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: The invention concerns a method of and a filling apparatus for a machine for filling casings, in particular sausage cases, comprising a filling tube (14) which is drivable and rotatable about its longitudinal axis (12) and on to which can be pulled a case (8) which can be filled by the filling tube (14), and a case brake (26) which is arranged at the open end (22) of the filling tube (14) in a holding frame (24) and which has a brake ring (28) which is mounted rotatably coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation of the filling tube (14) by means of a mounting means (34) and a bearing (32). According to the invention the open end (22) of the filling tube (14) is so designed as to co-operate with the brake ring (28) and the case (8) in such a way that the brake ring (28) is drivable by means of the filling tube (14) in frictional and/or positively locking relationship and a torque can be transmitted to the case (8).

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for suspending strings of sausages in loops, the apparatus including a guide and drive device for guiding and driving hooks along a path of movement. The guide and drive device includes a drivable circulating drive element for spaced receiving and driving a plurality of hooks. The apparatus also includes a plurality of hooks which can be coupled to the drive element for carrying a loop of the string of sausages. The apparatus further includes a fixing device for steplessly fixing the hooks at various spacing relative to each other on the drive element.

Abstract: Suspension devices for suspending strings of sausages in loops. The suspension device may include hooks configured for carrying a loop of the string of sausages and a guide and drive device coupled with the hooks. The guide and drive device is configured for guiding and driving the hooks along a path of movement. The guide and drive device has a drivable circulating drive element for spaced receiving of the hooks and for driving the hooks. The suspension device may include a height-altering device that alters the height of the hooks during the movement of the hooks along the path of movement.

Abstract: Portioning and/or transport apparatus for portioning and/or transporting sausages. The apparatus includes a conveyor device having at least one conveyor element which is drivable by means of a drive motor and which can be brought into contact with a sausage for conveying the sausages.

Abstract: A filling flow divider for portioning a filling substance includes at least two divider elements operatively connected together, each including a stator having a main chamber, a rotor in the main chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotation, and at least two blade elements fitted into the rotor. The blade elements are independently displaceable relative to the rotor in the radial direction as the rotor rotates in the main chamber. The filling flow divider includes at least two connecting devices coupling the rotors of the at least two divider elements such that the rotor and blade elements of one divider element are disposed at a different rotary angle position as the rotor and blade elements of an adjacent divider element.

Abstract: A system for producing and transporting portions of food includes a filling machine for continuously transporting a stream of food, a separating device for dividing portions from the transported food stream, and a transport device for delivering the portions to a subsequent processing device. To prevent fluctuations in portion size and weight, the system further includes a sensor unit for generating a portion request signal in response to a portion request from the subsequent processing device. The sensor unit outputs the portion request signal to the filling machine, which is designed to control the continuous transportation of the food stream using the portion request signal. The system is operable to synchronize the entire line, including the filling machine, the separating device, the transport device, and the subsequent processing device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for producing sausages (28) in which sausage meat is introduced into a tubular case (20) by means of a filling machine (2) and the filled case (20) is divided into portions by means of a twisting-off device (40) for producing twist-off locations (22) so that the result is a sausage chain. According to the invention the sausage chain is further transported by means of at least two transport devices (6, 8) connected in succession in the sausage chain transport direction (30), and the transport devices (6, 8) can be controlled by means of a control device (38) so that the transport speed of the second transport device (8) in the transport direction is at least at times greater than the transport speed of the first transport device (6).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mixing device for foodstuff materials capable of flow, in particular sausage meat. The device comprises a housing having an inlet for introduction of the material and an outlet for discharge of the material. In order to improve the mixing and flow, in particular of sausage meat, at least two helical mixing elements are arranged statically in mutually juxtaposed relationship within the housing for mixing and/or processing material flowing through the housing. Meat products such as air-bearing sausage meat can be gently and carefully thoroughly mixed. Even delicate inclusions, such as mushrooms, would not be damaged.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for processing and filling a pasty material such as sausage meat, in particular for coupling to an apparatus for filling pasty material, comprising a housing having an inlet for introduction of the material and an outlet for discharge of the material, and an insert which can be inserted into the housing and which is adapted to process and/or influence material flowing through the housing. It is in accordance with the invention that provided in the housing between the inlet and the outlet is an opening through which the insert can be inserted into and removed from the housing and the opening is closable by means of a closure.

Abstract: A device for transporting and processing foodstuffs, in particular meat, includes a feeding device, a grinder with an input and an outlet, and a drive element to drive cutting elements situated in a housing of the grinder. The cutting elements are situated in the housing of the grinder in such a way that the cutting elements can be removed from the housing of the grinder through the outlet by means of a force applied to the side of the input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for allocating packaging material, in particular paper, to apportioned foods, having these steps: delivery of portions of a food onto a first conveyor belt, delivery and allocation of packaging material to the portions, characterized in that the packaging material is fed to the first conveyor belt and allocated to the portions without first being cut, and that the packaging material is then cut between two portions. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

Abstract: A portioning device for portioning foodstuffs such as sausage meat and dough. The portioning device includes a forming space filled by a means of the foodstuff and a cutting device for portioning the mass of foodstuff. The cutting device features a cutter that is introducible at least part way into the forming space to provide the portioning.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for conveying and individually separating sausages or other elongate foodstuff products, wherein the sausages are fed by a conveyor device (46) to a separating apparatus (8) with a separating tool. A sensor (64) which is responsive to the conveyor device (4) and which preferably cooperates with the drive motor of the conveyor device (4) or with the movable conveyor elements (36) of the conveyor device (6) produces a signal which represents a measurement for a current position of a movable conveyor element (36) of the conveyor device (6) and thus for a current position of one or more constriction or twist-off locations in the chain of sausages, and that the signal is fed to the separating apparatus (8) in order to control the drive motor (13) in such a way that the severing tool separates the sausages in the region of a twist-off location.

Abstract: A casing holding device for a machine for filling and twisting off sausages includes a filling tube rotatable along its longitudinal axis, onto which a slug can be pulled, and which, on its free end, is equipped with an output opening for the output of sausage fill, and a casing brake which is equipped with a braking ring which surrounds the free end of the filling tube and which essentially rests against this under contact pressure, and a clamping member to secure the slug to the filling tube so as to rotate the slug with the filling tube.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for hanging sausage chains in loops. Successive hooks that move in an essentially horizontal transport plane engage and carry sausage links at twist points located between predetermined adjacent links. Twist points are engaged at an interception point of the hook defined by a portion of a first member disposed perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the hooks. Each engaged twist point is then rotated about an approximately vertical axis in a predetermined direction of rotation over an angle of about 90.degree.. After this rotation, the engaged twist points are disposed on a prong at the outer end of the hook. The prong and two adjacent spreading elements extend in the direction of transport and serve to support adjacent links without allowing them to touch. The suspended links are thereby supported in a spiral loop which is then placed over a smoking skewer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vane pump for conveying bulk substances, in particular meat pastes, having a housing (4) with an inlet (6) and an outlet (10) for the bulk substance. Disposed inside the housing (4) is a rotor (14) displaying a rotatably-journaled, central driving element (16) and several moving vanes (20a to j), which are arranged on the central driving element, in its direction of rotation (C), one behind the other and at an angle to the direction of rotation (C), and commonly surrounded by a limiting wall (24) of the housing (4) running about in the direction of movement (C) of the vanes (20a to j), with the limiting wall (24) forming conveying chambers for picking up (accommodating) bulk substances and, with rotation of the driving element (16), being moved in sequence past the inlet (6) and the outlet (10).