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 method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.

Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.

Abstract: A sausage encasing machine has a computer and a casing diameter sensor located on a frame downstream of an exit end of a meat stuffing tube. The sensor is connected to the computer to transmit casing diameter data to the computer as the casing is being sensed. The computer is programmed to sausage diameter parameters, and the computer is programmed to signal a machine power system to cease operation whenever the computer detects that the casing diameter exceeds the predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A sausage encasing machine has a computer and a casing diameter sensor located on a frame downstream of an exit end of a meat stuffing tube. The sensor is connected to the computer to transmit casing diameter data to the computer as the casing is being sensed. The computer is programmed to sausage diameter parameters, and the computer is programmed to signal a machine power system to cease operation whenever the computer detects that the casing diameter exceeds the predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A method for determining the number of loops of linked sausages for deposit on a smokestick includes; preparing an elongated strand of stuffed sausages; dividing the strand of sausages into a plurality of sausage links; determining the desired number of looped sausages to be prepared; depositing the linked sausages into the determined loops and depositing the loops on a plurality of adjacent hooks on a moving conveyor; intercepting the deposit of linked sausages on adjacent hooks when the predetermined number of linked loops of sausages have been deposited in the predetermined number of loops on the hooks to provide a visible variation in the configuration of linked sausages on the conveyor; and repeating the foregoing steps to create another group of sausages similar to the group of sausages created by the foregoing steps.

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 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 automatic control for terminating the filling of a sausage casing on a sausage casing machine has a sensor on the machine to detect when the rearward end of a telescopic casing is closely adjacent the discharge end of a meat stuffing tube. The sensor is connected to the meat emulsion pump for stopping the pump under such conditions. A timer or pulse counter is associated with the computer on the machine to "measure" when the rearward end of the casing substantially reaches the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The timer or counter is operatively connected to the power system for rendering the machine inoperative after a predetermined amount of time or pulses. The sensor and timer are connected to the above stated respective components through a computer so that the computer can automatically compensate for the operating time of the second cycle to accommodate for speed changes imposed on the power system in the second cycle.

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 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.

Abstract: A sausage making machine (10) has a meat pump, (22), a twister with a chuck 30 to rotate a strand of sausage, a linker (32) to create links in the strand of sausage, a conveyor (38) with movable hooks to grasp loops in the sausage strand. Four separate motors (22A, 30A, 32A, 38A) are operatively connected to the pump (22), twister (30), linker (32) and conveyor (38), and the motors (22A, 30A, 32A, 38A) are all connected to and controlled by a computer (44) control having a memory with the operating parameters of the separate components. The method of operation involves imposing the operational parameters on the memory of the computer (44) to permit the computer (44) to control and coordinate the components (22A, 30A, 32A, 38A).