Abstract: A safety-related communication system includes a safety relay with signal inputs of an input signal current circuit that connect the safety relay to a control device for monitoring the input signal circuit. The safety relay also includes at least two load outputs of a load current circuit for connecting to a load. Switching elements are connected in parallel and configured to switch the load current circuit on or off based on an activation signal at the input signal current circuit. A diagnostic device monitors faults in the load current circuit and/or the safety relay. A signaling device connected to the signal inputs provides an impedance for the input signal circuit. The impedance is tuned to the control device during a fault-free state and is detunable upon detection of a fault so as to signal the detected fault to the control device via the input signal current circuit.

Abstract: A safety-related communication system includes a safety relay with signal inputs of an input signal current circuit that connect the safety relay to a control device for monitoring the input signal circuit. The safety relay also includes at least two load outputs of a load current circuit for connecting to a load. Switching elements are connected in parallel and configured to switch the load current circuit on or off based on an activation signal at the input signal current circuit. A diagnostic device monitors faults in the load current circuit and/or the safety relay. A signaling device connected to the signal inputs provides an impedance for the input signal circuit. The impedance is tuned to the control device during a fault-free state and is detunable upon detection of a fault so as to signal the detected fault to the control device via the input signal current circuit.

Abstract: For production of a seamless edible cellulose tubing from underivatized cellulose, a solution of the underivatized cellulose in tertiary amine N-oxide, of additives and water, is extruded as tubing from an annular die and conducted through an air gap into a water bath. The cellulose tubing is conducted out of the water bath, cleaned by spraying with heated water and thereafter passed through at least two wash sections and a plasticizing section. After exit from the plasticizing section, the wet cellulose tubing is predried in the laid-flat state, before it is dried to its final moisture. The predryer 13 is arranged vertically or horizontally and consists of an insulated tube to which is fed air heated by a heat exchanger in an accurately metered amount and at a constant temperature of up to 130° C. The main dryer 19 is arranged horizontally and contains tangentially and radially directed air nozzles, the air jets of which keep the inflated cellulose tubing 20 suspended during the drying operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to tubular, edible food casings which include cellulose, at least one protein and at least one filler in which the ratio of the wet tear strength in the transverse direction to the wet tear strength in the longitudinal direction is from 1.3:1 to 1:3.5. The casing is gathered to form a shirred stick which is particularly suitable for processing on high-speed stuffing machines. The sticks can be deshirred and stuffed with sausage meat emulsion without difficulty on the stuffing horn. The sticks are particularly suitable in the production of cooked-meat sausages and scalded-emulsion sausages and frying sausages, especially small sausages in which the casing is co-consumed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seamless tubular film on a cellulose base, being produced by extruding an aqueous cellulose N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide spinning solution. The maximum degree of roughness Rmax is from greater than 0.1 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m and an average degree of roughness Rm is from 0.005 to 0.014 &mgr;m. On the surface of the tubular film is formed in contact with an electrolyte an electrokinetic potential, the size of which depends on the pH value of the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to an edible packaging film for foodstuffs, which contains cellulose, at least one protein and at least one filler. Bran, ground natural fibres, cotton linters, chitosan, guar meal, carob meal or micro-crystalline cellulose are preferably used as the fillers. The film is predominantly used to produce synthetic sausage casings.

Abstract: A seamless cellulose-based tubular film is produced by extruding an aqueous N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) spinning solution through a ring die. The tubular film comprises at least one protein, at least one filler and, if appropriate, a stabilizer. The tubular film passes through a spinning bath 3 in which it is turned around and, after its exit from the spinning bath it passes through a wash device 25, 26, a plasticizing device 27 and a dryer 28.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing NMMO-water mixture which collects in the interior of a tubular film which is produced by the NMMO process comprises a spinning vat and a wash vat. Between the two vats is situated a conveyor belt which circulates endlessly over two rollers. The conveyor belt is directed upward at an incline from the spinning vat to the wash vat. The tubular film, in the interior of the spinning vat, is passed vertically downward, then reversed and conducted vertically out of the spinning vat and passes over the inclined conveyor belt into the wash vat. Above the conveyor belt is situated a spray device having spraying nozzles from which wash liquid at a temperature between 60 and 80° C. is sprayed onto the tubular film which is transported via the conveyor belt.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing proteinaceous shaped articles from globular proteins according to the NMMO method, and to proteinaceous shaped articles themselves that are made from globular proteins according to the NMMO method. According to the invention, a suspension consisting of aqueous NMMO and of these precrosslinked proteins is transferred into a spinning solution, whereby the suspension contains a polysaccharide and/or a polysaccharide is added to the extrusion solution. The spinning solution is extruded into a precipitation bath through a form tool and through an air gap. Afterwards, the shaped article is washed with an aqueous liquid without the use of solvents and is subsequently hardened using known crosslinking reactions. The produced solutions are processed for a diverse product-oriented processing, preferably on the basis of known wet and dry/wet spinning techniques, optionally in conjunction with multi-constituent spinning techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stick of a tubular food casing based on cellulose. The casing is produced by the NMMO process. The stick is particularly stable and is thus suited for automatic filling devices such as those used for producing cooked or boiled sausages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulose-based food casing, manufactured with a spinning solution that comprises cellulose, N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide, water, at least one additive that modifies the surface properties of the casing and at least one other additive that modifies its internal structure. The surface-modifying additive is preferably a protein, a protein derivative, a mono-, di- and triglyceride, a diketene with long-chained alkyl radicals, a wax and/or a paraffin. The casing may also optionally contain a fleece insert, and preferably has a tubular shape. The inventive casing is particularly suited for use as a sausage casing. Nonreinforced casings of the present invention are particularly suited for use as peelable casings for the production of sausage, while the fiber-reinforced casings are particularly suited for dry sausage.

Abstract: The present invention that also possesses provides a method for producing a seamless tubular film based on cellulose comprising extruding an aqueous cellulose-N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) spinning solution through an annular die in a spinning bath, wherein the spinning solution forms the tubular film. The film is laterally drawn in an air gap between the annular die and the spinning bath by stabilizing air pressure in the tubular film. The level of hydrostatic pressure from an inner spinning solution formed inside the tubular film extends above the spinning bath, the inner spinning solution comprising an aqueous NMMO solution that supports and intensifies said lateral drawing. The tubular film that has been expanded by the lateral drawing process is passes by a turning point in the spinning bath, and directed out of the spinning bath.