Abstract: This invention provides a safety means for powered machinery comprising a conventional wire mesh safety glove adapted for wearing by the machine operator. The machine with which it is used has a grounded frame, an electrical motor, a control switch, with the electrical motor being connected to a source of electrical energy through the control switch. A control safety circuit connects the electroconducting wire mesh safety glove and bypasses the conventional control switch for the machine which is in turn connected to the motor of the machine. The safety circuit includes a circuit breaking means, preferably a relay, whereby the relay will open and deprive the motor from electrical power whenever the wire mesh glove comes in contact with the grounded frame of the machine. An alternate form of the invention connects the wire mesh glove of the operator to the antenna of a wireless electromagnetic transmitter worn by the operator.

Abstract: A chuck for a meat encasing machine has an elongated body having an inlet end and a discharge end. The body has an elongated hollow bore extending therethrough and an exterior cylindrical surface. A plurality of radially extending flutes are in the bore of the body for purposes of grasping and imparting rotational motion to a filled meat casing. An annular groove extends around the exterior cylindrical surface of the body member. A resilient O-ring is mounted in the groove and slightly projects outwardly from the groove to frictionally engage a socket into which the chuck is inserted.

Abstract: A sausage encasing machine has an improved looper horn thereon mounted to be in communication with the horizontal flow path of encased linked sausages being discharged from the machine. The looper horn is mounted on a looper horn adapter which rotatably secures the horn for rotation with respect to the machine about a rotational axis that extends downwardly from the looper horn adapter. The looper horn is connected to a suitable source of rotational power. The geometry of the adapter and the looper horn causes the horn to be rotated from a substantially horizontal position of maximum elevation through a circular continuous arc which is located below the position of maximum elevation whereby the strand will never have to be moved in an upwardly inclined direction as it passes through the looper horn. The looper horn is U-shaped in cross section and thereupon has an elongated side opening having a discharge axis.

Abstract: This invention provides a safety means for powered machinery comprising a conventional wire mesh safety glove adapted for wearing by the machine operator. The machine with which it is used has a grounded frame, an electrical motor, a control switch, with the electrical motor being connected to a source of electrical energy through the control switch. A control safety circuit connects the electroconducting wire mesh safety glove and bypasses the conventional control switch for the machine which is in turn connected to the motor of the machine. The safety circuit includes a circuit breaking means, preferably a relay, whereby the relay will open and deprive the motor from electrical power whenever the wire mesh glove comes in contact with the grounded frame of the machine. An alternate form of the invention connects the wire mesh glove of the operator to the antenna of a wireless electromagnetic transmitter worn by the operator.

Abstract: This invention provides a safety device for powered machinery comprising a conventional wire mesh safety glove adapted for wearing by the machine operator. The machine with which it is used has a grounded frame, an electrical motor, a control switch, with the electrical motor being connected to a source of electrical energy through the control switch. A control safety circuit connects the electro conducting wire mesh safety glove and by-passes the conventional control switch for the machine which is in turn connected to the motor of the machine. The safety circuit includes a circuit breaking means, preferably a relay, whereby the relay will open and deprive the motor from electrical power whenever the wire mesh glove comes in contact with the grounded frame of the machine. An alternate form of the invention connects the wire mesh glove of the operator to the antenna of a radio transmitter worn by the operator.

Abstract: A skinning machines having a gripping roll, a skinning blade, a power unit for rotating the gripping roll, and a safety circuit responsive to manual contact of the machine operator with danger zone of the skinning machine. A clutch is provided to the skinning machine is operatively connected to the gripping roll and the power source for the gripping roll. A brake is connected to the safety circuit and the gripping roll. The clutch is normally operative, and the brake is normally inoperative, whereby the brake will stop the rotation of the gripping roll when the safety circuit is activated to overcome the operative condition of the clutch. The brake includes a coiled spring that tightens on a hub connected to the gripping roll when the safety circuit is actuated. The safety circuit includes a solenoid device that releases the spring to tighten on the hub when the safety circuit is actuated.

Abstract: This invention utilizes a conventional meat skinning machine having a frame, an elongated skinning blade, a rotatable gripping roll closely positioned adjacent the blade, an electrical motor operatively connected to the gripping roll and to a source of electrical power, and a danger zone defined by the area approximate to the gripping roll closely adjacent the blade. The motor is a braking motor which has a normally inoperative braking means adapted to stop the motor substantially instantaneously when becoming operative. A safety circuit is electrically connected to the braking motor, the blade and the gripping roll. The safety circuit is normally open and is adapted to be closed when the blade and gripping roll are electrically connected by any electroconducting means, such as an operator's glove made of electroconducting material, that simultaneously comes into electrical contact with the blade and the gripping roll.

Abstract: An ergonomic hand tool of this invention comprises an elongated support bar adapted to be positioned adjacent the forearm and wrist of the wearer. The support bar has forward and rearward ends with the forward end being adjacent the wrist of the wearer. Attachment means are on the support bar for securing it to the forearm and wrist of the wearer. A hand gripping member is pivotally secured to the forward end of the support bar. A locking mechanism is operatively connected to the hand gripping member to selectively lock the hand gripping member in a predetermined position with respect to the support bar. A tool member, such as an elongated knife, is secured to the hand gripping member. The hand gripping member has a plurality of finger gripping portions thereon. The locking means includes a spring coil operatively connected to a thumb actuated lever on the hand gripping member.

Abstract: This invention provides a safety means for powered machinery comprising a conventional wire mesh safety glove adapted for wearing by the machine operator. The machine with which it is used has a grounded frame, an electrical motor, a control switch with the electrical motor being connected to a source of electrical energy through the control switch. A control safety circuit connects the electro conducting wire mesh safety glove and by-passes the conventional control switch for the machine which is in turn connected to the motor of the machine. The safety circuit includes a circuit breaking means, preferably a relay, whereby the relay will open and deprive the motor from electrical power whenever the wire mesh glove comes in contact with the grounded frame of the machine. An alternate form of the invention connects the wire mesh glove of the operator to the antenna of a radio transmitter worn by the operator.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from a elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.

Abstract: The meat skinning machine of this invention comprises the conventional components of a frame with a rotatably powered gripping roll having a cylindrical peripheral surface mounted thereon. A plurality of gripping teeth are formed on the peripheral surface of the gripping roll. An elongated blade holding means is mounted on the frame and extends parallel to the gripping roll and is positioned closely adjacent thereto. An elongated blade is secured to the blade holding means, with the blade having a forward edge portion protruding from the blade holding means and terminating in an elongated sharp cutting edge. The cutting edge of the blade is closely adjacent the teeth on the gripping roll. An elongated plate is on the blade holding means either as an integral part or an attachment thereto. The plate has a forward edge and an upper surface.

Abstract: This invention utilizes a conventional meat skinning machine having a frame, an elongated skinning blade, a rotatable gripping roll closely positioned adjacent the blade, an electrical motor operatively connected to the gripping roll and to a source of electrical power, and a danger zone defined by the area approximate to the gripping roll closely adjacent the blade. The motor is a braking motor which has a normally inoperative braking means adapted to stop the motor substantially instantaneously when becoming operative. A safety circuit is electrically connected to the braking motor, the blade and the gripping roll. The safety circuit is normally open and is adapted to be closed when the blade and gripping roll are electrically connected by any electroconducting means, such as an operator's glove made of electroconducting material, that simultaneously comes into electrical contact with the blade and the gripping roll.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an encased meat product which includes means for forming an enclosed casing from a series of overlapped helical revolutions of a strip of casing material, means for filling the casing with a meat emulsion, means for rotating the filled casing, and means for holding the filled casing against rotation while the unfilled casing is rotated to create a twist point at the end of the filled casing, whereby the twist point will have the same number of twists therein as there are helical revolutions of strip material in said enclosed casing.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.

Abstract: A method of lubricating the passage of meat emulsion through the stuffing horn of a meat emulsion encasing machine is disclosed, involving forcing meat emulsion under a first magnitude of pressure through a passage into the inlet of a stuffing horn; then providing a first concentric ring of fluid under a second magnitude of pressure around the passage; and then providing a second tapered concentric ring of fluid around the passage with the tapered concentric ring having an outer perimeter of greater depth than its inner perimeter, and with the outer perimeter being in communication with the first concentric ring and its inner perimeter being in communication with the passage.

Abstract: A method for encasing a meat product and removing air particles therefrom by forcing a plastic meat emulsion through a stuffing horn having an exit end with an elongated casing slidably mounted in close spaced relationship on the horn so that the meat emulsion extruded through the exit end of the horn will fill the elongated casing adjacent the exit end. The space between the exit end of the horn and the casing is subjected to a negative pressure so that air in that space is removed, and so that air in the meat emulsion extruded through the exit end will be removed. A machine for encasing meat products comprising a frame, a pump means on the frame for pumping meat emulsion under pressure, and a hollow elongated stuffing horn connected to the pump means so that meat emulsion under pressure can flow into the stuffing horn.

Abstract: A method of forming an encased meat product by forming an enclosed casing from a series of overlapped helical revolutions of a strip of casing material, filling the casing with a meat emulsion, rotating the filled casing and then holding the filled casing against rotation while the unfilled casing is rotated to create a twist point at the end of the filled casing, whereby the twist point will have the same number of twists therein as there are helical revolutions of strip material in said enclosed casing. An encased meat product made by the foregoing method.