Abstract: An encasing apparatus for encasing meat products in a double casing including a combined film and a net is described. A casing tube is placed over a meat stuffing horn and is preloaded with a shirred film and net casing for double casing meat exiting the meat stuffing horn. To reduce the risk of tearing of the collagen as it is deshirred and stuffed, the casing tube is oversized with respect to the meat stuffing horn and has a first outer diameter within 10-20% of the diameter of the expanded collagen casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method producing a plait-like portion on a tubular packaging casing, which accommodates a filling material includes a plait-like portion at least approximately free of filling material, extending along a longitudinal plait-axis. The apparatus comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of displacer elements reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the first pair of displacer elements, which surrounds the longitudinal plait-axis, in which the tubular packaging casing is being gathered, when the first pair of displacer elements is in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of displacer elements also being reversibly movable between an opened and a closed position perpendicular to the longitudinal plait-axis. A displacer clearance is created between the second pair of displacer elements, similar to first pair of displacer elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a composite casing shirred to a caterpillar, said process comprising steps of pulling an outer casing over the inner casing, and optionally a net between the inner and outer casings, or over the outer casing, and finally shirring the composite casing thus obtained to give a compact tube, which is cut to yield caterpillars.

Abstract: Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion.

Abstract: Methods for combining a tubular net with a carrier casing are disclosed. Air is blown into a carrier casing so that it is inflated to have a circular diameter. The inflated carrier casing is pulled in the direction of a tubular net toward a pleating head. The tubular net has holes and an open end of the tubular net is attached to a clamp. The inflated carrier casing is fed into the tubular net while pulling the net inside out over itself. The inflated carrier casing covered by the tubular net is pulled through the pleating head (which constricts the carrier casing) toward a shirring machine that includes the shirring mandrel. Air is blown from inside the shirring mandrel at a pressure that forces at least some areas of the carrier casing between the holes of the net to form protruding bulges, and the net/carrier casing combination is shined.

Abstract: A tubular net arrangement is made by placing a tubular net on a transfer tube and inserting a support tube coaxially inside the transfer tube. The support tube has a support tube diameter that is smaller than the transfer tube diameter. The tubular net is then moved off the transfer tube and past the end of the transfer tube to fold the tubular net onto the support tube in the form of multiple successive concentric layers. The transfer tube then moves relative to the support tube to expose the support tube as the layers are formed on the support tube. The inner diameter of each layer is adjacent the support tube and is equal to the support tube diameter and the outer diameter of each layer is spaced away from the support tube and is greater than the support tube diameter and at most equal to the transfer tube diameter.

Abstract: A multi-layer arrangement of a tubular net is first positioned on a transfer tube. A toothed loader is used to slide the net along the outside of the transfer tube, to an end zone thereof which is slightly conical. When the net reaches the end zone, it falls onto a support tube in an arrangement of concentric layers. In this way, the outer layers of the loaded net have a maximum diameter equal to that of the transfer tube while the inner diameter of the loaded net, which corresponds to the outer diameter of the support tube, is less than the maximum diameter of the stretched net.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shirred food casing covered by a net, and a method for combining a net with a surface of a carrier casing, said method comprising steps wherein air or an inert gas is blown into the carrier casing, the carrier casing inflated/pressurized to be round is pulled in the direction of the tubular net towards a pleating head attached to one end of the tubular net, said net being attached at the open end thereof to a clamp centralized with a shirring mandrel, the carrier casing being thus folded into the tubular net while pulling the net inside out over itself, followed by pulling the carrier casing through the pleating head to the shirring machine where the pressure of air or an inert gas blown from inside of the shirring mandrel forces the areas of the carrier casing between the meshes of the net to form bulges, and finally the net/carrier casing combination is shirred by the shirring machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shirring netting onto a netting tube. A second tube is placed over and coaxially to the netting tube and netting is stretched over the second tube. The two tubes are caused to move in a reciprocating manner through a plurality of spring-loaded fingers, which allow the netting to pass on the downstroke and hold the netting on the upstroke. As the two tubes move, the netting is pulled over the second tube and shirred onto the netting tube. An annular space formed by a tube ring placed between the netting tube and the second tube causes the netting to shir in multiple, neatly aligned layers.

Abstract: The invention is a method of manufacturing lightweight fibrous casings constructed of abaca paper substrates suitably wet-strengthened using viscose, or viscose and resin, and subsequently viscosed a second time, and the casings made by this method. The method of this invention employs an arrangement of a die and related apparatus for the single-sided viscosing of light weight paper substrates at increased machine speeds. The die arrangement of this invention provides superior impregnation of viscose during the casing manufacturing stage, ensures smooth surfaces of both the inner and outer casing surfaces and renders the need for double-sided viscosing unnecessary, or undesirable. This new arrangement of viscose die minimizes drag upon impregnating the paper matrix with viscose and during the subsequent crucial period before coagulation of the viscose and its regeneration into cellulose has been completed; so as to permit the casing to be stretched but not irreversibly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a casing (10) for use in encasing meat products. The casing (10) comprises a combination of a first tubular casing (11) which may comprise a fibrous casing material and a knitted tubular net (12) located around and substantially concentric to the first tubular member (11). The tubular net (12) comprises circumferential elastic cords (13) and longitudinal cords (14), and the relative diameter of the circumferential cords (13) to the first tubular casing (11) are such that when the casing (10) is being filled the circumferential cords (13) are placed under tension prior to the first tubular casing (11) reaching its maximum diameter. This enables the circumferential cords (13) to absorb some of the hoop stress before it is applied to the first tubular member (11) thereby preventing splitting of the first tubular member (11) which might otherwise occur without the tubular netting (12).

Abstract: A method for forming a vented end closure in a shirred food casing stick by forming an unshirred tail on the food casing stick, inserting a rod through the tail and into the stick, plunging the tail into the stick, and tamping the tail to form a closed end with a vent defined by the shape of the rod. A tamping rod may be used to pierce a tab on the opposite end of the food casing stock. Once pierced the tab can be ripped off the stick to leave a shard-free open end.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of shirring cellulosic skinless sausage casing comprising applying a shirring solution to the interior of the casing interior the improvement comprising applying a shirring solution to the casing at a temperature less than 10.degree. C.

Abstract: Tubular, biaxially stretched, heat shrinkable multilayer film food casings comprising inner and outer polyamide layers on either side of a core layer predominantly of one or more polyolefins such as VLDPE or EVA and a coextrusion process for making the film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cellulosic article of cellulose or a cellulose derivative that has incorporated a polyethylene oxide composition having a molecular weight of at least 70,000.

Abstract: A joining system for flat end discs is used in an elongated encased food product. The food casing is joined to the flat end discs permitting food stuffing of the casing. An adhesive joining, a clamping joining, a tension band joining or a piercing joining takes place in an area external to and within the peripheral boundaries of the flat end discs. The axial outward force of the food product on the discs is thus coupled to the axial tension of the casing joined to the discs.

Abstract: The bundling together of shirred food casing sticks is accomplished by loosely supporting the sticks in a desired stack configuration, drawing a stretch film from below the stack, folding the film over the top of the stack and taping the film to itself, and then pulling the film downwardly to tighten it about the stack and heat sealing across the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A package or "caddie" of fifty (50) shirred tubular sticks of food casing is formed by stacking the sticks in seven rows one on another the lowermost row containing five side-by-side stack, each of the next four rows containing one stick more than the row below and each of the top two rows having one stick less than the row below. This forms a six sided caddie wherein all internal angles as formed by the sides of the stack are 120.degree. and the perimeter of the stack is formed by a continuous unbroken progression of side-by-side sticks. A stretch film disposed transversely about the stack bundles the sticks tightly together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming an end closure in one end of a tubular shirred casing and the like for stuffing meat products into the casing. The partially twisted, compacted end closure is suitable for withstanding breakage during pressure injection of meat products, e.g., sausage, frankfurter, etc., into the casing.

Abstract: A shirred fibrous casing article containing about 20% to about 30% moisture by total casing weight and composed of shirred portions spliced together and retained in an overwrap wherein a flag which identifies the splice location between the shirred portions is extended radially through the overwrap.

Abstract: A joining system for flat end discs is used in an elongated encased food product. The food casing is joined to the flat end discs permitting food stuffing of the casing. An adhesive joining, a clamping joining, a tension band joining or a piercing joining takes place in an area external to and within the peripheral boundaries of the flat end discs. The axial outward force of the food product on the discs is thus coupled to the axial tension of the casing joined to the discs.

Abstract: An end closure for a shirred casing stick is formed by compacting an inturned portion of the casing within the stick bore. During compaction a portion of the end closure is formed by pressing directly against the stick bore while an opposite portion is formed by pressing against a member inserted between the inturned portion and the stick bore. The member is then removed to provide a space between a portion of the end closure surface and the bore surface.

Abstract: A one-piece shirred casing article that finds particular utility in making dry sausages such as pepperoni is disclosed, as is a method for making the article and for using it. A tied one-piece casing is shirred into a compact form and encased in a temporary container which enables the operator to easily place the casing onto the stuffing horn for filling without requiring hand shirring. The use of larger diameter and shorter length stuffing horns is enabled when compared to the use of sticks or strands of long lengths of casings used to form multiple sausage products.

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: Severing a shirred stick of sausage casing from casing feed stock joined to the stick is accomplished by perforating a section of the casing across its flat width prior to moving the section through a shirring zone. The section is then moved to a shirring zone where longitudinal movement of the casing is restrained while shirring rolls continue to pull on the casing. The resulting tension tears the casing apart along the line of perforations and the shirring rolls incorporate a torn end of the casing into the shirred stick by gathering the torn end up into a pleat at the last-shirred end of the stick.

Abstract: A food emulsion casing end-closure, and the method of making it, are disclosed. The end-closure is formed of a twist knot through which an air escape aperture is extended. The twist knot forms part of a wadding which is stuffed into the bore of a shirred casing stick and interference fitted therewith. The wadding acts as a shock absorber for the initial shock of extruded food emulsion and serves as means to enhance the consistency of that initial portion of extruded food emulsion. The twist knot is sufficiently tight that it can serve as a permanent end-closure or it may readily be opened by untwisting. Also provided is a lock means for maintaining the twist knot as such.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a vent hole in an end closure in the form of a twisted plait on a hose-type packing wrapper, especially a sausage skin, shirred to form a caterpillar with an unshirred wrapper section (34). A first elongated winding element (46) is introduced into the packing wrapper 940) to behind the first shirring folds. Subsequently, the unshirred wrapper section (34) is seized along an axial surface line by a second elongated winding element (48) of a length shorter than that of the first winding element (46) which is moved radially towards the latter. Thereupon, the winding elements (46, 48) are actuated in rotating manner and, at the same time, are axially advanced. The twisted plait is thus generated from the free end of the winding elements (46, 48) in a manner progressing to the rear. At the end, by retraction of the winding elements (46, 48), a vent channel or hole remains in the twisted plait.

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: An article is disclosed comprising a cylindrical hollow rod, composed of a shirred packaging tube, with an internal bore having a circular cross-section and ending in cavity openings at the two end faces of the hollow rod, in combination with a sheathing which surrounds the hollow rod, leaving the cavity openings free, and an annular body at one of the two cavity openings. The annular body comprises an annular disk, whose inner side face bears directly against the adjoining end face of the hollow rod. The outer side face of the disk is at least partially surrounded by the sheathing. The internal bore of the disk remains free of the sheathing and contains elements for fixing the disk to a cylindrical filler horn.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for calibration or standardization of natural intestines for use as skins for foods or the like, and sausage in particular. A previously desalted natural intestine is subjected over a period of several minutes to an alternating electromagnetic field of less than 20 cm, preferably a microwave field, on a carrier of the desired caliber and of nonpolar material or essentially nonpolar material in comparison to that of the natural intestine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming stuffed food products having one flat end by cutting a slit in a food casing forward of a stuffing horn and inserting an end flattening disc directly into the casing through the slit. A fixture at the end of the stuffing horn holds the disc while the slit casing is drawn forward to clear the slit away from the disc. The casing is then gathered and closed to capture the disc within the casing. On stuffing, the pressure of food product forces the disc to release from the fixture to form a flat leading end of the stuffed product.