing position. Just prior to the time when the casing supply is about to run out, a pusher is activated to express residual foodstuff from the tube and into the casing remaining on the tube, thereby using the residual foodstuff to form encased product.

Abstract: A shirred stick casing article with a symmetrically invaginated and axially compressed closure forming a plug of casing material implanted in either an end of the casing stick or in a support tube within the casing stick. An apparatus and method are described for making the inventive article.

Abstract: A casing article for use in automatic production of frankfurters and the like includes a tubular core and a shirred casing stick carried by the core. The core can function as a disposable stuffing horn and, for this purpose, it has one end receivable in the discharge of the stuffing machine including a flange which is engaged and rotated by a rotating chuck of the stuffing apparatus. Also disclosed are modifications to the stuffing machine to make the machine compatible with the casing article, an end-of-casing monitor, a carrier for moving the casing article to a stuff position and a method for operating the stuffing machine to stuff out the casing and produce linked frankfurters.

Abstract: Flexible packaging bags are sequentially air-opened one at a time at a packaging station and filled with an article to be packaged while resting on top of a packaging table, which is removable so as to expose an area beneath the table in which a stacked and wicket held supply of the packaging bags is stored for use in the packaging operation, a selected number of the bags being periodically removed from the stacked supply of bags and transferred to the packaging station while still held by the wicket.

Abstract: A wicket bag packet for use in conjunction with automatic and semi-automatic packaging apparatus comprises a stack of flattened flexible packaging bags, each of the bags having an open end and having wicket holes adjacent to the open end, and a wicket including a substantially rigid upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion preferably being a flexible, tubular binding member extending upwardly through the wicket holes in each of the bags and joining with the substantially rigid upper portion of the wicket to form a continuous flexible loop for holding the packaging bags together in the stack.

Abstract: An internal tube support for a co-extrusion stuffing tube assembly of the coaxial tube type.

Abstract: An improved high speed stuffing machine for forming links such as frankfurters. The permanent stuffing horn of a conventional link stuffing machine is dispensed with, and apparatus is provided for utilizing highly compacted shirred casing carried directly on a disposable core, wherein the core serves as a rotatable stuffing horn. A roller chuck is provided for engaging and rotating the cored casing article for purposes of linking, and resisting the thrust of the core due to emulsion flow while providing an emulsion seal between the casing article and chuck to prevent backflow of emulsion. The aft end of the core is received in a quick connect emulsion discharge which provides a bearing surface and a rotating emulsion seal to allow the core to rotate while the discharge remains stationary. The cored high density casing article allows the casing length to be increased by an integral multiple over conventional practice, which results in significant economies in the high speed production of linked sausages.

Abstract: A dual pressure closure clipping system for use on chamber evacuators used in vacuum packing articles in flexible plastic bags provides high pressure for small bags and low pressure for large bags closure clipping actions, selectable according to evacuation times.

Abstract: A stack of flexible packaging bags, such as used in the meat packing industry in conjunction with automatic and semiautomatic packaging apparatus, made by assembling a multiplicity of flattened stacked wicket-holed bags on a flexible tubing binding threaded through the bag wicket holes to define a severable loop handle element, shank elements passing through the wicket holes in the stacked bags, and shank portion extensions adapted to secure the shank portions of the binding to wicket mounting means and to mount bag stack securing means.