Abstract: A method for making a sausage product. The method comprises stuffing a wet sausage meat product into a food casing, vertically hanging the stuffed sausage meat product, and drying and curing the stuffed sausage meat product at least partly while the stuffed sausage meat product is vertically hung. In a unique aspect, the food casing comprises a tubular film regenerated from a solution of cellulose in a solvent comprising carbon disulfide. The tubular film is longitudinally stretched by from 8 to 30 percent in a dryer and transversely stretched by from -3 to +10 percent while wet, and the stretch is maintained during drying. The transverse stretch is less than 75 percent of the longitudinal stretch. As a result of using the unique casing, dimensional stability of the vertically hung product is improved. The invention further includes a sausage product comprising wet sausage meat product stuffed in a food casing and vertically hung for curing and drying.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which permit continuous stuffing of tubular food casing without stopping the stuffing operation to replace food casing on the stuffing horn. The method comprises placing a first shirred food casing strand onto a stuffing horn. An end portion of the food casing is then extended over the open end of the stuffing horn and the end portion is closed. The stuffing horn is suspended within the food casing by means of a first suspension means engaging the outer surface behind the shirred food casing and foodstuff is injected into the stuffing horn through a hole in the first suspension means which mates with a first inlet hole in the stuffing horn so that foodstuff flows through the stuffing horn into the food casing. A subsequent food casing strand is then placed onto the stuffing horn over the stuffing horn closed end and the stuffing horn is clamped by means of a second suspension means engaging the stuffing horn behind the subsequent food casing strand.

Abstract: A method for stuffing food product into a tubular food casing at a predetermined linear rate of movement of stuffed food product, closing the stuffed food product to segregate the stuffed food product into links while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined rate. The invention also includes an improved food product stuffing machine which stuffs food product into a tubular food casing at a predetermined linear rate of movement of stuffed food product, a closing device which applies closures to the stuffed food product to segregate the stuffed food product into stuffed food product links while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined rate. After clipping, means is provided for returning the closing device to an original position to repeat the operation after another desired length of casing is stuffed.

Abstract: A splice for regenerated cellulose tubular food casing. The splice includes a splicing tape comprising a regenerated cellulose film coated on at least one surface with a polyvinylidene chloride polymer (saran) and having a film thickness of 0.002 to 0.01 inches. The splicing tape is perforated to remove from ten to thirty percent of the area of the film. The removal of material from the splicing tape provides an elongation at break of at least twenty percent at a tensile force of between 500 and 1250 psi in a direction transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the casing. The break force in that direction should be at least 100 psi greater than the force required to obtain the desired elongation. To form the splice, the splicing tape is wrapped around and sealed at the coated surface to a leading end of a first regenerated cellulose tubular food casing and a trailing end of a second regenerated cellulose tubular food casing wherein the ends are proximate each other.

Abstract: A collagen food wrapping comprising collagen extruded into a film. The collagen contains a smoke component which is encapsulated with an encapsulating material which will release the smoke component during curing or cooking and prior to consumption thereof. The invention further includes a collagen slurry containing an encapsulated liquid smoke component and a method for manufacturing a wrapped food product by extruding the slurry onto a surface of the food product to form such a film.

Abstract: A method for removing a splice at a location on a tubular food casing product applies a tape to the food casing proximate the position of the splice, which tape has metallic properties. At least one of the metallic properties is detected when the tape reaches a particular location during movement of the casing. The splice is removed in response to the detection of the tape. Apparatus for removing a splice from a tubular food casing product employs a detector for detecting the tape when the tape reaches a particular location during movement of the casing; and employs a casing cutting apparatus for removing the splice which is activated in response to detection of the tape.

Abstract: A snap-on adjustable one piece sizing ring comprising an inner horn ring and an outer horn ring. The inner horn ring comprises an inner horn ring elliptical plate to which is attached a tubular section about an off-center hole therethrough. The outer horn ring comprises an outer horn ring elliptical plate having an off-center hole which fits over and is free to rotate about the tubular section so that overall circumference of the combined plates can be varied. The tubular section of the inner horn ring is provided with means for releasable attachment to an inner tube of a two-part stuffing horn comprising concentric inner and outer tubes. The outer horn ring is provided with means for releasable attachment to the outer tube of the two-part stuffing horn so that rotation of the concentric tubes relative to each other causes rotation of the elliptical plates relative to each other so that the overall circumference of the sizing ring is varied. The elliptical plates may be circular.

Abstract: In a method for the continuous automated manufacture of stuffed food casings containing imprinted labels, wherein tubular material for the casings from a supply source is axially shirred into sections and the sections are stuffed with food emulsion into divided off portions, the improvement comprising measuring linear motion of the casing as the portions are filled with food emulsion; inputting the measured motion to a programmable logic controller; within the programmable logic controller, calculating an approximate distance between eye-mark bars separating the individual portions, where the calculation is based upon a known distance between eye-mark bars; based upon the calculated approximate distance and the measured motion, selectively sensing eye-mark bars which separate individual casings while ignoring printed label material between eye-mark bars; and, clipping individual sections of the casing closed at precise locations in response to the sensing of eye-mark bars to accurately position the labels bet