Abstract: Flexible tubular cellulosic food casing shirred and compressed onto a rigid hollow tubular core to a high compaction condition to produce a casing stick with additional stuffing length capacity, enhanced structural stability and strength, and larger stuffing horn adaptability.

Abstract: Flexible tubular synthetic food casing shirred and compressed onto a rigid hollow tension sleeve core to a high packing efficiency to produce a combination casing stick tension sleeve article with provision on the tension sleeve to connect to a slacker mechanism on a stuffing apparatus.

Abstract: Flexible tubular cellulosic food casing shirred and compressed onto a rigid hollow tubular core to a high compaction condition to produce a casing stick with additional stuffing length capacity, enhanced structural stability and strength, and larger stuffing horn adaptability.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically severing flexible, thin-walled tubing of indefinite length into a plurality of segments comprising in combination means for advancing a continuous length of thin-walled tubing about a mandrel; a restraining member adaptable to restrain the advance of the thin-walled tubing at a predetermined position on said mandrel intermediate the ends of the tubing; tensioning means adapted for engaging the thin-walled tubing that has advanced beyond said restraining member after said restraining menber restrains the advance of the tubing and for tensioning said tubing about said mandrel intermediate said restraining member and said tensioning means; and at least two severing means mounted uniformly about said mandrel and adapted for being radially moved into and out of severing engagement with the thin-walled tubing about said mandrel intermediate said restraining member and said tensioning means.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically severing flexible, thin-walled tubing of indefinite length into a plurality of segments comprising in combination a mechanism for advancing a continuous length of thin-walled tubing about a mandrel; a restraining member adaptable to restrain the advance of the thin-walled tubing at a predetermined position on said mandrel intermediate the ends of the tubing; tensioning devices adapted for engaging the thin-walled tubing that has advanced beyond said restraining member after said restraining member restrains the advance of the tubing and for tensioning said tubing about said mandrel intermediate said restraining member and said tensioning devices; and two opposed blade holders adapted for being moved radially toward and away from the thin-walled tubing intermediate the restraining member and the tensioning devices.

Abstract: Inflation gas pressure interior of a flexible tubing, such as a food casing, advancing continuously through multiple processing zones, is controlled variably from zone to zone by coacting metering rolls and gas pumping nip rolls arranged on the tubing travel locus.

Abstract: Inflation gas pressure interior of a flexible tubing, such as a food casing, advancing continuously through multiple sequential production and processing zones, is selectably controlled as between two adajacent zones by defining an intermediate zone in the form of an inflated bubble trapped in the tubing between two nip rolls co-acting against a larger smooth surfaced backing roll, through which inflation gas is selectably bled from one zone to the other.