Abstract: A speaker can have a main body with a generally spheroidal shape, which can be supported standing on its end. The speaker can include a subwoofer that faces forward. A plurality of mid-range drivers can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and radially outward. A plurality of tweeters can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and generally outward. The outer housing portion of the speaker can be covered with a fabric material. A user interface ring 162 can be touch sensitive to receive input, and can have a plurality of lights that can be illuminated separately to convey information to the user.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck (100). A resilient brake element (160) in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar (200) is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.

Abstract: A method for filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion that involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube and longitudinally pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing. The method also involves providing a casing hopper that can be pivoted from a forward operating position to a rearward inoperative position.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a textured continuous belt transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of a stuffing tube. The textured belt engages with the natural casing on the stuffing tube and distributes a compressive force on the outer surface of the casing. The textured belt then rotates to advance the natural casing into engagement with a twisting mechanism, which is downstream of the stuffing tube and prepares the casing for linking. The textured belt ensures that the natural casing is evenly fed into the twisting mechanism. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.

Abstract: A machine and method for encasing sausages by having a stuffing tube that is vertically disposed in order to allow gravity to help in the sausage making process. A conical shaped restricting device is attached to the stuffing tube to help facilitate the movement of the casing into a twisting mechanism and to ensure bunching in the casing is reduced. The casing is then fed through the twisting mechanism and into a linker.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a follower against an upstream end of the natural casing to slide the natural casing forwardly along a hollow meat stuffing tube. The follower is mounted on the stuffing tube and advances the natural casing towards a discharge end of the stuffing tube, where sausage emulsion is injected into the natural casing. The follower pushes the filled casing through a hollow conical-shaped restricting device adjacent the discharge end which limits the outer diameter of the filled natural casing to ensure the uniform shape of the casing as it enters the twisting mechanism. The follower is connected to a longitudinally movable shaft that is parallel to the stuffing tube. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish this method.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a follower against an upstream end of the natural casing to slide the natural casing forwardly along a hollow meat stuffing tube. The follower is mounted on the stuffing tube and advances the natural casing towards a discharge end of the stuffing tube, where sausage emulsion is injected into the natural casing. The follower pushes the filled casing through a hollow conical-shaped restricting device adjacent the discharge end which limits the outer diameter of the filled natural casing to ensure the uniform shape of the casing as it enters the twisting mechanism. The follower is connected to a longitudinally movable shaft that is parallel to the stuffing tube. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish this method.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck. A resilient brake element in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck. A resilient brake element in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck. A resilient brake element in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.

Abstract: A system for making encased sausages includes first and second sausage encasing machines. Parallel spaced encasing machines have a first space therebetween, and each being connected to a single meat emulsion supply pump located upstream therefrom. A first conduit extends from the pump, with second conduits extending from the first conduit to the respective encasing machines, whereby meat emulsion can be simultaneously pumped to the machines. First and second parallel conveyors in spaced condition create a second space therebetween and are located downstream from the first and second encasing machines respectively, with the second space being coextensive with the first space to permit a work station for an operator to remove encased sausages from both of the conveyors.

Abstract: A skinning blade assembly with a blade, clamp, and shoe where the blade is frictionally received in a recess formed in the bottom surface of the clamp, the clamp having a slot that extends from the top of the clamp through the bottom of the clamp such that a tool can be inserted in the slot to apply sufficient force against the back edge of the blade to overcome the frictional force of the clamp acting on the blade to remove the blade from the receiving recess.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff has a sausage producing machine which produces a linked strand of sausage for deposit of loops of the strand on the hooks of a continuous conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each.

Abstract: A conveyor chain for linked sausages has a plurality of spaced first hook carriers with second hook carriers pivotally secured thereto between pairs of the first hook carriers. A generally J-shaped hook having an elongated shank is secured to each of the first and second hook carriers by one of the ends of the shank. A roller bearing is rotatably mounted on that end of the shank on only the shanks depending from the second hook carriers. The roller bearings engage teeth on a sprocket wheel spaced to operatively drivingly engage only the shanks depending from the second hook carriers. The conveyor chain is continuous in nature and movably extends through an enclosed smoke compartment for subjecting the loops of linked sausages to the smoke material, either of a liquid nature, or natural smoke.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving the strand from a sausage making machine has J-hooks extending downwardly from a continuous chain conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff has a sausage producing machine which produces a linked strand of sausage for deposit of loops of the strand on the hooks of a continuous conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each.

Abstract: A meat encasing machine has a meat emulsion pump in communication with a stuffing tube which terminates in a twister housing adjacent a linker. A stuffing tube with power means associated with the twister housing rotates a strand of sausage extruded from the stuffing tube. A motor is provided for rotating the looper horn. The motor associated with the twister housing is adapted to rotate the sausage strand in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and the motor associated with the looper horn is adapted to rotate the looper horn in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The foregoing structure is used in sausage making machines arranged in a sausage making station comprised of pairs of machines and conveyors arranged in spaced parallel positions to create a mirror image of each other.

Abstract: A meat encasing machine has a looper horn, linking chain and conveyor which, prior to production, have home positions which are determined. A pulsed signal is generated as the looper horn rotates and is transmitted to an amplifier from an encoder on the servo motor for the looper horn and the conveyor. The output pulse signal is then reduced in frequency so that it can be read by a PLC. The PLC counts the pulses in the signal and can determine the relative position of the looper horn based on the count and can therefore minimize the rotation of the looper horn in the home position at the beginning of each new cycle. The meat encasing machine may also be controlled such that the linking chain, looper, and conveyor have no direct mechanical or electrical interaction between each other. By driving the components with separate servo motors, each can be precisely controlled in the desired ratios with respect to each other.