Abstract: A volumetric portioning apparatus includes a valve assembly operable in a first position and a second position. The first position of the valve assembly allows a food product to flow from an input hopper through the valve assembly and into a portioning assembly. The second position allows the food product to flow from the portioning assembly, through the valve assembly and into an output receiver. The apparatus further includes an actuator coupled to the valve assembly. The actuator is operable to move the valve assembly from the first position to the second position. The apparatus further includes a knife element operable to automatically cut the food product in the valve assembly to prevent the food product from limiting movement of the valve assembly from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A filling machine and a method for filling a pasty mass, in particular for the production of sausages, with a delivery pump for conveying the pasty mass with a first drive, and a dosing pump that is coupled to an outlet of the delivery pump and a transmission train via which the dosing pump is coupled to a second drive integrated into the filling machine housing.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device (1) for portioning a food product (3) continuously extruded from a filling apparatus, preferably for making meat-base elongated extrusions in form of sausages, frankfurters and the like, wherein two front and opposed pincers (4) carry out a succession of neckings onto the extrusion (3), via outwardly and inwardly reciprocating alternate motions therebetween parallel, carried out by plural gearings, the kinematic motion enabling the pincers (4) to carry out axial displacement s concomitantly to said reciprocating motions, so as to follow the extruded product (3) in the feeding direction thereof and in predetermined lengths which are variable by variably adjusting the angular velocities of said gearings.

Abstract: A vane pump for delivering pasty masses, in particular sausage meat, with a pump case 6 and a rotatably held rotor 3 comprising vanes 2 held so as to be radially movable which form delivery cells 4 together with the wall 5 of the pump case 6, with a suction area, a pressure area and a sealing area separating the pressure area from the suction area. For a better sealing between the suction area and the sealing area, in particular in case of high pressures in the pressure area, and for increasing the service life of the vane pump, in the sealing area at least one sealing element is provided for sealing a gap between the rotor and the wall of the pump case.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portioning apparatus and a method. The apparatus includes a hopper and augers to push flowable material to a rotor. Retractable vanes on the rotor push the flowable material toward a fill slot as the rotor rotates. Below the fill slot, there is a mold plate with front and back mold cavities. In a front fill position, the mold plate is positioned so the front mold cavities are filled with flowable material from the fill slot while flowable material in the back mold cavities are pushed out by back knockouts. In a back fill position, the flowable material in the front mold cavities are pushed out by front knockouts while the back mold cavities are filled with flowable material from the fill slot. The mold plate reciprocatively oscillates between the front fill position and the back fill position for high output of portioned material.

Abstract: A method and a filling machine for charging paste mass, in particular sausage meat, with a conveying mechanism 14 arranged at the lower end 3 of the hopper 1 and a feed device 4, 5 for feeding the paste mass from the hopper into the conveying mechanism. To facilitate the charging of the conveying mechanism from the hopper 1 continuously and completely with paste mass, and namely independent of the degree of evacuation and the filling level of the paste mass, the feed device comprises a combination of a feeder curve 4 and a screw conveyor 5 arranged within the feeder curve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a chemical mechanical polishing retaining ring. The chemical mechanical polishing retaining ring includes a support formed of a first material comprising a first polymer and a wear portion formed of a second material comprising a second polymer. The first material has an elastic modulus greater than the elastic modulus of the second material.

Abstract: A method and a vacuum filler for filling a pasty filling material, in particular sausage meat, with the sausage meat being filled into a vane-type conveying mechanism by means of rotatably supported vane cells and a negative pressure being produced in a region of the vane-type conveying mechanism for supporting the intake of sausage meat into the vane-type conveying mechanism. The production of negative pressure is efficient in that it is substantially produced while the vane cells are rotating, which is made possible by installing a closure element for the at least partial opening and closing of a vacuum opening in the housing of the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for the filling of pasty products, comprising a conveyor apparatus which can be charged via a funnel and associated filling stations, with the conveying apparatus comprising at least two individual conveying mechanisms arranged in the same machine housing, which are fed via the funnel which is commonly associated with them and from each of which a filling tube or filling passage leads to a filling station directly adjacent the respective filling mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a vane pump used for dividing a pasty and compressible substance into portions and comprising a pump housing and a rotor which is arranged eccentrically in said pump housing and which is adapted to be rotated, and further comprising vanes which are supported within said rotor such that they are radially displaceable, said vanes defining with the wall of the pump housing, the base and the cover of said housing, as well as the outer surface of the rotor, vane cells and cooperating sealingly with said components, and said pump housing having an inlet and an outlet which have arranged between them a compression sector and a dosing sector, and a pressure-relief valve being arranged at least in the area of the dosing sector.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the subdivision of a pasty and compressible mass, in particular sausage meat, in portions by means of a vane cell pump. To achieve a high portioning accuracy in simple fashion, each conveying cell filled with sausage meat passes through a metering sector disposed between a compression sector and a discharge sector after having passed through the compression sector, an excessive amount of sausage meat being pressed back into the subsequent conveying cell still in communication with the inlet from the conveying cell with highly compressed sausage meat by means of a balancing cylinder piston unit located in the boundary area between the compression sector and the metering sector.

Abstract: Worm pump for thick media and/or media containing lumps, e.g., meat in pieces, of the kind comprising a tubular housing with an inlet and an outlet, a worm rotor rotatably supported in the housing, and a worm-gate assembly comprising a number of gate members adapted during the rotation of the worm to protrude into and follow the latter's convolutions and thus prevent the medium being pumped from following the rotation of the worm rotor. The worm-gate assembly comprises a number of loose gate members slidingly supported in an endless track of which a substantially rectilinear portion extends alongside and parallel to the worm rotor.

Abstract: The device comprises means suitable for operating in rotation a lower annular portion of a hopper provided with a delivery unit suitable for allowing the progressive delivery of meat in a rotary pump for packing ground meat. The transmission means comprise a ring constituting the lower annular portion of the hopper and made in a single piece with a gear, arranged round a fixed bush, suitable for receiving the rotary motion from a pinion located at the upper extremity of the pump's driving shaft.

Abstract: A vane pump for conveying pasty masses, in particular sausage meat, comprising a pump housing and a rotor, which is eccentrically arranged within the pump housing and which is caused to rotate. Radially continuous vanes are supported on the rotor in a radially displaceable manner that define angular conveying cells with the wall of the pump housing and cooperate with the wall to produce a sealing effect. An adjustable pressure piece is mounted in a radial recess in the wall of the pump housing, the pressure piece replacing the contour of the wall of the pump housing with its surface which faces the vanes. Adjustment of the pressure piece adjusts the pressure applied to the vanes in a radial direction in the pressure area of the pump prior to its outlet.

Abstract: A vane pump delivers pasty materials, particularly sausage stuffing, for the purpose of filling doses of the stuffing into sausage cases. The flow of material into the pump chamber generally takes place by a stuffing device in the hopper and by the action of the vacuum to which the vane pump is exposed. The degree of filling and therefore the dosing accuracy is improved by providing a curved portion in the transition area between the inner wall of the cylindrical part of the cup-shaped pump casing and the base part of the latter receiving the pump rotor mounting.

Abstract: In a device for delivering and conveying paste-like substances, like sausage stuffing, for the purpose of dosing or the dosed filling into sausage cases, the stuffing located in the pump chamber, based on its compressibility, is pre-compressed in order to reach a uniform substance density required for exact dosing. For the purpose of limitation of the pre-compression pressure occurring in the processing of substances of less compressibility, the bottom part and/or the cover part of the pump casing are provided with a sealing recess which enters the latter and are also supported against springs in a resilient manner.