Abstract: Apparatus and methods for orienting a plurality of sausages with respective curvatures. A conveyor device is configured to transport the sausages along a conveyor path. The conveyor device includes a conveyor element on which the sausages can be placed at mutual spacings and with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a conveyor direction of the conveyor element. A turning device is arranged over the conveyor element. The turning device is configured to be brought into contact with each of the sausages and to orient the sausages oriented approximately transversely relative to the conveyor direction of the conveyor element in identical relationship in respect of the curvatures of the sausages.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for and method of filling gathered tubular cases is provided. The filling apparatus includes a filling tube onto which a gathered tubular case can be pushed, and a moveable receiving portion which accommodates a first end of the filling tube and which is adapted to move the filling tube into a charging position in which the case can be put on to the filling tube and into a filling position in which the case can be filled. The filling apparatus also includes a pushing-on device which is moveable axially relative to the filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to the filling tube in the charging position, an axially moveable entrainment ring arranged on the filling tube, and a sensing device for ascertaining the position of the entrainment ring and/or the pushing-on device.

Abstract: An equipping apparatus for and method of equipping a filling tube is provided. The equipping apparatus includes a feed device for feeding a gathered tubular case to a case gripping device, and a case gripping device having gripping elements for gripping and orienting a gathered tubular case. The equipping apparatus further includes a pushing-on member moveable axially relative to a filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to a filling tube. A detecting device is associated with the gripping elements for sensing the position of at least one of the gripping elements.

Abstract: Severing apparatus (1) for severing a string of pasty foodstuff material, in particular of meat or doughs, into individual portions, comprising a movable and drivable severing knife (2, 2?) having a knife edge (12), and at least one preferably stationary shear bar (8, 8?) associated with the severing knife (2, 2?). The knife edge (12) of the severing knife (2, 2?) has a cutting edge (20, 20?) which is at least portion-wise concavely curved in the longitudinal direction of the severing knife.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring at least one sausage link into a packaging item. The apparatus includes at least one drivable, rotatable conveyor device having at least one protruding vane, with the conveyor device being adapted and configured in such a way that the at least one sausage link can be placed on the vane in a receiving position, and that by rotating the conveyor device, the at least one sausage link can be placed onto or into the packaging item by the vane in a delivery position. The conveyor device may further include an impeller that forms, in part, a horizontal support surface for a group of sausage links.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing and discharging spherically shaped products from a pasty material. The apparatus includes a feed device for moving the pasty material along a conveyor path, a portioning device connected downstream of the feed device for shaping the pasty material into balls, and a transport device for discharging the balls produced by means of the portioning device. The portioning device has an outlet opening having a plurality of outlets for the balls to be shaped, arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship so that the delivered products touch each other or are arranged in closely mutually juxtaposed relationship, and the portioning device and the transport device are so arranged relative to each other that regions of the transport device in the transport direction provide an abutment function for the balls which are to be oriented in mutually juxtaposed relationship in a row substantially transversely relative to the transport direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling tubular casings with a pasty material, in particular gathered-together sausage cases with sausagemeat. The apparatus includes at least one filling tube which is drivable and rotatable about its longitudinal axis and onto which a casing which can be filled with a material can be drawn, wherein an end of the filling tube is rotatably moveably mounted to a receiving portion and associated with the opposite open end is a sausage case braking unit which can be brought into operative relationship with a casing which has been drawn over the filling tube. Arranged on the receiving portion is a support device which has a support element for the filling tube, that is arranged at a spacing (x) relative to the receiving portion in the longitudinal direction of the filling tube, wherein the support element is adapted to carry transverse forces acting on the filling tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a string from a pasty material comprising at least an extrusion head which has at least one conveyor conduit for the pasty material to be shaped into a string, wherein the conveyor conduit has an inlet and an outlet, and which has a receiving chamber for a casing material to be applied to the string, wherein the receiving chamber has an entry for the casing material and an exit for applying the casing material to the string surface. Arranged downstream of the extrusion head in the conveyor direction is a deflection device adapted to put the string covered with casing material into a predetermined curvature. The pasty material is pressed to form a string of predetermined length and then the string is covered at least with a pasty material, wherein the string covered with the casing material is deflected through a predetermined angle.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a string of a pasty material, such as sausagemeat. The apparatus includes an extrusion head that includes at least one conveyor conduit for the pasty material to be shaped into a string. The conveyor conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and a receiving chamber for a casing material to be applied to the string. The receiving chamber has an entry for the casing material and an exit for applying the casing material to the string surface. The receiving chamber is also adapted to impart to the casing material, when flowing through the receiving chamber, a movement having at least a rotatory movement component about at least a longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber.

Abstract: An arrangement including two conveyor screws which are arranged rotatably moveably relative to each other for processing a pasty material like a foodstuff product or the like, having a first conveyor screw and a second conveyor screw which have interengaging helical flights and which in particular are drivable in opposite relationship. The conveyor screws are of different size diameters and/or the conveyor screws have a different number of flights. In addition, the surfaces of the interengaging flights are so shaped and matched to each other that they are in contact with each other along a substantially continuous contact line extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of both conveyor screws to hinder, preferably prevent a return flow of the pasty material.

Abstract: A forming disk apparatus for processing foodstuff product that includes a plurality of holes that open into a portion of an axial side surface of the forming disk. A depression is also provided eccentrically in the side surface of the forming disk and positioned concentrically relative to the forming disk. A cutting apparatus is arranged to bear against an axial side surface of the forming disk such that the cutting apparatus is movable relative to the forming disk apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a string from a pasty material comprising at least an extrusion head which has at least one conveyor conduit for the pasty material to be shaped into a string, wherein the conveyor conduit has an inlet and an outlet, and which has a receiving chamber for a casing material to be applied to the string, wherein the receiving chamber has an entry for the casing material and an exit for applying the casing material to the string surface. Arranged downstream of the extrusion head in the conveyor direction is a deflection device adapted to put the string covered with casing material into a predetermined curvature. The pasty material is pressed to form a string of predetermined length and then the string is covered at least with a pasty material, wherein the string covered with the casing material is deflected through a predetermined angle.

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 a drive motor and which can be brought into contact with a sausage for conveying the sausages.

Abstract: An arrangement including two conveyor screws which are arranged rotatably moveably relative to each other for processing a pasty material like a foodstuff product or the like, having a first conveyor screw and a second conveyor screw which have interengaging helical flights and which in particular are drivable in opposite relationship. The conveyor screws are of different size diameters and/or the conveyor screws have a different number of flights. In addition, the surfaces of the interengaging flights are so shaped and matched to each other that they are in contact with each other along a substantially continuous contact line extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of both conveyor screws to hinder, preferably prevent a return flow of the pasty material.

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: Conveyor apparatus and methods of conveying a foodstuff. A foodstuff conveyor apparatus may include a foodstuff inlet, a foodstuff outlet, and a conveyor chamber coupling the inlet to the outlet. A conveyor screw having an axis oriented longitudinally in the conveyor chamber may be configured to urge the foodstuff from the inlet towards the outlet. The conveyor screw may have a spindle at each end, with a spindle free portion between the spindles. The screw may be positioned in the conveyor chamber so that one spindle is near the outlet, and the other spindle is near the inlet. The spindles may be configured so that the pitch of the screw near the outlet is less than the pitch of the screw near the inlet to provide a mixing and compacting effect as the foodstuff is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a string of a pasty material, such as sausagemeat. The apparatus includes an extrusion head that includes at least one conveyor conduit for the pasty material to be shaped into a string. The conveyor conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and a receiving chamber for a casing material to be applied to the string. The receiving chamber has an entry for the casing material and an exit for applying the casing material to the string surface. The receiving chamber is also adapted to impart to the casing material, when flowing through the receiving chamber, a movement having at least a rotatory movement component about at least a longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber.

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: Conveyor apparatus and methods of conveying a foodstuff. A foodstuff conveyor apparatus may include a foodstuff inlet, a foodstuff outlet, and a conveyor chamber coupling the inlet to the outlet. A conveyor screw having an axis oriented longitudinally in the conveyor chamber may be configured to urge the foodstuff from the inlet towards the outlet. The conveyor screw may have a spindle at each end, with a spindle free portion between the spindles. The screw may be positioned in the conveyor chamber so that one spindle is near the outlet, and the other spindle is near the inlet. The spindles may be configured so that the pitch of the screw near the outlet is less than the pitch of the screw near the inlet to provide a mixing and compacting effect as the foodstuff is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet.

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.