Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge section for a discharge of products with at least one suspension element, in particular, for sausage-shaped products, along the discharge section. The discharge section comprises a catcher unit and a guide unit. The catcher unit comprises a catching end and is configured for threading at least one suspension element of the product with the catching end. The guide unit is configured for receiving the at least one suspension element of the product from the catcher unit and for transporting the product at its at least one suspension element along the discharge section. The discharge section is characterized in that the catcher unit and the guide unit are releasably attached to each other by means of an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism is configured to enable an adjustment of a position of the catcher unit's catching end relative to the guide unit.

Abstract: A method for handling longitudinal smoking rods for storing sausage-shaped products, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of the rod-like elements having a length; providing a clipping machine configured to produce the sausage-shaped products; providing a hanging line configured to load the produced sausage-shaped products on the rod-like elements and comprising a measuring position for measuring the length of the rod-like elements, and a loading position for loading the sausage-shaped products on the rod-like elements; feeding one of the rod-like elements to the measuring position of the hanging line; measuring the length of the rod-like element; determining whether the length is within a tolerance range of a desired length; loading a predetermined number of the produced sausage-shaped products on the rod-like element, if the length is within the tolerance range; and discarding the rod-like element from the hanging line, if the length is not within the tolerance range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer arrangement for transferring sausage-shaped products, like sausages, to a rod-like element, like a smoking rod, provided in a loading position in a hanging line, each of the sausage-shaped products contain a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing provided with a suspension element, like a suspension loop, through which the sausage-shaped products can be suspended on the rod-like element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer arrangement for transferring sausage-shaped products, like sausages, to a rod-like element, like a smoking rod, provided in a loading position in a hanging line, each of the sausage-shaped products contain a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing provided with a suspension element, like a suspension loop, through which the sausage-shaped products can be suspended on the rod-like element.

Abstract: A system for storing products, in particular sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop (22), which is fixed to the sausage-shaped body and being used for a pendulously storage of the products (20) on rod-shaped storage devices (50). The System includes at least one rod-shaped storage device (50) for storing several products (20) by their loops (22) one after another. The system also includes at least one conveyor device (30) with at least one conveyor element (40) for conveying the products (20) by means of their loops (22) to storage places on the rod-shaped storage device (50). Furthermore, the system includes at least one damping unit (70, 170) for reducing a swinging motion of the products (20) is positioned at least partially along the rod-shaped storage device (50) such that it abuts on the products (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding a suspension element, like a loop, being attached to one end of a sausage-shaped product, like a sausage, from a first apparatus, like an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, in a guide direction to a second apparatus, like a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The guide device comprises a guide unit for guiding the suspension element and support means for radially and axially supporting the guide unit. According to the present invention, the support means comprise a first support unit and a second support unit for a functional separation of the axial support and the radial support of the guide unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding a suspension element, like a loop, being attached to one end of a sausage-shaped product, like a sausage, from a first apparatus, like an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, in a guide direction to a second apparatus, like a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The guide device comprises a guide unit for guiding the suspension element and support means for radially and axially supporting the guide unit. According to the present invention, the support means comprise a first support unit and a second support unit for a functional separation of the axial support and the radial support of the guide unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading station for a storage frame. In the loading station, the storage frame serves for temporarily holding and transporting rod-like elements, in particular smoking rods, on which sausage-shaped products, like sausages, are stored, and comprises two side parts, wherein each side part has two supports being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the side parts are connected with each other by at least one cross beam, and horizontally arranged trays for accommodating rod-like elements. The loading station comprises at least one position defining device for defining a predetermined position of the storage frame. Moreover, at least one locking device is provided for releasably locking of the storage frame in its predetermined position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transportation device for transporting sausage-shaped products with suspension elements from a clipping machine to a handling device. The transportation device comprises a conveying unit, a catching unit for catching the suspension element attached to one end of the sausage-shaped product, and a guide unit for guiding the suspension element caught by the catching unit to said handling device comprising a longitudinally extending guide element and supports for supporting the guide element, wherein the supports provide a passage way for the suspension element to be guided along the guide element. The supports include gear wheels arranged rotatably about an at least substantially horizontally aligned axis engaging the guide element. Moreover, there are provided ratchets for engaging the gear wheels adapted to position a gap between two subsequent teeth of said gear wheels in the passage way of said suspension element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a discharge device for discharging sausage-shaped products comprising suspension elements from the discharge end of a clipping machine to a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The discharge device comprises a first guide for said suspension elements, having a first end and a second end as well as an upper guide surface and two side surfaces and extending from the discharge end of said clipping machine towards the handling device, and second guide arranged at said side surfaces and extending at least approximately between the first and second end of said first guide. The discharge device further comprises transportation units for transporting said suspension elements along said first guide, including transportation elements with engagement elements which engage the second guide and which are guided through said second guide in a transportation direction by said transportation elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing and handling sausage-like product and a method for controlling for controlling said system with the steps of filling a tubular casing with viscous or granular stuff, dividing the filled tubular casing into sausage-like products and closing the sausage-like products by closure clips in a clipping machine, feeding the sausage-like product out of the clipping machine and storing the sausage-like product on a rod-like element in a hanging line and gripping the rod-like element by a robotic device and storing the rod-like element in a storage frame. The method further comprises the steps of sensing the weight of the sausage-like product after the sausage-like product is stored on a rod-like element, deriving a control signal for the clipping machine on the basis of the weight and controlling the clipping machine by a control unit on the basis of the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transportation device for transporting sausage-shaped products with suspension elements from a clipping machine to a handling device. The transportation device comprises a conveying unit, a catching unit for catching the suspension element attached to one end of the sausage-shaped product, and a guide unit for guiding the suspension element caught by the catching unit to said handling device comprising a longitudinally extending guide element and supporting means for supporting the guide element, wherein the supporting means provide a passage way for the suspension element to be guided along the guide element. The supporting means include gear wheels arranged rotatably about an at least substantially horizontally aligned axis engaging the guide element. Moreover, there are provided ratchets for engaging the gear wheels adapted to position a gap between two subsequent teeth of said gear wheels in the passage way of said suspension element.

Abstract: A feeding device for suspension elements, for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine, in particular into a clipping machine, wherein the suspension elements are detachably disposed in the form of loops by an adhesive on a carrier strip transversely to the feeding direction and may be conveyed of said carrier strip to a delivery point at which a suspension element may be removed from the carrier strip. In the region of the delivery point for the suspension elements, a holding-down device is provided above the carrier strip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a discharge device for discharging sausage-shaped products comprising suspension elements from the discharge end of a clipping machine to a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The discharge device comprises a first guide means for said suspension elements, having a first end and a second end as well as an upper guide surface and two side surfaces and extending from the discharge end of said clipping machine towards the handling device, and second guide means arranged at said side surfaces and extending at least approximately between the first and second end of said first guide means. The discharge device further comprises transportation units for transporting said suspension elements along said first guide means, including transportation elements with engagement elements which engage the second guide means and which are guided through said second guide means in a transportation direction by said transportation elements.

Abstract: A displacer assembly for a clip machine, in particular a sausage clip machine, including at least a first pair of displacer shears and a second pair of displacer shears arranged parallel thereto. The displacer shears are arranged pivotably about a common axis and are reversibly movable towards each other for constriction of the filled packaging casing for forming a filling material-free plaited portion. In that respect the first pair of displacer shears comprises two displacer shears which are at least approximately identical in minor image relationship and the second pair of displacer shears has a second displacer shear which is at least approximately identical to the displacer shears of the first pair of displacer shears, as well as a first, shorter displacer shear.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading station for a storage frame. In the loading station, the storage frame serves for temporarily holding and transporting rod-like elements, in particular smoking rods, on which sausage-shaped products, like sausages, are stored, and comprises two side parts, wherein each side part has two supports being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the side parts are connected with each other by at least one cross beam, and horizontally arranged trays for accommodating rod-like elements. The loading station comprises at least one position defining device for defining a predetermined position of the storage frame. Moreover, at least one locking device is provided for releasably locking of the storage frame in its predetermined position.

Abstract: A System for storing products, in particular sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop (22), which is fixed to the sausage-shaped body and being used for a pendulously storage of the products (20) on rod-shaped storage devices (50). The System comprises at least one rod-shaped storage device (50) for storing several products (20) by their loops (22) one after another. The system also comprises at least one conveyor device (30) with at least one conveyor element (40) for conveying the products (20) by means of their loops (22) to storage places on the rod-shaped storage device (50). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one damping unit (70, 170) for reducing a swinging motion of the products (20) is positioned at least partially along the rod-shaped storage device (50) such that it abuts on the products (20).

Abstract: A transport device having a screw conveyor for transporting products hanging on loops, in particular for transporting sausage products, the transport device includes a first screw conveyor section, a drive for the first screw conveyor section, wherein the drive torque is transferred to the screw conveyor section via an outer circumferential area of the first screw conveyor section, and further includes a first bearing assembly for the first screw conveyor section, wherein a second screw conveyor section that immediately adjoins the first screw conveyor section in the direction of transport is provided.

Abstract: A feeding device for suspension elements, for feeding flexible suspension elements into a packaging machine, in particular into a clipping machine, wherein the suspension elements are detachably disposed in the form of loops by an adhesive on a carrier strip transversely to the feeding direction and may be conveyed of said carrier strip to a delivery point at which a suspension element may be removed from the carrier strip. In the region of the delivery point for the suspension elements, a holding-down device is provided above the carrier strip.

Abstract: A displacer assembly for a clip machine, in particular a sausage clip machine, including at least a first pair of displacer shears and a second pair of displacer shears arranged parallel thereto. The displacer shears are arranged pivotably about a common axis and are reversibly movable towards each other for constriction of the filled packaging casing for forming a filling material-free plaited portion. In that respect the first pair of displacer shears comprises two displacer shears which are at least approximately identical in minor image relationship and the second pair of displacer shears has a second displacer shear which is at least approximately identical to the displacer shears of the first pair of displacer shears, as well as a first, shorter displacer shear.