Abstract: An apparatus for filling tubular casings includes a filling tube having a locking device, the locking device including at least one locking element, and a calibrating ring that is lockable on the filling tube. A method for filling a tubular casing includes the steps of mounting a gathered casing stick on a filling tube, sliding a calibrating ring onto the filling tube, locking the calibrating ring on the filling tube, drawing the start of the gathered casing stick over the calibrating ring, introducing the filling material into an extruder, and pressing the filling material through the filling tube and into the tubular casing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for shirring tubular casings, in particular sausage casings, in which the casing is conveyed in the direction of its longitudinal axis and shirred against a counterforce by means of a shirring tool. The shirred tubing portion is divided into individual shirred sticks of a predetermined length and, if appropriate, the cut-off shirred sticks are further compressed. While being shirred and in the shirred state the casing is internally supported. For cutting-off a shirred tubing portion, the transport of the casing in the direction of its longitudinal axis is momentarily interrupted, the internal support is withdrawn from the severing region, and the unshirred or deshirred tubing section is severed at the rear aperture of the shirring tool. During severing, the not-yet-shirred casing surrounded by the shirring tool is permanently internally supported.