Abstract: A coextrusion head for a food processing machine includes a feed line section having an inner pipe for conducting in the production direction a food mass to be formed into a strand. An inlet end of the inner pipe is connectable to an outlet of a stuffing machine. A housing extends in the production direction from the feed line section and surrounding the inner pipe. A receiving chamber, formed between the inner pipe and the housing, for a casing material to be applied to the strand. The receiving chamber has a housing inlet for the casing material. The feed line section and the housing are integrally embodied and the coextrusion head further includes a die attachment that has a die opening shaped correspondingly to the inner pipe and that is connected to the housing. A food processing machine having a coextrusion head and a corresponding assembly method are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dividing up tubular cases which are filled with a pasty material such as sausage meat. The dividing apparatus includes two circulating transport elements arranged on mutually opposite sides of the case, and the transport elements respectively include one or more dividing elements and a plurality of guide parts, and at least one drive device for the transport elements. The dividing elements are so arranged at the transport elements and are so guided along the case that only one pair of dividing elements can be simultaneously brought into engagement with the case. The dividing apparatus can create various lengths of filled cases with minimal complexity.

Abstract: A method is provided for equipping at least one filling tube of an apparatus for filling tubular cases with a gathered tubular case. The method includes opening at least one gripping element of a case gripping device, feeding a gathered tubular case into a region of the at least one gripping element of the case gripping device, and closing at least one gripping element for fixing and axially centering the case. The method also includes moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other for introducing the filling tube into an interior space of the case, partially opening at least one gripping element, and moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other, such that the filling tube entrains the case and the case is guided by the gripping elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, such as gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat, is provided. The apparatus includes at least one filling tube, which is rotatable and drivable about its longitudinal axis and on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion at which the filling tube is rotatably received, and a drive unit for driving the filling tube. The apparatus advantageously includes a magnetic coupling for making and breaking an at least force-locking torque transmission between the drive unit and the filling tube, which has a drive rotor and a driven roller that is displaceable relative to the drive rotor in the longitudinal direction of the filling tube. Thus, the positioning during filling is reliable and performed with simplified structure. A filling machine including the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for equipping at least one filling tube of an apparatus for filling tubular cases with a gathered tubular case. The method includes opening at least one gripping element of a case gripping device, feeding a gathered tubular case into a region of the at least one gripping element of the case gripping device, and closing at least one gripping element for fixing and axially centering the case. The method also includes moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other for introducing the filling tube into an interior space of the case, partially opening at least one gripping element, and moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other, such that the filling tube entrains the case and the case is guided by the gripping elements.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, in particular gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat. The filling apparatus includes at least one filling tube on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion receiving a first end of the filling tube, a casing braking unit which is associated with the oppositely disposed second open end and which can be brought into operative connected relationship with the case which has been pulled over the filling tube, and a support device arranged at the receiving portion for the filling tube. The support device has at least one support portion which is variable in spacing relative to the receiving portion and which is adapted to be brought into contact with a gathered case on the filling tube for receiving transverse forces.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for and method of filling gathered tubular cases is provided. The filling apparatus includes a filling tube onto which a gathered tubular case can be pushed, and a moveable receiving portion which accommodates a first end of the filling tube and which is adapted to move the filling tube into a charging position in which the case can be put on to the filling tube and into a filling position in which the case can be filled. The filling apparatus also includes a pushing-on device which is moveable axially relative to the filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to the filling tube in the charging position, an axially moveable entrainment ring arranged on the filling tube, and a sensing device for ascertaining the position of the entrainment ring and/or the pushing-on device.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, such as gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat, is provided. The apparatus includes at least one filling tube, which is rotatable and drivable about its longitudinal axis and on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion at which the filling tube is rotatably received, and a drive unit for driving the filling tube. The apparatus advantageously includes a magnetic coupling for making and breaking an at least force-locking torque transmission between the drive unit and the filling tube, which has a drive rotor and a driven roller that is displaceable relative to the drive rotor in the longitudinal direction of the filling tube. Thus, the positioning during filling is reliable and performed with simplified structure. A filling machine including the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An equipping apparatus for and method of equipping a filling tube is provided. The equipping apparatus includes a feed device for feeding a gathered tubular case to a case gripping device, and a case gripping device having gripping elements for gripping and orienting a gathered tubular case. The equipping apparatus further includes a pushing-on member moveable axially relative to a filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to a filling tube. A detecting device is associated with the gripping elements for sensing the position of at least one of the gripping elements.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for and method of filling gathered tubular cases is provided. The filling apparatus includes a filling tube onto which a gathered tubular case can be pushed, and a moveable receiving portion which accommodates a first end of the filling tube and which is adapted to move the filling tube into a charging position in which the case can be put on to the filling tube and into a filling position in which the case can be filled. The filling apparatus also includes a pushing-on device which is moveable axially relative to the filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to the filling tube in the charging position, an axially moveable entrainment ring arranged on the filling tube, and a sensing device for ascertaining the position of the entrainment ring and/or the pushing-on device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, in particular gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat. The filling apparatus includes at least one filling tube on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion receiving a first end of the filling tube, a casing braking unit which is associated with the oppositely disposed second open end and which can be brought into operative connected relationship with the case which has been pulled over the filling tube, and a support device arranged at the receiving portion for the filling tube. The support device has at least one support portion which is variable in spacing relative to the receiving portion and which is adapted to be brought into contact with a gathered case on the filling tube for receiving transverse forces.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dividing up tubular cases which are filled with a pasty material such as sausage meat. The dividing apparatus includes two circulating transport elements arranged on mutually opposite sides of the case, and the transport elements respectively include one or more dividing elements and a plurality of guide parts, and at least one drive device for the transport elements. The dividing elements are so arranged at the transport elements and are so guided along the case that only one pair of dividing elements can be simultaneously brought into engagement with the case. The dividing apparatus can create various lengths of filled cases with minimal complexity.

Abstract: An equipping apparatus for and method of equipping a filling tube is provided. The equipping apparatus includes a feed device for feeding a gathered tubular case to a case gripping device, and a case gripping device having gripping elements for gripping and orienting a gathered tubular case. The equipping apparatus further includes a pushing-on member moveable axially relative to a filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to a filling tube. A detecting device is associated with the gripping elements for sensing the position of at least one of the gripping elements.

Abstract: A sausage casing gripping apparatus for use with gathered concertinaed sausage casings and a sausage filling machine. The apparatus includes two gripping elements which are movable relative to each other and which grip the concertinaed sausage casing by a reduction in the intermediate space between the gripping elements and which release the concertinaed sausage casing by an expansion of the intermediate space. The apparatus further includes a drive device for moving at least one of the gripping elements, and at least one lever element for coupling the drive device to at least one gripping element where the gripping element is mounted movably on the lever element.

Abstract: A sausage casing gripping apparatus for use with gathered concertinaed sausage casings and a sausage filling machine. The apparatus includes two gripping elements which are movable relative to each other and which grip the concertinaed sausage casing by a reduction in the intermediate space between the gripping elements and which release the concertinaed sausage casing by an expansion of the intermediate space. The apparatus further includes a drive device for moving at least one of the gripping elements, and at least one lever element for coupling the drive device to at least one gripping element where the gripping element is mounted movably on the lever element.