Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of chain-like or concatenated foodstuff products. A pasty filling material is conveyed by a filling pump through a filling tube which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and introduced into a tubular case or skin which partially surrounds the filling tube. The filled skin is fed to a portioning device having a plurality of dividing elements. The filled skin is engaged by two dividing elements which are disposed in opposite paired relationship and acted upon by a clamping force. A torque is applied to the skin by the filling tube so that the filled skin is caused to rotate at least in a portion between an exit opening of the filling tube and the portioning device and is locally prevented from rotating by application of the clamping force by the dividing elements, so that a twist-off location is produced. At a location spaced from the twist-off location, a further twist-off location is produced on the filled skin, to produce portioned sausages.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for filling casings for a machine for filling sausage casings, with a filling pipe (14) driveable and rotatable around its longitudinal axis (12), onto which pipe a casing (8) fillable through the filling pipe (14) is pulled, and a casing take-along apparatus (30) that is rotatable simultaneously with the filling pipe (14) for rotating the casing (8). According to the invention, the casing take-along apparatus (30) is arranged so as to be axially movable relative to the filling pipe (14) and, for transmitting a torque, is coupled to the filling pipe (14) in an essentially interlocking manner.