Abstract: A clipping device is provided for closing stuffed food casing with a clip and an apparatus is provided for causing a taped, holding string loops, to be directed toward the clipping device for closing an end of the food casing so that a string loop is transferred directly from the tape into an entry into a channel in the clipping device. The clip draws the loop to the casing and holds the loop to the food casing. The stuffing apparatus preferably also includes a novel readily cleanable food flow cut-off valve. A punch and clip anvil is provided to apply clips bent around the casing in essentially mirror image helixes. An extending and retracting conveyor is provided to remove stuffed food product from the vicinity of the clipping device after stuffed food casing is closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically stuffing tubular food casing with food product. The apparatus includes a stuffing horn through which food product flows into tubular food casing which is deshirred from a shirred food casing stick on the stuffing horn. An input end of the stuffing horn is interconnected with a pressurized source of food product. A clipping device is provided for closing stuffed food casing with a clip and apparatus is preferably provided for causing a tape holding string loops, to be directed toward the clipping device for closing an end of the food casing so that a string loop is transferred directly from the tape into an entry into a channel in the clipping device so that when the end of the food casing is closed with the clip, the clip draws the loop to the casing and holds the loop to the food casing. The apparatus preferably also includes a novel readily cleanable food flow cut-off valve.

Abstract: A snap-on adjustable one piece sizing ring comprising an inner horn ring and an outer horn ring. The inner horn ring comprises an inner horn ring elliptical plate to which is attached a tubular section about an off-center hole therethrough. The outer horn ring comprises an outer horn ring elliptical plate having an off-center hole which fits over and is free to rotate about the tubular section so that overall circumference of the combined plates can be varied. The tubular section of the inner horn ring is provided with means for releasable attachment to an inner tube of a two-part stuffing horn comprising concentric inner and outer tubes. The outer horn ring is provided with means for releasable attachment to the outer tube of the two-part stuffing horn so that rotation of the concentric tubes relative to each other causes rotation of the elliptical plates relative to each other so that the overall circumference of the sizing ring is varied. The elliptical plates may be circular.

Abstract: Product discharge section of a stuffing apparatus for partially filling food casings is equipped with a device for uniformly distributing and reshaping meat emulsions and other foodstuffs from a rounded configuration to other desired shapes, such as loaf style products for use in preparing turkey loaf, ham loaf, etc. Lower receiving conveyor means transport partially filled casings downstream to a wedge shaped slot defined by the lower conveyor and height and angle adjustable overhead belt which during passage extrudes the flowable meat product upstream toward the filling horn for uniformly apportioning and shaping the product before cooking, smoking or other processing. Methods and apparatus are especially useful in eliminating the need for shaping by hand, or use of loaf shaped molds.

Abstract: End-closures are formed on tubular food casings by means of a self-contained gathering and closing device comprising dual shutter assemblies with angular levers having thumb and finger extensions which are pivotally mounted from their respective thumb extensions for circumferentially gathering casing from a casing opening therebetween. The angular levers are positioned relative to one another such that when pivoted in the same direction travel in overlapping arcs to produce a narrowing of the casing opening as the levers converge. A punch is then actuated to apply an end-closure clip to the gathered casing.

Abstract: A method for stuffing a tubular food casing to reduce trapped air in the finished product. The method comprises placing a shirred stick of food casing on a stuffing horn having an exit end through which food product flows into the casing, withdrawing a leading end portion of the casing over the exit end of the horn, closing the leading end portion, sealing the casing against the horn, drawing a vacuum within the tubular food casing, conducting food product through the exit end of the stuffing horn into said tubular food casing while maintaining the vacuum to stuff a portion of the food casing while withdrawing more casing over the exit end of the stuffing horn, and closing the food casing behind the stuffed portion of the food casing.

Abstract: Tubular food casings for preparing dimensionally uniform processed meat products with flat ends for maximizing yields for prepackaged product. Casings reinforced with one or more narrow polymeric bands securely bonded to the terminal ends of casing units are able to receive flat end plates which cooperate with the bands to form reliable end closures without clips and minimal casing requirements.

Abstract: Casing material is paid out from the stuffing horn of a food emulsion extrusion system to stuff a food emulsion product. The casing material is drawn over a sizing means which provides varying degrees of sizing and hold back force to the casing material as it is paid out. The degrees of sizing and hold back force are adjustable while the casing is being stuffed with extruded food emulsion. New casing material may be loaded onto the stuffing horn over the sizing means without removal of any element of the sizing means from the stuffing horn.

Abstract: Flattened tubular food casing in combination with a deformable semi-rigid sleeve member, separate from but attached to one end of the casing in the form of a casing extension. The generally cylindrical shaped sleeve comprises a leading edge opposite the end attached to the food casing which can be tapered to assist in loading the attached casing onto a stuffing apparatus employing a reciprocating carrier. The flattened tubular food casing-sleeve member combination may be folded or mounted on a reel and packaged for direct payout to the stuffing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a motor drive unit to a boat comprises first and second boat mounting members securable to a boat and lying in a boat plane and includes first and second motor mounting members securable to a motor and lying in a motor plane spaced apart from the boat plane by a distance, the motor plane having an angular orientation relative to the boat plane. A device for setting the motor mounting members in a position displaced from the boat mounting members is connected between the boat mounting members and the motor mounting members. The setting device permits movement of the motor mounting members relative to the boat mounting members, to selectively and independently set the angular orientation, to set the distance between the boat plane and the motor plane, and to set the vertical translation of the motor plane relative to the boat plane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a food emulsion casing packaging system which incorporates means for readily and rapidly removing non-shirred, flat casing from its shipping carton, means or facilely and rapidly threading that casing into automated food emulsion stuffing equipment, and means for rapidly and readily forming the casing into a tubular form at the point of introduction of the food emulsion to the casing.

Abstract: A method is provided for closing an end of a tubular food casing in such a way that the end so closed is made suitable for use as a hanger for the casing. In one embodiment, an end of a food casing is formed into a rigid loop suitable for hanging the casing. In a second embodiment, a die cut hole is made in a uniquely formed end of a casing, enabling the casing to be suspended by a hook inserted through the hole.

Abstract: The shirred casing disclosed is packaged in a plastic tube with the lead end of that tube formed into a combined brake/size means which applies oblique frictional force and variable size control to the food emulsion as it is being extruded into the case; also disclosed are means for permitting gas pressure build-up to be relieved and the gas to escape.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for preparing partially/slack filled food casings enables food processors to make loaf style meat and sausage products with substantially "D" shaped cross sectional configurations with lower risk for casing rupture. By means of a casing slacker apparatus having a shutter/gate assembly mounted on an axially translatable carriage a predetermined length of additional unfilled casing is withdrawn from the filling horn after the filling cycle is completed. After completing the clip, cut and dump cycles the foodstuff is distrituted evenly throughout the casing and molded or shaped as desired.

Abstract: A method of attaching a hanger member to a casing is provided, including the steps of inserting a portion of the hanger into an open end of the casing and then closing the open end of the casing to occlude and retain the hanger portion within the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of filling food casing for better size control includes an improved stuffing horn with a built-in presizing element in the form of a spirally wound spring for diametrically engaging the inside wall of unfilled casing on the filling horn stretching the casing to the recommended stuffed diameter prior to filling.

Abstract: A stuffing horn assembly is disclosed which comprises a hollow main member, said main member having an exterior end surface terminating in a convex configuration and containing at least one outlet void therein; a horn turret, having a concave exterior surface for generally engaging the convex exterior end surface of the main member and having at least one inlet void therein; means for mounting said horn turret concave surface to the convex surface of the main member; means for aligning said at least one outlet void with said at least one inlet void; and, said horn turret comprising horn means alignable with said at least one inlet void. The stuffing horn assembly has particular utility in the food processing industry, most particularly wherein comminuted meat products are stuffed into encasements under pressure.

Abstract: An improved railroad FROG of nearly shrink free casting and method of forming is disclosed. The FROG is comprised of a triangular shaped top area with an actual FROG point at the center of the casting, widening at one end to a heel and heel extension with flangeways adjacent each side to allow the passage of wheels. A throat is located ahead of the actual FROG point and extends forwardly to a toe end of the casting. The throat is bound by wings of the casting. The casting has a solid arched, ribbed supporting structure below the running surface of the casting.

Abstract: A collapsible ring for sizing food casing during stuffing can be reduced in size for insertion onto the deshirred end of a shirred strand for efficient packaging and storage. The sizing ring is automatically expanded to the desired sizing diameter when the casing-sizing ring unit is inserted onto the stuffing horn of a filling machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for constricting and fastening flexible tubular material along its longitudinal axis having particular utility in the food processing industry such as sausage casings. The apparatus circumferentially constricts and gathers flexible tubular material about its longitudinal axis by reciprocally moveable co-acting gates which comprise means for urging a pliable fastener about the gathered flexible material.